Jazirian
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
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...
, Jazirian is the couatl
Couatl
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the couatl is a large serpentine creature, and in 3rd edition is considered a native outsider.-Publication history:...
deity of Community, Peace, Learning, and Parenthood. The couatls believe Jazirian to be the embodiment of supreme purpose and fate, the invisible force that moves the strings upon which all other gods move. They think themselves uniquely fortunate to be able to apprehend Jazirian where other races cannot, and give humble thanks for this gift. They are driven by this sense to help improve the lot of others.
Jazirian's symbol is a couatl with its tail in its mouth.
Publication history
Jazirian 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 his priesthood. A retelling of his origin story appeared in Guide to Hell (1999).
Description
Jazirian manifests as a vast, rainbow-colored couatl simultaneously winding through the air and forming a circle with his/her tail in his/her mouth. Couatls see Jazirian as hermaphroditic and sexless at once, though nagasNaga (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, nagas comprise a variety of similar species of intelligent aberrations with widely differing abilities and alignments. Nagas appear as large snake like creatures with humanoid heads. They often range widely in coloring and scale patterns, but are all...
see Jazirian as male. Jazirian is a wise and contemplative being.
Relationships
Couatls believe Jazirian is a perfected manifestation of the World Serpent archetype; other serpent gods, such as IoIo (Dungeons & Dragons)
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Io is the chief deity worshipped by dragons, god of dragonkind, balance, and peace. He is seen by his people as the creator of all things. He is neutral in alignment, but he also contains within him all other alignments...
, Merrshaulk
Merrshaulk
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Merrshaulk is the yuan-ti deity of poison and somnolence. "Merrshaulk" is likely a dwarven rendering of his name; the yuan-ti pronounce the name more like "Mi-Shao-Shur," although they view it as too holy to pronounce around outsiders...
, and Shekinester
Shekinester
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Shekinester is the threefold deity of the nagas. She can appear as the aspect of spirit nagas, water nagas, and guardian nagas...
(and perhaps Beltar
Beltar (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Beltar is the Suel goddess of Malice, Caves, and Pits. Her holy symbol is a set of opened fangs poised to bite.-Publication history:...
) are less perfect or immature manifestations of the same greater concept. Even the toad-god Ramenos
Ramenos
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Ramenos is the bullywug deity of somnolence, intoxication, and decay.-Publication history:...
is considered to be an (extremely corrupted) aspect of the World Serpent. Certain obscure texts consider Asmodeus
Asmodeus (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Asmodeus is an Arch-Devil: a lord of the game's version of Hell . There he is the Overlord of the Dukes of Hell...
to be a variation on the theme, even naming Asmodeus as Jazirian's twin.
Jazirian is said to have fathered the naga deity Parrafaire
Parrafaire
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Parrafaire is the naga deity of guardianship. He guards magical secrets and hidden places underground...
, whose mother was Shekinester.
Realm
Jazirian's realm, known as Uroboros, the Gates of Wisdom, can be found in Solania, the fourth of the Seven HeavensMount Celestia
In Dungeons & Dragons, the fantasy role-playing game, Mount Celestia or more fully, the Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia, or even the Seven Heavens is a lawful good-aligned plane of existence...
. Uroboros is an invisible, intangible realm in the clouds above the layer; it can be reached only by making a leap of faith off the peak of a mountain, or by flying upward until one can fly no more, and plummets toward the earth. The seeker discovers a realm of lightness, exhaustion, relief, and utter bliss. Feathers float through the realm, as do ghostly serpents, couatls, and wind walkers. Words become flesh in this realm. Jazirian permits evil creatures to enter, although they must undergo tests and be given a chance to repent.
Uroboros is the only gate between Solania and the higher Heavens. Those who would climb to the very top of the celestial mountain must pass through it and answer one of the riddles of Jazirian before they can go any further.
The ruby palace of Sardior
Sardior
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Sardior is the dragon deity of gem dragons, night, psionics, and secrets. His symbol is a ruby with an inner glow.-Publication history:...
is said to appear here periodically on its journeys through the planes.
Dogma
Virtue untested is merely innocence. Good must be tempered by temptation in order to become as steel. Death is with us always, but each death is a rebirth. Failure is an essential learning experience that forms the building blocks of endurance. All lives flow into one another, as all streams and winds. Life is a cycle, as is all reality.The Serpents of Law
According to a scholar named "Chrystos" in Guide to Hell, the multiverse was originally nothing but swirling Chaos. Gods slowly formed in the primal confusion, and among them formed the greatest of Law's champions, the Twin Serpents Jazirian and Ahriman. In the beginning they were intimately intertwined with one another, Jazirian's tail in Ahriman's mouth and vice versa. Together they established the fundamental principles of the planes: the Unity of Rings, the Rule of Threes, and the Center of All, creating the ring-shape of the cosmos, the triads that dominate it, and the plane of neutrality called the Concordant Opposition or the Outlands.Ahriman and Jazirian, who originally worked together in all things, warred over which plane would be the center of everything. Ahriman chose Baator
Baator
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Baator, also known as the Nine Hells of Baator or the Nine Hells, is a lawful evil-aligned plane of existence...
and Jazirian chose Heaven. They struggled so greatly that, with their tails still in one another's mouths, they forcibly tore apart. The blood from Jazirian's damaged tail formed the first couatls, while the blood of Ahriman, whose terrible fall created a vast pit called the Serpent's Trench, formed the first pit fiends. Ahriman, wounded and imprisoned by the laws he himself created, now goes by the guise of the archfiend Asmodeus
Asmodeus (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Asmodeus is an Arch-Devil: a lord of the game's version of Hell . There he is the Overlord of the Dukes of Hell...
, while Jazirian remains quietly in the background, using her couatls to gather intelligence on Ahriman's goals.
Forgotten Realms cosmology
The Forgotten Realms supplement Serpent Kingdoms describes Jazirian as an early aspect of the now-deceased overpower named the World Serpent. Whether Jazirian is alive or not is not sure, as Serpent Kingdoms states she was killed by Mersshaulk, a dark aspect of the World Serpent, and other products state she is alive in Mount CelestiaMount Celestia
In Dungeons & Dragons, the fantasy role-playing game, Mount Celestia or more fully, the Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia, or even the Seven Heavens is a lawful good-aligned plane of existence...
.
Additional reading
- McComb, Colin, Wolfgang BaurWolfgang BaurWolfgang Baur is an American game designer, best known for his work with Dragon magazine. He designs role-playing games and also is known for his work at Wizards of the Coast.-Biography:...
, and Dori Jean Hein. Planes of Law. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995.