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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Jan 26, 2009 13:06:39 GMT -5
Baphomet Prince of Beasts, Lord of Minotaurs This hulking, manlike brute stands 20 feet tall. His muscular frame is covered in thick, matted black hair. His head is that of a fiendish bull, and his great horns are stained in the lifeblood of countless victims. Cloven hooves and a bovine tail complete his bestial appearance.Cruel and bestial Baphomet is the patron demon lord of minotaurs, although his feral nature appeals to evil rangers and barbarians. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsBaphomet is served by fiendish and half-fiend minotaurs, many of them possessing levels in barbarian, cleric, or ranger. His ability to cast awaken once per day ensures he always has a powerful ally such as an intelligent dire bear, dire tiger, dinosaur, or similar minion at hand. Baphomet is also served by bulezau and goristro demons. A growing number of humanoid cultists have taken to his worship in poor rural areas. Desperate commoners sometimes turn to beast-cults organized by evil rangers who claim to venerate a nature deity who promises vengeance to those who have been wronged by the local government. These rangers call themselves the Temple of Redemption (or simply “Redeemers”). Rituals involving the decapitation of prize bulls are an important part of the Redeemer faith. It is said that those who listen at the mouth of a sacrificed bull can sometimes hear whispers of advice on how best to punish those who oppress the common folk. These whispers are, of course, the doubtful advice of Baphomet himself. Baphomet has a complex relationship with Pale Night. The two demon lords share control over the same Abyssal layer, although Pale Night’s influence doesn’t truly extend beyond the vast plateau on which her castle is located. The two demons have never joined forces to accomplish a goal, but any attempt to lay siege to one of their holdings in the Endless Maze might result in the other coming to his or her aid. Baphomet regards several other demon lords with particular hatred, especially Graz’zt (who imprisoned Baphomet for some time recently) and Yeenoghu (with whom Baphomet has been at war for eons). Baphomet’s driving goal is the destruction of his hated foe Yeenoghu. Neither demon lord remembers the genesis of this mutual hatred, but most of Baphomet’s actions on the Material Plane are tied in some way to his war efforts against the Demon Prince of Gnolls, be it the harvesting of fresh souls to fuel his Abyssal holdings to the acquisition of potent magic items to be transported into the hands of his most powerful agents and generals. Clerics of Baphomet have access to the domains of Chaos, Evil, Fury, and Strength. His symbol is that of a twisted circular maze awash in blood. Source: Fiendush Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss Source: Monster Mythology 2nd Edition Source: Monster Manual II 1st Edition
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Jan 31, 2009 17:22:08 GMT -5
Dagon Prince of the Depths, Prince of the Darkened Depths, Lord of the Shadowsea The demon is immense, its glistening bulk heaving monstrously into the air as a writhing storm of hook-suckered tentacles unfolds from its shapeless lower body. Its two longest tentacles terminate in immense five-fingered talons. Its head is that of a deep-sea fish, twisted with cruelty and leering with a primordial intelligence, its stiletto like teeth immense and translucent. Its body is not quite sea serpent, not quite mollusk, and not quite shark, but somehow, horribly, a combination of all three.Ancient Dagon is among the oldest demon lords of the Abyss and the patron of those who dwell in the lightless depths of the sea. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsDagon is survived the rise of the tanar’ri in large part due to his isolationist nature. When the Queen of Chaos called upon the obyrith lords to aid her in her battle against the Wind Dukes of Aaqa, Dagon refused her call. Other obyriths did so as well, and the Queen destroyed them for their trouble. Dagon was powerful enough that the Queen dared not raise her tentacles against him. When the obyriths were defeated, Dagon knew his choice had been the right one. Today, Dagon is held as an oracle and seer among the tanar’ri. They come to this ancient demon with offerings of weapons and sacrifices in return for ancient knowledge of the Abyss and its holdings that predate the rise of the tanar’ri. Dagon has built a mighty empire in his realm on these offerings and today is one of the mightiest demon lords in the Abyss. Dagon’s realm lies directly below Demogorgon’s, and the two have entered a strange sort of alliance. Dagon is served by all manner of aquatic demons and monsters in his realm, which is known as Shadowsea (layer 89). Despite his obyrith nature, myrmyxicus demons often pay him tribute if only to keep him appeased. His favored minions are the wastriliths—once obyrith themselves, these demons retain loyalty to Dagon despite the fact that they have evolved beyond their ancient roots into their own beings. Dagon’s presence is felt on the Material Plane as well. He is sought by powerful and insane spellcasters for the ancient secrets he guards, and has been known to grant these secrets through spells such as contact other plane. Treat Dagon as a demideity on all topics except for the ancient history of the Abyss, on which topic he is treated as a greater deity who always knows an answer (treat results of “don’t know” as “true answer” results). Contact with Dagon is particularly dangerous, though, and Intelligence checks made to avoid a decrease in Intelligence and Charisma take a –2 penalty. Dagon is also venerated as a god by certain aquatic races. Kraken are known to worship him, as do some chuuls, sea hags, and water nagas. The most fanatic of Dagon’s Material Plane worshipers are certain ancient tribes of kuo-toa that dwell in the depths of the open sea and have never heard of Blibdoolpoolp. These kuo-toa hold that their race has existed for eons before the advent of the gods and that, in these ancient times, they were the chosen minions of Dagon. Today, their numbers are small and dwindling— they have been hunted nearly to extinction by intolerant sahuagin who view Dagon as a threat to Sekolah’s power. Isolated pockets of these ancient kuo-toa have relocated to shallower homes off the coast of isolated stretches of land. In many cases, these kuo-toa have come in contact with coastal communities of surface dwellers. These unsuspecting coastal villages are quickly converted to Dagon’s worship by force or trickery—in so doing, these kuo-toa hope to rebuild their numbers and strength so as to some day reclaim rulership of the depths. Clerics of Dagon have access to the domains of Chaos, Entropy, Evil, and Water. His symbol is a set of six spiraling tentacles arrayed around a fanged mouth. Source: Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss Source: Monster Manual II 1st Edition
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Jan 31, 2009 18:56:07 GMT -5
