![[Sessinnek.png|500]] **The Emperor Lizard** **Alignment**: Chaotic Evil --- ### Overview **Sess'innek** was a **tanar’ri demon lord** worshiped by **lizardfolk** as a deity of **civilization and dominion**. His symbol was a **green, clawed, reptilian hand**. He took the form of a **six-armed lizard king** with vestigial greenish-brown wings. Each of his six hands wielded a longsword of potent magical power. --- ### Domain and Influence Sess’innek dwelt on the **seventh layer of the Abyss**, known as **Kearackinin** or the **Phantom Plane**. He **sealed and “locked” the layer** so it could not be accessed without his express permission, isolating himself from Abyssal politics and the Blood War. The layer was discovered only when the wizard **Mordenkainen** temporarily broke the seals. --- ### Symbols and Icons ![[SessinnekSymbol.png|300]] Sess’innek’s symbol was a **green, clawed reptilian hand**. --- ### Worship and Tributes Sess’innek was revered by both **khaasta** and **half-demonic lizard kings**, and thus by extension their tribes of lizardfolk. These tribes generally had only a single lizard king ruler; those who failed to prove worthy of ruling were killed and sacrificed to Sess’innek. The exceptions were those who chose to become shamans instead of leaders, although most were too prideful to do so. In addition, some **tanar’ri priests** were known to pledge themselves to his service. --- ### Clergy and Cults Sess’innek had few shamans, with the vast majority of them being lizard kings — descendants of lizardfolk and demons loyal to Sess’innek. He required his shamans to be aggressive in spreading his faith and to **slay clerics of Semuanya on sight**. Lizardfolk **druids** were occasionally incorporated into his hierarchy. --- ### Holy Days & Rituals Sess’innek demanded **regular sacrifices in his name**. The _khaasta_ sacrificed approximately one in ten prisoners to their demonic patron. Twice a week, lizard kings gathered late at night to **tear the hearts from sentient beings and devour them amid prayers to Sess’innek**. --- ### Powers and Abilities Sess’innek wielded **six longswords of potent magical power**, one in each of his six hands. --- ### Treatment of the Faithful Sess’innek rewarded strength and domination, and his worship was centered on proving one’s worth through combat and rulership over others within lizardfolk societies. --- ### Myths and Legends When **Demogorgon** freed his creations, the _khaasta_ — a race of planar lizardkin — began to gather under Sess’innek’s banner. To aid the _khaasta_ in their war against the **sarrukh**, Sess’innek sent demons to rally lizardfolk tribes to his cause. The lizard kings were the half-demonic descendants of those demons. --- ### Encounters with Sess’innek Encounters with Sess’innek’s influence often involve lizardfolk or _khaasta_ asserting rulership through violence and sacrifice, or isolated incursions from his sealed Abyssal realm. --- ### Conclusion Sess’innek was a tanar’ri demon lord worshiped by lizardfolk as the Emperor Lizard, embodying civilization and dominion through strength and conquest. His sealed realm on the seventh layer of the Abyss, his brutal rites, and his demand for dominance defined his canon identity. ---