Bahamut
Bahamut
Bahamut (pronounced: /bɑːˈhɑːmʌt/ ba-HA-mut or: /ˈbɑːhɑːmʌt/ BA-ha-mut) is the dragon god of justice and a subservient deity to Torm, god of law. Before entering the Faerûnian pantheon, he was a member of the Draconic pantheon, as a deity of good dragons, metallic dragons, wisdom, and enlightened justice (justice tempered with mercy and punishment with forgiveness) known by the name of Xymor (pronounced: /ˈzaɪmɔːr/ ZIE-more). For some time, he was also a member of the Untheric pantheon, under the alias of Marduk. His natural form is that of a platinum dragon, said by many to be the only one of his kind. He is also the eternal rival of his sister Tiamat, queen of the chromatic dragons.Description
Appearance
In his natural form, Bahamut is a massive dragon approximately 180 feet (55 meters) long, with a tail the same length as his body, with platinum scales tougher than any shield (said by some to be virtually indestructible) that glow with a faint blue sheen, and blue eyes, the exact color of which is hard to specify and may depend on Bahamut's mood. As Xymor, he was described as a huge dragon wrapped in a scintillating aura of light so brilliant that it was impossible to tell his color. When he wished to wander the mortal world, he usually takes on the appearance of an old human or demihuman dressed in peasant robes accompanied by seven canaries. Some sages believe Bahamut uses this humanoid guise to not frighten non-dragon beings. They also believe that while Bahamut is fond of his old man guise, he has other guises as well. Other recorded guises include that of a prince with a carriage drawn by seven horses, an urchin accompanied by seven friends, and a beggar followed by seven dogs.Diet
Bahamut's favored food is the early morning frost on blades of grass, honey, and daisy petals. He is able to eat anything, however, and needs no sustenance while in his palace.Realm
Myths claim that the great fortified castle that Bahamut calls home is somewhere "behind the east wind". Many scholars believe Bahamut's castle is located on the Elemental Plane of Air. Others believe his palace is located "behind the north wind", this being the origin of his "Lord of the North Wind" title. However, "Bahamut's Palace" is actually located on the plane of Celestia.Personality
Bahamut is stern and very disapproving of evil, always arguing with Asgorath about his crusade against it. He accepts no excuses for evil acts, and doesn't tolerate even minor offenses by evil creatures. In spite of his stance, he is also considered one of the most compassionate beings in the multiverse. He has limitless empathy for the downtrodden, the dispossessed, and the helpless. He usually prefers to polymorph those who have offended him instead of killing them, although it is also said that Bahamut loathes sullying himself with the blood of evil creatures. By draconic standards, Bahamut is neither vain nor desirous of treasure. He values wisdom, knowledge, prophecies, and songs instead. He uses the great wealth he has amassed over the ages to help those in need, while using the magic items he has gathered to further his goals. However, he also viciously pursues (usually sending his champions and followers) those who try to steal the hoard from his palace as, after all, he is a god of justice. Bahamut also likes to prove the strength and worthiness of his followers by battling against them in his dragon form, halting the combat when his followers are injured or when they overcome him. However, he is prone to get carried away by his zeal, and has powerful healers on hand in case he gravely injures one of his followers in these battles. While his court is comprised of only gold dragons, Bahamut enjoys the company of all good dragons, delighting in their differences and varied personalities.Activities
Bahamut spends half his time traveling the Material plane's many worlds (including Toril) in the guise of an old man. In this form, he travels from one place to another with no apparent purpose and is quick to offer advice, information, or assistance to other travelers he encounters on the road. He always tries to assess the worthiness—viewed through a lens of justice, nobility, and honor—of everyone he meets while traveling. Some say that Bahamut has visited every known world and plane during these travels at least once in his lifetime. When Bahamut assumes the form of the old man, he is usually accompanied by seven gold great wyrms polymorphed into canaries or some other small animal form, always ready to attack anyone foolish enough to threaten their god. He spends the rest of his time holding court in his shining palace on Celestia. Good-aligned clerics and paladins usually take pilgrimages to his castle, seeking to receive the blessings of the Platinum Dragon. Bahamut is ever watchful against the machinations of Tiamat, and never interferes in the affairs of mortal creatures unless his actions can also stop her evil schemes. However, when he confronted her, he always takes the necessary actions to stop the spread of her influence and to undo whatever damage she has done. Bahamut is unable to turn his back on any good creatures in need - even if Tiamat isn't involved. He prefers to help them in indirect ways, such as giving them useful information, needed advice that borders on prophecy, a safe refuge, or healing and bolstering them with his powerful magic.Powers
