In the ''
Dungeons & Dragons
''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical Studies Rules ...
''
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
roleplaying game
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...
, Tharizdun () is the god of Eternal Darkness, Decay, Entropy, Malign Knowledge, Insanity, and Cold. He originated in the ''
World of Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. Although not the first campaign world developed for ''Dungeons & Dragons''— Dave Arnes ...
''
campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A ''campaign'' is a series of individual adventures, and a ''campaign setting'' is the world in which such adventures and ca ...
but has since also appeared in other settings.
He was imprisoned ages ago by a coalition of deities to prevent the destruction of existence itself. Although imprisoned, Tharizdun still has a degree of his original multiverse-threatening power. His holy symbols are a dark spiral rune and a two-tiered inverted ziggurat known as an obex. His holy number is 333.
Publication history
Created by
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax ( ; July 27, 1938 – March 4, 2008) was an American game designer and author best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') with Dave Arneson.
In the 1960s, Gygax created an ...
based on
Robert J. Kuntz
Robert J. Kuntz (born September 23, 1955) is a game designer and author of role-playing game publications. He is best known for his contributions to various ''Dungeons & Dragons''-related materials.
Biography Early life
Rob Kuntz was born Septe ...
's dark god "Tharzduun", Tharizdun first appeared in the module ''
Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun
''The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun'' is an adventure module for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') role-playing game, for use in the ''World of Greyhawk'' campaign setting. The module was published by TSR, Inc. in 1982 for the first edition ...
''.
[ He would later appear in Gygax's series of Gord novels. Writer Michal Tresca speculated that Tharizdun might have been inspired by ]Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith (January 13, 1893 – August 14, 1961) was an American writer and artist. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Algernon Charles Swinburne ...
's Demon Lord and ruler of the Seven Hells, Thasaidon, who appeared first in The Tomb-Spawn, Weird Tales, Vol. 23, No. 5, May 1934.
''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition (1977–1988)
Tharizdun's existence was first revealed in the module ''The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun
''The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun'' is an Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons), adventure module for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') role-playing game, for use in the ''World of Greyhawk'' campaign setting. The module was published by TSR, Inc. ...
'' (1982), by Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax ( ; July 27, 1938 – March 4, 2008) was an American game designer and author best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') with Dave Arneson.
In the 1960s, Gygax created an ...
.Gygax, Gary
Ernest Gary Gygax ( ; July 27, 1938 – March 4, 2008) was an American game designer and author best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') with Dave Arneson.
In the 1960s, Gygax created a ...
. ''The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun
''The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun'' is an adventure module for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') role-playing game, for use in the ''World of Greyhawk'' campaign setting. The module was published by TSR, Inc. in 1982 for the first edition ...
'' ( TSR, 1982) Tharizdun was subsequently detailed in the ''World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting
''The World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting'' and the ''World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting'' are two closely related publications from TSR, Inc. that detail the fictional ''World of Greyhawk'' campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' ( ...
'' (1983).
''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition (1989–1999)
Tharizdun was one of the deities described in the '' From the Ashes'' set (1992), for the Greyhawk campaign, and appeared again in ''Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins'' (1998).
His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
''Planescape'' is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, designed by Zeb Cook, and published in 1994. It crosses numerous planes of existence, encompassing an entire cosmology called the Great Wheel, as dev ...
campaign setting was described in ''On Hallowed Ground'' (1996).
''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3.0 edition (2000–2003)
Tharizdun's role in the 3rd edition Greyhawk setting was defined in the ''Living Greyhawk Gazetteer
The ''Living Greyhawk Gazetteer'' (''LGG'') is a sourcebook for the ''World of Greyhawk'' campaign setting for the 3rd edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' roleplaying game. Despite the title, the ''Living Greyhawk Gazetteer'' is not exclusive ...
'' (2000).
He was a central figure in the module ''Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil
''Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil'' is an adventure module written by Monte Cook for the 3rd edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game, set in the game's ''World of Greyhawk'' campaign setting. It was originally publi ...
'' (2001).