Demogorgon Prince of Demons, Ahmon-Ibor the Sibilant Beast, Siosivash, Lord of all that Swims in Darkness, Aameul & Hethradiah, The Child, Bane of Souls, The Lizard King, The Dark Lady The demon towers a full 18 feet tall, his body at once sinuous like that of a snake and powerful like that of a great ape. Two baleful baboon heads leer from atop his lumbering shoulders, attached to which are two long, writhing tentacles. His lower torso is saurian, like some great reptile with an immense forked tail.The Prince of Demons holds his title through sheer might alone. His name alone can inspire a primal fear. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsInside the Prince of Demons rages a secret war for control of himself. Demogorgon has two heads and therefore two minds, and each one seeks domination of the other. Aameul is the persona in control of Demogorgon’s left head, while Hethradiah controls the right. Each is unable to control the other, nor could one slay the other without also perishing. By most definitions, this internal conflict would be described as insanity, but that would be applying inappropriate mortal standards to one whom such standards can never apply. Demogorgon’s war with Orcus and Graz’zt has been epic in scope. Their armies have clashed throughout the Abyss since the dawn of the tanar’ri race. For a time, Orcus vanished (apparently slain), as did Graz’zt (who was imprisoned on the Material Plane by the archmage Iggwilv), yet never has the Abyss known complete peace from this eternal war. Demogorgon is served by all manner of demons, some of which (such as the retriever) were actually created by him. Many powerful and unique demons serve him as well, and he commands armies of evil lizardfolk, scheming yuan-ti, sadistic troglodytes, vampiric ixitxachitl, and countless shoals of Abyssal aquatic predators. His close alliance with the ancient demon lord Dagon has provided him with access to Abyssal secrets that the other demon lords could only guess about. The methods of creating the powerful undead warlords known as death knights represent the least of these secrets, yet they are horrific and potent nevertheless. Worshipers of Demogorgon are more likely to be scaly things that hide from the light than humans or members of other civilized races. Despite his statue in the Abyss, the vast majority of the Material Plane is blissfully ignorant of his existence, yet they know his works, if only indirectly. The troglodytes worship him as Ahmon-Ibor, the Sibilant Beast, and use his teachings to bring vile intelligence and fanaticism to the beasts of the wild. Yuan-ti know him as Siosivash and raise great temples to him in sunken caverns. The unknowable ixitxachitl are his chosen minions on the Material Plane, and even they dare not speak his name aloud. The rare human cults that venerate the Prince of Demons welcome piracy and cannibalism with open arms. While humanoid cults dedicated to Demogorgon might be rare, individual humanoid worshipers of the Prince of Demons are more likely menaces. These followers often control the societies they live in or have much influence over those who do. They keep their faith secret from society, and use their power to spread evil and misery in his unspoken name. Clerics of Demogorgon have access to the domains of Chaos, Corruption, Demonic, and Evil. His symbol is a forked tail. Source: Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss The 88th layer of the Abyss, called the Brine Flats by some and Gaping Maw by others, is home to the dual entity known as Demogorgon. It is a realm of salt water and rocky prominences used as rookeries by flying demons. A swirling whirlpool drains water from the river Styx into this Abyssal layer, making it a place of both deep and dark seas as well as fetid swamps. Aboleths, krakens, and other sea monsters war in the depths, but all bow before Demogorgon’s might. Here, Demogorgon has his terrible palace, called Abysm, which rises out of the inky depths. He also a maintains a fortress called Ungorth Reddik in the layer’s grotesque bogs. From either of these places of dark power, Demogorgon, Lord of all that Swims in Darkness, holds the title Prince of Demons through sheer might alone. In both physical and magical terms, there are few on any plane that could challenge Demogorgon and win. But that does not mean his title is uncontested. Demogorgon continually wars with both Orcus and Graz’zt, the other two mightiest of the demon princes. Their armies of undead and demons war with Demogorgon’s forces, made up mostly of hezrous, aboleths, scrags, skum, and various ichythoid beasts. The portion of the palace of Abysm that lies above water takes the form of two serpentine towers, each crowned by skull-shaped minarets. There, Demogorgon labors with arcane skill, attempting to procure secrets ancient even by his eternal reckoning. The bulk of this palace extends deep underwater, in chill and darkened caverns that have never seen a flicker of light. In Ungorth Reddik, Demogorgon keeps his armies and lieutenants, as well as his fiendish creations. The fortress is filled with retrievers, golems, and evil constructs not seen elsewhere on the planes. Demogorgon is 18 feet tall and bizarre in appearance even by demonic standards. He has two heads, each like that of a hyena. His body is long and serpentine, covered in dark, blue-green scales.His necks are long and snaky. Rather than arms, Demogorgon has two long, sinuous tendrils not unlike the tentacles of an octopus. His legs are lean and muscular, and his long tail is forked. Demogorgon’s symbol is a serpentine forked tail, usually wrapped around something such as a sword or a skull. The Goals of DemogorgonInside the Prince of Demons rages a secret war for control of himself. Demogorgon has two heads and therefore two minds, and each one seeks domination of the other. Even those creatures familiar with the demon prince are unaware of Demogorgon’s eternal, internal conflict. Aameul, one of Demogorgon’s personas, seeks to part with his sibling persona, called Hethradiah. Aameul and Hethradiah are each unable to control the other, because each is in truth an aspect of the other. Nor could one slay the other without also perishing. Still, Aameul seeks a way to be free of—and eventually usurp—his other half, for selfishness and jealousy in a demon know no bounds. Hethradiah is too concerned with the effect such a separation would have on all his dread accomplishments to seriously consider the notion of living alone. Demogorgon has kept his two heads together so far. He does not want to jeopardize the position and power that he—that they—have attained. By most definitions, this internal conflict would be described as insanity, but that would be applying inappropriate mortal standards to one to whom such standards can never apply. Demogorgon’s war with Orcus and Graz’zt has been epic in scope. Vast armies clash in the Abyss—resources that could have been spent in the Blood War are instead wasted in a conflict that has no victor. However, Orcus disappeared for a time, apparently slain. During that time, Demogorgon’s power and influence grew in the vacuum left behind, while Graz’zt, who also disappeared for a time (summoned and captured by the archmage Zagyg), suffered. Demogorgon is a creative and innovative creature. He invented such foul things as the first retrievers, and he has countless unique creatures at his beck and call. Source: The Book of Vile Darkness Source: Monster Mythology 2nd Edition Source: Monster Manual 1st Edition Source: Immortal Rules: DM's Guide, Basic D&D
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Jan 31, 2009 23:53:53 GMT -5
Fraz-Urb'luu Patron of Illusionists and Tricksters, Prince of Deception This hulking menace stands just over 18 feet tall, despite his hunched posture. His muscular body is covered with short, coarse pale-blue fur. Two black, leathery wings protrude from his back, and his coiling tail ends in a cruel razor-sharp point. His face is framed by large, ragged ears, and while his eyes are relatively small, his mouth is overly large and filled with fangs.Deceptive Fraz-Urb’luu is the patron demon lord of illusionists and tricksters, a wrathful prince who only recently escaped imprisonment on the Material Plane. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsThe most significant event in Fraz-Urb’luu’s recent past was his imprisonment on the Material Plane below Castle Greyhawk by the mad archmage Zagig. Fraz-Urb’luu remained imprisoned in those infamous dungeons, trapped in a bas-relief carving on a wall, for over two hundred years before he was accidentally released by a pair of adventurers whom Fraz-Urb’luu promptly repaid by destroying their gear and stranding them in his Abyssal realm. Since his escape, Fraz-Urb’luu has spent the past 25 years rebuilding his Abyssal realm of Hollow’s Heart and searching for his staff, a potent artifact that was stolen at the time of his imprisonment. Fueling these goals is rage—rage focused primarily on all of humanity. Fraz-Urb’luu hopes that when he has fully re-established his power over Hollow’s Heart and has reclaimed his staff, he’ll be able to bring this rage to bear on his enemies. Fraz-Urb’luu counts no other demon lord as an ally, because his ability to deceive them and trick them makes him a particularly hated demon lord. Rumors hold that this hatred might have encouraged some of the other demon princes to aid in Fraz-Urb’luu’s imprisonment. For now, his enemies keep a watchful eye on Hollow’s Heart but dare not move against him. He might be alone, but Fraz-Urb’luu remains one of the more powerful of the Abyssal lords nevertheless. Source: Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss Source: Planescape - Faces of Evil: The Fiends Source: Monster Manual II 1st Edition
