Tiamat, Daughter of Khyber
In Eberron, deities do not walk the earth. This is true even of the Dragon Gods. The dragons point to Bahamut’s image in the sky, but the platinum dragon has never set foot on Eberron, and his existence is a matter of faith, not fact.
Although misconceptions abound, Tiamat’s existence on Eberron is no exception for she is not truly a god. Rather, she is one of the mightiest fiends of the Age of Demons, a true daughter of the Dragon Below. Each of the Overlords has its own mystical dominion; for Tiamat, that province is dragons. Khyber and Siberys were siblings, and the taint of Khyber lies hidden in every dragon. Tiamat has the power to draw that out, corrupting and commanding the children of Eberron and Siberys. The chromatic dragons are especially vulnerable to her wiles, but even metallic dragons are at risk.
During the Age of Demons, Tiamat was the most feared of the Overlords, as she turned an army of dragons and her own twisted spawn against their kin. She was finally defeated by the couatls and bound in Argonnessen’s Pit of Five Sorrows. Her corrupted spawn were utterly destroyed. Still, so great was the fear she engendered that the dragons placed her among the pantheon of dragon deities and traced her symbol in the stars. Perhaps they hoped that if Tiamat found a place in the heavens, she might never return to Eberron.
Tiamat remains bound to this day, but her power is still felt in the world. She has followers among the Lords of Dust, and she is served by an alliance of dragons and other creatures—the Talons of Tiamat. These cultists work to free the Daughter of Khyber, and they have already succeeded at the first stage of their plans, arranging for the reemergence of Tiamat’s dreadful spawn. The Prophecy warns of the terrible consequences of Tiamat’s return; now her cult works to fulfill the conditions of the Prophecy, even as the draconic Light of Siberys fights to keep this apocalypse at bay.
Even though Tiamat isn’t a true goddess, clerics who worship the Daughter of Khyber do receive spells, just as warforged devoted to the Lord of Blades do. Tiamat herself does not grant this power, but faith and devotion to her dark ideals empowers the dedicated cleric. Like all the Overlords of the Age of Demons, Tiamat is bound in her prison and can influence the world only through her agents. In her true form, she has power sufficient to threaten entire nations, and the ability to corrupt and control dragons. It is possible that her followers will find a way to grant their dark lady the ability to manifest, at least partially, in the world. This cataclysmic event would allow epic-level PCs to combat directly an aspect of mighty Tiamat.
Tiamat as a Deity
Source: Races of the Dragon
TIAMAT
The Chromatic Dragon, Creator of Evil Dragonkind
Lesser Deity
Symbol: Five-headed dragon
Home Plane: Baator
Alignment: Lawful evil
Portfolio: Evil dragons, conquest, greed
Worshipers: Evil dragons, conquerors
Cleric Alignments: NE, LE
Domains: Destruction, Dragon*, Evil, Greed*, Law, Trickery [Hatred, Scalykind, Tyranny]
Favored Weapon: Heavy pick (bite)
All evil dragons pay homage to Tiamat; green and blue dragons acknowledge her sovereignty the most readily. Many are proud to call themselves her spawn, able to trace their bloodlines back to their god. Good dragons have a healthy respect for Tiamat, though they try to avoid mentioning or thinking about her.
In her natural form, Tiamat is a thick-bodied dragon with five heads and a wyvern’s tail. Each head is a different color: white, black, green, blue, and red. Her massive body is striped in those colors.
Tiamat has many consorts, including great wyrms of the white, black, green, blue, and red varieties.
Dogma
Tiamat concerns herself with spreading evil, defeating good, and propagating evil dragons. She enjoys razing the occasional village, city, or country, but only as a diversion from her subtle, world-spanning plots. She is the villain who lurks in the shadows. Her presence is felt but seldom seen.
Tiamat constantly seeks to extend the power and dominion of evil dragons over the land, particularly when her subjects fi nd themselves embroiled in territorial disputes with good dragons. Tiamat also unfailingly demands reverence, homage, and tribute from herssubjects.
Clergy
Tiamat accepts only evil clerics. Tiamat’s clerics, like Tiamat herself, seek to place the world under the domination of evil dragons.
Tiamat claims not to need allies, though most believe she has bargains with many archdevils and lawful evil deities such as Hextor. Her enemies are numerous, including Heironeous, Moradin, and, of course, Bahamut.
Quests
The followers of Tiamat are sent on a variety of quests to further her grand machinations. Some are easily understood, such as aiding one of her spawn against a dragonborn who seeks to destroy it. Others are less obvious and include tasks as varied and hard to understand as burying a specific magic item at a designated place.
Prayers
Tiamat urges her evil dragonblood followers to go forth and populate the world, fill it with her spawn, and either destroy or enslave all others. Prayers to Tiamat focus on the goal of world domination.
Temples
Though most evil dragons honor Tiamat, few keep shrines dedicated to her in their lairs because they don’t want Tiamat’s greedy eyes gazing at their treasure hoards. Instead, they dedicate vast, gloomy caverns to their deity and keep them stocked with treasure and sacrifices.
