Laogzed
Encyclopedia
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.
in 1992, and its realm was described in Planes of Chaos
in 1994. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
(1996). In the 3rd edition of the D&D game, Laogzed was mentioned in Defenders of the Faith
, Complete Divine
, 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.
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.
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.
. 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.
, a time of burnt human sacrifice and, presumedly, the time of the ritual shedding of the skins.
Dragon magazine #342 - “Spellcraft: Alien Blessings”
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, Laogzed is the deity worshipped by reptilian troglodyte
Troglodyte (Dungeons & Dragons)
The troglodytes is a fictional race of primitive reptilian humanoids in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:The troglodyte was introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons....
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). The god appeared in Monster MythologyMonster Mythology
Monster Mythology is a sourcebook for the second edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Released by TSR in 1992 and written by Carl Sargent, with interior illustrations by Terry Dykstra, John and Laura Lakey, and Keith Parkinson, Monster Mythology was released as a companion volume for...
in 1992, and its realm was described in Planes of Chaos
Planes of Chaos
Planes of Chaos was a boxed set for the Planescape campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:Planes of Chaos is an expansion set for the Planescape campaign setting which details the five chaotic Outer Planes: Arborea, Ysgard, Limbo, Pandemonium, and the Abyss...
in 1994. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground is an accessory book for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, for the Planescape campaign setting.-Contents:This book contains information about deities' planar domains from 20 separate pantheons...
(1996). In the 3rd edition of the D&D game, Laogzed was mentioned in Defenders of the Faith
Defenders of the Faith
Defenders of the Faith is the ninth studio album by British heavy metal band Judas Priest. It was recorded at Ibiza Sound Studios, Ibiza, Spain and mixed from September to November 1983 at DB Recording Studios and Bayshore Recording Studios in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida. The LP and cassette tape...
, Complete Divine
Complete Divine
Complete Divine is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast...
, 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
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#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 PanzurielPanzuriel
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Panzuriel is a deity of murder, confusion, subversion, and evil creatures of the sea...
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 AbyssAbyss (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Abyss or more fully, the Infinite Layers of the Abyss, is a chaotic evil-aligned plane of existence. It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Planes that form part of the standard Dungeons & Dragons cosmology, used in the Planescape...
. 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.Holy Days
Laogzed's holy day is Midwinter's DayWinter solstice
Winter solstice may refer to:* Winter solstice, astronomical event* Winter Solstice , former band* Winter Solstice: North , seasonal songs* Winter Solstice , 2005 American film...
, a time of burnt human sacrifice and, presumedly, the time of the ritual shedding of the skins.
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:http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip
Dragon magazine #342 - “Spellcraft: Alien Blessings”