In the Forgotten Realms, Volo's Guide to All Things Magical (1996), p.121 asserts that Dendar the Night Serpent is the same entity known to the Rus as Nidhogg, and that its jaws can destroy the artifact Windwalker (amulet). Planes of Conflict, Liber Malevolentiae (1995), p.45 describes Nidhogg as female and wingless, with a mention on page 4 of that book's Player's Guide asserting her spawn to be reptilian. Nidhogg is described by the planars as "a fell dragon that'll put a berk in the dead-book and crack the bones he leaves behind". It is mentioned and several times in Planes of Chaos (1994), pages 23 and 30 of the Monstrous Supplement and page 42 of the Travelogue, with a drawing on page 43. Nidhogg is mentioned several times in Planescape, beginning with Planescape Campaign Setting, A DM's Guide to the Planes (1994), p.59. Nidhogg is identified as a linnorm of godlike proportions in the HR1 Vikings Campaign Sourcebook (1991), p.45 and referenced in The Vikings' Dragons, Dragon #182 (Jun 1992), p.18. Fafnir and Ofnir are also mentioned.Ī statblock and description of Nidhogg appear in the article For better or Norse, Dragon #110 (Jun 1986), p.18. "Nidhug" is first mentioned in Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes (1976), p.34. It is thought the viper tree, an intelligent tree with snakes for branches most commonly found in Graz'zt's three layers of the Abyss, may be one of the offspring of Nidhogg. Their brown, patchy hides allow them to camouflage among the roots of trees. They consume rotting flesh, and exude an overpowering stench of death. Īll corpse tearer linnorm are believed to be the direct offspring of Nidhogg. Redfang, called also Stjernespise, is an ancient wingless dread linnorm, is the direct offspring of Nidhogg. Given the inconsistent descriptions of Nidhogg, it is not unthinkable that this has already happened at least once. It is said that if Nidhogg were ever slain, one of its many offspring would simply gnaw the root of in her stead. Nidhogg is the progenitor of a great many terrible dragons of Niflheim. These include the dread linnorm Redfang, Grafvitner the Gnawing Wolf, Grafvitner's sons Goin and Moin, Grabak the Grey-Back, Grafvollud the Field Gnawer, Ofnir the Entangler, and Svafnir the Sleep-Bringer, among others. Nidhogg's task of gnawing the world tree is assisted by several other powerful linnorms. Relationships Allies "No fool has ever guessed how many serpents lie beneath Yggdrasil." - Odin, Grimnismal Niddhog's hoard is unknown, but may be substantial. Like true dragons, the oldest and most powerful of their type hoard massive amounts of treasure. Linnorms in general are highly territorial. It is believed that Nidhogg and the entire linnorm progeny spawned from these boiling waters. Nidhogg also consumes the souls of the dead.Īccording to the Norse myth, Nidhogg's lair is said to be located on the river Hvergelmir, the source of the rivers that led to the world's creation. Nidhogg is said to inhabit Niflheim, a realm sometimes equated with the Gray Wastes of Hades, where it gnaws on the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil, which prophecy says will one day eventually kill the tree. It knows at least twelve spells, although few know what they are. Its bite and spiked tail, while deadly, are not poisoned. Nidhogg can breathe a toxic gas similar to that of a green dragon, and can also breathe fire. Nidhogg is neutral evil in alignment, and of genius-level intelligence. Sources also variously describe Nidhogg as either male or female. Sources alternately describe Nidhogg as being wingless, and as having large, membranous wings. Its scales are glossy black, with a dull grey underbelly. Nidhogg is a long, serpentlike dragon, eighty feet in length.
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