Lamaztu

Lamaztu, the Mother of Darkness, was a Demonlord of Ancient Izir. She was created by Skarykus, and is the mother of many terrible dark creatures, such as Azag, Iddin-Gazar, the Dark Prince, and the Chimera. She was considered the dark counterpart to the light goddess Niallah. She is notable for being one of the only Ascended beings to be able to have children.

### Overview

One of Lamaztu's most prominent abilities was her power to change her shape, she had many different forms she could change into, most of them humanoid. While disguised, Lamaztu would infiltrate human society, and copulate with men. Many months later, she would give birth to foul demonic offspring. Lamaztu was also known to steal babies from their mothers, and turn them into monsters.

Like her creator Skarykus, Lamaztu enjoyed causing chaos within human civilisation, but she preferred to corrupt it than to destroy it. She appears many times in Izirian history, instigating cult followings, sabotaging governments, and attempting to corrupt heroes. She is particularly well known for her actions against Byzarat and Dalanaan, and she was a sworn enemy of the Daughters of the Desert.

Lamaztu died at an unknown time, to an unknown cause. There are many claims, and myths of her defeat, though none can be said to be confirmed. It is known that she died before the Age of Dragons.

### Appearance

Lamaztu has many forms. She was said to commonly adopt the guise of a beautiful woman, or the form of a giant snake. Her true form was said to be horrible to witness, a monstrous demonic amalgam; part serpent, part lioness, part bird.

### Notable Children

#### Azag

Azag was Lamaztu's first child. He did not have a father, and was born from pure darkness. This made him quite powerful, but also unstable. He was defeated by a warrior from Byzarat, and imprisoned in the ravine below the city.

#### Iddin-Gazar

Iddin-Gazar, the Ever-Hungering, was born from the union of Lamaztu and a Sea Dragon. He is a huge sea creature who dwells in the Northern Sea. The people of Kalandibar fear and worship Iddin-Gazar, and feed him whatever he desires.

#### The Chimera

The Chimera was not a physical being, but a demonic spirit. His father was supposedly King Zarik of Zenekar. He possessed his half-brother, the prince, who became king. When that king died, he possessed the next one, etc. The Chimera was the puppeteer behind four generations of kings, before eventually being slain by King Azyor.

#### The Dark Prince

The Dark Prince was born when King Inaran of Dalanaan asked Lamaztu for a solution to his main problem; the Sisterhood. He feared the mages would try to take his throne, and so Lamaztu asked him to lay with her, to produce a powerful child to destroy the Sisterhood. Sure enough, he did, and was granted a dark prince; a malformed, wretched thing, with skin black as pitch and covered in horns. King Inaran tried to hide his dark son's malformities, by enshrouding him in robes and jewellery, but it was more difficult to hide how quickly the child grew. The Sisterhood grew understandably suspicious, and sent a group of their mages to infiltrate the palace. What exactly happened next is unknown, but it resulted in the palace burning down, the death of King Inaran, and the Dark Prince fleeing the city.

There are many rumours about where the Dark Prince is now, and some legends state that he is the same person as the Chimera, or Malphakain.