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2009 23:26:56 GMT -5
Graz'zt The Dark Prince, The Ebon Lord of the Abat-Dolor The figure standing before the throne is darkly handsome, an ebonskinned man nearly 9 feet tall. His slightly pointed ears, yellow fangs, and six-fingered hands mark him for the demon he is.Of the demon princes, none appears more human than Graz’zt, the Dark Prince, patron of tyrants, despots, and all those who would rule by force. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsGraz’zt’s war with the other demon lords of the Abyss is legendary. He controls the largest kingdom—his realm covers three adjacent layers of the Abyss. Unfortunately, control of a larger realm doesn’t exactly translate into an advantage to a demon lord. Graz’zt’s goal is nothing less than total conquest of the Abyss. He despises the fact that Demogorgon is known as the Prince of Demons—he covets that title more than anything else. His crusade to dominate the Abyss proceeds apace. His most recent triumph was the deposing of the Demon Prince of Madness, Adimarchus. With the aid of his son, Athux, Graz’zt was able to engineer Adimarchus’s imprisonment on Carceri. Unfortunately, Graz’zt was unable to conquer Adimarchus’s realm, Occipitus. The Dark Prince’s cold war of intrigue, sabotage, and slander against Malcanthet has also been consuming much of his time of late, and Abyssal rumor holds that an all-out war between their realms is drawing nigh. Although a master tactician and accomplished swordfighter, Graz’zt’s true strengths lie in seduction and guile. It is not by force alone, he realizes, that one can win control, but by controlling those who think they are in control. He enjoys the notion that he is the most intelligent, cunning creature in the Abyss; certainly, there are few who can match him in this arena (with the possible exceptions of Malcanthet and Pazuzu). Unlike many other Demon Princes, Graz’zt pays a great deal of attention (through spies, mostly) to what goes on in the Material Plane. He is fond of trading favors with mortals, giving aid or information now for services to be demanded later. His most infamous alliance with a mortal is his relationship with the witch-queen Iggwilv. Using lore stolen from the mad archmage Zagig, Iggwilv managed the audacious and shocking feats of conjuring Graz’zt and imprisoning him on the Material Plane. The two became unlikely lovers, and before long a child was born. But as time wore on, Graz’zt began to suspect Iggwilv had no intention of ever releasing him. He could see how his aid had elevated her power significantly, and the time finally came when he could use some of what she had taught him to increase his own power, if only he could escape. Eventually, Iggwilv faltered in her control, and Graz’zt turned on her. An epic battle ensued, forcing Iggwilv to expend every spell, artifact, and ally she could, and although she managed to banish Graz’zt back to the Abyss, consigning him to a century of imprisonment, she was herself weakened to the point where she was forced to go into hiding. Eventually, Graz’zt had his revenge and managed to lure her into the Abyss where he imprisoned her for a time and was finally able to regain his stolen power, and then some. Iggwilv eventually escaped back to the Material Plane, and today she and Graz’zt maintain a love-hate relationship, each seeking to use the other to gain power in their own domains. Graz’zt’s cult is small except among certain monstrous races such as the lamias. Most of his priests, known as the Chosen, are female—a testament to his insatiable libido, although the Dark Prince has been known to take on male priests as well. His temples are dark, secluded places often guarded by lamias, harpies, or succubi with class levels. Graz’zt enjoys contrasts, oppositions, and mismatches others find jarring or disgusting. Despite his fantastic wealth and love of the grotesque, he lives fairly simply. Wily and cunning, he keeps his mind clear from distractions so he can focus on claiming more land and minions by defeating his enemies, one at a time. Clerics of Graz’zt have access to the domains of Chaos, Demonic, Evil, and Temptation domains. His symbol is a black, six-fingered hand. Source: Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss One of the most powerful demons in all the Abyss, Graz’zt is lord of three layers of that plane. He is a tall, darkly handsome demon with shiny black skin and green, glowing eyes. Graz’zt dresses in regal finery, but his slightly pointed ears and yellow fangs mark him for the demon he is. Most striking of all are his digits: He has six ebony fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. Tales are told among common folk that a dark-skinned fiend sometimes visits witches and sorcerers, granting them both sexual favors and magical powers. Graz’zt is the truth of that legend. A deeply sexual, erotic being, the Dark Prince never goes anywhere without a retinue of female monsters—usually lamias, succubi, or mariliths. He is dangerously charming and seductive, and he speaks with such eloquence and grandeur that one might think him a devil, not a demon. Graz’zt has long been in a state of war with both Demogorgon and Orcus. At one point he had the upper hand in this conflict, but he was suddenly summoned to the Material Plane by Zagyg, the mad archmage. There, he was imprisoned and subjugated until he was able to win his freedom at the cost of being imprisoned on his own plane for a time. No one knows if he is still under the restriction or not—and he is certainly not telling. Graz’zt’s symbol is a black, six-fingered hand. The Goals of Graz’ztGraz’zt is bent on the conquest of the Abyss. He despises that Demogorgon is called the Prince of Demons—he covets that title more than anything else. Graz’zt controls Azzagrat, a realm that extends over three layers of the Abyss. Spanning all three layers is the city of Zelatar. Within the city lies the Argent Palace, Graz’zt’s personal home composed of sixty-six ivory towers. From his palace, Graz’zt schemes, developing intricate plots to defeat his enemies and gain more power. Graz’zt loves seduction and guile. Although he is not afraid of war, he would rather trick and charm his opponents than beat them in battle. He enjoys the notion that he is the most intelligent, cunning creature in the Abyss. The Dark Prince pays a great deal of attention (through spies, mostly) to what goes on in the mortal realm. He is fond of trading favors with mortals, giving aid or information now for services to be demanded later. Source: The Book of Vile Darkness Source: Monster Manual II 1st Edition
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2009 23:54:04 GMT -5