Rites
To commemorate a victory such as destroying a town, repulsing a thief seeking to pilfer from one’s hoard, or gaining a great treasure, the followers of Tiamat celebrate by indulging in great wickedness, including torturing prisoners or even fi ghting one another to prove their supremacy.
Herald and Allies
Tiamat’s herald is an old red dragon. Her allies include evil dragons, baatezu, and evil draconic creatures of all sorts.
TIAMAT
Colossal Dragon
Divine Rank: 10
Hit Dice: 49d12+588 (906 hp)
Initiative: +4 (Improved Initiative)
Speed: 40 ft., fly 150 ft. clumsy, swim 40 ft.
AC: 69 (–8 size, +10 divine, +48 natural, +9 deflection)
Attacks: 5 bites +70 melee, 2 wings +65 melee, sting +65 melee; or spell +70 melee touch or +51 ranged touch
Damage: Bite 4d6+19/19–20, wing 2d8+9, sting 3d6+9 plus poison; or by spell
Face/Reach: 40 ft. by 80 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks: Breath weapons, crush, tail sweep, sound imitation, spells, spell-like abilities domain powers, salient divine abilities.
Special Qualities: Divine immunities, fire immunity, DR 45/+4, spontaneous casting of divine spells, understand, speak, and read all languages and speak directly to all beings within 10 miles, remote communication, godly realm, teleport without error at will, plane shift at will, blindsight 10 miles, scent, darkvision, water breathing, SR 42, divine aura (1,000 ft., DC 29).
Saves: Fort +48, Ref +36, Will +43.
Abilities: Str 49, Dex 10, Con 35, Int 28, Wis 25, Cha 29.
Skills: Alchemy +45, Bluff +71, Concentration +73, Diplomacy +71, Gather Information +69, Intimidate +71, Knowledge (arcana) +41, Knowledge (dragonkind) +44, Knowledge (history) +41, Knowledge (the planes) +41, Knowledge (religion) +41, Listen +71, Scry +71, Search +71, Sense Motive +69, Spellcraft +71, Spot +71, Wilderness Lore +33.
Feats: Alertness, Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Casting, Great Cleave, Hover, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Expertise, Flyby Attack, Power Attack, Snatch, Wingover.
Breath Weapons (Su): Each of Tiamat’s five heads produces a different breath weapon.
White: A cone of cold 70 feet long; creatures within the cone take 12d6 points of cold damage.
Black: A line of acid 5 feet high, 5 feet wide, and 140 feet long; creatures within the area of effect take 24d4 points of acid damage.
Green: A cone of corrosive gas 70 feet long; creatures within the cone take 24d6 points of acid damage.
Blue: A line of lightning 5 feet high, 5 feet wide, and 140 feet long; creatures within the area of effect take 24d8 points of electrical damage.
Red: A cone of fire 70 feet long; creatures within the cone take 24d10 points of fire damage.
Each of Tiamat’s breath weapons allow a Reflex saving throw (DC 56) for half damage.
Once one of Tiamat’s heads breathes, the head must wait 1d4 rounds before it can breathe again.
Crush (Ex): Tiamat can land on foes as a standard action, using her whole body to crush them. Crush attacks are effective only against Large opponents or smaller. A crush attack affects as many creatures as can fit under Tiamat’s body. Creatures in the affected area must succeed at a Reflex save (DC 56) or be pinned automatically, taking 4d8+28 damage each round until Tiamat moves. Tiamat can maintain the pin as a normal grapple attack.
Tail Sweep (Ex): As a standard action, Tiamat can sweep her tail in a half-circle with a 40-foot diameter. Medium-size or smaller creatures within the tail sweep area automatically take 2d8+28 points of damage and must succeed at Reflex saves (DC 56) to avoid being knocked down.
Multiple Heads: Tiamat can bite with all her heads, even if she moves or charges during a round. Instead of biting, each head can use a breath weapon or a spell-like ability as a standard action.
Tiamat can cast one spell each round, which counts as a standard action for one of her heads.
If a strike from a slashing weapon deals at least 185 points of damage in a single blow, one of Tiamat’s heads is severed, just as a hydra’s head would be.
Sound Imitation: Any time she likes, Tiamat can mimic any voice or sound she has heard. Listeners can detect the ruse with a Will save (DC 43).
Poison: Creatures Tiamat stings with her tail take 3d6 points of temporary Constitution damage unless they make Fortitude saves (DC 56). After 1 minute, creatures must make additional Fortitude saves (DC 56) or take an additional 3d6 points of temporary Constitution damage.
Water Breathing: As an extraordinary ability, Tiamat can breathe underwater indefinitely (though as a deity, she has no real need to breathe). She can freely use her breath weapons, spells, and other abilities while submerged.
Divine Immunities: Ability damage, ability drain, acid, cold, death effects, disease, disintegration, electricity, energy drain, mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison, sleep, stunning, transmutation, imprisonment, banishment.
Salient Divine Abilities: Alter Form, Alter Size, Alter Reality, Annihilating Strike, Area Divine Shield, Control Creatures (nongood dragons, or any dragon with Cha 12 or lower), Divine Blast, Divine Shield, Extra Domain (Law), Extra Sense Enhancement (blindsight), Shapechange, Spell Immunity†.