Tharizdun was one of the deities detailed in ''Dragon
A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...
'' #294 (2002), in the article "Beings of Power: Four Gods of Greyhawk."[Noonan, David. "Beings of Power: Four Gods of Greyhawk." '']Dragon
A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...
'' #294 (Paizo Publishing
Paizo Inc. (originally Paizo Publishing.) is an American role-playing game publishing company based in Redmond, Washington, best known for the tabletop role-playing game ''Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Pathfinder''. The company's name is derived ...
, 2002)
''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3.5 edition (2003–2007)
Tharizdun's priesthood is detailed for this edition in ''Complete Divine
''Complete Divine'' is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast. It replaces and expands upon earlier rulebooks entitled '' Masters of the Wild'' and ...
'' (2004).[Noonan, David. '']Complete Divine
''Complete Divine'' is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast. It replaces and expands upon earlier rulebooks entitled '' Masters of the Wild'' and ...
'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2004) Details of his worship by various aberrations was detailed in ''Lords of Madness
''Lords of Madness'' is an official supplement for the 3.5 edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game.
Contents
The book includes new content for aberrations including new aberration monsters and monsters related to them, ...
'' (2005).
Tharizdun's prison dimension was detailed in ''Dragon'' #353 (2007).
''Dungeons & Dragons'' 4th edition (2008–2014)
Tharizdun appears as one of the deities described in the ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' (2008) for this edition. He is rarely referred to by name and usually referred to as the Chained God. The other gods imprisoned him after he used a shard of pure evil to create the Abyss. Tharizdun is worshiped mostly by rogue drow
The drow ( or ) or dark elves are a dark-skinned and white-haired subrace of Elf (Dungeons & Dragons), elves connected to the Subterranea (geography), subterranean Underdark in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. The drow have ...
, genasi
This is the list of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition monsters, an important element of that role-playing game. This list only includes monsters from official ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd Edition supplements published by TSR, In ...
cultists and elementals, who call him the Elder Elemental Eye, falsely believing that he is a primordial and not a god. Unlike earlier editions, he has no particular affinity for aberrations and his alignment is Chaotic Evil, rather than Neutral Evil.
In the Fourth Edition ''Monster Manual
The ''Monster Manual'' (''MM'' is the primary bestiary sourcebook for Monsters in Dungeons & Dragons, monsters in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'' fantasy role-playing game, first published in 1977 by TSR (company), TSR. The ''Monster Manual' ...
'', Tharizdun is described as creating the Abyss
Abyss may refer to:
* Abyss (religion), a bottomless pit, or a passage to the underworld
Film and television
* ''The Abyss'' (1910 film), a Danish silent film starring Asta Nielsen
* ''The Abyss'' (1988 film) (''L'Œuvre au noir''), a French- ...
and the demons that live there by corrupting a portion of the elemental chaos using a shard of pure evil. For this, all the other gods (good, unaligned and evil alike) banded together to seal him away. Fourth Edition's ''Dungeon Master's Guide
The ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' (''DMG'' or ''DM's Guide''; in some printings, the ''Dungeon Masters Guide'' or ''Dungeon Master Guide'') is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons''. The ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' co ...
'' states that Tharizdun is not mentioned by name in the ''Player's Handbook
The ''Player's Handbook'' (spelled ''Players Handbook'' in first edition ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' (''AD&D'')) is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D''). It does not contain the complete set of ru ...
'' or in the ''Monster Manual
The ''Monster Manual'' (''MM'' is the primary bestiary sourcebook for Monsters in Dungeons & Dragons, monsters in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'' fantasy role-playing game, first published in 1977 by TSR (company), TSR. The ''Monster Manual' ...
'' due to the fact that his existence is not widely known to mortals. Those who do know of Tharizdun refer to him euphemistically as the Chained God. Most of Tharizdun's followers are elementals or have ties to elementals, and refer to him as the Elder Elemental Eye. The majority of the Elder Elemental Eye's cultists (including Tharizdun's exarchs) don't even know he is a god, thinking him instead to be a powerful primordial. The 4th edition Tharizdun is not associated with aberrations, and the location of his prison is not known.
