Semuanya
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Semuanya is the deity worshipped by the lizardfolk
race in many campaign setting
s. The symbol of Semuanya is a single reptile egg. Its sacred animal is the alligator.
Semuanya was detailed in the book Monster Mythology
(1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
(1996).
Semuanya was described briefly in Defenders of the Faith
(2000). His priesthood is detailed for 3rd edition in Complete Divine
(2004). His role in the Forgotten Realms
setting was detailed in Serpent Kingdoms (2004).
, but to date Semuanya has not elected to care.
and clerics
who derive power from the worship of Semuanya. Semuanya's priests are unorganized, acting as general caretakers for their tribes. They are required to breed every season, and those who become infertile lose their spells and generally commit suicide. New shamans learn at the feet of the previous generation, and replace them when the older shamans grow infertile. Semuanya's priests distinguish themselves from their fellows with kilts of blue-green hide.
campaign world, Semuanya is an aspect of the "World Serpent" deity worshipped in different forms by the various reptilian races.
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...
, Semuanya is the deity worshipped by the lizardfolk
Lizardfolk
Lizardfolk are a fictional humanoid species in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:...
race in many campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
s. The symbol of Semuanya is a single reptile egg. Its sacred animal is the alligator.
Publication history
James M. Ward created Semuanya for the 1980 D&D supplement manual Deities and Demigods.Semuanya was detailed in the book Monster Mythology
Monster 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. 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).
Semuanya was described briefly in Defenders of the Faith
Defenders of the Faith (Dungeons & Dragons)
Defenders of the Faith: A Guidebook to Clerics and Paladins is an optional rulebook for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons, and notable for its trade paperback format.-Contents:...
(2000). His priesthood is detailed for 3rd edition in 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...
(2004). His role in the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
setting was detailed in Serpent Kingdoms (2004).
Description
Semuanya appears as a large lizardfolk warrior of indeterminate gender wielding a great club with sharp shells at the tip. During times of peace, lizardfolk call her the Breeder; during times of hardship they call him the Watcher or the Seeker.Relationships
Semuanya is an aspect of the "World Serpent" deity worshiped in different forms by the various reptilian races. His worshipers are enthusiastically slaughtered by the cultists of Sess'innekSess'innek
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Sess'Innek is a tanar'ri lord that is worshipped by the lizard kings as a deity of Civilization and Dominion...
, but to date Semuanya has not elected to care.
Realm
The great bog where Semuanya dwells can be found on the neutral plane of Concordant Opposition. Semuanya's Bog lies at one end of the great sea Tir fo Thiunn, spireward of the gate-town of Curst. The bog is an untamed, primordial place and is filled with lizardman petitioners, reptiles of all types and what will eventually be their meals. At its center lies the lethargic Semuanya itself.Dogma
Semuanya is solely devoted to the survival and propagation of the lizardfolk race, and is completely neutral in alignment. If something is not directly related to survival or propagation, Semuanya considers it irrelevant.Clergy
Lizardfolk tribes often contain shamansShaman (Dungeons & Dragons)
The shaman is an alternate playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Dungeons & Dragons :The Orcs of Thar covers orcish shamans...
and clerics
Cleric (Dungeons & Dragons)
The cleric is one of the standard playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In the game, clerics are versatile figures, both capable in combat and skilled in the use of divine magic. Clerics are powerful healers due to the large number of healing and curative...
who derive power from the worship of Semuanya. Semuanya's priests are unorganized, acting as general caretakers for their tribes. They are required to breed every season, and those who become infertile lose their spells and generally commit suicide. New shamans learn at the feet of the previous generation, and replace them when the older shamans grow infertile. Semuanya's priests distinguish themselves from their fellows with kilts of blue-green hide.
Temples
The lizardfolk do not normally build temples to this god, worshiping him instead at stone shrines.Rituals
In times of strife, prayers to Semuanya take the form of efficient hisses and reptilian barks. In times of peace and plenty, lizardfolk take the time to intone longer chants and epic poems in the Draconic tongue. Hunting prizes are sacrificed to Semuanya monthly, when Luna is full.Kecuala
Before the dawn of history, in the time of myth, it is said that Semuanya had a mate, Kecuala by name. Both were hermaphroditic entities, both filling every social role. While Semuanya was concerned only with survival and propagation, however, Kecuala was distracted by more abstract and cerebral matters. Eventually it grew so distracted by its disparate thoughts that it split in half, becoming two entities, male and female. These were the first lizardfolk. Semuanya watches over the lizardfolk to this day, hoping one day they will eliminate their abstract thoughts and become Kecuala again.Forgotten Realms
In the Forgotten RealmsForgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign world, Semuanya is an aspect of the "World Serpent" deity worshipped in different forms by the various reptilian races.
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
- Scott, Amber E., and F. Wesley Schneider. "The Ecology of the Lizardfolk." 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...
#335. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.