Archfiends
The Archdukes, Lords of the Nine Hells
The Archdukes are the greatest of their kind and wholly unique. Unlike their demonic counterparts, the Archdukes are organized in a strict hierarchy. They rarely make open war against each
other. Instead, they plot and scheme in intricate webs of politics, duplicity, and betrayal. The Archdukes are also called the Lords of Hell, and the Lords of the Nine. Together, they rule all the layers of the Nine Hells. Each has his or her own dark palace, legions of devils and monsters, and schemes to gain more power. The various Archdukes continually make and break alliances with each other and other planar powers in their quest for greater might and control. The greatest of all Archdukes is Asmodeus, who rules over all of them from the bottom of the Pit itself. He has controlled the Hells for as long as histories have been recorded, although there are rumors of even older lords of the Pit.
Bel, Lord of the First - Avernus
Bel is one of the newer lords of the Nine Hells, currently the ruler of Avernus, the first layer. He is the only archdevil who spends more of his time worrying about the Blood War than hell’s own politics. Although he rose through the ranks based on his own skill and power (and victories over the demons), the former pit fiend enjoys the support of none of the other lords of hell. Bel is, however, held in high favor among the Dark Eight, and that is not a bit of influence to be overlooked. It is thought that Zariel, the former ruler of Avernus, is still kept within Bel’s Bronze Citadel, where Bel draws off her power to extend his own. Bel resembles a pit fiend with vast bat wings. His fangs drip with green liquid, and red scales cover his hulking body. His sword blade has a jagged edge and glows with heat. The symbol of Bel is a fanged mouth biting down on a sword’s blade.
Goals: Among the archdevils of hell, Bel is often called the Pretender. It is thought that Asmodeus allowed his coup only because it meant one less scheming lord. Bel would be so busy fighting the demons, the rumor says, that he could not scheme against his betters, and most importantly, his patron. Bel simply wants to secure his position. He has made overtures to ally himself with Baalzebul and Mephistopheles, but they have rebuffed him. His acts of treachery against the old lord of Avernus, Zariel, are too fresh in their minds.
The Cult of Bel: There are no worshipers of Bel. A few scattered cults of Zariel once existed, but they did not transfer their devotion to her usurper.
Dispater, Lord of the Second - Dis
Dispater is the Iron Duke - the lord of the Iron City of Dis. His home is the Iron Tower, an impregnable fortress made to protect a paranoid archdevil. Dispater is the picture of caution and careful thought. He never acts rashly, never leaves his tower (unless commanded to do so by Asmodeus), and always has at least nine different backup plans and escape routes at any given moment. No matter the situation, however, Dispater keeps a veneer of calm, gentlemanly manners. He never shows anger or contempt, making him all the more charming - and dangerous. Dispater stands approximately 7 feet tall. He has dark hair and small horns. His skin is cold to the touch and feels like metal; it resists blows like metal as well. Dispater is always dressed in regal finery and carries his rod as a badge of office as well as a terrible, macelike weapon. He often sports a magic iron shield as well. Dispater’s symbol is a black iron tower on a red field.
Goals: Dispater is ancient even by archdevil standards and has learned much over his millennia of rulership and control. He is cautious and slow to act. Throughout much of his time as a Lord of the Nine, he has allied himself with Mephistopheles. Like his ally, Dispater despises Baalzebul and works against him at every turn. Dispater’s main objective for now and the foreseeable future is the downfall of his enemy, Baalzebul. All his schemes and actions center around that goal. Likewise, Baalzebul works against Dispater, so the Iron Duke frequently devotes his time and attention to defenses against his foe’s machinations.
The Cult of Dispater: Many beings venerate Dispater, particularly hobgoblins, goblins, and other warlike humanoids. They revere his unassailable and indestructible nature. Temples of Dispater are fortresses unto themselves. They are easily defended (and often hidden), with multiple secret escape routes to allow the defending priests backup options. The doctrines of Dispater all involve contingencies and options. While followers of Dispater are defensive-minded to the point of cloistering themselves, they never allow themselves to be backed into a corner. Clerics affiliated with Dispater’s goals wear gray clothing and iron masks. They wield maces of iron and are usually heavily armored. They usually have access to the Evil, and War domains.
