Meta:Apsu

Retroactive changes

Tiamat and creation lore in Inner Sea Faiths

As stated here, the old version of the draconic creation myth as described in Inner Sea Faiths (which describes Dahak as the son of Apsu and Tiamat) is retconned and no longer canon. The new version is described in Travel Guide. - HTD (talk) 04:18, 22 March 2023 (UTC)

To view the article prior to revisions incorporating this retroactive change, see revision 317226. The removed text is also retained here:

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Apsu is the patron deity of all good and metallic dragons, and one of the oldest gods of the Great Beyond. Along with Tiamat, he is (at least according to draconic lore) believed to be one of the two original creator beings of the multiverse.

History

According to draconic lore, in the dawn of time there flowed two waters, fresh and salt, which became Apsu and Tiamat, parents of the first gods. However, their eldest son Dahak came to Hell to rampage, then killed his siblings, whose shattered remains fell into the Material Plane and became the first metallic dragons. Enraged, the fresh water descended upon the Material Plane to confront his son, saying the eternal words:

“

I shall then be Apsu, for I am the first.

”

Apsu and the metallic dragons defeated Dahak, but as Apsu prepared to land the killing blow, Dahak beseeched his mother, the salt water, for help. The salt water offered to heal the injured metallic dragons in exchange for their aid against Apsu, and some accepted, turning from goodness to evil and becoming the first chromatic dragons. Dahak escaped the ensuing battle between the metallic and chromatic dragons, but Apsu bade his followers to not pursue him. He then asked the salt water why she aided their son, but she only named herself Tiamat, blamed Apsu for the deaths of their children, and expelled him from their primordial realm.

Some time after, Apsu came to Golarion to join numerous other deities in the battle against Rovagug, where he was unexpectedly aided by his wayward son. After Rovagug was defeated and contained in the Dead Vault, Apsu spoke to Dahak, expressing his surprise at how he was not betrayed. Dahak then vowed to kill Apsu, who declared that Golarion would be their battlefield; the battle between Apsu and Dahak still rages on Golarion.

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Apsu surrounded by dragons.

Apsu battles Dahak.

Creation lore in Travel Guide

The Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project eliminated chromatic and metallic dragons, and Divine Mysteries introduced Sarshallatu as the mate of Apsu and mother of Dahak, delayed the beginning of the war between Apsu and Dahak, and again overrode the changes to relationships that Travel Guide established between Apsu and Dahak, and between Dahak and Rovagug.

The following text was removed from the article as a result:

According to draconic lore, Apsu and Dahak were the two creator-dragons who made more of their own kind, from the chromatic dragons to lesser ones like drakes. When Rovagug rampaged across Golarion, they joined the fight and were able to defeat him, but Rovagug's touch corrupted Dahak. Dahak then vowed to kill Apsu, who declared that Golarion would be their battlefield; the battle between Apsu and Dahak still rages on Golarion.

Divine Mysteries also reverts Apsu's depiction to its original depiction (File:Apsu portrait.webp), and he no longer resembles a silver dragon. The following text and artwork were removed from the article as a result:

Apsu appears as a regal silver dragon dwarfing the largest great wyrms. His scales sparkle with a pearlescent glow.

For the version of this article prior to these changes, see revision 555438. -Oznogon (talk) 18:20, 24 December 2024 (UTC)

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Unincorporated sources

• Artifacts & Legends 32 --Fleanetha (talk) 21:07, 2 November 2012 (UTC)
• Apsu is a major god on Triaxus and much information about his faith there is contained in The Frozen Stars, especially p. 75. --Fleanetha (talk) 19:46, 15 June 2013 (UTC)
• Kobolds of Golarion, especially regarding kobold creation myths. --Fleanetha (talk) 17:00, 16 July 2013 (UTC)
• Robert Brookes, et al. “Apsu” in Inner Sea Faiths, 16–21. Paizo Inc., 2016 -Oznogon (talk) 06:38, 22 March 2016 (UTC)
• Occult Mysteries 8 --Fleanetha (talk) 12:22, 31 May 2016 (UTC)
• Legacy of Dragons 2 and other elements --Fleanetha (talk) 20:02, 13 August 2016 (UTC)