Juiblex The Faceless Lord, The Lord of Nothing, The Lord of Slime A shuddering, glistening cone of jelly and slime striated with veins of black and green rears up from the pit. Baleful red eyes swim in the thing’s gelatinous body, and dripping pseudopods of tremulous ooze writhe with latent hunger in every direction at once.Juiblex, the wretched Faceless Lord, cares little for cultists or companionship. Yet still, there are those who find reasons to worship the lord of slime. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsOf all the demon lords of the Abyss, Juiblex is perhaps the simplest (and therefore easiest to understand) in his goals. Put simply, Juiblex has no goals other than to simply exist, destroying and killing and corroding anything he can get his tendrils around. He hates everything and revels only in destruction. Juiblex shares the 222nd layer of the Abyss with Zuggtmoy, the Lady of Fungi. The two demons have a long history of conflict and war, with Juiblex’s constant attempts to surge upward into Zuggtmoy’s holdings a constant source of contention between the two. Other demons despise and loathe Juiblex, yet most see him as a faceless menace that poses a threat only to those foolish enough to stand in front of him, and they wisely choose to leave him alone. There is no organized cult of Juiblex, although a few demented souls do revere the Faceless Lord as a god. It’s doubtful that Juiblex knows of these few, and if he does, he certainly doesn’t encourage them or reward their loyalty. His primary minions are the countless slimes, oozes, and jellies that shudder in the depths of his realm. Of these, only one is intelligent enough to serve the Faceless Lord willingly—a unique demonic black pudding known as Darkness Given Hunger. Clerics of Juiblex have access to the domains of Chaos, Corruption, Evil, and Ooze. His symbol is that of a pseudopod dripping slime. Source: Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss Juiblex, known as the Faceless Lord, is a loathsome demon of slime and ooze. Even most demons shun him, and the demon princes are said to refer to him contemptuously as the “lord of nothing.” He is among the weakest demon lords but is a terrifying foe nonetheless. He embodies many of the horrible abilities of various slimes, oozes, and puddings, and he commands impressive magical powers as well. The domain of Juiblex is his by right of power—he has driven everything from the Slime Pits except the various slimes and oozes that teem there. Nevertheless, a few demons—hezrous, mainly—pay him enough fealty that they bring victims for Juiblex and his slimy brood to hunt and feed on. Juiblex often appears as a 9-foot-tall cone of jelly and slime striated with black, green, and a disgusting mixture of brown, yellow, and gray. At other times, Juiblex is nothing but a seething pool of animate ooze. In any form, pulsating red eyes that look in all directions cover Juiblex completely. Juiblex’s symbol, hardly ever used, is that of a pseudopod dripping slime. The Goals of JuiblexJuiblex does not plot and scheme. Juiblex is content to simply exist, destroying and killing and corroding anything he can get his tendrils on. He hates everything and revels only in destruction. Source: The Book of Vile Darkness
Source: Monster Mythology 2nd Edition Source: Monster Manual 1st Edition
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2009 18:49:41 GMT -5
Kostchtchie Prince of Wrath, Patron of Frost Giants, The Lord of Wrath and Rage This bandy-legged, 24-foot-tall giant strides through the banks of blood-stained snow with a thunderous roar. He wields an immense maul crafted of cold iron, his malformed head jutting above his hunched shoulders and bearing a bestial mask of rage.The deformed demon-giant Kostchtchie rules the polluted frozen reaches of the Iron Wastes. He is the patron of frost giants and the lord of wrath and rage. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsKostchtchie’s wrath and hate are legendary in the Abyss. He has no allies among the other demon lords, but is allowed to rule his realm on the 23rd layer of the Abyss with little interference as a result of his ruinous temper. This realm is utterly and completely under his command, yet Kostchtchie remains unsatisfied with its power. His giants conquer and claim a distant mountain in his name, yet from that mountain’s peak the Prince of Wrath can always see one more mountain farther out that remains unclaimed. Worse, he is constantly aware of the simple fact that there exists elsewhere in the multiverse legions of frost giants who do not revere him as their master. The concept that these “lost children” exist enrages Kostchtchie like nothing else, and so he spends much of his time plotting incursions into regions on other planes (particularly Ysgard and the Material Plane). If he can avoid it, Kostchtchie prefers to convert new tribes of frost giants without slaughtering them. His favorite method is to appear to a new tribe, slay their current jarl, and then lead the tribe on a gruesome war against their enemies. If the tribe is slaughtered, Kostchtchie dismisses them as failures—not “true” giants. If they succeed, they are rewarded with entrance into the Iron Wastes, where the tribe can serve him eternally. Of course, these raids have done much in establishing his reputation as a war monger among those peoples he incites the giants to assault. Kostchtchie has a particular hatred of frost giant tribes who worship other deities and often launches assaults on these tribes simply to discourage such heretical acts. Most of Kostchtchie’s cultists are frost giants, although it’s not unheard-of for particularly brutal tribes of humanoid or ogre barbarians to venerate him as well. These cultists rank lower in Kostchtchie’s eyes simply because of their smaller stature, although he does begrudgingly admit that a tribe of fiercely loyal humanoid or ogre barbarians can have its uses. Clerics of Kostchtchie have access to the domains of Chaos, Evil, Fury, and Winter. The Winter domain is detailed in Frostburn; if you do not use this book in your campaign, replace this domain with the War domain. Kostchtchie’s favored weapon is the maul. His symbol is a hammer rimed in bloody ice. Source: Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss Source: Monster Mythology 2nd Edition
Source: Monster Manual II 1st Edition
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2009 20:34:09 GMT -5
Malcanthet Queen of the Succubi This statuesque beauty wears a sardonic smile on her ruby lips. Curved horns jut from her brow and hold back her long dark hair—and her eyes smolder with dangerous red sensuality. Large leathery wings stretch from her back, the joints of which are laced with razorlike claws, and a sinuous tail ending in a thin curved spike completes the image of demonic beauty. She wears a revealing gown of diaphanous silk and razor-studded leather straps, and she idly toys with a glittering and sparkling scourge made of fine adamantine spiked chains.Servants, Enemies, and GoalsMalcanthet dwells on an exquisitely beautiful plane of the Abyss known as Shendilavri (layer 570). To the casual observer, this realm might seem like a hedonistic paradise—in a way, this is exactly what it is. The problem for visitors is that it serves only as Malcanthet’s paradise, and the Queen of the Succubi often takes great pleasure in the torment and ruin of her guests. Malcanthet is served in her palace by numerous incubi and succubi, along with a cabal of 13 lilitu bards called the Radiant Sisters. These lilitus do not exhibit their kind’s notorious intolerance for other lilitus or succubi, and their songs can be heard throughout Malcanthet’s palace at all times, haunting and erotic melodies that can have unwelcome effects on those whom Malcanthet has not invited into her realm. Lamias, harpies, and half-fiend nymphs serve her as well. Among the demon lords, Malcanthet’s greatest allegiances are with her sometime lovers Pazuzu (with whom she has sired numerous particularly deadly succubi children) and Demogorgon (with whom she has sired things best left unmentioned). She has had trysts with most of the other demon lords, although these were idle affairs engineered by the Queen of the Succubi to gain some favor or prize. Many other minor demon lords such as Shami-Amourae and Lynkhab vie for the title of Queen of the