Mammon, Lord of the Third - Minauros
Mammon, the lord of hell’s third layer, has long been a power-hungry schemer. He is the epitome of selfishness, greed, and lust, and may potentially be the richest being in existence. The archdevil lives in a golden, jewel-encrusted palace that some have claimed looks more like a tomb than a home. Mammon’s palace is within the city of Minauros, forever sinking into an endless, fetid swamp. Mammon’s natural form was once that of a bloated pit fiend. Although he can still adopt that form, Asmodeus has altered him so that his natural form is now that of a huge serpent with a muscular humanoid torso, sporting two large arms and a massive humanoid head. His mouth has pointed teeth and two large snake fangs. Mammon’s symbol is a pair of red scaled hands open and looming over a diamond-shaped, black gem. The serpentine archduke schemes eternally for power, in Baator and elsewhere. He’s as famous for his supremely boastful and haughty manner toward underlings as for his shameless groveling before Asmodeus.
Goals: Mammon lusts for power - he craves a station and position above the one he currently holds, for he has no affection for Minauros, the layer he currently rules. Once the ally of Dispater and Mephistopheles, he was quick to betray them both at the end of the Reckoning, and thus no archdevil trusts him. To hang onto his current position, it is said that Mammon had to embarrassingly throw himself at Asmodeus’s feet. Asmodeus changed Mammon’s form, either to punish him or as a sign that Mammon had changed his ways and would not betray Asmodeus again. Currently, Mammon seeks support in the form of cultists, servants, and allies. Although most of the major players in the Nine Hells will not listen to his entreaties, some of the second-tier beings of influence, such as the witch-queen Zbavra, have entered into Mammon’s court.
The Cult of Mammon: Cultists worshiping Mammon look upon him as a patron of greed and lust. His followers can be found among the selfish and cruel of most humanoid races, as well as nonhumanoids such as beholders, mind flayers, and evil dragons. Temples of Mammon traditionally display vast wealth and audacious treasures - and have the appropriate guards, wards, and traps to defend them. Altars to Mammon are normally covered in gold and jewels. When a sacrifice is killed and offered to Mammon, it is done with a golden or jeweled blade. Clerics affiliated with Mammon, called covetors, wear red robes with gold trim and a lot of gold jewelry. They usually have access to the Evil, and Trickery domains. Most of these individuals are very wealthy, having gained a great deal of money and power from evil schemes, exploitation, and coercion.
Fierna & Belial, Lords of the Fourth - Phlegethos
Technically, the Lady Fierna rules the fourth layer of the Pit, known as Phlegethos. Most devils know, however, that Belial, her father and the former ruler of the layer, actually runs things from behind the scenes. Fierna has gained a reputation as an insatiable consumer of males with little care or discrimination. Her father is really no better, quenching his dark needs often with captives, slaves, or other devils. Some say that Fierna and Belial’s relationship has been consummated in incestuous ways. Fierna dwells in a flaming palace of rough rock, deep caverns, and pools of magma. At its heart lie elegant halls of marble and a bejeweled decor. No one except Fierna and her closest companions are allowed here, for this is where her father spends all his time. Both Fierna and her father are tall, dark humanoids with small horns on their forehead. Both are quite handsome and sexual, with smoldering red eyes. They dress in regal finery. Belial always carries his ranseur, but Fierna never wields a weapon, relying on her flame blade attack. The symbol that both often use is a pair of red glowing eyes over a horizontally positioned ranseur, with the whole thing circled by a red tail ending in a wicked barb.
Goals: Fierna has no interest in ruling, gaining power, or taking part in the complicated politics of hell. Instead, she is much more interested in taking advantage of her position and wealth to live an existence of comfort and pleasure. Thus, she is not at all resentful that her father actually does all the “work” and she simply says what he wants her to. Belial was the enemy of Geryon and Moloch, both of whom were deposed in the Reckoning. He also hates Mammon. However, he currently has his sights set on the fifth and sixth layers of hell. He feels that if he can overcome Levistus, the Hag Countess will be easily defeated soon after. Belial has been an ally of Baalzebul over the centuries and even through the Reckoning. They keep their relationship more of a secret nowadays, but Belial would come to Baalzebul’s side if he needed him. Should this ever happen, however, Mephistopheles would probably attempt to use Fierna against her father - either as an ally or, if that is impossible, a hostage.