Bahamut disdains combat, and prefers to talk with his opponents and convince them to surrender using his legendary diplomatic skills. He speaks many languages, including Draconic, Celestial, Auran, and Common, although he has the ability to speak to any intelligent creature thanks to his ever-present, receptive form of telepathy. Despite his aversion to battle, he is easily capable of defending himself. Along with all the standard powers and godly senses of a deity of his rank, as well as the natural abilities of an ancient dragon, those who have seen him fight claim he has two breath weapons, one a powerful cone of cold, the other a vapor that turns his enemies into gaseous forms. A third special attack is his roar, which is so powerful that it can disintegrate creatures or objects within 100 feet (30 meters). If facing off against more powerful creatures, this roar still permanently deafens those who are not turned to dust. On top of that, he is more powerful than any mortal dragon, and is also reputed to know every arcane and divine spell. Bahamut also has the ability to see invisible beings and objects, and to breathe underwater indefinitely. Likewise, he can freely use his breath weapons or cast spells while underwater.Aspects
Bahamut is able to create aspects of himself from the willing sacrifice of a powerful metallic dragon worshiper. While the dragon dies during the ritual, the newly created aspect remembers all of its previous life and is utterly bound to Bahamut's will forever after. Unlike normal divine aspects of other gods, aspects of Bahamut are not extensions of Bahamut's self but rather independent beings. They are not as powerful as Bahamut's normal avatars, however. He dislikes creating aspects in this way, as he prefers his dragon worshipers remain as dragons rather than sacrifice themselves, but he sometimes asks one of his dragon worshipers to become an aspect when it is needed - either to act as an emissary, to become a long-term guardian, or to chase evil beings way too powerful for his mortal followers to face. Occasionally, aspects of Bahamut arise spontaneously on Celestia or a closely related plane. Unlike Bahamut's normal aspects, these spontaneous aspects are short-lived, biological echoes of Bahamut's divine will. They usually fade to nothingness within a day. These aspects are usually the ones who answer the magical summons of Bahamut's worshipers. Aspects of Bahamut are fearless, surprisingly intelligent combatants who care nothing for their continued existence, something that makes them far more dangerous than mortal dragons because of their coldly calculated rage and battle acumen. Aspects of Bahamut usually fight to the death unless their existence is more important than any tactical gain they could get from a battle. Despite this, aspects of Bahamut are more willing to converse with mortals and deal diplomatically with them than most divine aspects, although they only speak from positions of superiority due to them as representatives of the Platinum Dragon.History
For ages, sages debated whether Bahamut was actually a deity or not. Many believed he was the archetype of good dragonkind, the avatar of another deity, or even a mortal dragon so powerful that other dragons revered him like a god. Whatever he was, sages knew for certain that he was powerful, was venerated by many good dragons as their king, and was even respected by evil ones.Origins
The fact is that Bahamut was actually a god. He came into existence alongside the rest of the draconic pantheon when the first dragons were born, although in those ancient times he was known as Xymor by his dragon followers. His origins are highly conflicting, however, as there are many accounts about how he came into being. In the more commonly accepted traditions, he was the son of Asgorath and brother of Tiamat and Null; while in the traditions of gold dragon society he was believed to be the son of Lendys and Tamara. Myths from the dragonborn of Abeir claim instead that Bahamut and Tiamat were born from the sundered corpse of Io (the name by which dragonborn knew Asgorath) when he was killed in the Dawn War. Whatever the truth, his cult grew rapidly in the communities of metallic dragons, especially among young gold dragons. Some sages speculate that this was because gold dragons believed Bahamut was once a gold dragon whose great goodness caused him to transcend his golden form and become a unique dragon breed.The Dragonfall Wars
