Demon lord (Dungeons & Dragons)
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In the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, demon lords (also known as Abyssal lords in 2E AD&D) are demons who have gained great power and established a position of preeminence among demonkind. Each demon lord has a unique appearance and set of abilities. Most control at least one layer of the Abyss. A demon lord, when slain in a plane other than the Abyss, is banished to the Abyss for 100 years, whereas "ordinary" demons, including the mightiest balors and mariliths, risk being reborn into a lesser form (or not all). The most powerful demon lords are demon princes. "Demon lord" and "demon prince" are self-proclaimed titles; unlike the archdevils, the chaotic evil demon lords do not have a rigid hierarchy.
Demon lords wage eternal war with each other, often seeking ways to expand their holdings into other layers and at the same time defend their personal domains from rival lords and scheming underlings. Demogorgon has for many years been the most powerful demon lord, and he proclaims himself Prince of Demons. Orcus and Graz'zt contest his title.
Most demon lords have secretive mortal cults who seek to elevate their lords to godhood through prayer and sacrifice. Book of Vile Darkness details a number of prestige classes for mortal disciples of demon lords, as does the "Demonomicon of Iggwilv" feature currently running in Dragon magazine.
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[edit] Differences in editions of D&D
The distinctions between demon lords and demon princes vary between editions of Dungeons & Dragons.
- In AD&D, demon lords may not have complete sovereignty over a layer of the Abyss, whereas all demon princes rule one or more layers.[1]
- In 2E AD&D, both demon lords and demon princes are known as Abyssal lords.[2]
- In 3E D&D, almost all demon lords control a layer of the Abyss, and many have a scattering of mortal worshippers, whereas all demon princes control at least one layer of the Abyss, and all have mortal worshippers.[3]
[edit] Known demon lords
The most common and canonical Demon Lords in the latest 3.5 Edition (and generally most of the earlier editions) are Baphomet, Dagon, Demogorgon, Fraz-Urb'luu, Graz'zt, Juiblex, Kostchtchie, Lolth, Malcanthet, Obox-ob, Orcus, Pale Night, Pazuzu, Sess'Innek, Yeenoghu, and Zuggtmoy. However, in addition to these, countless other minor demons have appeared in earlier editions, supplement books and Dragon Magazine, spinoffs from D&D, and other sources. Beneath is a large list detailing all known Demon Lords, both the major ones listed above and minor ones.
The majority of these below demon lords appear as listed in Appendix I in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss. (f) indicates a female demon lord, (o) indicates an obyrith, (l) indicates a loumara, and (d) indicates a lord that is presumed dead.
Note that any demon lord who was mentioned by name only in the Monster Manual II (1983), on page 35, is noted as "*MM2".
| Name | Title | Concerns | Layer of the Abyss | Previous Appearances and Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abraxas | The Unfathomable | Magic words, arcane secrets, talismans | 17: Death's Reward | *MM2 |
| Adimarchus | Prince of Madness | Insanity | 507: Occipitus | Antagonist of the Shackled City Adventure Path modules published in Dungeon. Detailed in Dungeon #116, page 61. Was a fallen Celestial. |
| Ahazu | The Seizer | Night, abduction | 73: Wells of Dakness (Imprisoned) | *MM2 |
| Ahrimanes | Chief of the Cacodaemons | Exiles, wanderers | 452:Ahriman-abad | *MM2 |
| Aldinach (f) | Lady of Change | Transformation | 1: Pazunia (from the fortress of Aldinach's Egg by the edge of the Grand Abyss) | *MM2 |
| Alrunes (f) | The Soothing Spirit | Protection, sisterhood | *MM2 | |
| Alvarez | The Purging Duke | Inquisition, torture | 57: Torturous Truth | Faces of Evil: the Fiends, p60. |
| Alzrius | Lord of Infernal Light | Fire, destruction | 601: Conflagratum | Hellbound: The Blood War, "The Dark of the War", p25. |
| Anarazel | The Daring Darkness | Adventurers | 79: The Emessu Tunnels | *MM2 |