The Cults of Fierna/Belial: No one worships Fierna, but a few mortals pay homage to Belial. They see him as patron of domination, secrets, trickery, and seduction. His symbols are a two-pronged ranseur and a handsome male face with dark features and small horns. Clerics affiliated with Belial usually have access to the Evil, Knowledge, and Trickery domains, and they sometimes use his favored weapon, the ranseur. They dress in red and black. Male clerics, which predominate, favor thin beards. Temples to Belial are usually in elegant towers or marble halls, where the appearance of decorum and elegance can be maintained. Belial’s bloodstained altars are circular and surrounded by black and red candles.
Levistus, Lord of the Fifth - Stygia
Prince Levistus (as he calls himself) is an ancient being. He ruled the fifth layer of hell, Stygia, for eons. He was known throughout many planes as a swordsman of great prowess. He ended many conflicts with a personal duel, always resulting in the death of his opponent. Levistus was a schemer and betrayer as well - the rogue archdevil, as he was sometimes called, had no allies. Yet still his power was great. In the dim recesses of the past, Levistus attempted to turn the consort of Asmodeus, a devil named Bensozia, against her lover. When she refused, Levistus slew her. Not surprisingly, when Asmodeus discovered what Levistus had done, he was enraged. He imprisoned Levistus in the ice of Stygia. Most thought that they would never see the prince again. A devil named Geryon took his place in Stygia and ruled there for centuries. Eventually, Geryon was deposed during the Reckoning and Asmodeus put Levistus back in control of Stygia. He did not, however, free Levistus from his icy prison. Now Levistus rules from within the ice, held motionless, an ironic end for one who prided himself on his dexterity and grace. Though he is not visible beneath the massive glacier that imprisons him, Levistus appears as a 6-foot-tall humanoid with extremely pale skin, dark hair, and a goatee. He could almost pass for a human except for his all-black eyes and pointed teeth. Back in his day, Levistus wore loose, silky finery and carried a glistening rapier. Though it was different once, today Levistus’s symbol is a thin sword thrust into a block of ice.
Goals: Levistus wants more than anything else to be free of his frozen prison. The mountain of ice that he is trapped within is almost a half-mile across. From the outside, he is simply a black spot within the ice. The ice trapping Levistus cannot be affected by a wish or miracle. Levistus cannot teleport or be summoned out of the ice in any way. The ice must be destroyed, either by physically chipping and smashing at it or by melting it with fire (including magical fire). Levistus hates all the other lords of hell, and they hate him. Were he ever to gain his freedom, Levistus would most likely work toward some scheme that would be detrimental to all - particularly Asmodeus. Levistus is not particularly grateful to Asmodeus for giving him back control of Stygia. He cannot see beyond his need for revenge over being imprisoned in the first place.
The Cult of Levistus: Levistus’s cult of thugs and rogues has always been fairly small. He is a patron of vengeance and betrayal. His followers rarely gather together, and thus there are few temples. Most clerics actually carry materials with them to serve as a portable shrine. These materials always include a small iron cauldron in which they boil water and drop chunks of ice as part of the ceremony. Clerics who favor Levistus, also called bladeravers, rarely look like priests. They wear flamboyant, silky garb and carry the archdevil’s favored weapon, a rapier. They look more like swashbucklers than religious zealots. The Evil, and Trickery domains are common among clerics who have Levistus as their patron.
The Hag Countess, Lord of the Sixth - Malbolge
The Hag Countess is different from every other archdevil in at least two ways. First, she is not a baatezu but a night hag. Second, she is aloof and unpredictable, less lawful than the other archdevils but just as evil. The Hag Countess was the lover of the previous ruler of the sixth layer, Moloch. When he was cast down by Asmodeus, she took his place. Most believe that the Hag Countess set Moloch up, and it is possible that he will return for revenge someday. Like the lesser night hags she considers sisters, the Hag Countess rides a nightmare. The Hag Countess’s citadel is known as one of the surest (and most expensive) places to get a large amount of souls in all the NineHells. The Hag Countess looks like a hideously ugly female human with flesh the color of a deep bruise, covered with warts, blisters, and open sores. Unlike normal night hags, she has ratty, tattered, black-feathered wings on her back, making her look like some terrible reverse-image of an angel. Her eyes shine with a hellish red light, and her fetid breath stinks of rotten meat. Her symbol is a pair of black feathered wings on a white background.
