Water Lion
Encyclopedia
In many campaign setting
s for the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Water Lion is a mysterious deity who hates sharks and roams the Prime Material Plane
.
(1992), including details about his priesthood.
Water Lion is a playful god, and my roar for the sheer pleasure of the act, though this may have unfortunate unintended consequences for those nearby. His roar may deafen all those narby, cause them to lose memorized spells from their heads, and suffer from a confusion effect.
Many myths purport to explain Water Lion's purpose. Sometimes he is said to be looking for someone, perhaps a lost child or a lost god who was his best friend; the myths that claim this god was Stillsong
are thought to be closest to the truth.
Water Lion's hatred of sharks is not part of his quest, but he attacks them on sight. It seems safe to assume this makes him an enemy of the shark god Sekolah
.
Occasionally Water Lion will suffer from bouts of melancholy; during these times it is ill-advised to approach him, and he may ferociously attack any who come too close. Only paladins, dolphins, and sea elves
are tolerated during such times, and even they must remain silent if they wish to come near. During his depressions, Water Lion sheds tears that function as potions of extra-healing, with the side-effect that the drinker suffers from some of Water Lion's own melancholy, as well as strange and prophetic dreams.
's novel Come Endless Darkness features a being known as Leoceanus, a monstrous sea cat with a head three times the size of a normal lion's, with a greenish tinge. Leoceanus is sent by the Cat Lord
to bring Gord the Rogue
before the lords of Balance.
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 for 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...
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...
, Water Lion is a mysterious deity who hates sharks and roams the Prime Material Plane
Prime Material Plane
The Prime Material Plane is the central plane of existence in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
.
Publication history
Water Lion 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.
Description
Water Lion manifests as a huge fish-bodied lion with a body completely composed of water; apparently more viscous than brine, this water is contained in an elastic plasma membrane that keeps Water Lion's shape. He casts both druidic and clerical spells. He is immune to water spells, but suffers disproportionately from fire spells.Water Lion is a playful god, and my roar for the sheer pleasure of the act, though this may have unfortunate unintended consequences for those nearby. His roar may deafen all those narby, cause them to lose memorized spells from their heads, and suffer from a confusion effect.
Relationships
Water Lion is considered a fringe member of the asathalfinare, a loose coalition of gods of the seas and skies. He is rarely party to any of the group's decisions or agreements; it isn't in his nature.Many myths purport to explain Water Lion's purpose. Sometimes he is said to be looking for someone, perhaps a lost child or a lost god who was his best friend; the myths that claim this god was Stillsong
Stillsong
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Stillsong is a mysterious god undergoing a complex elemental transition. His symbol is a translucent, golden sphere of crystal.-Publication history:...
are thought to be closest to the truth.
Water Lion's hatred of sharks is not part of his quest, but he attacks them on sight. It seems safe to assume this makes him an enemy of the shark god Sekolah
Sekolah
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Sekolah is a powerful devil and the primary deity worshipped by the sahuagin race. His sacred animal is the shark...
.
Realm
Water Lion's realm, if any, is unknown to mortal sages, but his avatars unceasingly wander the Material Plane.Dogma
Water Lion has no known dogma. He usually ignores all attempts to communicate with him and concentrates on his seemingly endless quest. He loves music, however, and may reward a bard who performs for him with a pearl or some salvages sunken treasure.Occasionally Water Lion will suffer from bouts of melancholy; during these times it is ill-advised to approach him, and he may ferociously attack any who come too close. Only paladins, dolphins, and sea elves
Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
are tolerated during such times, and even they must remain silent if they wish to come near. During his depressions, Water Lion sheds tears that function as potions of extra-healing, with the side-effect that the drinker suffers from some of Water Lion's own melancholy, as well as strange and prophetic dreams.
Similar creatures
Gary GygaxGary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
's novel Come Endless Darkness features a being known as Leoceanus, a monstrous sea cat with a head three times the size of a normal lion's, with a greenish tinge. Leoceanus is sent by the Cat Lord
Cat Lord
The Cat Lord, or Master Cat, is the mysterious ruler of cats and a lord of Balance, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. The Epic Level Handbook included, as an optional rule, the possibility that he is a quasi-deity. In Gary Gygax's Gord the Rogue series, he is called Rexfelis.There are...
to bring Gord the Rogue
Gord the Rogue
Gord the Rogue is the protagonist in a series of fantasy novels and short stories written by Gary Gygax. Gygax originally wrote the novels and short stories to promote his World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. After he left TSR, Gygax continued to write...
before the lords of Balance.