Hello everybody Jorphdan here the PH is silent.
Today I’d like to talk about the two draconic
deities Bahamut and Tiamat.
Both Bahamut and Tiamat were once one dragon deity
named Io or Asgorath.
Now Io is the dragon deity of creation.
Io was thought to have created the multiverse.
Also from my readings it looks like Io started
as a primordial but soon had worshipers in
the form of Dragons that he then became a
Greater Deity.
Considered to be the father or mother of dragons.
He or She was neutral in alignment but when
creating dragons their form was shaped by
the current feelings of Io.
When Io was more lawful and good metallic
dragons were created.
When more angry and chaotic, chromatic dragons
were created.
Legend says that Io fought a powerful primordial
known as the King of Terror.
Why were they were fighting?
It’s not clear but I assume for the rule
of Toril as this took place during the Dawn
War.
These two behemoths fought one another until
Io was slain.
Using an Adamantine Axe The King of Terror
cut Io in half from head to tail.
These two halfs fell to the ground and rose
up as new gods, Bahamut and Tiamat.
This marks the only time the two deities ever
work together, they jointly attacked the King
of Terror and took him out.
Droplets of Io’s blood spattered across
the world and some Dragonborn believe this
is where they came from.
The dragonborn race rose from the blood of
Io.
This also seems to coincide with the event
known as the Tearfall where Io hurled a moon
at Toril creating the sea of fallen stars,
it was after this event dragons started to
appear on Toril.
Whether this was coincidence or Io sending
his creations to the planet, it is unknown.
Also there is some confusion with this myth
as the timeline seems to indicate that the
fight between Io and the Lord of Terror occurred
before the Tearfall, but it was definitely
Asgorath that caused the tearfall.
But how could that happen if she/he was dead…
I don’t really have an answer.
But if you do let me know in the comments below.
Bahamut is also known as the Platinum Dragon,
King of the good dragons, and Lord of the
North.
Bahamut is a draconic deity that made his
way into the Faerunian pantheon.
He is often worshiped by metallic dragons,
and humans who value enlightened justice.
There are no other known Platinum Dragons,
he is the only one.
He has the power to shapechange and would
often walk the world dressed as an old human
in peasant robes.
Bahamut is stern and very disapproving of
evil.
However he is a very compassionate deity but
his empathy has limits to those who corrupt
and destroy for no reason.
For those who bring evil into the world.
At Bahamut’s side are seven great gold wyrms
that follow him everywhere.
When he takes the guise of an old man they
polymorph with him into seven golden canaries,
or some other animal form.
In his dragon form he has silver-white scales
that sparkle and gleam even in the dimmest
light.
Other races worship Bahamut but he is mostly
worshiped by metallic dragons.
Because of this there are few temples or clerics
of Bahamut.
You might find a half dragon (not a dragonborn)
serving as a Paladin of Bahamut, although
dragonborns could certainly be paladins as
well.
The dragons that do worship Bahamut might
have simple shrines built to their deity within
their lair.
In 1359 DR Gareth Dragonsbane, future king
of Damara, returned with his adventuring company
from the Abyss with the Wand of Orcus that
had been shattered in the blood of an avatar
of Tiamat.
Left behind was a small white gem known as
the Tree-Gem.
The gem was planted in the courtyard of the
Palace Dragonsbane and grew into a tall white
tree with gold leaves.
This tree was a symbol of the protection Bahamut
offered to the people of Damara.
It brought a renewed interest in the deity
and new followers which increased his standing
within the Forgotten Realms Pantheon.
He is ever watchful of the comings and goings
of Tiamat, his sister and rival.
He rarely interfered with mortals unless Tiamat
was involved then he would appear to balance the
scale.
Tiamat is the other half of this coin.
Where Bahamut took the good side of Io Tiamat
was the opposite.
She plots against Faerun and aims to control
dragonkind.
She is the queen of the Chromatic dragons
who were always the more volatile and evil
of the dragons.
She stand apart from Bahamut with her 5 heads,
each a different color reflecting the types
of Chromatic dragons.
Black, Blue, Green, Red, and White.
Each head is independent of each other and
fight amongst themselves occasionally.
She is greedy, hateful, and vain.
Always focused on more power and wealth.
There is some contention in classifying Tiamat
as a deity.
Some see her as an evil force for dragonkind.
A devil or a demon perhaps.
But the Chromatic dragons worship her as a
goddess.
Despite some thinking she is a devil, demon,
or dragon she is in fact a goddess.
Tiamat had a rival named Gilgeam from the
Untheric Pantheon.
In -1701 DR Tiamat attacked Gilgeam but an
aspect of Bahamut named Marduk intervened
and killed Tiamat at the cost of his own life.
Flash forward to 1346 DR and cult followers
of Tiamat revived her with magic in an aspect
called “The Dark Lady.”
Then during the Time of Troubles Gilgeam and
Tiamat fought and again Gilgeam won with Tiamat’s
essence spread across Faerun into three separate
dragons; Tchazzar, Gestaniius, and Skuthosin.
Tchazzar devoured the other two dragons which
revived Tiamat and she took physical form
once again.
She returned more powerful and killed Gilgeam
who wasn’t revived until the events of the
Second Sundering.
It’s unclear how Tiamat entered into the
Nine Hells.
Some say she was banished there by Bahamut.
Another theory is that she was sent there
by a mighty curse from a forgotten god of
Giants during the war between the dragons
and the giants.
This curse brought an end to the war, but
if Tiamat ever were to return the feud between
dragon kind and giants would start anew.
Making her home in Avernus, the first layer
of the Nine Hells, she cooperates with Asmodeus
offering to be his companion, devouring all
who opposed him.
The two have a binding agreement and some
believe it is this contract that keeps Tiamat
stuck in Avernus.
Tiamat used her magic to glimpse into the
mind of Bel, the former lord of Avernus, thinking
him ambitious enough to attack Asmodeus.
However once she saw his thoughts Tiamat found
out that Bel was instructed to keep her imprisoned.
Apparently Asmodeus doesn’t trust her and
wants to keep Tiamat under thumb.
Although she is trapped in Avernus she has
free roam throughout that layer.
Tiamat has created a fortress here in the
hells.
It appears as a jagged, crown shaped mountain.
Five watchtowers each carved to resemble the
head and neck of a dragon rise up from the
main structure.
It’s main entrance is the roof, keeping
away non flying fiends.
Most devils and demons have learned to steer clear from her fortress otherwise be devoured
by Chromatic Dragons that circle the perimeter.
Tiamat enraged that she is stuck in this layer
of hell she sent instructions to her followers
“The cult of the dragon” to assemble a
powerful artifact known as the Mask of the
Dragon Queen, which would allow her to escape
from Avernus and enter Toril.
Two very interesting deities that you could
use in your adventure.
If you want you can play through the Wizard
of the coast adventure “Rise of Tiamat”
and experience her escape from the Nine Hells.
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