''Dungeons & Dragons'' 5th edition (2014–present)
Tharizdun is mentioned twice in the ''Player's Handbook
The ''Player's Handbook'' (spelled ''Players Handbook'' in first edition ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' (''AD&D'')) is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D''). It does not contain the complete set of ru ...
'' (2014). He is listed as an example Otherworldly Patron for warlocks
A warlock is a male practitioner of witchcraft.
Etymology and terminology
The most commonly accepted etymology derives ''warlock'' from the Old English '' wǣrloga'', which meant "breaker of oaths" or "deceiver" and was given special applicatio ...
who make a pact with a Great Old One. He is then listed under the Greyhawk pantheon as Tharizdun, god of eternal darkness, Chaotic Evil, with the Trickery suggested Domain and either a dark spiral or inverted ziggurat as his holy symbols. Tharizdun is also mentioned in the ''Dungeon Master's Guide
The ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' (''DMG'' or ''DM's Guide''; in some printings, the ''Dungeon Masters Guide'' or ''Dungeon Master Guide'') is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons''. The ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' co ...
'' (2014), this time listed as a member of the Dawn War pantheon
Pantheon may refer to:
* Pantheon (religion), a set of gods belonging to a particular religion or tradition, and a temple or sacred building
Arts and entertainment Comics
*Pantheon (Marvel Comics), a fictional organization
* ''Pantheon'' (Lone St ...
in the Nentir Vale setting and is listed as Tharizdun, god of madness, Chaotic Evil, with the Trickery suggested Domain and a jagged counter-clockwise spiral listed as his holy symbol.
In the adventure module '' Princes of the Apocalypse'' (2015), the four different elemental cults are attempting to release Tharizdun.
Tharizdun is listed as one of the elder evils in ''Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
''Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes'' is a sourcebook for the Editions of Dungeons & Dragons, ''5th edition'' of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, published in 2018. It is, in part, a supplement to the 5th edition ''Monster Manual'' ...
'' (2018). Tharizdun is listed as a member of the Betrayer Gods for the Exandria
The flexibility of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') game rules means that Dungeon Masters (DM) are free to create their own fantasy campaign settings. For those who wanted a pre-packaged setting in which to play, TSR, Wizards of the Coast ...
setting in the sourcebook ''Explorer's Guide to Wildemount
''Explorer's Guide to Wildemount'' is a sourcebook that details the continent of Wildemount from the ''Critical Role'' campaign setting for the 5th edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game. Matthew Mercer, creator of the s ...
'' (2020) where he is also known as the Chained Oblivion. His provinces are darkness and destruction.
In the adventure module anthology ''Ghosts of Saltmarsh'' (2019), the Cult of Tharizdun is a major plot device in the final chapter set in The Styes. A rogue ''Aboleth
This is the list of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition monsters, an important element of that role-playing game. This list only includes monsters from official ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd Edition supplements published by TSR, In ...
'' by the name Sgothgah has discovered and latched onto the alien concept of faith and is now a follower of Tharizdun. To avoid interference and condemnation from its own kind, Sgothgah has relocated to The Styes, where he has become "The Whisper" to the local cult who consider it to be the "Voice of Tharizdun". Sgothgah is raising a Kraken
The kraken () is a legendary sea monster of enormous size said to appear off the coasts of Norway.
Kraken, the subject of sailors' superstitions and mythos, was first described in the modern age at the turn of the 18th century, in a travelogu ...
, which happens to bear markings on its body which resemble the spiral symbol of Tharizdun, a special incubator pit, which is being fueled by the negative energies of the decaying sea port.
Fictional description
Tharizdun was described in ''Dragon
A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...
'' #294 as a pitch-black, roiling, amorphous form. As the Dark God, he is described as an incorporeal wraithform, black and faceless. Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax ( ; July 27, 1938 – March 4, 2008) was an American game designer and author best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') with Dave Arneson.
In the 1960s, Gygax created an ...
described Tharizdun as a "primordial deity, that of matter at rest and decay of energy, viz. entropy."