Goals: The Hag Countess may be the physically weakest of the archdevils. Many of the other archdevils worked their way up through the ranks. Unlike them, the Hag Countess did not achieve her position through strength, but purely through guile. Her power is significant, but it does not approach that of her peers. She does, however, possess a significant amount of military might. Moloch left the Hag Countess in command of a vast army of devils and hell hounds that never ceases moving about the sixth layer. Right now, her major goal is solidifying her own power base.
The Cult of The Hag Countess: There is no cult of the Hag Countess. No one reveres her as a god, seeks patronage from her, or makes sacrifices in her name . . . yet.
Baalzebul, Lord of the Seventh - Maladomini
One of the mightiest of the archdevils, Baalzebul is known as the Lord of the Flies, Lord of Lies, the Fallen One, and, more recently, the Slug Archduke. Originally an archon named Triel who dwelt in the good-aligned planes, Baalzebul succumbed to temptation, craving more power and authority than Heaven would grant him. His quest for perfection took him too far, and he was blinded by ambition. Soon he found himself in hell in a new form: a tall, powerful, dark-skinned humanoid with the compound eyes of a fly. Baalzebul, as he started to call himself, quickly gathered a great deal of support and power, as well as the blessing of Asmodeus. He set himself up as an archdevil and ruledMaladomini, the seventh layer. He quickly became a rival of Mephistopheles, and thus Dispater as well. He also gained some allies, notably Belial. After the Reckoning, Baalzebul fell from Asmodeus’s favor and was cursed with a different form - that of a giant slug with tiny, malformed arms, flies buzzing and crawling around him continuously. The stench around Baalzebul is infamous; the curse causes stinking piles of rotting garbage and feces to accumulate wherever he spends time. So now the Slug Archduke lives in his Palace of Filth under the blue-black skies of Maladomini, plotting revenge. Baalzebul has many symbols, including a fly’s head, a web with flies caught in it, and a black slug sitting atop a throne.
Goals: Baalzebul has many desires. He opposes Mephistopheles in all things and would love to see him fall. With the Lord of the Eighth out of the way, Baalzebul would be the greatest of the dukes of hell, second only to Asmodeus himself. Belial still calls himself an ally of Baalzebul, and - although that archdevil has concerns and schemes of his own - Baalzebul could call upon Belial should he ever be in need. If the reverse is true, then Baalzebul would be sure to help Belial, assuming that Baalzebul could figure out some way to make the situation work to his advantage. Baalzebul would like to return to his normal form. But more than that, he would like to avenge himself against Asmodeus himself for his defeat and humiliation during the Reckoning. Currently, he attempts to place more and more of his spies and servants into the court of the Lord of the Ninth.
The Cult of Baalzebul: Baalzebul has a more sizable following than most other archdevils. Mortals are attracted to his doctrine of lies and charm backed up with deadly force. The most numerous of the races represented among his cult are bugbears, who appreciate the dual nature of Baalzebul as someone who represents both guile and violence. Temples of Baalzebul are dark shrines filled with statuary. Lintels, altars, and tapestries display an insect motif, and braziers burn foul-smelling incense (or sometimes just offal) to represent his new form. Like most archdevils, Baalzebul demands living sacrifices from his cultists in bloody ceremonies that must take place at night in dim candlelight. Clerics affiliated with Baalzebul wear blue and black and favor gold jewelry and body piercings. They often shave their heads, except for bugbear adherents to the faith, who grow their hair particularly long. Such clerics typically have access to the Trickery, and War domains. Baalzebul’s favored weapon is the morningstar.
