Tharizdun

Tharizdun, God of Madness and greater deity from The Lost remains one of the most feared and enigmatic entities in the multiverse. Its influence lingers in whispers, corrupting mortals and immortals alike. Even in its banished or imprisoned state, Tharizdun’s madness seeps into the cosmos, warping the minds of those who delve too deeply into forbidden knowledge.

Tharizdun’s story is a chilling reminder of the destructive potential of unchecked power and madness. Whether it lies dormant in the Void or chained in the Abyss, its followers continue to work toward the day when the Mad God will be freed to unleash ultimate annihilation upon all creation.

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Physical Description

Unlike the other gods of Erathan, who embody humanoid forms, Tharizdun is an amorphous, shifting mass of utter darkness, often described as a living void. When it manifests, its form resembles a sentient sphere of annihilation, absorbing light, matter, and even sanity itself. No accurate descriptions or depictions of Tharizdun remain, as proximity to the deity or its avatars causes madness and death.

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History

Tharizdun was not originally a god but one of the Elder Evils, known as Tharizdun, The Mad, who invaded Erathan’s realm during The Shattered Era. Its very presence twisted and warped the land, corrupting life and the Weave in its vicinity. It was a force of destruction and annihilation, seeking to pull all of creation into the void from which it came.

When Tharizdun first breached the realm, the gods united to push back the Elder Evils. During the Divine Wars, Tharizdun killed an unnamed god whose identity has been erased from existence. By consuming its divine spark, Tharizdun became the first and only Elder Evil/Divine Hybrid, ascending to godhood and taking on a new, alien form of power. With this newfound might, it unleashed chaos and destruction upon the planes.

One of Tharizdun's first acts as a god was the creation of the Abyss, a twisted plane of infinite chaos and darkness. This act was not carefully planned but a whim driven by its fractured mind, resulting in a plane of infinite depth and terror that reflects its creator's madness. Tharizdun also corrupted Elder Spawn, warping them into the first demons, beings of chaos and destruction who serve as a manifestation of its will.

Even the demons fear Tharizdun, knowing that their creator’s madness could drag them back into the Void without warning. The Abyss itself remains an extension of Tharizdun’s fractured psyche, a chaotic realm of destruction and horror.

During the War of the Divine, Tharizdun’s destructive influence grew unchecked. It consumed and corrupted vast portions of creation, twisting mortals, elder spawn, and even divine beings into instruments of annihilation. The gods, united in desperation, fought to seal away the Elder Evils and restore balance to the inner planes.

There are conflicting beliefs about Tharizdun’s fate:

Official Doctrine: The gods claim they successfully banished Tharizdun alongside the other Elder Evils, forcing it back into the Void.

Cultist Belief: Followers of Tharizdun argue that their deity was not banished but imprisoned within the Abyss or some deeper, hidden realm, awaiting its release.

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Beliefs

Tharizdun’s dogma is incoherent and alien, as its growing insanity prevents meaningful communication. When it does "speak," it appears as a cacophony of shrieking babble or images of destruction, overwhelming the mortal mind. Its followers interpret these fragmented visions and sounds as divine revelations, crafting their own nihilistic doctrines.

Core Beliefs of Tharizdun’s Followers:

Peace Through Annihilation: True peace can only be achieved when all existence is consumed by the Void.

Embrace Madness: Sanity is a weakness; only by surrendering to madness can one fully understand the universe's truth.

Corrupt and Destroy: The Weave, life, and creation are abominations that must be undone.

Sacrificial Dedication: Pain and mutilation are sacred acts that bring followers closer to their god.

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Followers

Tharizdun’s worshippers are rare, as its influence has been systematically purged by the gods. Those who follow the Mad God are often individuals already driven to insanity or those who seek ultimate annihilation.

Key Followers of Tharizdun:

Cultists of the Void: Fanatical mortals who mutilate themselves in acts of devotion.