Succubi, but none have been able to usurp Malcanthet from her throne as of yet. She has long been in conflict with Yeenoghu, and her only contact with him now is when she sends armies to his realm to assault his kingdom (or vice versa). The exact source of their conflict is unclear, but it seems tied to the Maures, a powerful family of wizards who dwelt years ago in a massive castle on the Material Plane. Among the Maures, Malcanthet’s greatest servant was a woman named Elluvia. Other factions in the Maure family served Yeenoghu, and when Elluvia attempted a coup to gain control over the family’s holdings (with Malcanthet’s support), the resulting magical catastrophe ruined the entire family and left none (except perhaps Malcanthet herself) the victor. In any event, Malcanthet and Yeenoghu have been at war ever since. Only her relationship with Graz’zt is worse. Malcanthet maintains that she spurned Graz’zt for being unworthy of her attentions eons ago when he tried to court her, and that his wounded pride created the legendary rift between the two. Graz’zt, of course, maintains the opposite. In any event, the conflict between these two is less one of open warfare and more one of constant scheming on how best to upset and ruin the other’s realms and plans. Malcanthet has many cults on the Material Plane—groups of courtesans, hedonists, and bored nobles seeking a dangerous thrill to add to their lives. Her clerics have access to the domains of Chaos, Evil, Temptation, and Trickery. Her symbol is an iron thorn drawing a drop of blood from the lower edge of a pair of feminine lips. Source: Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2009 20:51:40 GMT -5
Obox-ob The Prince of Vermin The huge demon’s body is an insane thicket of spidery limbs, scrabbling for purchase with razor-sharp talons arrayed around a scorpion-shaped body. Where a face should be writhe three immense tails, each tipped with a jagged stinger that seeps black venom. Where a tail should be is a thick neck surmounted by a horrific face, complete with a vertically aligned mouth and three pairs of leering red eyes that seem horrifically human in shape. From its murderous maw extends a glistening red tongue, itself tipped with a hollow spike shaped like a corkscrew.Primeval and ruinous, the obyrith prince Obox-ob was once the Prince of Demons in an ancient age. His power is much diminished today, yet his lust for its return grows with every passing second. He is the lord of vermin and patron of those who see divinity in their repugnant frames. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsObox-ob once held the title Prince of Demons during the Age before Ages, when the Abyss was ruled by the obyriths. He had this title stolen from him by the Queen of Chaos, who killed him and granted his title to Miska the Wolf-Spider. Although Obox-ob was slain, his most powerful aspect survived and went into hiding on a deep layer of the Abyss called Zionyn (layer 663). For many eons, Obox-ob lurked here, a shadow without a true form. In time, he grew bold and emerged from hiding, only to find the Abyss had moved on in his absence. The tanar’ri now ruled, and Obox-ob had been forgotten. Obox-ob is not content to rule Zionyn and constantly rages across the face of this layer, bringing destruction and ruin to the ekolids who dwell there and worship his fury. Reduced to the Prince of Vermin, Obox-ob wants nothing less than to murder Demogorgon, claim his title, and then cleanse the Abyss of the taint of tanar’ri and return it to obyrith rule. But before he launches this plan, he first seeks to reclaim the true power he held so long ago. Obox-ob’s search for power extends to the Material Plane. On some Material Plane worlds, his cult is quite powerful—he recently almost managed to draw an entire world into the Abyss to fuel his ascension, but failed at his task when heroes of that realm opposed him by engineering a devastating disruption of the flow of magic at a crucial moment during the ritual. Since this humiliating defeat, Obox-ob has quietly observed his remaining cults, waiting for one to achieve similar chances at success in the future. Until then, these cults maintain a low profi le, often basing their activities in ruined cities lost in vast deserts, where they can be close to the scorpions so sacred to his faith. Clerics of Obox-ob have access to the domains of Chaos, Destruction, Entropy, and Evil. His symbol is a scorpion dangling by its tail from a jawless human skull covered with twisted runes (the scorpion’s tail is threaded through the skull’s eye sockets). Source: Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss Source: Monster Manual II 1st Edition
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2009 21:35:50 GMT -5
Orcus Prince of the Undead, The Goat, Master of the Dead, Lord of Darkness, The Black Prince, Tenebrous The massive, bloated demon stands 15 feet tall, his immense frame a hideous combination of muscle and bloated flesh. His head is that of a ram with a great maw filled with tusks, and his thick-furred legs end in cloven hooves. Leathery wings and a barb-tipped tail complete the picture of the archetypal demon.Of the innumerable demon lords of the Abyss, dread and vile Orcus, Prince of the Undead, might be the one most often worshiped as a god. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsAfter becoming complacent in his eternal war with Demogorgon and Graz’zt, Orcus was recently murdered and deposed. But then, Orcus rose from the dead—an undead demon—and took the name Tenebrous for a time, hiding in the shadows of the multiverse and waiting to take his revenge. Now he has reinstated himself to his former position and reclaimed his realm Thanatos, and once again finds himself in a struggle for dominance with many other demon lords. Orcus is no longer content to grow fat and decadent in his castle. He focuses his anger and hate on the absolute destruction of his enemies and the spread of woe and havoc among mortals. He covets Graz’zt and Demogorgon’s realms above all others, and commands a host of undead and demons that ravage entire layers of the Abyss at his whim. Against Graz’zt, Orcus’s tactics are fairly direct. He constantly sends wave after wave of his limitless undead armies against Graz’zt’s three Abyssal layers, continuing these battles eternally since Orcus can replace fallen undead soldiers as quickly as they are destroyed by Graz’zt’s defenders. This relentless assault is inexorably penetrating deeper and deeper into Graz’zt’s territory, but at nowhere near the pace that Orcus wishes. He realizes that Demogorgon is a more powerful foe, and as a result, Orcus’s actions against the Prince of Demons are more subtle. He sends small bands of nabassu, vampires, and liches into Gaping Maw and other places Demogorgon holds sway to undertake missions of precisely calibrated assassination and sabotage. Yet while Orcus himself might not be as powerful as Demogorgon, and his realm might be dwarfed by the size of Graz’zt’s holdings, Orcus’s cult on the Material Plane is in truth his greatest resource. In particular, orcs, half-orcs, ogres, and giants revere Orcus, as do a large number of corrupt and despicable humans. His temples are usually hidden, and his worshipers form secret societies that commit atrocities and wage wars in his name. He demands living sacrifice from his cultists, and blood and skulls are important parts of the imagery used in his worship. Intelligent undead rarely serve him willingly, although many vampires, liches, and other undead creatures are forced into his service by dark pacts or compelling magic. Clerics of Orcus have access to the domains of Chaos, Death, Demonic, and Evil. His symbol is his wand—a skulltopped black mace. Source: Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss Orcus is a massive, bloated demon prince—bloated on spite, bile, and contempt. After becoming complacent with his wars against Demogorgon and Graz’zt waning, Orcus was murdered and deposed. But then, Orcus