THARIZDUN
The most powerful and darkest of the Diabolical Ones, the creator of the Abyss, coveter of the Shard of Evil. This entity, a long-forgotten god, who sought to destroy all that is, its gender and form unknown, is the mad deity of Chaos, Hatred and Darkness. The anathema of life and order. His followers hope to set him free and once more let him devour the world.
Tenets of Faith
Tharizdun's exact dogma is unknown, as the ages he was imprisoned in the Abyss along with his own growing insanity left him unable to communicate in a meaningful manner. Even when he appears to his followers, he only speaks to them in the form of a shrieking babble that is impossible for mortals to comprehend. The following are assumed teachings, followed by his cults.
Channel power to the Chained God, so he can break his chains. Retrieve lost relics and shrines to the Chained God. Pursue the obliteration of the world, in anticipation of the Chained God's liberation.
Divine Goals & Aspirations
Tharizdun is constantly struggling to break free from his chains and escape his prison. his cults work tirelessly on achieving this goal and even speaking his name out loud, is said to grant to the Mad God some additional power, to let him escape sooner. When Tharizdun escapes, he will most likely attack the gods, taking revenge for his defeat, devouring all of creation and bringing an end to the multiverse.
Personal History
Despite having precious little information available to them, scholars and theologians have formulated the bare tale of the fall of Tharizdun and the formation of The Abyss – two inextricably linked events.
The Fall Of Tharizdun
Three immensely powerful beings existed long before the formation of this world. The name of the first god has been lost to time, and he is simply known as The Creator. He existed with his twins, Ouroboros, the World Serpent, creator of Dragons and Primordials, and an entity comprised of darkness, known as Tharizdun. Although no mortal knows what exact role these deities had in creation of the multiverse, these beings played some major role in creating both the other gods as well as the primordials, as well as the formation of The Astral Sea and the Elemental Chaos.
Tharizdun, although possessing near limitless power, craved still more. He became obsessed with learning all that he could learn, and claiming ultimate power over all things. His relentless pursuit led him to the center of existence where he discovered the most destructive, dangerous, and unpredictable element in all creation – The Abyssal Heart.
No one knows who or what created The Abyssal Heart, or why it existed. The object, a massive black and red pulsing stone, promised mastery of all reality to Tharizdun, if only he claimed it. Tharizdun, unable to resist the promise of limitless power, claimed the Heart. At that moment, anything good within Tharizul perished for eternity, replaced by the undying evil of The Abyssal Heart, and became known as the Mad God.
Tharizdun returned to the domain of the Overgod and the other deities. At first, he approached a number of gods and a few primordials. He offered these beings the opportunity to join him in the conquest of all creation. Holding up The Abyssal Heart for all to see, he spoke of limitless power and superiority over all others. Using the Heart to subtly influence his audience, he recruited a number of them to his cause. These errant gods and primordials included names such as Orcus, Demogorgon, and Fraz-Urb'luu.
Tharizdun approached his twin brother, the Overgod, and flaunted his newfound cosmic powers. When the Overgod and the other deities refused to surrender, Tharizdun attacked. The Abyssal Heart, combined with Tharizdun’s innate abilities, proved overwhelming. Tharizdun slew several gods before departing the field of battle in triumph.
Next, the new god of darkness traveled to the Elemental Chaos and confronted the primordials. As before, he corrupted a handful of their number before launching an assault against the others. Despite their individual strength and prowess, the primordials could not defeat this new threat.
Creation Of The Abyss
With his victory and domination all but assured, Tharizdun decided he and his followers deserved their own unique realm. First, he carved out a domain within the Elemental Chaos and cast it to his desires. As he learned the secrets of The Abyssal Heart, however, he realized he could create an even better realm. Tharizdun and his allies abandoned this domain, now known as Pandemonium, a place of banishment. Even today, Pandemonium bears the scars of Tharizdun's evil.
To that end, he planted The Abyssal Heart deep within the Elemental Chaos. Much as a seed planted in the ground, the Heart grew and developed, forever changing portions of the Elemental Chaos and forming what is now known as The Abyss.
