[P.030]艾欧Ao

[席文塔姆]

[P.030]艾欧Ao

艾欧Ao
　　（上帝艾欧[Lord Ao]，隐藏者[the Hidden One]）

　　宇宙与国度天宇神上神力[Over-power of the Cosmos and Realmspace]

　　神职PORTFOLIO：诸神的创造[Creation of deities]，宇宙平衡的维护[maintenance of cosmic balance]
　　别名ALIASES：无[None]
　　居住界域DOMAIN NAME：未知（假若他有一个）[Unknown（if he even has one）]
　　主神SUPERIOR：某个辉赫的存在[A luminous being]
　　徽记SYMBOL：无[None]
　　信徒阵营WOR. ALIGN.：任意[Any]

　　在动荡之年[the Time of Troubles]之前，“神听命于谁？”属于更应丢给贤者、而不是祭司的那种哲学问题。然而在化身降世[the coming of the Avatars]期间，问题的答案被揭示了出来：诸神自己也有个神，或者说，至少存在一个更强大的力量，该存在依据他们的行为，有能力惩戒和处罚他们。这个实体即艾欧[Ao]（读作AY-oh）。他于动荡之年期间现身，在那之后又隐退到他的居住位面、维度或存在，且从那时起便从不回应凡人的祈求（尽管有位圣武士声称在幻象中见过他）。虽然诸国度[the Realm]的居民们意识到了艾欧的存在，但他们并没有什么理由去呼唤艾欧或是寻求他的至理箴言，而当他们这样做了，无论出于什么动机，也都不会得到回应。
Before the Time of Troubles，the question of who the gods answered to was a philosophical conundrum better suited to sages than priests. During the coming of the Avatars，however，it was revealed that the powers themselves had a deity，or at least a more powerful power who had the ability to chasten and punish them for their actions. This entity is Ao（AY-oh）. He was present during the Time of Troubles，yet since that time has retreated to his home plane，dimension，or existence，and has not responded to mortal entreaties since（though one paladin claims to have seen him in a vision）. While the inhabitants of the Realms are aware of Ao's existence，there is little reason for them to call on him or seek his words of wisdom，which would be unforthcoming in any case.

　　艾欧是国度天宇[Realmspace]的唯一神上神力。艾欧的存在超出了以任何方式排列的神祇力量排名。他被认为比其他任何神力、乃至所有神力联合起来更强。艾欧对凡人的日常生活漠不关心，但他关注着作为其造物的诸国度神力们。他不需要信徒，也不赐予凡人法术。他是否会聆听凡人的祷告或请求值得怀疑。他充当着来自宇宙外部的诸国度的观察者与守护者。
Ao is the only over-power in Realmspace. Ao lies beyond the bounds of the rankings of deities' powers in any way. He is considered to be more powerful than any other power and all powers combined. Ao has little concern for day-to-day mortal life，but he regards the powers of the Realms as his creations. He requires no worshipers and grants no spells to mortals. It is doubtful that he even listens to mortal prayers or pleas. He serves as a watcher and a guardian over the Realms from outside of its cosmos.

艾欧的化身与其他显现Ao's Avatar and Other Manifestations

　　在他现身时（尽管他只现身过一次），艾欧采取的形态有12英尺高。他的面容是不朽的，既不青涩亦不衰老。他的面貌既不英俊亦不丑陋，有着平滑、对称且庸凡特征。他的头发与胡子都是白色的。他披着一件仿佛以天空为布料的礼袍。礼袍是黑色的，以数以百万计的星宿与数以千计的月亮点缀，它们并不惹眼地全部排入一副图案，却整体给人一种美丽、和谐之感。
Ao，when he appears（as he's only done once），takes a form that is 12 feet tall. His face is ageless，neither young nor old. His visage is neither handsome nor ugly，and has even，symmetrical，and unremarkable features. Hishair and beard are white. He wears a robe that appears to be made of celestial cloth. The robe is black and dotted by millions of stars and thousands of moons，all arranged in a pattern that is not quite perceptible，but which gives the whole robe a beautiful，harmonious feel.

　　从理论上讲，艾欧的化身可以做任何事。通常他的行为只关乎神祇而非凡人。任何智慧生物只要愿意承担神性状态的职责与义务，艾欧便能擢升其到任何地位的神性，同样地，他也能随意将某位神祇降级。
Theoretically，Ao's avatar can do anything. Normally he acts only upon deities，not mortals. Ao may promote any sentient being to any stature of godhood instantly if it accepts the responsibilities and duties of the divine state，and he may also demote a deity at will.

教会The Church

　　神职人员Clergy：牧者，可以是除去祭司职业类型外的任何职业者[Ministers，who may be of any class except those of the priest group]
　　神职阵营Clergy’s Align.：任意，但大部分是中立[Any，but most are neutral]

　　直接信仰艾欧的教派紧随着动荡之年诞生。那些教派突然地出现，并在艾欧不回应祈祷、不提供庇护、不赐予法术给忠诚的祭司这件事变得明晰时迅速消失。对艾欧的直接信仰已经沉寂，除去一支位于深水[WaterDeep]城之内的教派、以及一支位于泰瑟尔[Tethyr]地区扎泽司泊[Zazesspur]城奉艾欧之名的教派外，其他所有教派都被证实背后的支持者是希瑞克[Cyric]而非艾欧。位于深水城内的那个团体与其说是一支教会，更像是个辩论社团，它的成员按照自认为受艾欧支持的原则（即寻求保持各种神祇与他们的信仰之间的平衡）行动。
Immediately following the Time of Troubles，cults grew up that worshiped Ao directly. These cults appeared suddenly and then evaporated just as quickly when it became clear that Ao did not answer prayers，offer protection，or grant spells to faithful priests. Direct worship of Ao has subsided，save for a cult in Waterdeep itself and a cult in Ao's name in Zazesspur in Tethyr which turned out to be backed by Cyric，not Ao. The group in Waterdeep tends to behave more like a debating society than a church，and its members act in accordance with the tenets they believe Ao espoused by seeking to maintain the balance among the various deities and their faiths.