Tharizdun has been depicted on the cover of Gygax's ''Gord the Rogue
Gord the Rogue is the protagonist in a series of fantasy novels and short stories written by Gary Gygax. Gygax originally wrote the novels and short stories to promote his ''World of Greyhawk'' campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' ro ...
'' novel ''Come Endless Darkness'' as a huge, bald, humanoid man, with claws, greenish-black skin, and pointed ears. Gygax said that in the Gord novels, "the worst and most terrible of Tharizdun's forms could come into full power and attack".[
Tharizdun's "free" holy symbol is a "black sun with variegated rays". His second holy symbol of an inverted ]ziggurat
A ziggurat (; Cuneiform: 𒅆𒂍𒉪, Akkadian: ', D-stem of ' 'to protrude, to build high', cognate with other Semitic languages like Hebrew ''zaqar'' (זָקַר) 'protrude') is a type of massive structure built in ancient Mesopotamia. It has ...
indicates that the work of those who bound him would be overturned, according to Gygax.[
]
Other aspects
Tharizdun is sometimes worshiped as an entity called the Elder Elemental Eye (a being similar to Ghaunadaur
''Forgotten Realms'' is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a ...
), but few of these worshipers recognize the two as being the same entity. Gygax himself indicated that the two creatures were separate beings.[ The Elder Elemental God is described as a huge, mottled, tentacled being, or as a pillar of vast elemental force with a body of burning magma, radiating steam.
]
Fictional history
Some say that Tharizdun originated in the Far Realm
The planes of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' roleplaying game constitute the multiverse in which the game takes place. Each plane is a universe with its own rules with regard to gravity, geography, magic and morality. There have been various offi ...
or in a previous universe. Tharizdun was imprisoned eons ago by the forebears of those beings known as the Great Powers, although it is said that Pelor
This is a list of deities from the Greyhawk campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game.
A
Al'Akbar
Al'Akbar is the Baklunish demigod of dignity, duty, faithfulness, and guardianship. His symbol is a cup and eig ...
was also involved. It's said that both good and evil deities worked together to ensure his imprisonment. As the ''Dark God'', he is credited with the corruption of the Seelie Court
Seelie is a term for fairies in Scottish folklore, appearing in the form of seely wights or The Seelie Court. The Northumbria#Language, Northern and Middle English word (also , , ), and the Scots language, Scots form , mean "happy", "lucky" or "bl ...
. Through the ''Scorpion Crown'', he is said to have destroyed the ancient kingdom of Sulm.
Tharizdun was imprisoned long ago, but his prison may weaken at times, allowing his influence to creep out into the worlds beyond. Tharizdun's temple in the Yatils is thought to have been originally defeated with the aid of the legendary Six from Shadow.
Artifacts
Tharizdun has many known artifacts. "One" that is known is actually many: a collection of gems known as the ''333 Gems of Tharizdun''. Their current location is unknown, but it is certain that the collection was split up long ago. Other artifacts associated with Tharizdun include the horn known as the ''Wailer of Tharizdun'', the thermo phagic sword ''Druniazth'', and the ''Spear of Sorrow''. The ''Scorpion Crown'' was gifted by him to the last king of Sulm. Still another artifact, the ''Weeping Hexagram'', is in the hands of the Scarlet Brotherhood
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. Although not the first campaign world developed for ''Dungeons & Dragons''—Dave Arneson ...
.
In Gary Gygax's ''Gord the Rogue'' Series, there were a set of three artifacts known as the Theoparts, which, combined, could free Tharizdun. Each Theopart represented one of the shades of evil (i.e., neutral, lawful, or chaotic.)
Realm
The ''Demiplane of Imprisonment'' is hidden somewhere in the depths of the Ethereal Plane, resembling a swollen, crystalline cyst nearly a mile in diameter. The ethereal substance surrounding the demiplane boils with the dreamscapes of Tharizdun's worshipers and others whose dreams the dark god invades. Within the prison, Tharizdun dreams of a multiverse where his goals succeeded, where he destroyed all of Creation and rebuilt it in his own foul image. The binding magic is less concerned with preventing his escape - which he could accomplish with ease should he discover the truth - but to prevent any outside source from informing him otherwise.