rose from the dead—an undead demon—and took the name Tenebrous for a time, hiding in the shadows and waiting to take his revenge. Now he has reinstated himself to his former position and taken up residence in Naratyr, his terrible fortress-city in the Abyss on Thanatos, the layer he rules. Once again Orcus finds himself in a struggle for dominance with many of the other demon lords. Orcus is no longer content to grow old and fat feeding on larvae in his castle. He focuses his anger and hate on the absolute destruction of his enemies and the spread of woe and havoc among mortals. Truly a demon reborn, Orcus is more terrible and more dangerous than ever. Orcus hates both Demogorgon and Graz’zt. He resents them for their power, and he covets their realms. Orcus commands a host of undead as well as armies of demons that ravage the fields of the Abyss that they cross. Probably because he has an identifiable, if loathsome, “portfolio,” Orcus is worshiped as a god more often than most of the other demon princes are. Although Demogorgon might actually be more powerful, Orcus may be closer to ascending to true godhood. Standing 15 feet tall, Orcus is a massive demon. His head bears a striking resemblance to that of a ram, and his legs end in cloven hooves. Batlike wings complete the picture of the archetypal demon. In fact, when commoners think of demons, they most likely think of some terrible picture of Orcus that they once saw somewhere. Orcus is best known in some circles for his wand, an artifact of malefic might. This wand—more accurately described as a rod—is made of black iron and obsidian and topped with a skull. It has terrible powers (see the Artifacts section of Chapter 6) and is a horrific weapon in its own right. The black, skulltopped rod also serves as the prince’s symbol. The Goals of OrcusOrcus is in many ways a contradictory figure. He does not delight in his charges, the undead, and has not taken up the self-proclaimed mantle “Prince of the Undead” out of devotion or allegiance. If anything, the demon lord despises undead. He has little but contempt for them and uses them without thought or consideration. Of course, Orcus despises the living as well. He hates all things, and seethes with utter revulsion and loathing at all times. He craves only personal power and the spread of misery and destruction for all others. Occasionally, Orcus allows his wand to be found by a mortal in order to wreak greater chaos and evil among those inhabiting the Material Plane. This sort of dalliance lasts only for a short time—perhaps a year or two at most—before the bloated prince grows bored and reclaims his artifact, usually along with the soul of whoever currently wields it. Orcus is in a constant state of war with his rivals Demogorgon and Graz’zt. More often than not, actual warfare occurs between his armies of undead and demons and Graz’zt’s hordes of monsters and demons. Strife with Demogorgon often takes a more subtle guise, that of assassination and sabotage. This is usually because both his and Demogorgon’s full armies are simultaneously warring against the forces of Graz’zt. However, sometimes the legions of Orcus and Demogorgon meet in the course of their struggle against Graz’zt, and then they attack each other as viciously as they fight the legions of the Dark Prince. The Wand of Orcus This black obsidian and iron rod is topped with the skull of a human hero slain by Orcus. If wielded in melee, it is a +6 unholy chaotic heavy mace. If the wand touches any nonoutsider, or an outsider with less than 15 HD, the target must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 25) or die immediately. Anyone that touches the wand against Orcus’s will must save or die as well. Weapons with a +6 enhancement bonus are beyond the ken of most item creators, but they otherwise follow all the rules for magic weapons. The wand also confers a +5 deflection bonus to the Armor Class of the wielder at all times. Finally, the wielder can call upon each of the following powers once per day, as the spells cast by a 20th-level caster: abyssal might, bodak birth, call nightmare, clutch of Orcus (DC 18), summon monster VII, wrack (DC 18), and wretched blight (15d8 damage, DC 23). Source: The Book of Vile Darkness The Symbol of Orcus Orcus appeals most to demons, necromancers, and the undead. While not an actual god quite yet, Orcus is worshiped as a god more often than any of the other demon princes. Although Demogorgon might actually be more powerful, Orcus is closer to ascending to true godhood. The cult of Orcus is widespread among other groups as well, with a more significant following among humanoids than most demon princes. In particular, orcs, half-orcs, ogres, and giants revere Orcus, as well as corrupt and despicable humans. Portfolio: Undeath, revenge. Domains: Chaos, Evil, Death, Darkness. Cleric Training: Orcus isn’t one for orderly training or organization, so neither are his priests. Thus, training consists of little more than a grisly oath, the introduction to the mythology of Orcus, and a hearty strike with a skullheaded rod to complete the process. Quests: Orcus has set his worshipers the task of increasing the level of his own worship across all lands, killing those who resist—including the followers of other evil deities, especially Nerull. Typical quests include attacking a rival Nerull-cultist compound, raiding a church of Pelor to destroy its sacred items, and building or opening portals or gates from the Abyss to the Material Plane. Prayers: The most common refrain in a prayer to Orcus is a confirmatory phrase at the end of a declaration, something like “. . . or let Orcus strike me dead and steal my eternal soul.” Temples: Despite his status as a demon prince rather than a true god, Orcus has inspired the creation of temples all over the planes. Those that worship him gain clerical power as if worshiping a true deity, though they clearly gain that power from some more universal source (perhaps from the Negative Energy Plane itself). His temples are usually hidden, while his worshipers function as secret societies living in otherwise normal communities. Other temples, however, are terrible strongholds full of undead, where wicked lords commit atrocities and wage wars in the demon prince’s name. Sometimes an entire orc tribe devotes itself to the Prince of the Undead, but these individuals are shunned even by other orcs. Rites: Bloody confl ict is the method that Orcus’s followers use to rise in the ranks. Sometimes this activity is formalized, as when underlings challenge upper-echelon clerics according to the Rite of Challenge. Of course, this usually results in the underlings’ death before the Rite of Challenge can properly occur. In fact, the Rite of Challenge may just be a way for high-level clerics to identify troublemakers and weed them from the flock. Herald and Allies: A balor is Orcus’s favorite choice for herald. Planar allies include howlers, glabrezu demons, and nalfeshnee demons. Favored Weapon: Mace. Source: Libris Mortis - The Book of Undead Source: Manual of the Planes Source: Monster Manual 1st Edition Demogorgon & Orcus Source: Immortal Rules: DM's Guide, Basic D&D
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2009 14:20:05 GMT -5
