Game Mechanics

5.5e / 2024 — Direct Divine Manifestation

Large Celestial (Deity), Lawful Neutral. AC 27; HP 740; Speed 40 ft.; CR 33; PB +10. STR 32, DEX 24, CON 34, INT 28, WIS 34, CHA 28. Saves Str +21, Con +22, Wis +22, Cha +19. Resistances necrotic, poison, cold; Immunities psychic. Condition Immunities frightened, poisoned, paralyzed. Truesight 180 ft.; tremorsense 120 ft.

Divine Nature; Legendary Resistance (4/Day); Magic Resistance. Steward of the Underworld: undead within 60 feet that are not under a deity’s direct control cannot attack Ninazu unless they first succeed on DC 28 Charisma save. Serpent Lord: snakes and serpent creatures never attack Ninazu involuntarily and he ignores poison resistance. Two Cities, Two Faces: at start of turn choose Enegi aspect (+2 AC; allies within 30 ft. resist necrotic) or Ešnunna aspect (weapon attacks deal +2d8 force; allies within 30 ft. gain +10 ft. Speed).

Actions: Spear of Ninazu +20 to hit, reach 15 ft., 4d8+11 piercing plus 5d8 necrotic. Serpent Coil: one Large or smaller creature within 60 ft. makes DC 30 Strength save or is Restrained and takes 27 bludgeoning damage at start of its turns. Steward’s Command (Recharge 5–6): undead and summoned chthonic creatures in 60 ft. make DC 30 Charisma saves or become incapacitated until end of their next turns; living enemies instead take 45 psychic damage on failure. War of Ešnunna (1/Day): Ninazu and up to five allies immediately move up to their Speed and may make one weapon attack.

Legendary Actions: Step; Spear Strike; Call Serpent (2) — spectral serpent imposes Restrained until end of target’s next turn on failed save; Ancestor’s Warning (2) — one ally gains +5 AC against one attack; Chthonic Command (3) — one undead or fiend within 120 ft. loses Reactions and has Disadvantage on attacks until end of next turn.

5.5e cleric themes: Grave, War, Nature. Campaign Chthonic Warden Domain spells: protection from evil and good, shield of faith; gentle repose, spiritual weapon; speak with dead, spirit guardians; death ward, guardian of faith; commune, hold monster.

Pathfinder 1e — Campaign Adaptation

CR 33 / MR 9; Large outsider (divine, lawful); AC 54; hp 710; Fort +36, Ref +29, Will +37; DR 15/epic; SR 44. Signature abilities: Two Cities, Two Faces (Su), defensive Enegi stance or martial Ešnunna stance; Steward of the Underworld (Su), rebuke/control undead as cleric 30th; Serpent Lord (Su), immunity to poison and serpent command; Ancestral Ward (Su), allies within 30 ft. gain +4 against death effects. Domains: Death, Earth, Law, Protection, War.

D&D 3.5e — Campaign Adaptation

Intermediate Deity; Divine Rank 11; Outsider 20 / Fighter 10 / Cleric 15; Lawful Neutral. Suggested CR 40. DR 20/epic; SR 53. Salient divine abilities: Avatar, Divine Battle Mastery, Divine Earth Mastery, Divine Shield, Rejuvenation, Wound Enemy. Domains: Death, Earth, Law, Protection, War.

What Is Ninazu Doing Right Now?

Ninazu is concerned with disturbed dead and threatened cities. In some places his worship has returned through tomb wards; elsewhere through soldiers defending old walls. These two paths are converging as conflicts expose burial grounds beneath fortifications.

He is also watching Ningishzida’s renewed activity. Father and son share the underworld but do not duplicate one another: Ninazu governs stewardship and martial protection, while Ningishzida is more strongly tied to seasonal vegetation, gates and lawful passage.

Appearance & Manner

Ninazu appears as a horn-crowned warrior with a heavy spear and serpent motifs worked into his robes. He can be grave and almost priestly in Enegi, then startlingly martial in the next moment. He dislikes unnecessary speech around the dead.

Myths & Divine Relationships

Ninazu is patron of Enegi and Ešnunna. In southern tradition he is clearly chthonic and called steward of the underworld; at Ešnunna his warlike aspect is stronger. He is father of Ningishzida in important traditions and shares serpent and dragon associations with him.

Worship & Priesthood

At Enegi, rites focus on the dead, ancestral offerings and safe burial. At Ešnunna, priests bless weapons, gates and defenders. A campaign priesthood may contain both traditions and argue vigorously about which is older without considering the other false.

Omens, Favour & Displeasure

Favour appears as serpents leaving a grave undisturbed, weapons found clean after burial, ancestral offerings disappearing without spoilage or defenders discovering a forgotten passage under city walls. Ninazu dislikes desecration of graves, cowardice by sworn defenders and commanders who use the dead as disposable weapons.

Encounters & Adventure Use

The Two Temples: priests from Enegi and Ešnunna demand incompatible rituals over the same relic. The Serpent-Tailed Lion: a seal impression begins moving at night and pointing toward buried soldiers. The Steward’s Debt: a dead king refuses passage because a city still owes burial honours to his army.

Divine Realm

The Steward’s Court lies where an underworld road passes beneath a fortified city. One side opens onto tomb chambers and ancestral halls; the other onto drill yards and gates. Every weapon entering the court is catalogued, and every corpse is named before burial.

Relics & Sacred Magic

The Spear of Two Cities changes from grave-warding staff to battle spear depending on whether its bearer protects the dead or the living. The Serpent Mark allows a grave keeper to command ordinary snakes and sense disturbed burial earth. The Bronze Gate Nail prevents one door from being opened by undead.

Historical & Mythological Context

Ninazu is an underworld god with connections to agriculture, war and snakes and patron of Enegi and Ešnunna. ORACC emphasises the stronger chthonic role in the south and stronger martial role at Ešnunna. The campaign preserves that duality rather than choosing one identity and discarding the other.

Sources & Licensing

ORACC — Ninazu: https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/Listofdeities/Ninazu/index.html . Game mechanics, realm, relics and present activity are original campaign adaptation.