| Ansitif | The Befouler | Corruption of religious sites and relics | 73: The Wells of Darkness (imprisoned) | *MM2 |
| Ardat (f) | The Unavowed | Secret or failing marriages, harpies | — | *MM2, Dragon #341 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 24. |
| Areex (o) | The Forgotten Prince | Unknown | 73: The Wells of Darkness (imprisoned) | *MM2 |
| Arlgolcheir (d) | Mentioned in Dragon #116 "Rogue Stones and Gemjumping", page 55; said to have been destroyed. | |||
| Arzial | The Blooded Baron | Subterfuge | 45, 46, 47: Azzagrat (serves Graz'zt) | Mentioned in Dungeon #13, "The Ruins of Nol-Daer". |
| Aseroth | The Winter Warlock | Cold, ice, corruption, magic | 566: Soulfreeze | *MM2 |
| Asima (o, d) | The Unanticipated | Ill surprises | 4: The Grand Abyss | *MM2 |
| Astaroth (d) | Diabolus | Prophecy | — | *MM2, Lost Empires of Faerûn, page 21 |
| Azael (d) | The Ensnared | Rebellion, war | 422: Savage Searing (now Yeenoghu's Realm) | *MM2. Former ruler of the layer now dominated by Yeenoghu. Slain by the "Killer of the Gods" Ma Yuan. |
| Azazel | Prince of Scapegoats | Blame, absolution | 137: Outcasts' End | *MM2 |
| Baltazo | The Seeping Sovereign | Diplomacy, strategy | 1: Pazunia (from the fortress of Sullen-Ghat) | *MM2. He is a Blood War general guarding the gate leading to the layer of Fraz-urb'luu. |
| Baphomet | Prince of Beasts | Minotaurs, beasts | 600: The Endless Maze | Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth; Monster Manual II (1983), page 36; Dragon #341 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv"; Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, page 58. |
| Barbu (f) | The Unwelcome | Discord, ruined peace | — | *MM2 |
| Bayemon | Of the Unhealing Wound | The afflicted | — | *MM2; said to have escaped from the Wells of Darkness. |
| Bechard (o) | The Rotting Husk | Decomposition, obsolescence | 422: Yeenoghu's Realm (former ruler) | *MM2. Former Demon lord of Tempests who ruled the 422nd layer before Azael and Yeenoghu. |
| Cabiri (o) | The Watching Master | Observation | 73: The Wells of Darkness (imprisoned) | *MM2 |
| Charun | The Hammerer | Massacres | — | *MM2 |
| Dagon (o) | Prince of the Depths | Creatures of the deep aquatic | 89: The Shadowsea | Mentioned in Monster Manual II (1983), page 35, detailed in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss on pages 59-60. Dragon #349, "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 30-45. |
| Demogorgon | The Prince of Demons, The Sibilant Beast | Demonkind | 88: The Gaping Maw | Eldritch Wizardry; Monster Manual (1977) p16; Wrath of the Immortals boxed set; Monster Mythology, page 88; Book of Vile Darkness, page 125; Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, pages 61-62. |
| Dwiergus | The Chrysalis Prince | The shaping of demonic races | 558: Fleshforges | Dragon #341 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv". |
| Eblis | Of the Unbended Knee | Refusal to surrender | 1: Pazunia | *MM2 |
| Ebulon | 73: Wells of Darkness (imprisoned) | Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss. Former general of Graz'zt. | ||
| Eldanoth | The Bloodless Scion | Crime, Murder | 359: The Arc of Eternity | Faces of Evil: the Fiends, page 60. Former slave to Orcus. |
| Eltab | Lord of the Hidden Layer | Hatred, retribution | 248: The Hidden Layer | Dreams of the Red Wizards; Spellbound; Champions of Ruin, page 130. |
| Ereshkigal (f) | *MM2 | |||
| Fraz-Urb'luu | Prince of Deception | Lies, subterfuge, illusion | 176: Hollow's Heart | Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth; Monster Manual II (1983), page 39; Faces of Evil: the Fiends, page 60; Dragon #333 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 21; Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, pages 63-64. |
| Gorion | Mentioned in "Dragon" #139. | |||
| Graz'zt | The Dark Prince | Tyrants, despots, guile, debauchery | 45, 46, 47: Azzagrat | Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth; Monster Manual II (1983), page 39; Book of Vile Darkness, page 130; Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, page 65. |
| Gresil | Custodian of Records | Abyssal lore | — | *MM2, Living Greyhawk Journal 10; Dragon #294. |
