ccording to the Dreloreal holy writings of Teshdremor, the Star Mother was a female dragon once known as the Destroyer, a combatant in a battle to decide the fate of the universe. Depending on the victor of this skirmish, the universe would change and grow to harbor life and light or it would be returned to an even, featureless plain shrouded in darkness. Elder gods from destroyed worlds conceived this trial and its combatants, setting Creator against Destroyer in a clash that still echoes across the fabric of time.

Their battle upon the Iaara expanse was long and violent, both Creator and Destroyer clearly stating their solemn purpose as they traded blows. Though the Creator possessed agility and conviction, the Destroyer was built to be a warrior and physical combat was one of her specialties. This led to her ultimate triumph, though the victory was bittersweet. Rather than fulfill her duty, the Destroyer, touched by the Creator’s fervor and the necessity of change, took the body of her fallen foe and from it made ten tangible worlds upon which a variety of creatures would soon live.

The Destroyer was aided in this process by the Traveler, a transient divinity better known as Tirvalleis. Having met on the dark plane of her lair, the Destroyer introduced herself as Teshdremor, and the two lonesome creatures quickly became close friends. As a gift to his host, the Traveler took the Destroyer’s discarded scales and made the twinkling stars of the night sky, proclaiming Teshdremor to be the Mother of the Stars. Before leaving to continue on his journey, the Traveler also gave Teshdremor a sparkling gemstone that would become Ihuro, the sun and the moon, its brilliance serving to warm and illuminate her lair.

Teshdremor's Encounter
Art by Jason Chan

With the Traveler’s lessons fresh in her mind, Teshdremor’s powers grew to new and exciting levels. She created tyrvamen, the race of man, on the world of Tera’vall as a tribute to her companion Tirvalleis and his teachings. And although she was very proud of herself and her new creations, she also despaired at Tirvalleis’ absence, longing for his charming smile, thoughtful discussions and heartwarming poems. So distracted and depressed by this yearning, Teshdremor neglected the tyrvamen. Boldly, they spread across the surface of their world like wildfire and found new gods to worship in place of their lost Star Mother.

Incensed, Teshdremor looked to punish mankind for their impudence. Acting as the Destroyer once again, the Star Mother created seventeen dragon lieutenants – the drachere – in her own image, yet frightening and unrestrained, and loosed them upon Tera’vall. The resulting plight of the tyrvamen did not satisfy her, however. As the drachere worked to undo all that she had created, Teshdremor instead came to know new sorrow. The tyrvamen could learn to love her again, and she could not allow the drachere to continue their senseless slaughter.

Realizing her mistake in not guiding the tyrvamen through their ages of advancement, Teshdremor took immediate steps to again gain their favor and show that she had not truly abandoned them. She created the drakadremaar, a blend of man and dragon that would serve as missionaries to reach her wayward tyrvamen and regain their respect. To augment their physical might, she bestowed upon them the Amoryr, the arcane art of magic, and the ability to command its unseen power.

To her dismay, the drakadremaar were not met with open arms and understanding, but were instead branded monsters and dangerous religious zealots by the tyrvamen. Their numbers increased dramatically as Teshdremor transformed tyrvamen still faithful to her into drakadremaar, but growing prejudices soon drove her new children away from the cities of man and into remote, less inhabited lands. Tyrvamen societies saw an abrupt split as new religion clashed with old; wars raged, pilgrimages and crusades swept across Tera’vall, and hostility grew between man and draka that remains even to this day.

oday, the Star Mother has experienced a decline in worshipers with the coming of Draekaver Saldaxin. A more tangible lesser god, Saldaxin has been able to personally touch the lives of many of his people, easily gaining their respect and reverence over that of the Star Mother. Once the sole guardian of drakadremaar boldness and their prideful ways, Teshdremor's power and influence are steadily waning in the Third Era.

Even before the Draekaver’s ascension, drakadremaar were largely pulling away from Teshdremor’s teachings, seeking guidance in more earthly oracles, scholars and wizards. She was for the most part a silent god, rarely seen or heard, her influence limited to the occasional Godsdown journey or words whispered on the wind. Rather than purposefully neglect her people, Teshdremor’s faithful believe her absence is the result of a mandate by Tirvalleis and the Draekaver’s taint upon Tera’vall. Opponents of this theory contest that Teshdremor wishes to see her people’s advancement limited and their minds singly focused upon her and nothing else; these restrictions have resulted in a violent, reactionary departure from her and her tenets.

Tirvalleism only recognizes her as a consort of the Iyudrakiire, Tirvalleis, and nothing more; few true dragons see her as any sort of power, though some iyudrakal of the Shadow Wing proudly bear her symbol and feel they are the direct descendants of the drachere lieutenants of old. As a result of the controversy, the majority of the Star Mother’s followers are the fanatically devoted, unquestioning Dremoa.

"The dragons are either too self-important or too wrapped up in Tirvalleism to care about her. The draka love Saldaxin. Men think she is Yveren incarnate. What is left for the Star Mother?” - Unknown

Unfortunately, on many occasions, Teshdremor’s earthly representation is confused with what people believe is Yveren’s avatar. This has resulted in sinister rumors to all-out campaigns against her, forcing the Star Mother to selectively choose those she will appear to rather than walk abroad unhindered. Many believe that Teshdremor and Yveren are one and the same, but this theory has never been proven.

Less hazardous meetings between the Star Mother and her worshipers are arranged by use of specially prepared artifacts. These items are crafted or blessed by the Star Mother during an initial physical appearance with her chosen believer. From thereon out, Teshdremor prefers to use the link established through the artifact to communicate, as it is less of a public matter. The few artifacts that have become available for study are constructed almost entirely of astralite, the “steel of the gods” or “thunderstone” that is feverishly sought after by many orcish and dwarven metal smiths. Many also direct their prayers to her constellation, a circle inside an eight-pointed star, its two brightest stars being Riand and Aiand.

"Crazy buggers! I saw a Drae and one of them Dremoa goin' at it fist to claw in front of the old mill. They had some fight in 'em! Shame I dinnae stay to see who won...” - Jak, Memoriam militiaman

he Star Mother is worshiped by the Dremoa, a secretive group of followers strewn throughout all of Tera’vall. Their organization consists of small enclaves of highly loyal and ferocious drakadremaar warrior priests, with tyrvamen acting as servants or workers. Most of Teshdremor’s casual followers have either turned to Draekaverism or have perished in cleansings performed by other religious groups, including the Serpent Order.

Though strongly devoted to the Star Mother and proud of their goddess, the Dremoa do not operate recklessly. They often choose to worship in secret avoid making unprovoked attacks on other religious organizations. The Triad Church, one of Tera’vall’s largest religious orders, does not even consider them a classifiable threat; they have even sponsored Dremoan raids on Draekaverist encampments which threaten their sovereignty. In another surprising alliance, the much-secluded Duri-aden elves maintain profitable relations with a Dremoa gathering in Torm-Ymen.

The Dremoa consider the fight against Draekaverism their true calling, however, and will die for their cause. Some believe that Draekaver Saldaxin was at one time an agent for Teshdremor, and he used her trust to leech her divine power to secure his own ascension. Considered a betrayer and usurper, Saldaxin is despised by Teshdremor and her followers, many of whom will devote their lives to assassinating the Draekaver and removing his taint from Tera’vall. Saldaxin’s own followers, a group comprised largely of tyrvamen and drakadremaar, are frequently subject to Dremoan ambushes and raids.