Once dragons as a race had established themselves during the Time of Dragons, the various religious factions of dragons began to battle one another over their different ideologies, in what is known as the Draco Holy Wars. Among those conflicts, there was one related to Bahamut that divided the usually monolithic gold dragon culture. As the precepts of Bahamut became more popular, the younger golds began to forsake the worship of Lendys and Tamara, whom they regarded as old-fashioned and inconsistent, to embrace the faith of the Platinum Dragon, an attitude that put them at odds with older gold dragons, who worshiped those two dragon gods with fanatical devotion. Although this conflict never degenerated into outright violence, religious intolerance became quite widespread among gold dragons, something that had no precedent until that time and never happened since. Over time, religious fervor waned and draconic philosophers came to the conclusion that gods who allowed such behavior were not worthy of their worship. This started the draconic apathy towards their gods that lasted for thousands of years. The followers of Bahamut and Tiamat didn't lose their faith toward their gods, however, and continued fighting in what was known as the Dragonfall War. To combat Tiamat's aberrant creations, Bahamut created powerful draconic humanoids known as the Ux Bahamuti, who served as his emissaries in the mortal realm during the first years of the war. The Ux Bahamuti were somehow related to the dragonborn native to Abeir; however, how they were related was a secret known only by a few older dragons. The war waxed and waned in intensity, with the last era of intense fighting occurring between −2087 DR and −1071 DR. It was during this time that the Untheric empire began and with it, their pantheon became prominent. Bahamut became part of that pantheon by taking the alias of Marduk, one of the Untheric greater deities. A second front in the Dragonfall War opened and the two dragon gods fought each other personally, with neither being able to gain the upper hand. In −1071 DR, in a battle of the Orcgate Wars known as the Battle of the Gods, while Gilgeam fought with Ilneval, Tiamat saw her chance to strike, but before she could kill the God-king, Marduk intervened and killed her, saving Gilgeam's life at the expense of his own. With both of their Untheric aspects dead, Tiamat and Bahamut were both stripped of their divine power. Marduk's church was eradicated and Bahamut was reduced to the status of celestial paragon.Return of the Dragon King
Bahamut was forced to stay like this, without enough followers to worship him as a god, living in the upper planes or wandering the material plane, doing whatever good he could. Then, in the Year of the Serpent, 1359 DR, Gareth Dragonsbane and his companions returned from the Abyss after destroying the Wand of Orcus. They brought with them the Tree-Gem, which Bahamut had given back to them as a sign of his covenant to protect Damara from demons. The Tree-Gem brought renewed interest from non-dragons in the worship of Bahamut as a god, and as he gained new followers, and he was able to restore his deific status as a lesser deity once again. However, at some point before the Year of Rogue Dragons, 1373 DR, Bahamut was trapped in an ancient prison somehow related to the Dracorage mythal. In the Year of Rogue Dragons, 1373 DR, after the destruction of Sammaster and the end of the High Magic that sustained the Dracorage mythal, Bahamut was able to free himself from his prison and reappeared in Celestia, and soon after launched an invasion of Tiamat's demesne in Dragon Eyrie. With the renewed faith in him, Bahamut began preparing for a renewal of the Dragonfall War as Tiamat had regained her status as a lesser deity thirteen years prior. He gifted his most devout followers with the ability to turn themselves into dragonborn of Bahamut, so that the war could continue between mortals again. The destruction of the Dracorage mythal also heralded the prophesied "Turning of the Great Cycle", which sparked the religious fervor lacking in dragons since the beginning of the Dragonfall War. In the Year of Lightning Storms, 1374 DR, lightning and meteor showers pounded Faerûn, and Bahamut and Tiamat instructed