While Tharizdun glorified in his victory and explored his abilities, the Overgod formed an urgent alliance of the surviving gods and primordials. Fragile though it was, this alliance offered the sole hope of defeating Tharizdun before he threatened the entirety of creation. One of the gods, took the exceptional step of traveling in secrecy to the Mad God’s new domain. The god, disguised to mask her true identity, spoke to Tharizul's lieutenants. She spoke of overthrowing Tharizdun so his lieutenants could rule instead. She took full advantage of the avarice and corruption of these fallen beings, planting the seeds for Tharizdun’s defeat.
Led by the Overgod, the united deities and primordials attacked into The Abyss. Initially, the offensive made substantial progress, but then the Mad God strode onto the field and the tide of battle changed in his favor. As the combat intensified, Tharizdun and the Overgod moved closer and closer to each other. Their impending duel promised to decide the winner once and for all time. Infused with the magic of The Abyssal Heart, the Mad God seemed unstoppable. Indeed, once he and the Overgod met and began their titanic clash, Tharizdun seemed destined for triumph. Wielding the Heart in the form of a malefic halberd, Tharizdun cruelly wounded his brother and smashed him to the ground. Shouting his exultation, the Mad God raised his weapon towards the blood-red sky, poised for the killing blow.
In the span of a heartbeat, when Tharizdun’s final victory was all but assured, his greedy lieutenants attacked. Orcus, Demogorgon, and Fraz-Urb'luu all eager to take power from their lord, betrayed Tharizdun. In the brutal clash that followed, the Overgod escaped while the Mad God fought his new foes.
The Mad God, inexperienced with his enormous potential and unprepared for treachery, fell against the combined might of his enemies. In many ways, the gods and primordials owed their narrow conquest to a trio of cowardly traitors. For their reward, Tharizdun’s disloyal allies gained no mercy or reward from the victors.
The gods forged an intricate prison deep within The Abyss, designed to keep Tharizdun imprisoned for eternity. They chained Tharizdun – now known as the Chained God – within the prison and sealed the door. The Overgod did not imprison Tharizdun’s lieutenants, but instead banished them to The Abyss, preventing them from entering the Elemental Chaos or the Mortal World.
Buried with the Chained God, The Abyssal Heart unleashed its fury. Although it could not awaken Tharizdun or free him from captivity, its sinister power completed the final changes to The Abyss. To this day, The Abyss remains one of the most horrific, foul, tainted, and lethal places in all of creation. Buried at the bottom of The Abyss stands the Prison of the Mad God made of black indestructible iron. Within these walls, the Chained God slumbers in fitful sleep, dreaming of his return and final revenge.
Release Of The Chained God
Numerous prophecies and legends speak of the release of the Chained God, often as if this event is inevitable. Regardless of the enmity between gods and primordials, no sane being or creature would ever want to see Tharizdun released. From the noblest deities of good down to the most benighted and perverse servants of evil, no one looks forward to the Chained God’s release. Unfortunately, dozens of insane chaos cults devote their lives and souls to freeing the dark god from his prison. These cults may well hold the key to Tharizdun’s prison, in spite of their twisted insanity.
Meanwhile, still lying in the depths of The Abyss, The Abyssal Heart continues to grow, pulse, and hunger. Its inimical power corrupts all creatures, taints all that is good, warps everything it touches, and eventually dominates even the strongest of wills. If anything in creation represents pure evil, it is The Abyssal Heart.
No matter what he may have become, Tharizdun is a god and always will be. At one time, he possessed more power than virtually all the gods combined. He came dangerously close to defeating the Overgod and the combined hosts of gods and primordials. Although he is a god and a number of crazed mortals venerate him, Tharizdun is no longer considered part of the pantheon of the Gods.
Tharizdun goes by many names, including the Chained God, the Mouth of Madness, and the Elder Elemental Eye. He dwells within an ancient prison fashioned by the Overgod, trapped somewhere in the swirling mists of the Elemental Chaos.
According to many beliefs and legends, even speaking this god’s name brings him one step closer to awakening and breaking from his prison.
