Ereshkigal, Queen of the Underworld

“Ereshkigal: The Dark Queen of the Underworld – Unveil the Secrets of the Mesopotamian Realm!”

Ereskigal, also known as the Queen of the Underworld, is a goddess of death, darkness, and the afterlife in Mesopotamian mythology. She is the sister of Inanna, the goddess of love, fertility, and war, and the daughter of Nanna, the god of the moon.

• Pantheon: Sumerian, Babylonian, Akkadian
• Deity Title: Queen of the Underworld, Lady of the Great Earth, Ruler of the Dead
• Deity Symbol: Ankh
• Home Plane: Underworld
• Deity Level: Intermediate deity
• Alignment: Neutral evil
• Aliases: Allatu
• Superior: None
• Traditional Allies: None
• Traditional Foes: Innana
• Divine Artifact: The Tablet of Destinies
• Servants: Demons, spirits of the dead
• Servitor Creatures: Ghouls, shades
• Sacred Animal: Jackal
• Manifestations: A dark and regal figure with a commanding presence, often accompanied by demons or the spirits of the dead.
• Signs of Favor: Unexpected or unusual encounters with the dead, eerie or spooky events, sudden increases in power or wealth.
• Worshipers: Necromancers, assassins, those who deal with the dead.
• Cleric Alignments: Lawful evil
• Specialty Priests: Necromancers
• Holy Days: New moon, solstices
• Portfolio: Death, the Underworld, the dead
• Domains: Death, evil, law, magic
• Favored Weapon: Dagger
• Favored Class: Cleric, rogue
• Favored Race: Human
• Duties of the Priesthood: Tend to the dead, perform necromantic rituals, preserve the balance of power between life and death.
• Major Cult/Temple Sites: Babylon, Cuthah, Uruk
• Benefits: Knowledge of death magic, ability to speak with the dead, increased power over the spirits of the dead.

Ereskigal is a complex character, often depicted as a sorrowful and vengeful goddess who rules over the underworld with an iron fist. Her realm is a place of darkness and despair, where the dead are forced to live out eternity in gloom and misery. Despite this, Ereskigal is not evil, but rather a representation of the harsh realities of death and the afterlife.

Ereskigal’s story begins with her abduction by the god of the underworld, Nergal. In an attempt to win her heart, Nergal took her as his queen, but Ereskigal was filled with anger and sorrow at her capture. She became known as the Queen of the Dead, ruling over the underworld with an iron fist and a heart filled with bitterness.

Ereskigal’s character is often portrayed as cold and distant, but she is also fiercely protective of her realm and her subjects. She is unyielding in her judgments, and will not hesitate to punish those who defy her. Despite her harsh demeanor, however, Ereskigal is not without compassion. She is said to weep for the souls of the dead, and is believed to be able to bring them comfort in their final hours.

Ereskigal’s ultimate goal is to maintain order and balance in the underworld. She seeks to ensure that the dead are treated fairly and justly, and that no one is allowed to disturb the peace of her realm. Ereskigal is also believed to be able to grant immortality, but only to those who are deemed worthy by her.

As a goddess of death and the underworld, Ereskigal is often depicted as a somber and brooding figure, dressed in dark robes and wielding a scepter or a staff. Her symbols include the owl, the scorpion, and the serpent, and her domains include death, darkness, and the afterlife.

Ereskigal is often depicted as a regal and imposing figure, standing tall and slender with an otherworldly grace. Her skin is a pale, almost ethereal white, and her eyes burn with a cold, blue fire that seems to see right through those who look into them. Her hair is long and black as the void, and it cascades down her back in a wild, untamed wave.

She is often garbed in a flowing black robe, adorned with bones and feathers, and carries a staff of dark obsidian that seems to pulse with an inner power. Despite her striking beauty and elegance, there is a sense of danger and foreboding that emanates from her, as if she holds the secrets of the universe and the power to destroy all who oppose her.

Despite her fearsome reputation, Ereskigal is a fascinating and complex character, embodying the mysteries and the harsh realities of death and the afterlife. Her story is a reminder of the fragility of life and the inevitability of death, and of the need to accept and embrace both in order to truly live.

Ereshkigal, Queen of the Underworld

Medium deity (Mesopotamian), neutral evil

Armor Class 25 (Natural Armor) Hit Points 580 (40d8 + 400) Speed 60 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
24 (+7)	14 (+2)	30 (+10)	26 (+8)	30 (+10)	28 (+9)

Saving Throws Int +16, Wis +18, Cha +17 Skills Insight +18, Perception +18 Damage Resistances necrotic, psychic Condition Immunities frightened, charmed Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 28 Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.

Challenge Rating (CR) 35

Divine Awareness. Ereshkigal can pinpoint the location of any creature within 1,000 feet of her that is in the underworld or on the Material Plane.

