Tiamat
Tiamat, Goddess of Wealth, Greed, and Vengeance and also a deity of The Lost, is a fearsome dragon deity who embodies insatiable ambition, ruthless vengeance, and the unquenchable thirst for wealth and power. Known by many names, including The Dragon Queen, The Hoardmistress, and The Five-Faced Tyrant, Tiamat inspires both fear and awe among those who know of her. Once an Icon of her people and a figure of justice and nobility, Tiamat’s descent into greed and vengeance transformed her into a force of relentless ambition and spite.
Her scales are dark, iridescent, and glimmer with the sheen of hoarded gold and precious gems. Her eyes burn with malevolent intelligence, betraying her deep cunning and ambition. Tiamat’s wings are massive, black as the void, stretching out to eclipse all who stand before her. Her voice is a combination of seductive charm and venomous fury, captivating yet deadly.
Tiamat and Bahamut often disagreed on how best to lead their kin, with Tiamat favoring decisive, brutal action and an iron grip over resources and power. This rivalry, though productive during the war, sowed the seeds of division.
After the Elder Evils were banished and The Ruination ended, Tiamat and Bahamut’s rivalry deepened. Their differing ideologies split dragonkind into three factions:
Chromatic Dragons, loyal to Tiamat, who prized power, wealth, and dominance.
Metallic Dragons, loyal to Bahamut, who upheld justice and nobility.
Unaligned Dragons, who avoided the politics of their kind.
Tiamat ruled her faction with calculated ruthlessness, valuing loyalty and ambition but punishing dissent harshly. Though she respected her father, Io, and shared a complicated rivalry with Bahamut, her ambitions often placed her at odds with both.
When the War of the Divine broke out between the gods and mortals, the dragons remained neutral, focusing instead on eradicating lingering Elder Spawn and preventing another invasion from the Void. During this time, an Elder Evil emerged in an attempt to break free. Io, in an act of selflessness, sacrificed himself to drive the abomination back into the Void.
As Io perished, his divine spark split between his twin children. Bahamut ascended to become the God of Justice and Nobility, embodying Io’s selflessness and honor. Tiamat, infused with the remaining spark, became the Goddess of Wealth and Ferocity, inheriting Io’s ambition and might.
During the Divine Seal era, Tiamat’s insatiable greed and ambition grew unchecked. Her paranoia and hatred, fueled by her lingering rivalry with Bahamut and her mistrust of the other gods, twisted her nature. Spiteful and vindictive, she became obsessed with hoarding wealth and power, viewing everyone as a potential threat to her dominion.
Her transformation into the Goddess of Wealth, Greed, and Vengeance marked her descent into darkness. She sought to dominate and destroy those who opposed her, orchestrating schemes to undermine other deities. Her actions eventually threatened the balance of the Divine Pantheon, forcing the gods to take action.
After a great conflict, Tiamat was sealed away in one of the Nine Hells, her power constrained but not extinguished. Even in exile, her influence persists, her whispers of greed and vengeance seeping into the minds of mortals and dragons alike.
Exact Ruthless Vengeance: Every slight, insult, or offense must be answered. Tiamat’s followers believe in punishing anyone who opposes them, no matter the cost.
Respect Only Strength: Weakness is despised, and only those who prove themselves strong and cunning deserve loyalty. Mortals and lesser beings are tools, to be manipulated or discarded as necessary.
Show No Mercy: Mercy is for the weak, and compassion is a hindrance. The world is a place for those who can seize what they desire without hesitation or apology.
These tenets encourage followers to live by ambition and cunning, gaining wealth and power, and taking revenge against any who challenge their right to possess all they covet. Tiamat’s followers often see themselves as above others, emboldened by their goddess’s example.
Scaled Avengers: These followers are bent on exacting vengeance, taking up arms or manipulating events to punish those who slighted them. They believe that no offense is too small to be repaid in full.
