Lizardfolk

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Dungeons & Dragons creature
Lizardfolk battle adventurers on the cover of Tomb of the Lizard King (1983).
Lizardfolk
Alignment Neutral
Type Humanoid
Source books
First appearance Supplement I: Greyhawk
Image Wizards.com image
Stats OGL stats

Lizardfolk (previously lizard men) are a fictional humanoid species in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

Contents

[edit] Ecology

Lizardfolk are omnivores, though they have a preference for meat.

[edit] Environment

Lizardfolk are normally found in temperate marshes and swamps. Lizardfolk are passable swimmers however, and may be found in underwater cave systems.

[edit] Typical physical characteristics

Lizardfolk are primitive reptilian humanoids typically standing from six to seven feet tall. Their scales are normally dull, earthy colors such as green, brown, or gray. They have a tail for balance, which measures three to four feet long. Typical weight is between 200 and 300 pounds (90 and 136 kg). There are several species of lizardfolk however, and these can range from three-foot tall pygmies to nine-foot tall giants.

[edit] Alignment

Lizardfolk are usually neutral.

[edit] Society

Lizardfolk society is primarily patriarchal, with the strongest member normally in charge. Shamans are typically counselors, and normally do not lead tribes. Where ever they make their home, survival is the main priority for any lizardfolk. Lizardfolk mostly worship the deity Semuanya, whose main agenda is the reproduction and survival of the species.

[edit] Variants

  • Blackscale [1] - Larger and more barbaric, with dark scales and an affinity towards acid.
  • Dark Talon [2] - Murderous lizardfolk, toughened by alchemical infusions of black dragon blood. They seek to conquer lands controlled by other humanoid races.
  • Lizard King [3] - Demon-blooded lizardfolk who often rule tribes of their non-fiendish kin. Serve the demon lord Sess'Innek.
  • Malpheggi - A more advanced lizardfolk found in the Hollow World.
  • Poison Dusk [4] - Smaller, chameleon-like lizardfolk who frequently utilize poisoned arrows.
  • Quanak - Psionic lizardfolk.
  • Shazak - Found in the Savage Coast these lizard folk were once slaves, but are now free. They are more intelligent and civilized than most lizardfolk.
  • Viletooth - Lizardfolk with genetic relations to Black Dragons.

[edit] Lizardfolk in various campaign settings

[edit] Lizardfolk in Mystara

In the Mystara Campaign Setting most lizardfolk worship Ka the Preserver.

[edit] Lizardfolk in Spelljammer

Lizardfolk are one of the primary factions in the Spelljammer Campaign Setting. They are thought to originally have been groundlings who were captured as slaves by humans or mind flayers and transported into wildspace. Lizardfolk in wildspace are more advanced than their groundling cousins. They often decorate their bodies with tattoos and body paint.[1]

Spacefaring lizardfolk believe that they the advances in their race are due to increased proximity to the various suns of wildspace. They seek to continue the advancement of their race and deliberately fly ships containing lizardfolk eggs close to suns.[2]

Lizardfolk mostly use the same sort of ships as humans, but have a special breeding ship design called the bloatfly. The bloatfly is a heavily armed vessel containing a large tank of water for incubating eggs. They are normally coated with black tar in order to retain as much heat as possible.[3]

[edit] Lizardfolk in Arcanis

In the Arcanis Campaign Setting, lizardfolk are elevated to the point of being not only an important race but also a race playable as PCs. The lizardfolk of Arcanis are more often called Ss'ressen, and they are divided into several campaign-specific sub-races. Most Ss'ressen are part of the evil Ssethregoran Empire, though a few sub-races have separated geographically and theologically from their brethren to live in relative peace with mankind.

[edit] Creative origins

Lizardmen first officially appeared as part of the original D&D game in the 1975 Greyhawk supplement booklet authored by Gary Gygax and Robert Kuntz. The lizardman artwork that appeared on the inside front cover of that supplement was used as part of the official TSR, Inc. logo from 1975 through 1978.

[edit] References

[edit] Footnotes

 This article or section includes a list of references or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations.
You can improve this article by introducing more precise citations.
  1. ^ Grubb, Jeff. AD&D Adventures in Space - Concordance of Arcane Space (TSR 1989)
  2. ^ Grubb, Jeff. AD&D Adventures in Space - Lorebook of the Void (TSR 1989)
  3. ^ Greenwood, Ed. SJR1 Lost Ships (TSR 1990)

[edit] External links


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