| Haagenti | Lord of Alchemy | Alchemy | 548: Garavond | Dragon #337 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 47. |
| Ilsidahur | The Howling King | Bar-lgura | 90: The Guttering Grove | Dungeon #10 "The Shrine of Ilsidahur". |
| Juiblex | The Faceless Lord | Oozes, slimes, and jellies | 222: Shedaklah | Monster Manual (1977), page 17; Monster Mythology, page 67; Book of Vile Darkness, page 134; Dragon #337 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 47; Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, pages 66-67. |
| J'zzalshrak (f) | The Errant General | Blood War campaigns | — | Dungeon #64, "Bzallin's Blacksphere", page 29. |
| Kardum | Lord of the Balors | Balors, fire | 21: The Sixth Pyre | Was introduced in Fiendish Codex I; based on Marduk by Gary Gygax (see Non-Canonical Demon Lords below). |
| Kerzit | Guardian of the Tome | The Tome of the Black Heart | — | Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure; Dungeon #112, pages 13, 52, 96. |
| Kostchtchie | Prince of Wrath | Frost giants, wrath, rage | 23: The Iron Wastes | Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth; Monster Manual II (1983), page 40; Monster Mythology, page 82; Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, pages 68-69. |
| Lamashtu (f) | She Who Erases | Monstrous births, deformity | 503: Torremor (imprisoned) | Dragon #329 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 67. Former consort to Pazuzu. |
| Laraie | The Stalking Terror | Pursuit | — | *MM2 |
| Lascer | Lord of the Shadow Shoal | Assassination, Murder | Dragon #349 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 35. Dragon #297 | |
| Lazbral'thull | The Butcher | Torture, bloodletting | 73: The Wells of Darkness (imprisoned) | Dungeon #122: Root of Evil. |
| Lindyrm | Mentioned in The Deva Spark. | |||
| Lissa'aere (f) | The Noxious | Poison gas | 27: Malignebula | Hellbound: The Blood War, page 25. |
| Lolth (f) | Demon Queen of Spiders | Drow, spiders | 66: The Demonweb Pits | First debut in module D3: Vault of the Drow and more prominently, in Q1: Queen of the Demonweb Pits. Went on to appear in many other supplements such as first edition Fiend Folio and Deities and Demigods (all three editions). |
| Lupercio | The Baron of Sloth | Sloth, darkness | 128: Slugbed | Faces of Evil: the Fiends, page 60. |
| Lynkhab (f) | Lady of Regret | Depression, desire | 297: The Sighing Cliffs | Faces of Evil: the Fiends, page 61. |
| Maelfesh | featured in Rose Estes' Greyhawk novels. | |||
| Malcanthet (f) | Queen of the Succubi | Succubi, hedonists | 570: Shendilavri | Dungeon #112, page 48, and #124, page 95; Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, pages 69-70; Dragon #353, The Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Malcanthet. |
| Malgarius | The Demon Tree | Evil sylvan creatures | — | A demonic plant that once controlled a layer of the Abyss, but which was defeated by the demon lord Lazbral'thull. (Dungeon #122: Root of Evil). |
| Malgoth, the (o) | Dungeon #117: Touch of the Abyss; FC1 p 125 | |||
| Mastiphal | The Hunting Sovereign | Pursuit of prey | 1: Pazunia (in the fortress of Vanelon) | *MM2. Current consort to Malcanthet. |
| Miska | The Wolf-Spider | Spyder-fiends, war | Imprisoned in Pandemonium. | Dungeon #124, page 17. Detailed in 2e adventure Rod of Seven Parts. Former Prince of Demons after Obox-ob. Was consort to the Queen of Chaos. |
| Munkir | The White Guardian | Afterlife, the back door to Paradise | 77: The Gates of Heaven | *MM2 |
| Nekir | The Black Guardian | Afterlife, the back door to Paradise | 77: The Gates of Heaven | *MM2 |
| Nergel | *MM2; in Gary Gygax's Gord novels, Nergel is a prince of "unlife". | |||
| Nocticula (f) | The Undeniable | Night | 72: Darklight | *MM2 |
| Nql | Mentioned in Eldritch Wizardry, in the "Codex of the Infinite Planes" entry. Possibly a name fragment. | |||
| Obox-ob (o) | Prince of Vermin | Vermin | 663: Zionyn | *MM2; Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, pages 71-72. Formerly held the title of Prince of Demons. |
| Orcus | Prince of the Undead | Undead, Abyssal ascension, escape from death | 113: Thanatos | Eldritch Wizardry; Monster Manual (1977), page 17; Dead Gods; Dungeon #89; Book of Vile Darkness, page 136; Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, pages 73-74. Was the prominent villain of the Bloodstone series. |