their respective followers to seek out such sites as they would each contain some form of dragon egg. Unfortunately for Bahamut, Tiamat's followers were much more effective in retrieving the eggs than his own. In the Year of Blue Fire, 1385 DR, after the Spellplague had wreaked havoc in the planes, a group of demons led by the balor lord Axithar invaded the House of the Triad, and when Tyr and Torm sent calls for help, Bahamut answered by sending his legions to aid in destroying the demons. Afterwards, Bahamut became part of the Faerûnian pantheon when Torm promoted him to the same position Torm once occupied while serving Tyr, becoming a temporary member of The Triad, replacing Tyr until his return after the Second Sundering in the 1480s DR. He also gained a few followers among the dragonborn of Tymanther. After Tiamat's failed attempt to escape from Avernus in the late years of the 1480s DR, Bahamut sent the copper dragon Balarystul to that plane to keep an eye on the activities of Tiamat's followers.Relationships
Bahamut's allies include good dragons, half-dragons, dragonborn (both Abeiran and ancient ones), and good draconic creatures. Bahamut IS a servant deity to Torm, occupying an equivalent position to that of a knight. As a comrade in arms of Torm, both deities have battled side-by-side against evil gods and devils on many occasions. Bahamut's antithesis is Tiamat, as both of them represent opposing values, and this enmity is reflected in the attitude of each deity's worshipers as well. He is also at odds with his brother Null.Servitors
As Bahamut is active in the Material plane, he needs fewer divine servants than other deities. The best known of his few exarchs is Kuyutha, a dragonborn demigod. As of 1479 DR, the King of Justice Tamarand is one of his few Chosen.The Seven Gold Wyrms
A council of seven ancient gold dragons comprise Bahamut's court. They are Bahamut's closest servants and friends. Each one works on specific tasks, and serves as Bahamut's emissaries in tasks that don't demand the god's personal attention. They also advise Bahamut on matters of honor and act as a jury when the god is judging evildoers—often apprehended by his champions. Some claim these wyrms are reincarnations of dead kings, renowned for their sense of justice and returned to life to serve the Platinum Dragon. Gold dragons, however, believe that Bahamut chose among the most noble and courageous among them to serve him in this capacity, and they consider a position in his court to be the most prestigious of all. According to gold dragon traditions, Bahamut chose them through secret, elaborate, and dangerous tests that challenged their mettle. Once appointed to a position in his court, that gold dragon serves Bahamut until dead or too old or infirm to aid their god. It is unknown if there is some form of hierarchy among them. As of the 15th century DR, the Seven Gold Wyrms are Borkadd the Claw, Kurya the Eye, Sonngrad the Wing, Gruemar the Voice, Marroshok the Tail, Troannaxia the Presence, and Urgala the Fang.Worshipers
The majority of Bahamut's worshipers prior to the Spellplague were metallic dragons. While he was revered by all good dragons, gold, silver, and brass dragons held him in particularly high regard. His worship grew in the decades following the Time of Troubles, when he regained his divine status, as non-dragons began to take interest in his teachings. When he became a subservient deity to Torm, after the Spellplague, many Tormites also paid homage to Bahamut as well, and it wasn't uncommon for both gods to lend their strength to worshipers of either deity at the same time. Followers of Bahamut often take on quests to oppose the schemes of Tiamat and to stop or destroy her followers. They are allies of worshipers of Torm, Moradin, Yondalla, and other lawful good deities.Clergy
Bahamut accepts only clerics of good alignments. Whether they are dragons, dragonborn, half-dragons, or other beings attracted to his philosophy, clerics of the Platinum Dragon always have to strive to take constant but subtle actions on behalf of good while trying to do as little harm in the process as possible. Dragon clerics are usually nurtured from birth, trained by a senior dragon cleric, usually a parent or close friend of their parents, although it is not unusual that a dragon of any age hears the call of Bahamut and seeks out clerical training. As with any dragon deity, dragons who want to become clerics of Bahamut have to first acquire an appropriate holy symbol. This holy symbol becomes the most prized item of their hoards after that, as it is a symbol of their status in dragon society and of the cleric's devotion to Bahamut - to lose it is considered a blasphemy. If