Hadar, the Dark Hunger, Elder Evil of Realmspace
Origin and Nature
Hadar, also known as the Dark Hunger, was a star-like Elder Evil from the Far Realm that roamed Realmspace. Unlike ordinary stars, Hadar drifted across the cosmos, its cinder-red glow marking it as a dying celestial body slowly burning into annihilation. In its desperation to stave off its demise, Hadar sent agents—Heralds and star spawn—to harvest life energy from mortals, channeling it back to itself in a futile attempt at sustenance.
Hadar’s insatiable hunger drove it to forge pacts with mortals, granting warlocks access to spells such as Arms of Hadar, Hunger of Hadar, and Brood of Hadar. These grim bargains often led to madness, as Hadar’s whispers fractured the minds of its devotees. Despite these efforts, the energy harvested proved insufficient, leading Hadar to enact a grand design: consuming the divine essence of gods and patrons alike to ascend as the sole celestial focal point.
Hadar’s ultimate plan was far more ambitious than mere survival. It aimed to consume the divine essence of gods and patrons alike, intending to replace Kildar’s sun and ascend as the sole celestial focal point of the galaxy. This apocalyptic ambition set the stage for the Crimson Dusk Crisis, where Hadar’s cultists and agents sowed chaos across Kildar in preparation for its arrival.
Cult of Hadar
Hadar’s cultists believed in its promise of salvation through destruction, proclaiming that it would kill all other gods and leave only itself as the source of divine power. Key groups included:
Heralds of Hadar: Fiendish humanoids capable of draining life energy and healing magic to sustain their master. Heralds disguised themselves among mortals while leading cabals of warlocks.
Cabalists of Hadar: Devoted mortals who wielded shadowy weapons to sacrifice victims and channel their life force to Hadar. Over time, these cabalists succumbed to madness from Hadar’s whispers.
Star Spawn: Aberrant creatures summoned through rituals to serve as soldiers in Hadar’s legions.
The Hadarian Crisis, also known as the Crimson Dusk
By 524 RKC, Hadar’s approach toward Kildar triggered widespread chaos across the land. Temples were vandalized, priests disappeared, and cultists proclaimed salvation through Hadar’s arrival—though his true intent was destruction. The crisis culminated in the Battle of Torrica, where adventurers united under Bimarat, the chosen champion, to stop Hadar’s apotheosis.
Through a ritual using the Cards of Fate, Bimarat struck Hadar with divine energy during the climactic battle. This shattered its essence and bound it to Bimarat’s soul, reducing the Red Star to a lifeless husk and freeing the gods from its grasp.
Legacy
Though defeated, Hadar left lasting scars on Kildar:
Ruins of Torrica: Haunted remnants of the capital destroyed during the crisis.
Lost Powers: Warlocks who had pacts with Hadar were stripped of their abilities.
Prophecies: The remnants of Hadar hint at a possible resurgence in future ages.
"The Dark Hunger fades but never truly dies." — Astronomers’ Guild Report