Laogzed
| Game background | |
|---|---|
| Home plane | Infinite Layers of the Abyss |
| Power level | Demigod |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Portfolio | Eating |
| Domains | Chaos, Death, Destruction, Evil |
| Design details | |
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Laogzed is the deity worshipped by reptilian troglodyte race. Its symbol is an oozing toad-lizard, or a lizard's head. Laogzed's sacred animal is the toad.
Publishing history
James M. Ward created Laogzed for the Deities and Demigods cyclopedia (1980).[1] The god appeared in Monster Mythology in 1992,[2] and its realm was described in Planes of Chaos in 1994.[3] His role in the cosmology of the Planescape campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground (1996).[4] In the 3rd edition of the D&D game, Laogzed was mentioned in Defenders of the Faith,[5] Complete Divine,[6] and in Serpent Kingdoms for the Forgotten Realms setting. Laogzed was among the gods listed in the "Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities" in 2005, and appeared in the article "Spellcraft: Alien Blessings" in Dragon #342.
Description
Laogzed is described as a disgusting, vile being who resembles both a toad and a lizard. His skin is covered with loose patches of dead flesh, and oozes an acidic poison.
It is said that Laogzed is a declining power, a single-minded deity concerned only with filling its disgusting maw with food. It has no interest in its followers or priests aside from how good they might be to eat. Its lack of concern for the Realms or its worship is likely to lead to its eventual extinction.
Relationships
Laogzed is said in some myths to be the spawn of Panzuriel and an unnamed female demon of reptilian aspects. According to the story, Laogzed was quickly banished from Panzuriel's realm, and it has remained in the Abyss ever since, though the deity seems to have barely noticed the change in venue. Other myths suggest its father might be the Elder Elemental God.
Realm
Laogzed makes its home on the Rotting Plain, which is the 181st layer of the Abyss. It is a combination of pungent, sweltering savanna and shallow swamplands. Other powers of the Abyss use it as something of a dumping ground, as Laogzed devours everything, regardless of its origin. Whatever it devours becomes part of the substance of the plane, so this is known to demons to be an effective way of permanently disposing of artifacts and items they wish to keep away from others. Laogzed also feeds on damned souls and herds of demons of "least" status.
Worshipers
Laogzed's followers are nearly always troglodytes, though it is possible individuals of other races may pay homage to it.
Clergy
Laogzed's shamans serve as the chief advisors to troglodyte chiefs, but keep themselves from developing close personal relationships with them so that they may serve new chiefs when they die (as they often do). The shamans wear topaz-colored vestments and bone belts. They make strenuous efforts to have their own steel javelins.
Rituals
Laogzed's shamans officiate at the annual shedding of the skins. Burnt human corpses are offered to it as sacrifices annually.
Temples
Laogzed is worshiped in natural caverns.
Holy Days
Laogzed's holy day is Midwinter's Day, a time of burnt human sacrifice and, presumedly, the time of the ritual shedding of the skins.
References
- ↑ Ward, James, and Robert Kuntz. Deities and Demigods (TSR, 1980)
- ↑ Sargent, Carl. Monster Mythology (TSR, 1992)
- ↑ Smith, Lester W., and Wolfgang Baur. Planes of Chaos. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1994
- ↑ McComb, Colin. On Hallowed Ground (TSR, 1996)
- ↑ Redman, Rich and James Wyatt. Defenders of the Faith (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)
- ↑ Noonan, David. Complete Divine. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004
Additional reading
- Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:
Dragon magazine #342 - “Spellcraft: Alien Blessings”