| Pale Night (o, f) | The Mother of Demons | Motherhood | 600: The Endless Maze, 471: Androlynne | Faces of Evil: the Fiends, page 61; Dragon #341 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv"; Manual of the Planes (3rd edition), page 100; Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, pages 74-75. Purported to be the mother of Grazzt, Lupercio, and Vucarik. Consort of Baphomet. |
| Pazuzu (o) | Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms | Flying creatures, corruption | 1: Pazunia, 503: Torremor | Monster Manual II (1983), page 41; Dragon #329 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 56; Book of Vile Darkness web enhancement; Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, pages 76-77. Also known as Pazrael. |
| Queen of Chaos (o, f) | Chaos, obyriths | 14: The Steaming Fen | First appeared in the "Rods of Seven Parts" second edition module, said to be a native of Limbo. In Fiendish Codex I, she is now an obyrith lord. | |
| Rhyxali (f) | Queen of the Shadow Demons | Shadow demons, secrets | 49: Shaddonon | Book of Vile Darkness web enhancement. |
| Sch'theraqpasstt | The Serpent Reborn | Yuan-ti | 111: The Mind of Evil | Dragon #151 |
| Sess'Innek | The Emperor Lizard | Lizardfolk, civilization | 7: The Phantom Plane (aka Kearackinin) | Monster Mythology, page 102; Serpent Kingdoms. Demon lord of the Lizard Kings. |
| Shaktari (f) | Queen of Poison | Mariliths | 513: Vudra | Dungeon #60, "Nemesis", page 32. Revealed to have escaped from the Wells of Darkness. |
| Sifkhu (l) | Loumaras | 230: The Dreaming Gulf | Dragon #535; currently bonded by Malcanthet. | |
| Shami-Amourae (f) | The Lady of Delights | Succubi | 73: The Wells of Darkness (imprisoned) | Dungeon #5, "The Stolen Power", page 27. |
| Siragle | The Ineffable | Secret oaths | 493: The Steeping Isle | Dungeon #28, "Sleepless". Reported to have escaped from the Wells of Darkness. |
| Socothbenoth | The Persuader | Perversion | 597: Goranthis | *MM2, Mentioned in Dragon #333,"Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 29. |
| Soneillon (f) | The Youthful Crone | Rejuvenation | 71: Spirac | *MM2. Not to be confused with the succubus who uses her name as detailed in "Lost Empires of Faerun". |
| Tharzax | The Chattering Prince | Poisonous vermin | 2: Driller's Hives | Dungeon #123: Salvage Operation. |
| Thralhavoc | Shadowmaster | Undead shadows, subterfuge | — | Hellbound: The Blood War, "War Games", page 56. |
| Turaglas | The Ebon Maw | Hunger, consumption | 32: Sholo-Tovoth | Dragon #312. |
| Ubothar (o) | The Thunder Below | None; currently exiled and imprisoned from the Abyss. | Dragon #349 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 31. The Thunder Below by James Jacobs. | |
| Ugudenk (o) | The Squirming King | Worms and hungry parasites | 177: The Writhing Realm | Dragon #333 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 39. |
| Verin | Voice of Graz'zt | Diplomacy | 45, 46, 47: Azzagrat (serves Graz'zt) | Monster Manual II (1983), page 35; Faces of Evil: the Fiends, page 62. Also known as Vuron or Ztefano. Appeared in "For Duty and Deity" as a male marilith. |
| Veshvoriak (o, d) | Obyrith lord whose body was dumped in Layer 23: the Iron Wastes. | Dragon #345, "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 31. | ||
| Volisupula | The Flensed Marquesse | Finery, ostentatious ceremony | 8: The Skin-shedder | Planes of Chaos, in the "Chaos Adventures" booklet. |
| Vroth-Khun (o) | None; currently banished from the Abyss. | Dragon #349 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 31. | ||
| Vucarik | Consort of Chains | Chains, torture | 651: Nethuria | Hellbound: The Blood War, page 26. |
| Xazivort | From the Ashes. Not to be confused with the god, Raxivort. Is able to possess living beings. | |||
| Xinivrae (f) | (Would Be) Queen of Succubi | Succubi, Seduction | 230: The Dreaming Gulf (exiled) | Dragon #353 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv" |
| Yeenoghu | Prince of Gnolls | Gnolls | 422: Yeenoghu's Realm | Monster Manual (1977), page 19; Monster Mythology, page 83; Book of Vile Darkness, page 140; Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, pages 78-79. |
