A lammasu (pronounced: /ˈlɑːmɑːsuː/ LA-ma-soo[4]) was a noble and stern magical beast that looked like a cross between a lion and an eagle. Lammasus sought to promote goodness throughout the world, living in isolated ruins and abandoned temples. They spoke Celestial, Common, and Draconic.[5]
Description[]
A lammasu had the body of a lion, the wings of a giant eagle, and the face of a human.[5] They were capable of flight.[1]
The average lammasu was eight feet (two meters) long and weighed about 500 pounds (225 kilograms).[5]
Personality[]
Lammasus were creatures who preferred isolation but concerned themselves with the well-being of good creatures in general. They were cordial in nature towards other good creatures and were often willing to assist them in combating evil. Their outwardly stern demeanor belied their capacity for compassion.[5]
Magic[]
A lammasu in all its magnificence.
A lammasu could cast divine magic, including spells from the good, healing, knowledge, and law domains.[5]
Combat[]
Lammasus would almost always join a fight if a good creature was in danger.[6] They would attack evil creatures on sight.[5] They possessed sharp front claws. They could also cast cure critical wounds, cure serious wounds, and one in ten could cast holy word.[6]
Lammasus radiated an aura of protection from evil.[6]
According to early scholars, lammasus could turn invisible and use dimension door whenever they chose.[6] However, later scholars claimed that a lammasu was limited to using greater invisibility on itself up to twice per day and dimension door once per day.[5]
History[]
In −30,700 DR, a number of lammasu defeated a much larger force of Aearee-Krocaa, killing one thousand.[7]
Ecology[]
Habitats[]
Lammasu were considered to be a very commonly encountered creature within the Ethereal Plane.[8] In the divine realm of Merratet, there existed a whole village of lammasu.[9]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Further Reading[]
- Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 87. ISBN 0880383992.
- Belinda G. Ashley (December 1995). “The Ecology of the Lammasu”. In Pierce Watters ed. Dragon #224 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 114–116.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 166. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 218. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 59. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 28.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 165. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 218. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 8. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 14. ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur and Lester Smith (1994-07-01). “The Book of Chaos”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Chaos (TSR, Inc), p. 118. ISBN 1560768746.
Connections[]
Giant felines: Dire lion • Dire tiger • Giant lynx
Magical felines: Cath shee • Crag cat • Elven cat • Jaguar lord • Jana-nimr • Jana-qitat • Luck eater • Sabu lord • Swamplight lynx • Tressym • Water cat
Planar felines: Fey panther • Spectral panther
Humanoids: Rakshasa • Razorclaw shifter • Tabaxi • Wemic
Outsiders: Cat lord • Displacer beast • Foo lion • Hellcat • Leomarh • Leonal
Lycanthropes: Werecat • Werecougar • Werejaguar • Wereleopard • Werelion • Werepanther • Weretiger
Undead felines: Crypt cat