Mephistopheles, Lord of the Eighth - Cania
Mephistopheles is an archdevil who has long held a great deal of power in hell. He is allied with Dispater and a bitter rival of Baalzebul. Mephistopheles rules over the frozen wastes of Cania, the eighth layer of hell. As such, he has become immune to cold by ruthlessly exposing himself to the most frigid temperatures on Cania. Mephistopheles displays a façade of charm, civility, and understated wit. Secretly, he has a terrible temper and flies into frequent rages while in his palace in Cania - a citadel called Mephistar, built on a massive glacier on the frigid layer. From there Mephistopheles commands legions of gelugons, including the vast army that does nothing but guard the entrance to Nessus, the bottom of the pit where Asmodeus dwells. Of late, Mephistar has become a place of scorching flame at the heart of the icy plain, however, and the gelugons have slowly relocated elsewhere, replaced by pit fiends, cornugons, and barbazu. Mephistopheles has developed an extremely hot, corrupt type of energy known as hellfire, tapped from the substance of the plane itself. Its use has spread through many of the archdevils and their servants. None are as adept with hellfire as Mephistopheles, however. To further his mastery of fire, he has taken up the study of wizardry, specifically evocation. Mephistopheles is quickly gaining a reputation as an archdevil of contradictions. Nine feet tall, with hell-red skin, bat wings, white eyes, horns jutting from his forehead, and straight, black hair, Mephistopheles plays up his appearance to be as consummately diabolical as possible. He swathes himself in flowing black capes and wields a three-pronged ranseur. Mephistopheles constantly adopts new symbols. His current one is a red hand with black fingernails shrouded in dark flames.
Goals: Mephistopheles wants now what he has always wanted: to rule the Nine Hells. Of all the schemers in hell - and there are many - he is the most open about his goals. Mephistopheles has said to Asmodeus’s face that he will one day rule in his stead. Because he is more openly antagonistic toward Baalzebul, Asmodeus has usually tolerated Mephistopheles’s obvious coveting of his dark throne. Mephistopheles’s schemes are always extreme and dramatic, rather than subtle and sly like those of some of the other archdevils. For example, before the Reckoning, he created a new persona for himself, Molikroth, then “deposed” Mephistopheles and ruled in Molikroth’s name. Many speculated that the reason for the deception was to ferret out traitors in his midst. Those that helped “Molikroth” overthrow Mephistopheles have all been eliminated now. Mephistopheles adores being worshiped as a god and at the moment is striving to increase his base of cultists on the Material Plane.
The Cult of Mephistopheles: His cult is small, probably because many mortals do not realize that Asmodeus and Mephistopheles are different beings. Nevertheless, the archdevil has some followers, particularly from a new religion his cultists are trying to promote - the worship of a “god of hellfire.” This religion attracts both disaffected devil-worshipers and those who revere fire. Mephistopheles’s temples are filled with fire pits, usually rigged so that they flare up suddenly at appropriate times. The altar is a large slab of stone, blackened because the sacrifices made upon it are burned alive. Clerics affiliated with Mephistopheles, called hellfire stewards or hellfire masters, wear black and red and wield ranseurs. They generally do not speak, and when they must speak, they shout. They generally have access to the Evil, and Fire domains.
Asmodeus, Lord of the Ninth - Nessus
Asmodeus the Archfiend, the overlord of all the dukes of hell, commands all devilkind and reigns as the undisputed master of the Nine Hells. Even the deities that call that plane home pay Asmodeus a great deal of respect. Asmodeus is certainly older than any devil in hell, although some say that he was not the plane’s first ruler. On the other hand, some reports claim that he is indeed the original, primal force of evil in the multiverse. The actions of Asmodeus are often mysterious to outside observers, but that is due to the short-sighted and dim-witted view most beings have. Asmodeus’s manipulations are labyrinthine and insidious. They work on a grand scale, although when it suits his needs he is willing to focus his attention even on the status of a lowly mortal soul. During the Reckoning, Asmodeus showed that he could take on virtually all the other archdevils in hell and arise triumphant when the smoke clears. His will alone dictates who rules the various layers of hell. Once a year, he gathers the archdevils together in his home in Nessus, a fortress called Malsheem. None has ever refused this call. Even Levistus is briefly freed from his imprisonment to attend (and sulk through) this gathering. Asmodeus stands just over 13 feet tall, with lustrous dark skin and dark hair. He is handsome in the same way that a thunderstorm is beautiful. His red eyes shine with the power of hell, and his head is crowned with a pair of small, dark red horns. He dresses in finery of red and black; a single garment of his might cost what an entire nation spends in a year. Of course, he is never without his Ruby Rod, an ornate piece of unparalleled jeweled finery and vast magical power.
