Kossuth
Old Father Flame, Firelord, the Lord of Flames, the Tyrant-King Tyrant Among Fire, Everflame. N primordial archomental and greater power of the vital essence of fire (He/Him)
Pantheon: Elemental
Symbol: Two flames entwined
Realm: Fire / Deep Fire / The Crimson Pillar
Known Proxies: Kalama (planar fire elemental proxy of Kossuth [she/her] / N)
Legend has it that the first ever spark of flame in the multiverse was Kossuth (koh-SOOTH). Over aeons and infinities, this flame flickered and grew, drawing in more fuel to consume. When the elements were first separated, the Everflame claimed dominion of the Plane of Fire. Or perhaps it is the Plane of Fire, and the being known as Kossuth is just a projection that mortals can understand? Who can say—but the fact is, nobody remembers a time where there was not Kossuth.
Kossuth represents the energy of fire, the warmth of life, and the illuminating light. If respected, fire is a useful tool for mortals. It is quick to anger, however, and can turn destructive if it is misused. Kossuth is the same, he cares not a jot for morality, purity or destruction, he simply is. His vital fire manifests as passion, vitality, and life force. When a cutter’s inner fire burns low, life fades; when extinguished, death follows. Conversely, when the blood runs too hot, berks become angry or feverish.
As is often the case with truly ancient primordials, Kossuth is not concerned with the minutiae of happenings in the mortal realm. Instead, he—and it is more tradition than any particular evidence that Kossuth is called Father Flame—is more interested in existential questions like how to hold back Water from quenching Fire. The rivalry between the two elements has existed since they were first conceived, and the hatred between Kossuth and Istishia, his aquatic equivalent, is mutual and implacable.
While the angriest fire elementals follow Imix, the most power-hungry follow Ymeri and the small number of genuinely benevolent fire elementals ally themselves with Zaaman Rul, the vast majority of fire elementals consider themselves children of Kossuth—and then promptly proceed to ignore any complex questions about morality or ethics, as these things are simply not of interest to them.
Kossuth is said to dwell in the hottest part of the plane of Fire, a realm in Deep Fire called the Crimson Pillar.
The Witnesses of the Eternal Flame
Not to be confused with the doomsday cult of Imix, the Witnesses of the Eternal Flame are a zealous Kossuthian cult who maintain sacred flames which were lit from the roiling pyre of Old Father Flame and have been burning ever since. So long as the fire is kept burning continuously, it is a literal part of Kossuth himself. The Witnesses have spread these sacred fires, in the forms of torches, braziers, or even candles, all across the planes. Their doctrine holds that any church with a properly sanctified flame is a sacred space that Kossuth will protect, and any light cast from one of these flames is holy and can be seen by Kossuth himself. The Vedic power Agni and the Greek goddess Hestia both share similar beliefs, and it’s been speculated that they may both be aspects of Kossuth—or vice versa, depending on your loyalties. Rituals often involve the lighting of incense and herbs to purify a temple and connect with the divine. The cult’s hierarchy is strict, with senior members overseeing the maintenance of the eternal flames and guiding newer initiates in the ways of Kossuth.
At the heart of the cult is a revered figure known as the Keeper of the First Flame. This cutter is chosen for their unwavering dedication and is believed to embody the spirit of Kossuth, as an envoy of the power. The current Keeper is a fire elemental named Kalama (planar fire elemental proxy of Kossuth [she/her] / N) who acts as a sort of proxy for Kossuth—since Old Father Flame himself is too distanced from the mortal sphere to appoint a proxy, the cult has done this for him. Kalama is a hypnotic fire elemental who refers to herself as the Wife of Flame, so the cult have gone with that. She leads the Kossuthans in their most sacred rituals, ensuring that the flames never dim. The Keeper is also responsible for interpreting the will of Kossuth through interpreting the movement of the sacred flame, guiding the cult in times of uncertainty. She has the uncanny ability to manifest through any of the sacred flames across the multiverse, stepping into one and disappearing, only to appear in another that suddenly explodes into flame as she steps out.
While worshippers of Kossuth are ironically described as cold-hearted by some—and it is sometimes claimed unkindly that they care more for the safety of their sacred flame than the wellbeing of humans—they do not deserve the bad press that they are often given. If you hear chant about fire cults who seek to destroy the multiverse, or conquer other elements, that’s usually the work of Imix and Ymeri and their wicked followers. In general, Kossuthans are far more balanced in their outlook. Sure, they wield powerful and destructive magics, and sure, there’s real aggression between Kossuthans and Istishians. More extreme splinter cults of Kossuth also exist around the planes. The Black Flame are a secret society of assassins who operate out of Thay (on the prime world of Toril). The Brothers and Sisters of the Pure Flame are a monastic martial order, also from Toril.
— Tadj-al-Saltaneh Tiznaa bint-Saatadeh al-Mamaalek
Canonical Sources: Dragon Magazine #347 p29,34; Inner Planes [2e] p46-47,49; On Hallowed Ground [2e] p53,181; Planescape Campaign Setting [2e] DM’s Guide to the Planes p31
Other Sources: Jon Winter-Holt. Canonwatch: In order to better distinguish the clergy of Imix and Kossuth, I’ve pushed them into more defined boxes. Evil Imix is all about destruction and wrath, and since he is ostensibly neutral, the cult of Kossuth needs to be more about balance. I figured it should feel a little out of touch with reality, like their power.