Cegilune
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Cegilune is the hag
deity of larvae, hags, and the moon. She is the patron goddess of all hags, including night hags
. Her symbol is an overflowing black cauldron.
(1992), including details about her priesthood.
. Some say she is the dark twin of Titania
, queen of the fey, herself. It is alleged that if either Titania or Cegilune were to die, both goddesses would perish.
Cegilune has no allies, although she has dealings with some of the evil gods of the giants. She is said to have mated with Grolantor
, and as such is considered one of the ancestresses of the hill giant race. She may be one of those who tutored his brother Karontor
. She has many enemies among the sylvan gods.
Some centuries ago, the night hags waged war against the lich-god Mellifleur
, who had seized control of the larva trade in one region of the Lower Planes. The hags created the altraloth Typhus in order to combat him. However, Mellifleur would not dare to attack Cegilune directly, for she protects her essence with numerous soul-gems hidden from his gaze and protected with powerful contingency spells.
of Hades. She is said to dwell in a filthy, bone-strewn cave halfway up a bleak mountain of desolate black rock. There, she endlessly stirs her cauldron; a full moon hovers over it.
Cegilune rules the night hags with an iron hand, sending them forth to gather larvae for her use.
(Celene is full on Midwinter Night itself, while Luna is full the week before on Sunsebb 18
), when her worshipers compete to inflict the greatest suffering in the blood sacrifices they offer their fell patron.
As the Age wore on, fickle Cegilune grew complacent, and new deities usurped her worship. As her veneration declined, wrinkles began to appear on her lovely face, and those priestesses she called her daughters had begin to age as well. Enraged, Cegilune dispatched her daughters to slaughter hundreds of her former followers.
This expended most of her power, leaving Cegilune and her daughters wrinkled crones. Other deities, enraged by this violation of the sanctity of the Prime Material Plane
, rose against her and drove her into the underworld. With this final corruption of their goddess, the daughters of Cegilune were corrupted as well, the Songs becoming green hags, the prophets becoming sea hags, and the protectors becoming the dreaded annis.
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...
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...
, Cegilune is the hag
Hag (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, hags are witchlike beings that use magic to spread havoc and destruction, and slay all whom they encounter.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
deity of larvae, hags, and the moon. She is the patron goddess of all hags, including night hags
Night hag (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the night hag is an outsider that comes from the Gray Waste of Hades. The night hag's relationship to other types of hags is unclear...
. Her symbol is an overflowing black cauldron.
Publication history
Cegilune was first detailed in the book 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...
(1992), including details about her priesthood.
Description
Cegilune appears as a filthy hag with yellow-brown skin. She may also appear as a young human or elf woman, or as a homely old lady. Very rarely, she'll manifest as a scruffy orc or goblinoid woman. In all of her forms, she carries a small iron pot.Relationships
Cegilune is believed to be related to the sylvan deitiesSeelie Court (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Seelie Court is a large, loose confederation of gods that consists of the leader Titania and her consort Oberon, as well as the following gods: Caoimhin, Damh, Eachthighern , Emmantiensien, Fionnghuala, Nathair Sgiathach, Skerrit, Squelaiche, and...
. Some say she is the dark twin of Titania
Titania (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Titania is the fey deity of Faerie folk and Realms, Friendship, and Magic. Her symbol is a white diamond with a blue star glowing in its center, the antithesis of the black diamond symbol of her sister, the Queen of Air and Darkness.-Publication...
, queen of the fey, herself. It is alleged that if either Titania or Cegilune were to die, both goddesses would perish.
Cegilune has no allies, although she has dealings with some of the evil gods of the giants. She is said to have mated with Grolantor
Grolantor
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Grolantor is the deity worshiped by the hill giant race, as well as ettins, and some frost giants and ogres. His sacred animal is the dire wolf. His holy symbol is a wooden club....
, and as such is considered one of the ancestresses of the hill giant race. She may be one of those who tutored his brother Karontor
Karontor
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Karontor is the giant deity of deformity, hatred, and beasts. His symbol is the head of a winter wolf.-Publication history:...
. She has many enemies among the sylvan gods.
Some centuries ago, the night hags waged war against the lich-god Mellifleur
Mellifleur
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Mellifleur is the god of lichdom and magic. Mellifleur is also known as the "Lichlord."His symbol is a crystal vial held in a skeletal hand, with a ring on its fourth finger.-Publication history:...
, who had seized control of the larva trade in one region of the Lower Planes. The hags created the altraloth Typhus in order to combat him. However, Mellifleur would not dare to attack Cegilune directly, for she protects her essence with numerous soul-gems hidden from his gaze and protected with powerful contingency spells.
Realm
Cegilune makes her lair in the realm of Hagsend in Pluton, the third gloom of the Gray WasteGray Waste
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Gray Waste is a strongly evil aligned plane of existence...
of Hades. She is said to dwell in a filthy, bone-strewn cave halfway up a bleak mountain of desolate black rock. There, she endlessly stirs her cauldron; a full moon hovers over it.
Worshipers
Cegilune is feared by sylvan beings as a dark and bloody stalker, and even hags despise their goddess, hating her for what she has made of them, respecting only her power. They fear her greed, believing she will take from them that which is rightfully theirs.Cegilune rules the night hags with an iron hand, sending them forth to gather larvae for her use.
Holy Days
Cegilune is worshiped with praises and curses every night, cumulating in a ceremony held under the full moon nearest the Winter SolsticeWinter solstice
Winter solstice may refer to:* Winter solstice, astronomical event* Winter Solstice , former band* Winter Solstice: North , seasonal songs* Winter Solstice , 2005 American film...
(Celene is full on Midwinter Night itself, while Luna is full the week before on Sunsebb 18
Greyhawk Calendar
The Greyhawk Calendar is a fictional calendar used in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game...
), when her worshipers compete to inflict the greatest suffering in the blood sacrifices they offer their fell patron.
Myths and legends
According to myths told by the ogres and hill giants, Cegilune was once a beautiful, silver-haired goddess of the moon. Her priestesses were granted special powers to further her worship: those known as the Songs of Cegilune were gifted with beautiful voices, her prophets were given the ability to walk on water, and her protectors were given great strength.As the Age wore on, fickle Cegilune grew complacent, and new deities usurped her worship. As her veneration declined, wrinkles began to appear on her lovely face, and those priestesses she called her daughters had begin to age as well. Enraged, Cegilune dispatched her daughters to slaughter hundreds of her former followers.
This expended most of her power, leaving Cegilune and her daughters wrinkled crones. Other deities, enraged by this violation of the sanctity of the Prime Material Plane
Prime Material Plane
The Prime Material Plane is the central plane of existence in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
, rose against her and drove her into the underworld. With this final corruption of their goddess, the daughters of Cegilune were corrupted as well, the Songs becoming green hags, the prophets becoming sea hags, and the protectors becoming the dreaded annis.
Additional reading
- Bonny, Ed. "Pox of the Planes." DragonDragon (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...
Annual #2. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1997. - Schneider, F. Wesley. "The Ecology of the Annis." DragonDragon (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...
#345 (Paizo PublishingPaizo PublishingPaizo Publishing is an American publishing company in Redmond, Washington that specializes in game aids and adventures for "the world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game" and its flagship spin-off game and setting, Pathfinder...
, 2006).