Mad Seers: Individuals who claim to hear Tharizdun’s fragmented whispers and interpret its will.

Twisted Demons: Demons who worship their creator out of fear and devotion, acting as its agents in the multiverse.

Undead Fanatics: Mortals transformed into undead creatures through Tharizdun’s corruption.

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Temples and Worship

Temples to Tharizdun are hidden and often located in the most desolate and forsaken places. They are crude, chaotic structures adorned with spiraling patterns and symbols of annihilation. These temples often include pits of darkness meant to symbolize the Void and altars stained with the blood of sacrifices.

Worship Practices:

Mutilation Rites: Followers ritually scar and mutilate their bodies as offerings, symbolizing their surrender to the Void.

Sacrificial Ceremonies: Living sacrifices are made to "feed" Tharizdun’s insatiable hunger for destruction.

Void Meditations: Worshippers stare into magical manifestations of the Void to induce madness and commune with their god.

The Spiral Dance: A chaotic, frenzied ritual meant to mirror the twisting chaos of Tharizdun’s essence.

Holy Days:

The Night of Whispers: A time when Tharizdun’s followers believe its voice grows louder, marked by acts of destruction and mass sacrifices.

The Day of Spiraling Shadows: Celebrated during solar eclipses, followers interpret the brief darkness as a glimpse of the Void’s eventual triumph.

Type

Greater Deity

Title(s)

The Mad God
The Chained Oblivion
The Lord of Insanity
The Whispering Dark

Alignment

Chaotic evil

Symbol

Jagged counter-clockwise spiral

Edicts

Spread chaos and madness; corrupt or destroy stability and order; embrace insanity as a path to enlightenment; work toward the eventual annihilation of all existence

Anathema

Seek peace or stability; protect the natural order; destroy followers or agents of Tharizdun without his will; reject the gifts of madness

Areas of Concern

madness, destruction, annihilation, chaos

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5e Domains

Trickery, Twilight

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P2 Devotee Benefits

Divine Ability

Wisdom or Charisma

Divine Font

harm

Divine Sanctification

Must choose unholy

Divine Skill

Occultism

Favored Weapon

warhammer

Domains

decay, delirium, destruction, nightmares

Alternate Domains:

nightmares, void

Cleric Spells

1st: ill omen, 5th: synaptic pulse, 9th: unfathomable song

Divine Intercession

Tharizdun’s intercession rewards chaos and submission to madness while punishing attempts to resist his influence. His boons grant power at the cost of sanity, and his curses leave followers vulnerable to his insidious whispers.

Minor Boon:

Tharizdun whispers the dark truths of existence into your mind. Once per day, you gain a +2 status bonus to Occultism checks to decipher hidden or forbidden knowledge. However, after using this ability, you are frightened 1 for 1 minute.

Moderate Boon:

Your touch carries Tharizdun's corruptive influence. You gain the ability to cast Stupefy as a divine innate spell once per day. Additionally, your enemies take a -2 penalty to Will saves against fear or mental effects you create.

Major Boon:

Tharizdun blesses you with a fragment of his chaotic power. Once per day, you can release an Abyssal Spiral, causing a 30-foot-radius area around you to twist with void energy. All creatures in the area must succeed at a Will save (DC equal to your spell DC) or be confused for 1 minute. You are unaffected by this effect, but you are sickened 1 as the power overwhelms you.

Minor Curse:

Tharizdun's whispers invade your mind. Whenever you roll a critical success on a Will save, it is treated as a normal success.

Moderate Curse:

You become a conduit for Tharizdun’s madness. Each night, you are plagued by vivid, incomprehensible nightmares that prevent you from gaining restful sleep. You are permanently fatigued until the curse is lifted.

Major Curse:

Tharizdun fully corrupts your mind and body. You permanently gain the confused condition in combat, only regaining clarity when every enemy is defeated or incapacitated. Outside of combat, your mind remains fractured, leaving you unable to distinguish reality from delusion.