Ubtao
Creator of Chult, Father of the Dinosaurs, the Deceiver. N Primordial greater power of creation, jungles, dinosaurs [He/Him]
Pantheon: Chultan (Pantheon Leader)
Symbol: A maze
Realm: Outlands / Ringlands / The Labyrinth of Life; Beastlands / Krigala / The Forbidden Plateau; Pangaea
Known Proxies: None
Ubtao [oob-TAY-oh] is a mysterious cutter indeed, called both the Creator of Chult and the Father of the Dinosaurs. He’s a bit of an oddball among the gods, aloof from mortals but also from most other powers too. Graybeards reckon he’s more of a primordial spirit than a divine power, and perhaps that explains his distant nature. You see, the chant goes that during the Time before Times he switched sides and betrayed his fellow primordials, aiding the gods during the Dawn War. After the dust settled from that that he hid himself away on Toril, created the vast jungle of Chult, filled it with creatures and especially dinosaurs, and then retreated into its unexplored depths.
Since Toril’s recent Time of Troubles, though, when Toril was flooded with dozens of refugee powers who’d been kicked out of the Outer Planes, it seems Ubtao has started taking a bit more interest in his followers, and has been spotted several times. His favourite avatar is also his most dramatic—a colossal tyrannosaurus rex painted with tiger stripes—some might argue they preferred it when he was aloof! When he communicates, it’s in cryptic messages, leaving his followers scratching their heads and consulting the entrails of jungle animals trying to interpret his will. Nevertheless, Ubtao prefers to watch events from afar rather than mingle in the daily troubles of his followers. This hands-off approach extends to other deities as well; it seems he has few allies, but few real enemies either, and perhaps that’s the point.Â
The dwarven jungle power Thard Harr and Corellon Larethian the leader of the elven Seldarine count themselves among his friends. His biggest beef is with a mysterious force calling itself Eshowdow. It’s a reflection, ironically born from Ubtao’s own essence when he first filled the jungle with nature spirits. This dark giant is a real thorn in Ubtao’s side, and a constant threat to his domain and devotees. Yet somehow despite all his might, the ancient power is unable to defeat, or even find, this dark shadow of his.
Ubtao doens’t spend all his time on the Prime. His divine realm is located in the Outlands, although actually finding it is easier said than done. Called the Labyrinth of Life, it too is isolated, although it teems with life. It’s massive jungle maze where Ubtao sometimes roams. He can also be found on the Forbidden Plateau in the Beastlands, or the nameless jungles of Pangaea, where he goes out when he needs a break from the demands of his petitioners.
In Chult, he’s the undisputed high-up, the only true power in the Chultan pantheon, and his presence is mostly felt in the jungles he created on the prime world of Toril. The Church of Ubtao, that’s split into three sects, each worshipping a different aspect of the power—the jungle, spirit worship, and Ubtao himself. The faith is pretty laid back as religions go, not pushing for conversions or worrying about the mortals of the jungle worshipping other powers as well. As for his followers, they’re a devout bunch, praying each day at noon and following a complex calendar of ceremonies and holy days. Chultans hold dinosaurs in reverential regard Ubtao’s children, and how these creatures interact with a person is taken as a sign of his favour, or his displeasure.
Canonical Sources: Powers & Pantheons [2e] p88 (description of the power and his worshippers)
Source: Jon Winter-Holt