Magic Resistance. Ereshkigal has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Divine Presence. As a deity, Ereshkigal radiates an aura of power. All creatures hostile to her that start their turn within 30 feet of Ereshkigal must make a DC 26 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. They can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on a success. A creature that succeeds on the saving throw is immune to Ereshkigal’s Divine Presence for the next 24 hours.

Innate Spellcasting. Ereshkigal’s innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 26). She can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

• At will: detect evil and good, detect magic, dispel magic
• 3/day each: plane shift, power word kill, true resurrection

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Ereshkigal fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.

Actions

Multiattack. Ereshkigal can make three attacks: one with her claw and two with her shadowy touch.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (2d6 + 7) slashing damage.

Shadowy Touch. Melee Spell Attack: +16 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (4d6 + 7) necrotic damage.

Death Gaze. Ereshkigal targets one creature she can see within 60 feet. If the target can see Ereshkigal, it must succeed on a DC 26 Wisdom saving throw or take 63 (18d6) psychic damage and be stunned for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

Bonus Actions

Dreadful Glare. Ereshkigal fixes her gaze on one creature she can see within 60 feet of her. The target must succeed on a DC 26 Wisdom saving throw or take 21 (6d6) psychic damage and become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

Reactions

Divine Counterspell. When Ereshkigal or a creature within 60 feet of her is targeted by a spell, she can use her reaction to counter the spell as if she cast the dispel magic spell, with a spellcasting ability of +8.

Lair Actions

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Ereshkigal takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects:

• Ereshkigal targets a creature within 120 feet of her and forces it to make a DC 26 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 42 (12d6) psychic damage and is stunned for 1 minute.
• Ereshkigal summons a shadow demon to a location within 60 feet of her.
• Ereshkigal casts plane shift without expending a spell slot to send a creature to the underworld or the Material Plane.

Regional Effects

The region containing Ereshkigal’s lair is warped by her divine presence, which creates the following effects:

• Creatures in the region become morose and gloomy, suffering disadvantage on saving throws against fear effects.
• The borders between the underworld and the Material Plane are blurred, increasing the likelihood of accidental planar travel or interplanar breaches.
• The region becomes eternally cold and dark, with the sun rarely breaking through the overcast skies.

Ereshkigal’s Lair

Ereshkigal resides in the depths of the underworld, a place of perpetual twilight and despair. Her lair is a cavernous, shadowy palace adorned with glistening gems and adorned with the souls of the deceased. The throne room is where she holds judgment over those who enter her domain.

Legendary Actions

Ereshkigal can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Ereshkigal regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.

Attack. Ereshkigal makes one claw or shadowy touch attack.

Dreadful Glare (Costs 2 Actions). Ereshkigal uses her Dreadful Glare bonus action.

Frightening Wail (Costs 3 Actions). Ereshkigal emits a chilling wail. Each creature of her choice within 60 feet of her that can hear her must succeed on a DC 26 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

Currently in the World

In the heart of ancient Mesopotamia, Ereshkigal, the sovereign of the underworld, held sway over the ethereal realm of the deceased. Her presence was a constant in the tumultuous river valley, where the lives of mortals ebbed and flowed like the Tigris and Euphrates. Ereshkigal’s reign was a somber one, as the souls of the departed journeyed to her abode, seeking their rightful place in the afterlife.

Ereshkigal’s actions were driven by her unwavering duty to maintain the equilibrium between life and death. She watched over the souls with an empathetic gaze, understanding their longing for closure and serenity. Her realm was a testament to her power and benevolence, as the spirits found solace in the land she ruled.

Amidst the intrigues of the Mesopotamian pantheon, Ereshkigal’s desires were simple yet profound. She wished to bring order and justice to the souls under her care, ensuring they did not wander aimlessly or suffer unduly in the afterlife. She wanted to be the beacon of hope for those who faced the uncertain journey beyond mortality.

As centuries passed, Ereshkigal’s motivations remained steadfast. She observed the rise and fall of empires, the tides of war and peace, and the ebb and flow of human existence. Her role was a constant amidst the ever-changing tapestry of history.

In the shadows of the towering ziggurats and amidst the bustling markets of Babylon, the people whispered tales of the queen of the underworld. They feared her, yet they revered her for the justice she meted out in the afterlife. Ereshkigal’s realm was a place of both dread and sanctuary, a reflection of the duality of existence itself.

Through the millennia, her influence persisted, even as the world transformed. As the 1450s approached, Ereshkigal’s stoic presence remained a cornerstone of the Mesopotamian cosmos. The river valley had seen countless rulers and civilizations come and go, but Ereshkigal’s reign in the realm of the dead was an eternal constant, an unyielding force guiding the souls of the departed to their final destination.