Is this true about Bahamut? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Is this true about Bahamut? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Todesherr
03-08-08, 06:51 AM Does anyone know if the information presented on Bahamut is accurate?

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Bahamut

The fact is that Bahamut was a god. He came into existance as a Greater deity when the dragons first came to Faerūn, along with the rest of the draconic pantheon. Once dragons as a race had established themselves by about -30000 DR, the draconic gods encouraged their followers to battle each other in their divine names. This lasted for about six millenia until various draconic philosophers decided that all of the fighting was wasteful and that gods who encourage such behaviour were not worthy of the religious fervour that they had been given since their conception (This is the event that started the draconic apathy towards their gods which has lasted, for the most part, to this day). That is, all except the followers of Bahamut and Tiamat. Their followers continued fighting in what is known as the Dragonfall War which continues unabated in the present day. The war waxed and waned in intensity, with the last era of intense fighting occuring between -2087 - -1071 DR.
It was during this time that the Untheric empire began and with it, their pantheon became prominent. Tiamat was worshipped by a cult of Untheric humans, forced underground because of her status as nemesis of the gods, especially Gilgeam, whilst Bahamut had an aspect in the form of Marduk who was more widely worshipped. A second front in the Dragonfall war had opened between the humans and the two gods fought each other personally, with neither being able to gain the upper hand. In 1071 the Untheric pantheon went to war with the Orc pantheon and, in a fight known as the Battle of the Gods, while Gilgeam fought with Ilneval, Tiamat saw her chance to strike, but before she could kill the God-king, Marduk struck a wild, lethal blow at Tiamat, saving Gilgeam's life at the expense of his own.
With both of their Untheric aspects dead, Tiamat and Bahamut were both stripped of their divine power. Marduk's church was eradicated and Bahamut was reduced to the status of Celestial paragon. He was forced to stay like this, with not enough followers to worship him as a god, living in the Upper planes or wandering the Material plane, doing whatever good he could until 1359 DR, when Gareth Dragonsbane and his party returned from the Abyss after destroying the Wand of Orcus. They brought with them the Tree-Gem which Bahamut gave back to the party as a sign of his covenant to protect Damara from Orcus and other demons. It also brought renewed interest in the worship of Bahamut as a god and mortals began flocking to his faith once more, at last restoring his deific status, albeit as a lesser deity only.
ripvanwormer
03-09-08, 11:23 AM Yes, I think so. All that info was from Dragons of Faerun.
glitter
03-10-08, 09:40 AM Yes, I think so. All that info was from Dragons of Faerun.

I'm not a fan of that mix of Bahamut and Marduk.
I prefer the idea that Bahamut asked Marduk to assume his name on the realms.

About the "old part" it's the first time I read about that.
For me, there is older dragon deities, Tamara or Io for instance.
ripvanwormer
03-10-08, 11:43 AM About the "old part" it's the first time I read about that.
For me, there is older dragon deities, Tamara or Io for instance.

The 2nd edition Draconomicon said that Bahamut (as Xymor) was the son of Tamara and Lendys, so yes, he is presumedly younger than them. Other sources (Monster Mythology, 3rd edition Draconomicon, Races of the Dragon) say that Bahamut is Io's son, so he should be younger than him as well. Though Races of the Dragon implies that Bahamut is older than Tamara, or any dragon gods except Io, Tiamat, and Vorel.

I think what that article was saying wasn't that Bahamut is the same age as those other gods, but that they appeared in the Realms at the same time.
Draco Spirit
03-11-08, 09:18 AM So wheres all those dragon whorshiping clerics been getting there power? :confused:
glitter
03-12-08, 08:25 AM So wheres all those dragon whorshiping clerics been getting there power? :confused:

I supposed you're talking about that part:

With both of their Untheric aspects dead, Tiamat and Bahamut were both stripped of their divine power. Marduk's church was eradicated and Bahamut was reduced to the status of Celestial paragon. He was forced to stay like this, with not enough followers to worship him as a god, living in the Upper planes

Something odd in 2Ed, it's written that a SINGLE follower is enough for a god to keep his status of god.

