Death of Bahamut

The Death of Bahamut was a catalyst event in the Heart of Gold campaign. It sets into motion much of the conflict seen by the party, and binds their fate as the Material Realm is put at stake.

Event

During their early travels, the party encountered a Dwarf named Gunthar Flaming-Tongue, accompanied by his Githyanki bodyguards Loq and Voq. It was soon discovered that Gunthars true identity was that of Bahamut, the God of Metallic Dragons.

Gunthar was captured by a force of Sharrans, who were defeated by the party in an effort to rescue Gunthar. During the night following this rescue, another Sharran force arrived led by Lady Mirenne. Refusing to hand over Gunthar, the two forces engaged in a skirmish, with the Sharrans raising a Gate spell to summon something from the Shadowfell and Gunthar taking his divine form as Bahamut, the Dragon.

Despite their best efforts, the ritual was completed, causing a twenty-foot-tall, blindly beautiful woman to appear from circle; Lady Shar herself manifesting. She looked upon Bahamut and demanded he return the essence he had stolen 37,000 years ago, before summoning a spear of pure darkness and striking him down.

From his body, a heart of sickening gold emerged, resembling an ancient golden dragon egg emanating a dark aura of shadow weave. The egg then rose into the sky, cracked, and split in two as a massive worm emerged. It continued to grow larger and larger, reaching the diameter of Neverwinter and the length of the Sword Coast and beyond. It moved through the sky, hurtling toward the sun. Shar called it ‘Sun-Eater’ and claimed it would consume the sun whole, engulfing the world in never-ending darkness.

In his final moments, Bahamut instructed the party to seek out an individual called "Ur" in sigil and presented the party the remnants of his Divine Heart of Gold, allowing them to enter it and escape the battlefield.

Outcomes

The Sharran War

Three weeks ago at dusk, we heard an explosion coming from Neverwinter Woods. Shortly after, an army of Sharrans emerged from nearby towns and forests. It was as if every Sharran secret society across the Sword Coast had awoken and reunited. They then marched toward Neverwinter. - Gandalf

Bahamut's death has caused dramatic effects across the Sword Coast, and likely much of Toril beyond. The land has been overwhelmed with conflict from Sharran forces, demanding defenseless villages to convert their worship to Lady Shar, and conquering cities in her name.

Neverwinter was quick to fall to Sharran forces, preparing a devastating attack days before the party emerged from the Heart. The gates were closed, artillery was prepared, and boiling water was readied to be poured on any soul foolish enough to approach the walls.

However, the moment the Sharrans reached the outskirts of the city, Lord Neverember showed up personally and ordered all weapons to be lowered and the gates to be opened wide. He welcomed the Sharrans in. Not even an hour later, Neverwinter was declared a theocracy of Shar, and all Selûnite worship was banned.

Neverwinter then sent a clear message to Waterdeep, home to Selûne’s greatest temple and long regarded as the heart of Selûnite faith: accept Shar, reject Selûne, embrace the sun’s death, or perish. Waterdeep rejected the absurd demand outright. In response, Neverwinter withdrew from the Lord’s Alliance and declared war upon it.

Shar’s Neverwinter swiftly took control over Phandalin and pushed deep into the Mere of Dead Men with an army of undead, while simultaneously setting up a siege around Yartar and taking control of the hills eastward with a weapon called “The Eclipse.”

The city pirate state of Luskan and the elven city Eaerlann have yet to intervene. It has been said that an Orcish Tribe nearby has been terrorizing the Mere of Dead Men front”

The Darkening Skies

With the destruction of the Sun, the sky has been plunged into crimson darkness as it fades, growing dimmer by the day as it is left unresolved. Without prompt action, Toril will be plunged into eternal darkness, claimed by Shar.

Trivia

The site of Bahamuts death is referred to as Bahamut's Fall.