Tharizdun
Title(s)
The Chained God, The Dark God, The Ender, The Annihilator
Alignment
Chaotic Evil
Symbol
A dark spiral or a black hexagon, representing decay, entropy, and the ever-growing influence of destruction. Followers use this symbol in rituals or carry it as a token, often inscribed on artifacts or etched into the walls of hidden temples.
Domains
Destruction, Chaos, Madness, Evil
Followers and Clergy
Tharizdun’s followers are typically mad cultists, aberrations, and those who seek the end of all existence. Many of his worshipers are insane, believing that by freeing their imprisoned god, they will gain unimaginable power or bring about the ultimate release from existence. Tharizdun’s cults are extremely secretive, often composed of small cells that operate in isolation to avoid detection. His clergy are just as mad as his lay followers, although some believe they will be granted great rewards for their efforts in freeing the Chained God. These clerics conduct blasphemous rituals involving human sacrifice, dark magic, and the desecration of holy sites. Since Tharizdun’s imprisonment limits his divine power, his clerics must remain in contact with sites or objects containing some of his essence to perform their magic. They wield a weapon known as the Spiral of Decay, symbolizing the downward spiral into annihilation.
Worship Practices
Worship of Tharizdun is secretive and depraved, involving foul rituals, sacrifices, and rites meant to weaken the barriers of his prison. His temples, often built in the shape of black ziggurats, are hidden in remote and desolate places. Worship services involve chanting in dark tongues, performing blood sacrifices, and calling upon the void to consume all things. Rituals are conducted at night or in total darkness, as his followers believe this brings them closer to the Chained God. Clerics often perform sacrificial rites with the goal of increasing their dark deity’s influence or weakening the fabric of his prison. The cult’s ultimate aim is to uncover ancient artifacts and locations that hold the key to freeing Tharizdun, and they scour ruins and forgotten places in search of such secrets.
Character and Doctrine
Tharizdun embodies destruction, chaos, and the end of all existence. His doctrine is simple and absolute: everything must be annihilated. The Dark God’s followers believe that reality itself is a mistake, a flawed construct that must be returned to the void. They see Tharizdun as the harbinger of an inevitable end, the being that will cleanse the universe of all that exists. His teachings encourage followers to embrace madness, as it is believed that the truly insane are more in tune with the reality of the void. His clerics preach that order, life, and existence are illusions that must be shattered, and that only through total annihilation can true freedom be achieved. The cult of Tharizdun seeks to hasten the end, believing that by freeing their god, they will bring about the dissolution of all things.
Manifestations and Interventions
Tharizdun is described as a pitch-black, roiling, amorphous form, faceless and formless. When his influence manifests, it is often accompanied by an unnatural darkness or a sense of creeping dread. His presence can be felt through nightmarish visions, maddening whispers, or a deep, suffocating cold that drains hope and life. Tharizdun’s interventions are subtle, as his imprisonment limits his direct influence; however, his power can still be felt in moments of despair, acts of senseless destruction, or when cultists tap into his essence to work his will. When the prison weakens, Tharizdun’s presence may become more apparent, allowing him to manipulate the dreams and thoughts of his followers, driving them to perform ever more desperate acts in his name.
Divine Relationships and Stories
Tharizdun has no true allies, as his goal of total destruction makes him a threat to all existence, including other gods. It is said that he was imprisoned ages ago by a coalition of deities who sought to prevent the annihilation of reality itself. Even the most evil deities would oppose his escape, as his return would mean the end of everything, including themselves. Tharizdun is particularly opposed by Pelor and Boccob, who played significant roles in his imprisonment and work to ensure he remains bound. Though he has no allies, Tharizdun is known to employ demons and other dark entities to act as his agents, often without their full awareness of his plans. His influence extends through the darkest corners of the multiverse, subtly twisting minds and corrupting those who seek power.
Sacred Items and Symbols
Tharizdun is associated with numerous artifacts and relics that carry a portion of his dark power. The most notable of these are the 333 Gems of Tharizdun, said to hold fragments of his essence. Other artifacts include the Wailer of Tharizdun, a horn that unleashes devastating sonic attacks, and the Sword Druniazth, which is said to consume the souls of its victims. The Scorpion Crown, the Spear of Sorrow, and the Weeping Hexagram (currently in the possession of the Scarlet Brotherhood) are also linked to his worship. Tharizdun’s relics often serve to corrupt those who wield them, bringing them closer to madness and destruction. His symbols, such as the Spiral of Decay or a black hexagon, are used in rituals or as marks of his followers.
Temples and Shrines
Temples dedicated to Tharizdun are hidden, often taking the form of black ziggurats or underground chambers that are difficult to reach. These places are shrouded in darkness and filled with symbols of entropy and decay. They are guarded by the most devoted and insane cultists, who perform dark rites to spread the influence of their imprisoned god. Shrines may be found in desolate regions, abandoned ruins, or places where madness and despair are prevalent. Such shrines are usually marked by crude symbols, stones arranged in spirals, or other signs of corruption. Public knowledge of a Tharizdun temple’s location is considered dangerous enough to provoke immediate action from lawful or good-aligned forces, as his followers are regarded as a threat to all existence.
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