In the Dungeons and Dragons Novel Series "Abyssal Plague", Tharizdun's prison is revealed to be a universe that has long since been destroyed by that realm's own version of the Abyss known as the Voidharrow. Mildly intelligent and with the ability to corrupt and warp living creatures, the Voidharrow spent eternity alone in this realm of utter destruction until Tharizdun was imprisoned there by the other gods for his creation of the abyss. The reason behind this realm as the prison in which he would be trapped was to leave him in a realm just like the one he would have turned the multiverse into if he had been able to; with all of his power intact, he would have nothing to destroy and an infinite amount of time to lay out an infinite number of plans to free himself, only for him to have no way of implementing any of them.
Relationships
It is believed that Tharizdun has no allies, given his desire to destroy the entire universe. Should he ever escape from his prison, it is thought that even the most evil of deities would work with their good counterparts to return Tharizdun to his prison. However, the Dark God has been known to work his will secretly by employing various demons
A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology, and folklore; as well as in media such as comics, video games, movies, anime, ...
(with or without their knowledge) to do his bidding. Examples of fiends so used include Iuz
This is a list of deities from the Greyhawk campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game.
A
Al'Akbar
Al'Akbar is the Baklunish demigod of dignity, duty, faithfulness, and guardianship. His symbol is a cup and ei ...
and Zuggtmoy, and the Princes of Elemental Evil.
On Oerth
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. Although not the first campaign world developed for ''Dungeons & Dragons''— Dave Arneso ...
, Tharizdun is particularly opposed by Pelor
This is a list of deities from the Greyhawk campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game.
A
Al'Akbar
Al'Akbar is the Baklunish demigod of dignity, duty, faithfulness, and guardianship. His symbol is a cup and eig ...
and Boccob
This is a list of deities of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', including all of the 3.5 edition gods and powers of the "Core Setting" for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') roleplaying game. Religion is a key element of the D&D game, since it is require ...
.
Shothragot
Tharizdun created an avatar called Shothragot at the time of the Twin Cataclysms. The avatar was thought to have been destroyed, but in reality it only went into dormancy. Recently freed, Shothragot hopes to collect the 333 gems of Tharizdun and set its master free.
Fictional dogma
Tharizdun's doctrine is to destroy all and everything encountered.
Scriptures
Most of Tharizdun's ancient scriptures are long lost. The only one known to remain is the ''Lament for Lost Tharizdun'', penned by his "last cleric," Wongas.
Worshippers
Tharizdun's worshipers are often insane. Their ultimate goal is to free their dark deity from his prison. He is rumored to be worshiped by the Scarlet Brotherhood
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. Although not the first campaign world developed for ''Dungeons & Dragons''—Dave Arneson ...
, though these followers are actually a splinter sect of the organization known as the Black Brotherhood or The Blackthorn. The elemental cults in the original ''Temple of elemental evil
''The Temple of Elemental Evil'' is an adventure module for the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'', set in the game's ''World of Greyhawk'' campaign setting. The module was published by TSR, Inc. in 1985 for the first edition ''A ...
'' believed they were worshiping the destructive powers of the elements themselves, with a few believing their patron was Zuggtmoy; however, only a few knew that Tharizdun was the cults' true patron.
Tharizdun is sometimes worshiped by nonhuman aberrations such as aboleths, neogi
This is the list of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition monsters, an important element of that role-playing game. This list only includes monsters from official ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd Edition supplements published by TSR, I ...
, and grell.
Clergy
Like his lay worshipers, many of Tharizdun's priests are mad. Those who are not mad believe that they will reap great rewards and privileges for their aid in freeing him. All of his clerics are extremely secretive and trust only fellow cultists. They lead foul rituals, including human sacrifice, and search ancient sites for clues to freeing their deity. Due to Tharizdun's imprisonment, his priests must remain in contact with a site or object holding some of the Dark God's power in order to use their magic. Their favored weapon is the "spiral of decay," a bizarre weapon about which little is known. Those priests who follow Tharizdun's Elder Elemental Eye aspect have used a weapon known as a "tentacle rod" (a rod topped with animate tentacles), but it is unknown if this is the same object.