Pale Night The Mother of Demons, Matron of Androlynne A strange shimmering in the air announces the arrival of a shape, little more than a billowing white diaphanous sheet. Closer inspection reveals a lithe and seductive form beneath the sheet, a voluptuous feminine figure indistinct and hazy. Now and then the edges of the sheet rise a little too highly on the netherwind, yet never rise high enough to reveal the details that writhe beyond.Mysterious and enigmatic, Pale Night claims to be the mother of many demon lords—certainly she is one of the oldest of their ilk. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsPale Night is an enigma. An obyrith who was ancient even during that race’s reign on the Abyss, Pale Night dwells in a bone castle located on the 600th layer of the Abyss since long before Baphomet claimed that layer as his own. Indeed, Baphomet’s maze avoids a particular stretch of existence around Pale Night’s castle, and he has never openly attempted to influence matters within her realm. Pale Night is also the matron of Androlynne, where she still torments the ancient offspring of the eladrin host that tried to cleanse the Abyss of the obyrith presence after their defeat on the Fields of Pesh. Much has been written about this mysterious demon lord. The Mors Mysterium Nominum claims she is the mother of several tanar’ri lords, including Graz’zt, Lupercio, and Vucarik of Chains. The Black Scrolls of Ahm claim she is the mother of nothing less than the tanar’ri race. Iggwilv’s Demonomicon, on the other hand, portrays her not as a mother of demons but as a mother of several notorious and monstrous Material Plane races such as the harpy and the lamia. What seems certain is that Pale Night is viewed as a mother figure by not only her cultists but also by many of the denizens of the Abyss itself. Pale Night’s reaction to visitors in her realm depends upon her mood at the time of their visit. Sometimes, she merely sends them on their way. Others she embraces and adds to her haunted gallery of stolen lives. On the Material Plane, Pale Night’s cult is virtually unknown. Cultists that do exist are few in number, usually consisting of only three or four spellcasters who seek ways of introducing horrific new races of demonic terror on the world by impregnating female creatures of all kinds with raw Abyssal chaos. The issue of these births is always a half-fiend, and often one with unique and distinctive abilities beyond the norm for their kind. Clerics of Pale Night have access to the domains of Chaos, Corruption, Evil, and Knowledge. Her symbol is a billowing white sheet draped over a starry field. Source: Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss Source: Planescape - Faces of Evil: The Fiends
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2009 19:25:53 GMT -5
Pazazu Demon Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms, Demon Prince of the Air, Pazrael, Pazuzeus Although he’s a tall, well-proportioned man, this figure’s demonic features cannot be ignored. His powerful birdlike talons scrape the floor as he approaches, and four feathered wings shine with oil and writhe with smoke on his back. His head combines the features of a handsome man and a feral hawk, his cruel, hooked beak filled with a forest of needle teeth.Mighty Pazuzu is one of the oldest of the tanar’ri princes. His realm is the skies above the Abyssal layers, and he takes great delight in the corruption of purity. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsPazuzu is a unique example of survival in the Abyss. Originally one of the more powerful obyrith lords, his independence was a constant thorn in the Queen of Chaos’s side. As it turned out, Pazuzu has since evolved with the new rule of the Abyss. While he is still an obyrith, he has been accepted by tanar’ri and represents a sort of “missing link” between the two races. Due to this duality of nature, Pazuzu’s form has taken on a less horrible appearance with the passing of eons, and his form of madness ability has transformed into his current aura of servile avians. He has also gained several tanar’ri-like qualities, including the ability to summon tanar’ri. Although Pazuzu commands the respect and loyalty of all evil things that fly in the Abyssal skies, he is rarely forced to call upon these creatures. Perhaps alone in the Abyss, Pazuzu has no active enemies. The other demon lords seem to begrudgingly award him the skies above their realms, if only because there seems to be little there to claim. Graz’zt alone has been known to speak ill of Pazuzu, yet he has never taken direct action against him. The one demon lord that could be counted as his enemy is wretched and deformed Lamashtu, although the Queen of Monstrous Births has been imprisoned by Pazuzu on Torremor for countless ages, so she is hardly a threat to the demon prince. Pazuzu does not lust for the rule of a realm in the Abyss (although he nonetheless controls the 503rd layer of the Abyss, and his presence is nearly constant on the 1st layer), nor does he wish to rule over his fellow demons. His goals are higher—he lusts for innocence, purity, and honesty. These sweet nectars are his greatest vice, and as he consumes them, he leaves bitterness, cruelty, and wickedness in the shells of those he has corrupted. Since these qualities are so alien in the Abyss, he logically has little interest in what dwells there in and instead turns his attentions to the Material Plane. Pazuzu has tested his ability to manifest on Material Plane worlds without drawing the undue attention of the gods who protect them for some time, and in that time has mastered the art of telling mortals what they think they want to hear. Pazuzu’s cults start with a single soul who cries out to the demon prince for aid. Pazuzu gives this aid, and those who call on him grow dependent on his aid. They crave the power his touch can bring. Within a year, those who have called upon him invariably join or found a new cult dedicated to his teachings, where they seek to capture and convert new innocents to his vile worship. Clerics of Pazuzu have access to the domains of Air, Chaos, Evil, and Temptation. His symbol is a twisted bird talon. Source: Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss Pazuzu, known to some as Pazrael or Pazuzeus, is a unique demon lord in that he does not rule a layer of the Abyss. Instead he oversees a portion of almost every layer: the sky above. Also unlike his fellow princes, he does not war with other demon lords. All treat him with roughly equal amounts of resentment and grudging respect. One cannot dispute Pazuzu’s power, but he is not in the same league physically as the most powerful princes, Demogorgon and Orcus. He maintains no permanent lair, although he occasionally resides in the highest Abyssal mountain peaks or rocky crags, or in the floating palaces of the evil cloud giants that pay him homage. Known as the Demon Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms or Demon Prince of the Air, Pazuzu concerns himself mainly with the Material Plane. He goes there more often than most demon princes. And, more than any other prince, he enjoys tempting or tricking those of good alignment to fall to evil. Pazuzu is a 7-foot-tall humanoid with four dark, feathered wings. His large head also bears a bit of plumage, as well as massive red eyes and a sharp, toothfilled, beaklike mouth. The Demon Prince of the Air uses a swooping bird of prey as his symbol. The Goals of PazuzuUninterested in conquest, Pazuzu does not see the other demon princes as rivals. This attitude is partially due to arrogance (he considers himself above them and assumes he already controls anything of worth in the Abyss) and partially due to the fact that his goals have nothing to do with those of most other demon lords. Pazuzu loves to tempt mortals. He personally offers his aid to any good creature that calls upon him—an act that automatically causes the good creature to turn to evil. Calling upon him usually involves intoning his name three times in succession. Source: The Book of Vile Darkness Web Enhancement - Yet More Archfiends Source: Monster Manual II 1st Edition
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2009 23:07:37 GMT -5
