In FR the dragons were created by the primordials. Does this mean many/most/all dragon gods are also primordials, as aspects/fragments of Io?
The Dragon Gods are presented as actual gods rather than primordials (DMG p. 10, PHB p. 296, & SCAG p. 113).
Can a primordial also be (or somehow become) a god?
I'm unaware of this occurring, but I wouldn't rule it out:
- Asgorath/Io is both, but (as creator of the universe) doesn't count.
- Tharizdun is close, but is not a Primordial.
- Kossuth is also close, but he's "not a true god but actually an
elemental primordial".
Do primordials need, desire or benefit from followers?
Not normally, but Kossuth is an example of a primordial that benefits from extensive worship.
Do surviving primordials have significant religions associated with them, either in Abeir or in Toril?
On Toril the five Elemental Lords have followings, while The Seven Lost Gods were once worshiped. I believe Abeir would have more significant Primodial worship, but that setting was never detailed.
Do primordials grant spells in the same way as gods?
Not normally, but again: Kossuth is an example of a primordial that both grants spells and has extensive followings.
Can they be warlock patrons?
I don't see anything preventing this. A few homebrewed examples of this can be found here and here.
Is there any obvious difference in the portfolios of primordials versus gods? I would have assumed that since they predate mortals they tend to represent more fundamental forces (like the elements) rather than human concepts like law, love, luck, agriculture.
That might be one way to view it, but 4e's creation myth (Worlds and Monsters p.56, cited below) has the Gods being created at the same time as the Primordials. Another way to view it might be that the Primordials are composed of elemental "physical-matter" while the Gods (and Astral Sea) are more composed of thought (mental-matter).
In short, what is the difference between a god and a primordial? Are they fundamentally the same (just different lineages) or are there fundamental differences?
They are consistently presented as having fundamental differences. From 4e's Worlds and Monsters (p.56): "The gods, beings of divine power, appeared in the Astral Sea, while in the Elemental Chaos arose the primordials, incarnations of tremendous elemental might"... "composed partially of creation-stuff".
I also found this fantastically detailed post on Candlekeep...
That still seems like as good a guide as any.
Disclaimer: The following is speculation based on information about other areas that suffered a similar fate.
There is precious little information available about Maztica, especially in this regard. However there is some informed speculating we can do to help you come up with your own story.
During the Spellplague, Maztica was switched with Laerakond (although not in geographically identical spaces). Maztica was sent to Abeir, while Laerakond came from there. (Abeir was a second planet that was once merged with Toril). Maztica returned with the Sundering, and Laerakond also remained.
The kingdom of Unther (a human empire) also switched with Tymanther (part of a Dragonborn empire), which brought Dragonborn to Toril. Unther returned (most of Tymanther switched but some remained) with the Sundering. Unther has been mostly destroyed and overrun by the creatures in Abeir (mostly Genasi I think), and had only recently regained their kingdom before returning to Toril.
Using Unther as an example, we can maybe speculate that Mazticas stay in Abeir led to strange changes in ecology and the political landscape. Especially if Maztica was connected to a new landmass, it could have been ravaged by new diseases, strange beasts, or empires looking for easy conquest. Theres already some record of diseases running wild there after colonists from Faerun attempted to establish cities.
TL;DR Maztica was sent to Abeir, and likely had any number of strange developments on that new planet. Now that it's back, perhaps the Tabaxi are fleeing some lurking danger that they could not escape until now.
Best Answer
Tabaxi were created at least partially in the image of cats
According to Volo's Guide to Monsters, tabaxi were created by a specific divine figure called the Cat Lord (p.113). Thus, tabaxi are not evolved from cats, nor do they share a common ancestor. However, the Cat Lord "gifts each of his children with one specific feline trait." Not many examples are given beyond curiosity, presented as an explanation for tabaxi adventurers.
One could imagine that tabaxi might consider cats somewhat divine or special for this reason, though the exact relationship would likely depend on what trait was perceived to have been inherited.