　　而费伦上已存在的信仰们，则没找到任何在口头上或行为上反对艾欧教会的理由，因为他们并不畏惧它。他们的高阶祭司已经被其神告知：艾欧不与凡人互动。
The established faiths of Faerûn do not see any reason to speak out against or act against the cult of Ao，because they do not fear it. Their high priests have been informed by their deities that Ao does not interact with mortals.

　　教会的成员和牧者们从未得授来自艾欧的法术和特殊力量。艾欧教会没有祭司。得授了法术或特殊力量的艾欧教会并非真正的艾欧教会，他们的能力或是由另一位神祇（譬如希瑞克）提供，或是通过巧妙地使用魔法物品得到。
Cult members and ministers receive no spells or special powers at all from Ao. The cult of Ao has no priests. Cults of Ao which do receive spells or special powers are not truly cults of Ao，and their abilities are being supplied by another deity（such as Cyric） or through the clever use of magical items.

教义Dogma：
　　深水人[Waterdhavian]艾欧教会的大部分学说辩论，都部分（或完全）是些措辞问题。包括：“艾欧是神上神，但这实际上意味着什么？”“艾欧崇拜什么？”“那个存在的职责是什么？”“如果艾欧未创造诸国度，仅创造了诸国度的神力，那么是谁做的——或者说，是否有这么个造物者？”有些艾欧教派则更为活跃，它们将确保诸国度所有信仰都能积极支持各自神祇被赋予的神职，视作自己的职责。
Dogma：Most doctrinal discussions of the Waterdhavian cult of Ao are partially or totally phrased as questions. These include：Ao is the over-power，but what does that mean，really? Does Ao worship someone? What would that being's function? If Ao did not create the Realms，only the powers of the Realms，then who did—if anyone? Some cults of Ao are more activist and feel that it is their responsibility to ensure that all faiths in the Realms actively support the assigned portfolios of their deities.

日常活动Day-to-Day Activities：
　　该教派大部分活动的中心，都是些围绕着艾欧的自然含义、他于动荡之年期间唯一一次现身所宣讲的内容、以及他是否侍奉着着另一位神上神的争论。
Day-to-Day Activities：Most of the activities of the cult center around debating the meaning of Ao's nature，what he said during his sole appearance during the Time of Troubles，and whether he serves another over-over-power himself.

圣日/重要节日Holy Days/Important Ceremonies：
　　诸神之日[On Gods' Day]是个深水人的圣日，它位于十月[Marpenoth]的第15天，用于纪念诸神之战[the Godswar]的结束（以及上帝艾欧[Lord Ao]现身于深水山[Mount Waterdeep]上）；在当天，艾欧教派将在深水城的极星营帐发起一场彻日的聚会。在庆祝会后紧接着是一场庄严的晚祷服务。
Holy Days/Important Ceremonies：On Gods' Day，a Waterdhavian holiday on the 15th day of Marpenoth celebrating the anniversary of the end of the Godswar（and the day when Lord Ao appeared on Mount Waterdeep），a day-long party is sponsored by the cult of Ao in the Cynosure in Waterdeep. The celebration is followed by a solemn evening prayer service.

主要崇拜中心Major Centers of Worship：
　　艾欧的教会在深水城建起了一座被称作“神上神艾欧神殿[the Temple of the Overgod Ao]”的神殿，但当艾欧对信徒的漠不关心得到持续证明后，这个建筑被重命名为极星营帐。它现在被用作公众论坛和租赁场馆。
Major Centers of Worship：Ao's cult raised a temple to Ao in Water-deep called the Temple of the Overgod Ao，but when Ao continued to prove indifferent to worshipers，the building was renamed the Cynosure. It now serves as a public forum and rental hall.

从属组织Affiliated Orders：
　　无。
Affiliated Orders：None.

祭司的祭服Priestly Vestments：
　　艾欧的牧者（并非祭司）的礼服是在黑色裤子和衬衫上，再披上一件平滑的黑色长礼袍，礼袍上点缀着白色斑点和宝石亮片。艾欧没有圣徽。
Priestly Vestments：The ceremonial garb of the ministers（not priests） of Ao is black trousers and shirt over which is worn a long，flowing robe black dotted with either white spots or jeweled spangles. Ao has no holy symbol.

冒险装束Adventuring Garb：
　　当他们不在提供服务时，艾欧的牧者的穿戴符合当前的时尚、适合的天气或符合他们的职业，怎么样都行。
Adventuring Garb：Ministers of Ao wear whatever is currently in fashion，appropriate for the weather，or suited to their profession when they are not holding services.