Lords of Dominion: Nobles, tyrants, and rulers who dedicate themselves to Tiamat follow her doctrines of control and wealth accumulation. They rule through fear and intimidation, often seeing their subjects as assets rather than people.
Dark Servants: Those who are willing to serve Tiamat’s purposes for personal gain, such as mercenaries, thieves, and assassins, fall under this category. They are willing to manipulate, betray, and steal to serve her goals, either out of reverence or for the promise of rewards.
Tiamat’s followers are known for their arrogance, cruelty, and cunning. They believe that might and wealth are all that matter and that they are entitled to take whatever they desire. Many are feared within their communities, and they inspire dread among those who know of Tiamat’s teachings.
Rituals of Vengeance: Followers enact elaborate ceremonies to call upon her wrath against their enemies.
Hoarding Trials: Worshippers compete to gather the most wealth, proving their devotion through accumulation.
Blood Oaths: Pledges of loyalty to Tiamat are sealed with blood, ensuring absolute fealty.
The Night of Five Shadows: A celebration of Tiamat’s cunning, marked by acts of theft, betrayal, and vengeance.
Through her presence and teachings, Tiamat inspires mortals to embrace their ambition and pursue wealth, power, and vengeance with unrelenting ferocity. Her imprisonment in the Nine Hells has only intensified her hatred and desire for more, and her followers continue her mission to extend her influence in the mortal realm, driven by her relentless pursuit of dominance and her refusal to forgive any slight or insult.
Physical Description
Tiamat is an imposing, terrifying figure with a body that embodies the primal and destructive majesty of dragonkind. Her form is a massive, sinuous dragon with five distinct heads, each representing one of the chromatic dragons: red (fire and rage), blue (lightning and ambition), green (poison and deception), black (acid and hatred), and white (frost and cruelty). Each of her heads is said to possess its own voice, mind, and temperament, making her a fearsome embodiment of wrath and cunning.Her scales are dark, iridescent, and glimmer with the sheen of hoarded gold and precious gems. Her eyes burn with malevolent intelligence, betraying her deep cunning and ambition. Tiamat’s wings are massive, black as the void, stretching out to eclipse all who stand before her. Her voice is a combination of seductive charm and venomous fury, captivating yet deadly.
History
Tiamat, born during The Ruination, was sired by Io, the Titanium Dragon, alongside her twin brother Bahamut. The siblings were paragons of dragonkind, embodying the ferocity and nobility of their race. Together, they fought tirelessly against the Elder Spawn and the invading Elder Evils, leading dragons into battle as symbols of strength and unity. Her unmatched ferocity earned her the title of Icon, as she exemplified the unrelenting might and cunning of dragons.Tiamat and Bahamut often disagreed on how best to lead their kin, with Tiamat favoring decisive, brutal action and an iron grip over resources and power. This rivalry, though productive during the war, sowed the seeds of division.
After the Elder Evils were banished and The Ruination ended, Tiamat and Bahamut’s rivalry deepened. Their differing ideologies split dragonkind into three factions:
Chromatic Dragons, loyal to Tiamat, who prized power, wealth, and dominance.
Metallic Dragons, loyal to Bahamut, who upheld justice and nobility.
Unaligned Dragons, who avoided the politics of their kind.
Tiamat ruled her faction with calculated ruthlessness, valuing loyalty and ambition but punishing dissent harshly. Though she respected her father, Io, and shared a complicated rivalry with Bahamut, her ambitions often placed her at odds with both.
When the War of the Divine broke out between the gods and mortals, the dragons remained neutral, focusing instead on eradicating lingering Elder Spawn and preventing another invasion from the Void. During this time, an Elder Evil emerged in an attempt to break free. Io, in an act of selflessness, sacrificed himself to drive the abomination back into the Void.
As Io perished, his divine spark split between his twin children. Bahamut ascended to become the God of Justice and Nobility, embodying Io’s selflessness and honor. Tiamat, infused with the remaining spark, became the Goddess of Wealth and Ferocity, inheriting Io’s ambition and might.
