Astaroth. Wasn't he a devil or something?

[Mouseferatu]

Ari Marmell, unaware of Eric Boyd's work or the MMII/FC1 reference, introduces a third Astaroth.

And I've even got FC1, and have read it through. I must have just missed, or forgotten, the reference.

 

[JRR_Talking]

SPI dragonquest rpg from around 1980 has him down as a demonic duke, (from the 1st hierachy as mentioned in the wiki above.)

ASTAROTH: "The Terrible Duke"
Base Chance: 66% Lesser Spirits: 40%
Description: Astaroth appears in the form of a dark angel all
black and with a bloody mouth. He carries a viper coiled about
his right hand and he rides an infernal dragon. He speaks gaily
of horrible things and laughs readily at pain and disease. He is
exceedingly cruel.
Talents, Skills, and Magic: Astaroth is a practitioner of the
arts of the College of Necromantic Conjurations. He possesses
the following Skills: Alchemist, Assassin, Military Scientist,
Navigator. He knows the Generic and Individual True Names of
all things, but will only tell these if it pleases him and he thinks
that suffering may be increased thereby. He knows men's secrets
and will tell them.
Movement Rates: Running: 350 yards per minute.
PS: 27 MD: 26 AG: 28 MA: 32
EN: 26 FT: 35 WP: 35 PC: 26
PB: 8 TMR: 9 NA: 3 DP per Strike.
Weapons: Astaroth's breath is poisonous to the same degree as
chlorine and extends outward from his mouth 25 feet in a cone
10 feet wide at the base. He has no other natural weapons,
but will usually carry a heavy mace which he uses in
shattering the bones of his victims so that they will be crippled
and take a long time dying.
Comments: Astaroth will readily serve the summoner, but only
so long as he is pleased to do so. He will usually serve so long as
the summoner is involved in much death and cruelty and will
depart when these cease. Astaroth may not be bound. If the
summoner attempts to bind him, Astaroth will turn on him and
rend him and may claim his soul

 

[Ripzerai]

Gargoth, "The Lord Who Watches" (sometimes misnamed by sages as "Astaroth"; a name properly applies to a demon-prince of great power) ...

I think what I wrote in Powers & Pantheons is consistent with this.

I didn't say that it was inconsistent; just that it was confusing.

Whether it's a misnomer or not, it's still an alternate name, and your storyline rationalized it.

In fairness, it's probably less confusing now than it was when Ed Greenwood first introduced the character. That's what rationalizations try to do - introduce rationales.

What's the FC1 page numbers for the references to Astaroth?

Page 155.

 

[ericlboyd]

I went back and found a copy of Dragon #28. This is really interesting. I see now where Ed was going with it in Dragon #91 and how I took it in a slightly different direction. Hmm. Perhaps I'll have a chance to address this in the very near future.

--Eric

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

Astaroth is a very ancient name, and definitely feminine; it may originally have been "Astarte". It's from the same root as the Babylonian "Ishtar", the Egyptian "Isis" and the ancient British "Eastre" (goddess of dawn and fertility) -- after whom we take the name of the Christian festival.

 

[BOZ]

I went back and found a copy of Dragon #28. This is really interesting. I see now where Ed was going with it in Dragon #91 and how I took it in a slightly different direction. Hmm. Perhaps I'll have a chance to address this in the very near future.

--Eric

cool!

 

[Squire James]

He was also the Shadowlord of Hatred in Ultima V.

 

[Cheiromancer]

Personally I regard Sepulchrave's take on Astaroth as canonical. But that's just the fan-boy in me talking:

Formerly of the highest choir, and one of those closest to the source of corruption, Prince Astaroth is numbered amongst the greatest of Devils in the Hells. As the lord of Caina and one of the chief lieutenants of the Adversary, Astaroth – together with Asmodeus, Baalzebul and Belial – forms one leg of the de facto quatriumvirate which governs at the behest of the Nameless Fiend. He directly commands eighty legions of Devils – primarily gelugons – and orders nearly a hundred more through the Dukes and Marquises who swear fealty to him. Astaroth also acts in the capacity of one of Hell’s treasurers.

The Prince appears as a celestial of exalted station, although in his natural form the aeons of malice and deceit are etched irrevocably into his face, and his aspect is grim and terrible. In his hand he always bears his viper rod – an artifact of singular power – which serves as both a badge of office and a tool to punish and torment recalcitrant Devils and damned souls alike. Across the frozen wastes of Caina to its steaming fringe, Astaroth rides a hellfire wyrm of great size. Within his citadel and beyond, he is often accompanied by a squad of pit fiends who act as bodyguards and enforcers.

Astaroth counts Dukes Hutijin and Vepar amongst his vassals, and is served by such notable Devils as the malebranche Rigios the Terrible, and the erinyes Gromenis, who makes frequent transits to the Prime to mark out suitable candidates for seduction.

Astaroth is a master of the arcane, and concerns himself with the temptation and seduction of arcanists above all others. He has been known to bribe potential converts to the infernal cause with the most powerful of magics – going to extraordinary lengths in his attempts to win them over. His rhetoric and logic are faultless, and the easy manner which he can choose to assume has seen many swayed to take their first steps down the dark road. As one who recognizes potential above all else, Astaroth directs his attention to middle-ranking Wizards of high promise above those who have already excelled in their field.

D&D stats here.

 

[BOZ]

He was also the Shadowlord of Hatred in Ultima V.

woohoo! good point.

 

[Fishbone]

I remember seeing the name all the time in the Bible, sometimes spelled as Ashterah or Asterah. The worship involved poles and carved trees and sex and some other harvest stuff. I always thought that Astaroth/Ashtera/Astera was a goddess though, and not a demon, most certainly not a male one. Strange.
For instance, the prominent Sumerian evil beeyotch-Dragon/Mother of Evil Tiamat is represented pretty faithfully in D&D but the Astaroth thing doesn't jive at all.