Yeenoghu The Demon Prince of Gnolls, The Beast of Butchery This gaunt, 12-foot-tall humanoid demon is covered with mangy patches of yellow fur and has pale gray flesh showing where the fur is absent. His face is that of a leering, amber-eyed hyena, and he wields a massive flail with three spiked heads.Savage and ruthless, Yeenoghu is the patron of all gnolls and commands the servitude of ghouls through the subjugation of the demonic King of the Ghouls. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsYeenoghu is one of the lesser demon lords, yet he still commands a large empire on the 422nd layer of the Abyss, a region known simply as “Yeenoghu’s Realm.” He spends much of his time hunting lesser creatures or captured mortals and idly plotting assaults on the holdings of powerful demonic entities who are not themselves demon lords quite yet. One of Yeenoghu’s greatest and earliest triumphs was the subjugation of Doresain, the King of the Ghouls. Once a vassal of Orcus, the King of the Ghouls controlled his own layer of the Abyss until Yeenoghu’s army invaded and conquered the layer and its undead ruler. The King swore fealty to Yeenoghu and continues to pay him homage to this day. Doresain still rules the White Kingdom today, but as a sworn ally of the more powerful Prince of Gnolls. Orcus’s attention has been elsewhere, and so far, he has not acted against the Prince of Gnolls for the theft of one of his subjects. One of Yeenoghu’s great desires is to see to the prosperity of his people, the gnolls. He envisions a Material Plane dominated by his children, where elves and humans and dwarves and halflings are slaves at best and food at worst. Yet he realizes that all the gnolls in the Material Plane could not achieve such a goal—as a result, he actively supports cultists of other races who turn to him for support. The enigmatic leader of the Maure family once represented his most powerful cult among humanity at the time, yet internal strife caused by rival demon lord Malcanthet saw to the ruin of this resource. Today, Yeenoghu counts the Queen of Succubi as one of his greatest enemies and periodically raids her realm. He is always turned back by her defenses, but one day he hopes to gain enough allies to see to her ruin. Only Yeenoghu’s eternal war with Baphomet nears the level of his hatred for Malcanthet. The source of the conflict between the Prince of Gnolls and the Prince of Beasts is unclear, likely forgotten even by the two demon lords themselves, yet they show no signs of ceasing their eternal hostilities. Yeenoghu demands living sacrifices in remote wilderness regions on altars of crude stone. His faithful wear dark brown robes accented by mangy yellow furs. They are not allowed to clean these robes, and in time they grow horrific with clotted blood and foul odors. Clerics of Yeenoghu have access to the domains of Chaos, Demonic, Evil, and Fury. His symbol is his tripleheaded flail. Source: Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss
It may be that Yeenoghu was once a mortal gnoll. Or it may be that, as a bestial and savage demon, he simply saw a kinship with the gnolls. In any event, this demon prince considers himself the patron of gnolls, and indeed many gnolls do pay him homage. Yeenoghu is very powerful, but not in the same league as Demogorgon or Orcus in terms of personal power or in influence and armies. Yeenoghu does control a layer of the Abyss, which he creatively calls Yeenoghu’s Realm. There, he hunts lesser demons and other creatures while he plots his next attacks against layers with weak rulers in hopes of conquest. One success that Yeenoghu achieved long ago was his subjugation of the demonic entity that calls himself the King of the Ghouls. Once a vassal of Orcus, the King of the Ghouls controlled his own minor layer of the Abyss. Yeenoghu’s gnoll horde invaded and conquered that layer and its ruler.The King of the Ghouls swore fealty to Yeenoghu and pays homage to him even to this day. The Abyssal layer, however, was lost to Yeenoghu because he did not command an army vast enough to defend both it and the layer he already occupied. The King of the Ghouls rules there again, but he is a vassal of Yeenoghu now rather than a minion of Orcus. So far, Orcus’s attention has been elsewhere, and he has not acted against the Prince of Gnolls. Yeenoghu appears as a massive, gaunt gnoll 12 feet in height. Yellow fur appears in mangy patches on his body, with pale gray flesh showing where the fur is absent. His amber-colored eyes are large and protruding. Yeenoghu’s symbol is a triple-headed flail. The Goals of YeenoghuYeenoghu knows that he does not have the power of Demogorgon or Orcus. Thus, for now he is content with the subjugation of lesser demons and entities. Yeenoghu would like to see his favored people, the gnolls, prosper.When he can, Yeenoghu acts on their behalf, but his attention is not steadfast. More generally, Yeenoghu favors the spread of savagery and barbarism over the spread of civilization. When he sends his gnoll host to attack and conquer foes in the Abyss, it is his intention to always strike at cities first and cast them down in burning ruin. Even if Yeenoghu were to subjugate another entire layer, he would not rebuild the cities. Source: The Book of Vile Darkness Source: Monster Mythology 2nd Edition Source: Monster Manual 1st Edition
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2009 21:44:53 GMT -5
Zuggtmoy Lady of Fungi, Demon Queen of Fungi This foul demoness resembles a human only from the torso up. This portion of her body is composed of thick rancid sheets and coils of fungus that just happens to have grown into the shape of what would otherwise be an attractive woman. Four fibrous antlers grow from her brow, and her hands bear cruel talons. Her lower torso is a coiling pillar of lashing ropy tentacles and other fungus growths. Her skin is a nauseating swirl of grays, blues, purples, and blacks.Zuggtmoy has a dangerous interest in the Material Plane, where her secretive and foul cults are behind far more of the world’s ills than one might guess. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsZuggtmoy has long struggled with maintaining viable cults on the Material Plane; as it turns out, most humanoids have little interest in worshiping fungi. To combat this, she often establishes cover cults that are subservient to her actual worshipers. Her greatest triumph (and possibly her greatest error) in this arena was the creation of the Temple of Elemental Evil. This facade cult consisted of four cults dedicated to the intrinsic evil within the four elements. These four cults would work together against their enemies, yet had a built-in competition between themselves that ensured they would never grow too powerful for Zuggtmoy’s true cultists to manipulate. The Temple of Elemental Evil’s popularity among local humanoid cultures proved to be its undoing; they grew too potent too quickly and attracted the attention of the potent Circle of Eight, a consortium of powerful wizards. The Circle of Eight defeated the temple’s army at the Battle of Emridy Meadows and imprisoned Zuggtmoy in the temple’s dungeons. She escaped many years later, but not without being forced to abandon a significant portion of her essence on the Material Plane. Since then, she’s been rebuilding her strength and power on her Abyssal realm of Shedaklah (layer 222). Zuggtmoy often finds herself at odds with other demon lords who share similar interests in the Material Plane. For some time, Lolth was her greatest competition for dominance of the Underdark, but the Spider Queen’s recent ascension as a deity has effectively elevated her out of contention. Cultists of the two still clash now and then, but these are minor skirmishes rather than a war. Of more immediate concern to Zuggtmoy is Juiblex, who shares her realm. The two demon lords have long warred for dominance over Shedaklah, with Zuggtmoy traditionally holding control over its surface and Juiblex being forced to lurk in the deepest caverns below. With Zuggtmoy’s recent period of imprisonment on the Material Plane, Juiblex was able to greatly expand his hold on Shedaklah. Clerics of Zuggtmoy have access to the domains of Chaos, Evil, Ooze, and Plant. Her symbol is a jawless human skull with a large mushroom growing out from within. Source: Fiendish Codex I - Hordes of the Abyss
Source: The Temple of Elemental Evil 1st Edition Source: Monster Manual II 1st Edition This thread was compiled referencing the following sources:
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