Anyway, if we must believe the information from Dragons of Faerun, both deities managed to climb up the godhood ladder.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Todesherr 03-08-08, 06:51 AM	Does anyone know if the information presented on Bahamut is accurate? http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Bahamut The fact is that Bahamut was a god. He came into existance as a Greater deity when the dragons first came to Faerūn, along with the rest of the draconic pantheon. Once dragons as a race had established themselves by about -30000 DR, the draconic gods encouraged their followers to battle each other in their divine names. This lasted for about six millenia until various draconic philosophers decided that all of the fighting was wasteful and that gods who encourage such behaviour were not worthy of the religious fervour that they had been given since their conception (This is the event that started the draconic apathy towards their gods which has lasted, for the most part, to this day). That is, all except the followers of Bahamut and Tiamat. Their followers continued fighting in what is known as the Dragonfall War which continues unabated in the present day. The war waxed and waned in intensity, with the last era of intense fighting occuring between -2087 - -1071 DR. It was during this time that the Untheric empire began and with it, their pantheon became prominent. Tiamat was worshipped by a cult of Untheric humans, forced underground because of her status as nemesis of the gods, especially Gilgeam, whilst Bahamut had an aspect in the form of Marduk who was more widely worshipped. A second front in the Dragonfall war had opened between the humans and the two gods fought each other personally, with neither being able to gain the upper hand. In 1071 the Untheric pantheon went to war with the Orc pantheon and, in a fight known as the Battle of the Gods, while Gilgeam fought with Ilneval, Tiamat saw her chance to strike, but before she could kill the God-king, Marduk struck a wild, lethal blow at Tiamat, saving Gilgeam's life at the expense of his own. With both of their Untheric aspects dead, Tiamat and Bahamut were both stripped of their divine power. Marduk's church was eradicated and Bahamut was reduced to the status of Celestial paragon. He was forced to stay like this, with not enough followers to worship him as a god, living in the Upper planes or wandering the Material plane, doing whatever good he could until 1359 DR, when Gareth Dragonsbane and his party returned from the Abyss after destroying the Wand of Orcus. They brought with them the Tree-Gem which Bahamut gave back to the party as a sign of his covenant to protect Damara from Orcus and other demons. It also brought renewed interest in the worship of Bahamut as a god and mortals began flocking to his faith once more, at last restoring his deific status, albeit as a lesser deity only.
ripvanwormer 03-09-08, 11:23 AM	Yes, I think so. All that info was from Dragons of Faerun.
glitter 03-10-08, 09:40 AM	Yes, I think so. All that info was from Dragons of Faerun. I'm not a fan of that mix of Bahamut and Marduk. I prefer the idea that Bahamut asked Marduk to assume his name on the realms. About the "old part" it's the first time I read about that. For me, there is older dragon deities, Tamara or Io for instance.
ripvanwormer 03-10-08, 11:43 AM	About the "old part" it's the first time I read about that. For me, there is older dragon deities, Tamara or Io for instance. The 2nd edition Draconomicon said that Bahamut (as Xymor) was the son of Tamara and Lendys, so yes, he is presumedly younger than them. Other sources (Monster Mythology, 3rd edition Draconomicon, Races of the Dragon) say that Bahamut is Io's son, so he should be younger than him as well. Though Races of the Dragon implies that Bahamut is older than Tamara, or any dragon gods except Io, Tiamat, and Vorel. I think what that article was saying wasn't that Bahamut is the same age as those other gods, but that they appeared in the Realms at the same time.
Draco Spirit 03-11-08, 09:18 AM	So wheres all those dragon whorshiping clerics been getting there power? :confused:
glitter 03-12-08, 08:25 AM	So wheres all those dragon whorshiping clerics been getting there power? :confused: I supposed you're talking about that part: With both of their Untheric aspects dead, Tiamat and Bahamut were both stripped of their divine power. Marduk's church was eradicated and Bahamut was reduced to the status of Celestial paragon. He was forced to stay like this, with not enough followers to worship him as a god, living in the Upper planes Something odd in 2Ed, it's written that a SINGLE follower is enough for a god to keep his status of god. Anyway, if we must believe the information from Dragons of Faerun, both deities managed to climb up the godhood ladder.