During the Divine Seal era, Tiamat’s insatiable greed and ambition grew unchecked. Her paranoia and hatred, fueled by her lingering rivalry with Bahamut and her mistrust of the other gods, twisted her nature. Spiteful and vindictive, she became obsessed with hoarding wealth and power, viewing everyone as a potential threat to her dominion.
Her transformation into the Goddess of Wealth, Greed, and Vengeance marked her descent into darkness. She sought to dominate and destroy those who opposed her, orchestrating schemes to undermine other deities. Her actions eventually threatened the balance of the Divine Pantheon, forcing the gods to take action.
After a great conflict, Tiamat was sealed away in one of the Nine Hells, her power constrained but not extinguished. Even in exile, her influence persists, her whispers of greed and vengeance seeping into the minds of mortals and dragons alike.
Beliefs
Tiamat’s teachings center on the unbridled pursuit of wealth, power, and revenge. She teaches that only the strong and ambitious survive and that mercy is weakness. Her followers believe that life’s ultimate purpose is to acquire as much wealth and power as possible, by any means necessary, and that vengeance must be exacted upon anyone who wrongs them, no matter how slight the offense.Core Tenets of Tiamat’s Faith:
Pursue Wealth and Power: Amass wealth, riches, and resources, seeing them as measures of worth and influence. Hoard treasures and take what you desire, for only those who possess material power can control the worldExact Ruthless Vengeance: Every slight, insult, or offense must be answered. Tiamat’s followers believe in punishing anyone who opposes them, no matter the cost.
Respect Only Strength: Weakness is despised, and only those who prove themselves strong and cunning deserve loyalty. Mortals and lesser beings are tools, to be manipulated or discarded as necessary.
Show No Mercy: Mercy is for the weak, and compassion is a hindrance. The world is a place for those who can seize what they desire without hesitation or apology.
These tenets encourage followers to live by ambition and cunning, gaining wealth and power, and taking revenge against any who challenge their right to possess all they covet. Tiamat’s followers often see themselves as above others, emboldened by their goddess’s example.
Followers
Tiamat’s followers, often known as The Scaled Faithful or Hoardseekers, are individuals driven by greed, ambition, and a thirst for dominance. Her cult attracts those who desire power, wealth, and influence, often willing to go to great lengths to achieve their goals. Tiamat’s faithful include warlords, tyrants, mercenaries, and greedy nobles, as well as those who bear deep grudges and seek vengeance.Types of Followers:
Hoardseekers: These followers are treasure hunters and hoarders, seeking wealth in all its forms. They often pillage, exploit, and manipulate to increase their fortunes, and some establish secret lairs to hoard their riches.Scaled Avengers: These followers are bent on exacting vengeance, taking up arms or manipulating events to punish those who slighted them. They believe that no offense is too small to be repaid in full.
Lords of Dominion: Nobles, tyrants, and rulers who dedicate themselves to Tiamat follow her doctrines of control and wealth accumulation. They rule through fear and intimidation, often seeing their subjects as assets rather than people.
Dark Servants: Those who are willing to serve Tiamat’s purposes for personal gain, such as mercenaries, thieves, and assassins, fall under this category. They are willing to manipulate, betray, and steal to serve her goals, either out of reverence or for the promise of rewards.
Tiamat’s followers are known for their arrogance, cruelty, and cunning. They believe that might and wealth are all that matter and that they are entitled to take whatever they desire. Many are feared within their communities, and they inspire dread among those who know of Tiamat’s teachings.
Temples and Worship
Temples dedicated to Tiamat are rare and often hidden in remote or treacherous locations, such as volcanic lairs, vast deserts, or deep caverns. These sanctuaries are filled with treasure hoards, reflecting her followers’ devotion and greed. Shrines often feature statues of her five-headed form, with offerings of gold, jewels, and rare artifacts placed at their feet.Worship Practices:
Offerings of Wealth: Devotees bring treasures to her altars, believing it will grant them her favor.Rituals of Vengeance: Followers enact elaborate ceremonies to call upon her wrath against their enemies.