Goals: First and foremost, Asmodeus is interested in preserving the status quo in which he is the supreme ruler of hell. Beyond that, he focuses most of his attention on the general spread of evil in the multiverse. He opposes the actions of powerful celestials and good-aligned deities. He also loathes and opposes the demonic forces of the Abyss - their existence is a challenge to his mastery of evil.
The Cult of Asmodeus: Someone known as a devil-worshiper is almost always a follower of Asmodeus. The ruler of hell commands a far larger body of cultists than any other archdevil - probably more than all the others combined. Many humanoids and evil creatures revere Asmodeus as a paragon of might and oppression. They see following him as a means to great and otherwise unattainable power. Clerics who have Asmodeus as a patron are imperious, powerful figures with great personal magnetism and political influence. Asmodeus’s symbol is that of a clawed fist gripping a skull or the more subtle ruby-tipped rod. Sometimes a simple inverted pentagram suffices. His temples, usually located in secret within or under a city, are full of these symbols. They are always well appointed and well guarded because Asmodeus favors his followers with financial success. Asmodeus’s favored weapon is the mace. His clerics usually have access to the Evil, and
Strength domains.
The Demon Lords, Rulers of the Abyss
Individual demons have, over the course of millennia, risen from the hordes of their brethren. They gained great power and authority, then established themselves as demon lords. Each has an appearance and a set of abilities unique to him or her. A few demon lords have even risen above the other demon lords, calling themselves demon princes. These are all self-proclaimed titles. There are no actual qualifications; the Abyss is far too chaotic to develop rigid standards. It is this chaos and lack of organization and hierarchy that separates the demon lords from the archdevils, who have a rigid pecking order, each paying fealty to those in more powerful positions.
Almost every demon lord controls at least one layer of the Abyss. The lords command palaces and fortresses full of lesser demons and monsters, often decorated with tortured prisoners or tormented, damned souls. The demon lords relish pain and suffering as much as they lust for power. They savor corruption and destruction, waging eternal wars with each other to gain dominance.
For many years, Demogorgon has been the most powerful demon lord, calling himself Prince of Demons. Both Orcus and Graz’zt contest this title, however. Many demon lords, and all demon princes, have a scattering of mortal worshipers gathered in secret cults. These demon cultists may one day, through their sacrifices and devotion, elevate the lords to true godhood, a title that many of the lords have claimed at one time or another.
Demogorgon, Prince of Demons - 88th Layer
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 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. 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.
Goals: Inside 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. 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.
The Cult of Demogorgon: The worshipers of Demogorgon are more likely to be scaly things that hide from the light than humans or members of other civilized races. Despite Demogorgon’s stature in the Abyss, the vast majority of the Material Plane is blissfully ignorant of his existence. A slim few have heard his name in whispers and nothing more. Only scholars, arcanists, and those with a particular interest in demonkind know who and what he is. Demogorgon craves blood and souls. His cultists offer up sacrifices in his name on black altars before double-headed idols. His followers often control the societies they live in, evil theocracies that rule by terror and violence. The priests of the Prince of Demons are thus often rulers as well. The clerics allied with Demogorgon are madmen, masochists, and psychopaths - completely unfit for leadership, but often in charge nonetheless. However, Demogorgon’s fell priests are not as interested in political power and conquest as they are in using their resources to serve their master. Demogorgon’s high priests wear writhing, snaky headdresses and black robes with hoods. Clerics affiliated with Demogorgon have access to the Evil, War, and Water domains.
Graz'zt, The Dark Prince - 45th, 46th, 47th Layers
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.
Goals: Graz’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.
The Cult of Graz'zt: The cult of Graz’zt is small, except among certain monstrous races such as lamias, where his cultists are widespread and powerful. Most priests of Graz’zt, also known as the Chosen, are female, and the highest-ranking cleric in a temple is always female. Graz’zt enjoys blood sacrifices made in his name, and sexual rites are important in services dedicated to him as well. His temples are dark, secluded places where orgies are common. Some section of the temple is often shrouded in magical darkness. From there, clerics use create undead on sacrificial victims to bring forth shadows that guard the temple. Clerics affiliated with Graz’zt generally have access to the Evil and Trickery domains. They tend to wear black clothing and favor silver jewelry. Most carry a wavy blade of some sort.
Orcus, Demon Prince of the Undead - 113th Layer
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 and is a horrific weapon in its own right. The black, skull-topped rod also serves as the prince’s symbol.