a dragon cleric doesn't try to recover a stolen or lost holy symbol, he or she will lose their investiture. Usually a dragon has to acquire his or her holy symbol on their own, but Bahamut can also bestow a holy symbol to a dragon he wants to be his cleric. The holy symbol used by dragon clerics of Bahamut is a small dragon claw (about the size of a human hand) usually made of platinum or some other metal plated with platinum, although younger (and relatively poorer) dragons make theirs of their own metal type. They carry their holy symbol at all times, usually around their necks on a stout chain. One of the main goals of a dragon cleric is to acquire their most preferred type of holy symbol; in the case of Bahamut's worshipers, this is one made of platinum. In some instances, Bahamut blesses some of his clerics for services rendered by upgrading their holy symbol to one made of platinum. Bahamut is known to work with his clerics more often than other dragon deities, and he asks his clerics to oppose the greatest weaknesses of dragonkind, which in Bahamut's point of view are the tendencies of good dragons to perform questionable acts because of greed or cowardice, the chance to be subdued (something all dragon gods frown upon), and the existence of evil dragons. Like the dragon clerics of the other dragon deities, clerics of Bahamut are expected to perform three key functions alongside any other tasks he asks them to do:- To act as role models for other good dragons
- To function as an emissary of Bahamut in a given area
- To spread Bahamut's will to other dragons in that area while collecting sacrifices from Bahamut's worshipers.
Orders
- The Talons of Justice are an order of dragon paladins dedicated to Bahamut that follow the Ptarian Code. No one knows exactly how many Talons there are, but the group probably numbers in the scores. Group members are spread throughout Faerûn, many living in human and demihuman form in cities and towns of other races.
- The Platinum Cadre is an order of dragonborn knights from Tymanther who believe that not all dragons were evil, and that dragonborn are the ancient children of Bahamut. They work actively to change Tymantheran prejudices about dragons, and although they are ridiculed by Tymantheran society, they are also acknowledged as some of the best warriors Tymanther has to offer, even if grudgingly.
Temples
Temples to Bahamut are extremely rare, as the Platinum Dragon didn't appreciate being honored by objects, taking into account deeds instead. Many gold, silver, and brass dragons maintain small shrines to Bahamut in their lairs, usually nothing more than Bahamut's holy symbol engraved on a wall. The few temples that are made to honor him are beautiful and elegant buildings with simple furniture and no embellishment or adornment. Those temples have meeting rooms where followers can gather to plan their next campaign against Tiamat, and a few smaller rooms where individuals can pray, meditate, or rest in privacy.Dogma
Bahamut's dogma is based on justice, nobility, protection, and honor. He teaches his followers to always uphold the highest ideals of honor and justice; to be constantly vigilant against evil and to oppose it from all fronts; and to protect the weak, liberate the oppressed, and defend just order. Bahamut advocates a "greater justice" that includes fighting against evil and toppling oppressive regimes. He also likes to reward strength of purpose and character in his followers. His dragon adepts follow the Ptarian Code, a draconic code of honor created by the gold dragon Ptaris in the ancient past. Originally intended as a code of conduct for the lords who attended the King of Justice, the Ptarian Code was eventually adopted by many gold and silver dragons. The Ptarian Code is similar to the codes of chivalry adopted by knightly orders of humanity. It includes paying homage to Bahamut, as well as to the draconic deities Lendys and Tamara. The major precepts are:- Justice and Good above all
- Honor and Fealty to the King
- Honor and Respect to Righteous Innocence
- Honor and Duty to the Balancer (Lendys), to Her Mercy (Tamara), and to the Justicemaker (Bahamut)
- Honor and Protection to the Lesser Races
- Honor and Correction to the Enemies of Justice and Good
- Honor and Forbearance for oneself
Rites
Bahamut's worshipers and clergy have no formal rituals or ceremonies. Those who follow the Platinum Dragon believe in the philosophy of "praying through their deeds". The only activity that is considered something like a ritual is the Rite of Rebirth, the magical process by which non-dragon humanoids transform themselves into dragonborn
Children
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