Tiamat

This page covers a subject that has been retroactively removed from the Pathfinder campaign setting. See Meta:Tiamat for details. You can disable this banner in your personal preferences.

Tiamat

(Deity)

Alignment

Chaotic evil

Source: Fortress of the Stone Giants, pg(s). 61

According to the myths of dragonkind, Tiamat, along with her mate Apsu, is one of the two original beings.

History

In draconic myth, there were originally only two entities—the embodiment of Law, incarnate as an ocean of fresh water, and the embodiment of Chaos, incarnate as salt water. From their union came the first gods. The fresh water created Heaven and Hell, and the two waters sent their children to inhabit them. The younger gods then created the Universe. The first of the waters' offspring, Dahak, took the form of the first dragon and rampaged across the Universe, then withdrew from his family to Hell.

The salt water created six more gods, the "Beautiful Metals". Dahak then appeared and shaped them in his own form, then cast them into the Universe where they shattered into the first metallic dragons, whom Dahak hunted for sport. The fresh water did not care for Dahak's destructive nature and chose to attempt to end his existence, taking the form of a radiant dragon and naming himself Apsu. He rallied the metallic dragons to fight against Dahak and defeated him, but in the battle many of the mortal dragons were grievously wounded. Anguished by the battle between her mate and her son, the salt water shed ten tears that landed on the graves of ten draconic heroes; the dragons' souls entered the crystallized tears, which became the legendary Orbs of Dragonkind.

Dahak cried out to the salt water, and she healed his wounds so he could go free. She also healed many of the wounded dragons, and they were corrupted into the first chromatic dragons, who fought in defense of Dahak. Another titanic battle followed in which Apsu and the metallic dragons nearly destroyed Dahak and his corrupted followers, but the salt water also took the form of a monstrous dragon and again stood in protection of Dahak and the chromatics. Apsu demanded the salt water answer for her actions.

The salt water named herself Tiamat and denounced Apsu for slaying their children, corrupted though they were. Tiamat savaged Apsu and cast him out of the heavens. The struggle between Apsu and Dahak, with Tiamat intervening, continues to this day; but Apsu has chosen a world far from Tiamat's sight, Golarion, to make a stand and finally destroy his wayward son.

Appearance

Originally taking the shape of a vast, formless ocean of salt water, Tiamat now appears as a vicious dragon with many heads.

Church of Tiamat

Tiamat is not worshiped on Golarion. All dragons live in fear of her, and none willingly name her.

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

External links

• Tiamat (real-world deity) on Wikipedia
• Tiamat (Dungeons & Dragons) (Dungeons & Dragons character) on Wikipedia