Temples
Tharizdun's temples (often in the shape of black ziggurats) are usually hidden, due to necessity. Known places of worship include an ancient temple located in the Yatil Mountains
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. Although not the first campaign world developed for ''Dungeons & Dragons''—Dave Arneson ...
, as well as a more recently discovered temple in the Lortmils, near the Kron Hills
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. Although not the first campaign world developed for ''Dungeons & Dragons''—Dave Arneson ...
. Although not many people in the Flanaess
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. Although not the first campaign world developed for ''Dungeons & Dragons''—Dave Arneson ...
are aware that Tharizdun exists, it is said that public knowledge of one of his ziggurats would be enough to "raise an army of paladins
The Paladins, also called the Twelve Peers, are twelve legendary knights, the foremost members of Charlemagne's royal court, court in the 8th century. They first appear in the medieval (12th century) ''chanson de geste'' cycle of the Matter of F ...
".
Reception
Tharizdun was #4 on '' CBR'''s 2020 "Dungeons & Dragons: 10 Endgame Bosses You Need To Use In Your Next Campaign" list — the article states that "What's interesting is that all of Tharizdun's followers and subjects are insane. DMs can easily make a horror insane asylum-type of adventure where deep within the institution's underbelly is a cult threatening the world by summoning and freeing Tharizdun. That ought to be full of mystery and they don't even have to kill Tharizdun, just send him back to prison".
Riley Trepanier, for ''GameRant'', highlighted Tharizdun as a deity for players to oppose in 5th Edition. She wrote, "This elder interloper god, sometimes known as The Elder Elemental Eye, features in the ''Princes of the Apocalypse'' module as a mostly-forgotten god locked away in a prison from the Greyhawk setting, as opposed to the Forgotten Realms. ..With such a powerful combination of powers, Tharizdun is another deity that could easily turn out to be a major reckoning for the most overconfident of parties".
In other media
* In 2019, Matthew Mercer
Matthew Christopher Miller (born June 29, 1982), better known as Matthew Mercer, is an American voice actor. He is best known for his work with Studiopolis, Funimation, Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Viz Media, and NYAV Post in anime, cartoons, and ...
incorporated a cult dedicated to freeing Tharizdun as a major antagonist in the second campaign of ''Critical Role
''Critical Role'' is an American web series in which a group of professional voice actors play ''Dungeons & Dragons''. The show started streaming partway through the cast's first campaign in March 2015. Campaign one ended in October 2017 after ...
'', a ''Dungeons & Dragons'' web series
A web series (also known as a web show) is a series of scripted or non-scripted online videos, generally in episodic form, released on the Internet, which first emerged in the late 1990s and became more prominent in the early 2000s. A single i ...
.
References
Further reading
Games
* Holian, Gary. "Paladins of Greyhawk." ''Dragon'' #306. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2003.
*Lee, Robert. "The Cradle of Madness." ''Dungeon
A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period. An oubliette (from ...
'' #87 (Paizo Publishing, 2001).
* Reynolds, Sean K. "Core Beliefs: Boccob." ''Dragon'' #338. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
*Living Greyhawk Journal no. 3 – "Gods of Oerth"
*Player's Guide to Greyhawk
*The Temple of Elemental Evil
Novels
*Gygax, Gary. ''Come Endless Darkness'' (New Infinities, 1988).
*Gygax, Gary. ''Dance of Demons'' (New Infinities, 1988).
External links
*Conforti, Steven, ed. ''Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign,'' version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available onlin
*Schwalb, Robert J. "Elder Evils: Shothragot." ''Dragon
A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...
'' #362. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2008. Available online
*"The Essence of Evil." ''Dungeon
A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period. An oubliette (from ...
'' #152. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007. Available online
*"Shadow of Shothragot: The Price of Survival." Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007. Available online
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{{D&D topics
Dungeons & Dragons deities