| Yibyiru (f) | The Rancid Lady of Bitter Bile | Poison | 222: Shedaklah (serves Zuggtmoy) | Dragon #337 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 48. |
| Yrsillar | Lord of the Nothing | Greater & Lesser Dreads | Belistor; layer number unknown | Dragon #277. |
| Zanassu (d) | The Spider Demon | Empires of the Sands, reported dead in Demihuman Deities. | ||
| Zuggtmoy (f) | Demoness Lady of Fungi | Fungi, Rot, Decay | 222: Shedaklah (or Mycorji) | Module T1-4: The Temple of Elemental Evil; Dragon #337 "Demonomicon of Iggwilv", page 37; Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, pages 79-80. |
| Zzyczesiya | The Ungrasped | Confused and malevolent ignorance | 3: The Forgotten Land | Faces of Evil: the Fiends, page 60. Said to have escaped from the Wells of Darkness. |
[edit] Non-canonical demon lords
Green Ronin published a D&D d20 supplement entitled Armies of the Abyss (2002, reprinted in 2003 as part of the Book of Fiends compilation) that provides information on 21 demon lords. The similarity in names between Green Ronin and D&D demon lords is coincidental: like many D&D demon lords, Green Ronin demon lords draw their names from real world mythology. Demon lords that share their names with D&D demon lords are listed in bold.
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A number of minor lords were also detailed in Armies of the Abyss:
- Cresil the Impure (may or may not be equated with Gresil).
- Eurynomous the Corpse Eater
- Malohin the Strangler
- Merihim
- Philotanus the Seducer
- Rahu the Tormentor
- Shiggarebb, Lady of the Qlippoths
Gary Gygax, in his Gord novels: "The Sea of Death", "Come Endless Darkness" and "Dance of Demons", mentioned many other demon lords. These include:
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Necromancer Games, in their Tome of Horrors I and II listed alternate statistics of official demon lords Baphomet, Dagon, Fraz-Urb'luu, The Faceless Lord (aka Juiblex), Kostchtchie, Orcus, and Pazuzu. They also include:
- Beluiri, a demoness consort of Baphomet.
- Maphistal (not to be confused with Mastiphal), a lieutenant of Orcus.
- Sonechard, a general of Orcus.
- Tsathogga, the "Demon Frog God".
- Caizel the Seductress.
- Vepar, a vassal of Dagon.
Mongoose Publishing's "The Slayer's Guide to Demons" include the following:
- Iyaviht the Dark Whisper, Patroness of the Jartaska.
- The Gatekeeper, an exiled prince on the first layer of the Abyss
The book also introduced several so-called "Nameless Ones", ancient and powerful demon lords said to be the first demons:
- The Dancer in Darkness
- He Who Dreams
- The Demon Mother
- The Foundation
- The Silence at the end of Eternity
[edit] Notes
- ^ Gygax, Gary (1983). Monster Manual II. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, Inc. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ^ McComb, Colin (August 1997). Faces of Evil: The Fiends. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, Inc. ISBN 0-7869-0684-7.
- ^ Cook, Monte (October 2001). Book of Vile Darkness. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, Inc. ISBN 0-7869-2650-3.
[edit] References
- Cook, Monte. Book of Vile Darkness (Wizards of the Coast, 2001).
- Cook, Monte. Book of Vile Darkness web enhancement. (Wizards of the Coast, 2002). Available online: [1]
- Grubb, Jeff. Manual of the Planes (TSR, 1987).
- Grubb, Jeff, Bruce R Cordell, and David Noonan. Manual of the Planes (Wizards of the Coast, 2001).
- Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977).
- Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II (TSR, 1983).
- Jacobs, James, Erik Mona, and Ed Stark. Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (Wizards of the Coast, 2006).
- Kuntz, Robert J. and Gary Gygax. Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure (TSR, 1984).
- Kuntz, Robert J, Erik Mona, James Jacobs & Gary Gygax. "Maure Castle." Dungeon #112 (Paizo Publishing, 2004).
- McComb, Colin. Faces of Evil: The Fiends. (TSR, 1997).
- McComb, Colin. Hellbound: The Blood War (TSR, 1996).
- McComb, Colin. On Hallowed Ground. (TSR, 1996).
- Mona, Erik. Armies of the Abyss. (Green Ronin Publishing, 2002).