Hoarding Trials: Worshippers compete to gather the most wealth, proving their devotion through accumulation.
Blood Oaths: Pledges of loyalty to Tiamat are sealed with blood, ensuring absolute fealty.
Holy Days:
The Hoard’s Ascension: A day of offerings where followers seek to expand her divine treasury.The Night of Five Shadows: A celebration of Tiamat’s cunning, marked by acts of theft, betrayal, and vengeance.
Sacred Texts:
The Code of the Scaled Queen is Tiamat’s primary text, outlining her teachings of greed, ambition, and vengeance. Followers study this text to learn how to accumulate wealth, avoid weakness, and pursue power without mercy.Through her presence and teachings, Tiamat inspires mortals to embrace their ambition and pursue wealth, power, and vengeance with unrelenting ferocity. Her imprisonment in the Nine Hells has only intensified her hatred and desire for more, and her followers continue her mission to extend her influence in the mortal realm, driven by her relentless pursuit of dominance and her refusal to forgive any slight or insult.
Type
Greater DeityTitle(s)
ArchdevilThe Dragon Queen
The Hoardmistress
The Scaled Fury
The Hoardmistress
The Five-Faced Tyrant
Alignment
Lawful evilSymbol
five-pointed star with different colored dragon clawsEdicts
amass wealth, power, and influence by any means necessary; exact vengeance on those who wrong you or oppose your goals; demand respect and submission from others.Anathema
act with genuine humility or charity; forgive a slight or allow an insult to go unanswered; share wealth or power without expecting something in return.Areas of Concern
wealth, greed, power, vengeance5e Domains
Trickery, WarP2 Devotee Benefits
Divine Ability
Strength or CharismaDivine Font
harmDivine Sanctification
can choose unholyDivine Skill
IntimidationFavored Weapon
glaiveDomains
ambition, destruction, might, trickery, wyrmkinAlternate Domains
confidence, wealthCleric Spells
1st: sure strike, 3rd: fireball, 4th: wall of fireDivine Intercession
Tiamat rewards those who relentlessly pursue their desires for wealth and power, but she punishes those who show mercy or humility.Minor Boon: Golden Glint
Once per day, you can cast glibness as an innate divine spell, allowing you to enhance your persuasiveness and mask your greed with a silver tongue. This spell is especially effective when trying to manipulate or persuade others in the pursuit of wealth or power.Moderate Boon: Draconic Wrath
Once per day, you can cast dragon’s breath as an innate divine spell, granting you the power to unleash a breath weapon in one of Tiamat’s favored elements (fire, acid, cold, lightning, or poison). This power gains a +1 bonus to its DC if used in an act of vengeance.Major Boon: Queen’s Hoard
Once per day, you can call upon Tiamat’s blessing to replenish your wealth and resources. You can magically manifest a small treasure hoard worth up to 100 gold pieces, though this wealth cannot be shared or given freely to others without losing Tiamat’s favor. This boon allows you to recover and repair lost equipment, reflecting Tiamat’s endless wealth.Minor Curse: Covetous Gaze
If you act with charity or share your wealth without personal gain, Tiamat marks you with an insatiable desire for riches. You take a -1 penalty on all Will saves against greed or charm effects until you reclaim what you have lost or acquire new wealth.Moderate Curse: Scales of Vengeance
If you forgive a slight or fail to act on vengeance, Tiamat curses you with scales that itch and burn as a reminder of her scorn. You take a -1 penalty to AC and a -5-foot penalty to Speed until you achieve revenge against someone who wronged you.Major Curse: The Dragon’s Spite
Tiamat marks you as weak and unworthy of wealth, visibly tarnishing your appearance and ruining any wealth you touch. Any coins or valuable items you acquire crumble to worthless dust within a day, and you suffer a -2 penalty on Diplomacy and Intimidation checks when dealing with those who value power or riches.
Children
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