†Unique ability, described below.
Domain Powers: Cast evil spells at +1 caster level; cast law spells at +1 caster level; 10/day smite (+20 on attack and damage for one weapon attack).
Spell-Like Abilities: Tiamat uses these abilities as a 20th-level caster, except for evil spells and law spells, which she uses as a 21th-level caster. The save DCs are 30 + spell level. Calm emotions, change self, circle of doom, confusion, contagion, create undead, blasphemy, desecrate, dictum, disintegrate, dispel chaos, dispel good, earthquake, false vision, harm, hold monster, implosion, inflict critical wounds, inflict light wounds, invisibility, magic circle against chaos, magic circle against good, mislead, nondetection, order’s wrath, polymorph any object, protection from chaos, protection from good, screen, shatter, shield of law, summon monster IX (as evil or law spell only), time stop, unholy aura, unholy blight.
Tiamat has the ability to corrupt water once per day. This ability causes up to 10 cubic feet of water to become stagnant, foul, inert, and unable to support animal life. The ability can spoil magic potions and any other liquid containing water; unattended items are automatically fouled. Items in a creature’s possession remain unaffected if the bearer makes a Will save (DC 43).
Tiamat can charm reptiles three times per day. The power operates as a mass charmspell (Will DC 27 negates), but the ability works only on reptilian animals. Tiamat can communicate with any reptiles she has charmed as though using a speak with animals spell.
Cleric Spells/Day: 6/8/8/8/7/7/6/6/5/5; base DC = 23 + spell level.
Sorcerer Spells Known (6/9/8/8/8/8/7/7/7/3; base DC = 22 + spell level):
0—arcane mark, dancing lights, detect magic, detect poison, ghost sound, light, mage hand, open/close, prestidigitation;
1st—alarm, grease, magic missile, true strike, ventriloquism;
2nd—detect thoughts, fog cloud, knock, locate object, silent image;
3rd—displacement, nondetection, haste, major image;
4th—arcane eye, emotion, improved invisibility, shadow conjuration;
5th–feeblemind, mind fog, mirage arcana, telekinesis;
6th—analyze dweomer, chain lightning, project image;
7th—insanity, prismatic spray, reverse gravity;
8th—power word blind, trap the soul, Otto’s irresistible dance;
9th—energy drain, soul bind, wail of the banshee.
Spell Immunity (unique salient divine ability): Tiamat is immune to the effect of any spell or spell-like ability of 5th level or lower.
Possessions: Amulet of the planes, bracers of armor +8, carpet of flying (6 ft. by 9 ft.), cloak of displacement, crystal ball with detect thoughts, darkskull, iron bands of Bilarro, iron flask (empty), orb of storms, portable hole, ring of resistance +5, rod of rulership, and rod of splendor. Tiamat carries or wears these items only when she is in humanoid form. The bonuses these items grant are not reflected in the numbers given above.
Other Divine Powers
As a lesser deity, Tiamat may take 10 on any check. Tiamat treats a 1 on an attack roll or saving throw normally and not as an automatic failure. She is immortal.
Senses: Tiamat can see (using normal vision or darkvision), hear, touch, and smell at a distance of ten miles. In addition, she has blindsight to a range of 10 miles and can see invisible and ethereal creatures within 1,600 feet (as a see invisibility spell that is constantly active). As a standard action, she can perceive anything within ten miles of her worshipers, holy sites, objects, or any location where one of her titles or name was spoken in the last hour. She can extend her senses to up to five locations at once. She can block the sensing power of deities of her rank or lower at up to two remote locations at once for 10 hours.
Portfolio Sense: Tiamat can sense anything that affects the welfare of evil dragons, so long as the event in question affects at least five hundred dragons.
Automatic Actions: Tiamat can use Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (dragonkind), Knowledge (history), Knowledge (the planes), or Knowledge (religion) as a free action if the DC for the task is 20 or lower. She can perform up to five such free actions each round.
Create Magic Items: Tiamat can create weapons of all types, as well as items that deceive or control creatures, such as a hat of disguise, a cloak of displacement, or a staff of charming, as long as the item’s market price does not exceed 30,000 gp.
Avatars
Tiamat is very active in the world. She usually travels in the guise of a bewitching human or elven female. Several evil dragons of various types either accompany her in disguise or lurk out of sight nearby.
Avatar of Tiamat: As Tiamat except divine rank 5;
AC 59 (touch 16, flat-footed 59);
Atk +65 melee (4d6+19/19–20, 5 bites) +60 melee (2d8+9, 2 wings), +60 melee (3d6+9 plus poison, sting), or spell +65 melee touch or +46 ranged touch;
SQ DR 40/+4, SR 397, divine aura (50 ft., DC 24);
SV Fort +43, Ref +31, Will +38;
all skill modifiers reduced by 5.
Breath Weapons and Poison: As Tiamat except that save DCs are 51.
Salient Divine Abilities: Alter Form, Alter Size, Divine Shield, Extra Domain (Law), Shapechange, Spell Immunity.
Spell-Like Abilities: Caster level 15th; saving throw DC 25 + spell level.