Goals: Orcus 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 Cult of Orcus: The cult of Orcus is widespread, with a more significant following among humanoids than most demon princes can boast. 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 living in otherwise normal communities. Other of his temples 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 such individuals are shunned even by other orcs. Orcus demands living sacrifice as a part of his rituals. Blood and skulls are an important part of the imagery used in his worship. Idols and altars are often surrounded by or built upon tall piles of skulls. Intelligent undead never willingly serve Orcus (they are more likely to venerate Velsharoon). However, many vampires, liches, and other undead creatures are forced into his service by dark pacts or compelling magic. Priests and particularly influential followers of Orcus are called Skulls, while high priests are called Skull Lords. Often, a single Skull Lord gains so much power and influence among the followers of Orcus that he adopts the mantle of Skull King or Skull Queen. It is common for followers of Orcus to carry black, skull-topped scepters around, not in order to fool anyone into thinking that they wield the actual Wand of Orcus, but to represent and remind others of their lord’s dread might. They also often wear skull masks and black robes with hoods or goat-horned headdresses and silver robes. Clerics affiliated with Orcus typically have access to the Evil and Death domains.
Yeenoghu, Demon Prince of Gnolls - 422nd Layer
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 orOrcus 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.
Goals: Yeenoghu 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.
The Cult of Yeenoghu: The cult of Yeenoghu is common among gnolls, but extremely rare among other races. Yeenoghu demands that his servants make living sacrifices and dedicate them to him in beastly rites. His temples are always located far from any civilized area, usually in some rocky, craggy wilderness area - preferably a cave or underground cavern. The altar is a crude slab of stone, stained with blood and gristle. Rituals devoted to Yeenoghu include guttural chanting and (on the rare occasion when they are held outside) howling at the moon. They always take place at night. His priests wear dark brown robes, usually accented with a mangy yellow color. If the priests are not gnolls, these robes are often fur-lined. Priests of Yeenoghu never wash their robes, so the amount of spattered blood (from sacrifices as well as battle) on the robes is a sign of experience, worn like an honorific. Clerics affiliated with Yeenoghu usually have access to the Destruction, Evil, and War domains.
Baphomet, Demon Prince of Beasts - 600th Layer
Cruel and bestial Baphomet is the patron demon lord of minotaurs, although his feral nature appeals to evil rangers and barbarians. His embodiment of savagery is an insidious force that worms its way into the hearts of his followers to deceive them into embracing brutality. He is a hulking, manlike brute standing 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. 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). His symbol is that of a twisted circular maze awash in blood.
Goals: 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.
The Cult of Baphomet: Baphomet is served by fiendish and half-fiend minotaurs, many of them possessing levels in barbarian, cleric, or ranger. 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. Clerics of Baphomet have access to the domains of Evil, Destruction, and Strength.
Fraz-Urb'luu, Demon Prince of Deception - 176th Layer
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. Great Fraz-Urb'luu has only recently returned to dominance over his realm in the Abyss, having spent centuries imprisoned on the Material Plane. He lost a notorious weapon and magic item during this time, and has developed a tremendous hatred of the Material Plane and its inhabitants as a result. Humans, in particular, are his most hated foes, for it was a human who imprisoned him against his will. For now, Fraz-Urb'luu strives to regain control of Hollow's Heart (the 176th layer of the Abyss), but soon plans to launch a series of attacks against the Material Plane, his ultimate goal being its utter ruin. The demon's traditional symbol is the Staff of Fraz-Urb’luu, a jeweled scepter of adamantine cast at the end to resemble a tangle of five bestial arms that splay outward to grip a homed and fanged humanoid skull. However, since his escape from the Material Plane and return to the Abyss, he has largely abandoned this symbol, and today it is akin to his realm on the Abyss - mutable, ever-changing, yet always terrible to behold. The one common feature that runs throughout his various symbols is that of a partially devoured human skull in which the eyes remain, yet have been rotated in their sockets so as to gaze upon the ruined interior.
Goals: Before his imprisonment, Fraz-Urb’luu was content to dwell in his personally tailored realm. The Prince of Deception had complete control over his Abyssal domain and could reform its appearance with but a thought. The ability to cause mountains to sink into oceans, to cause chasms to swallow entire cities, and to call up massive guardians of stone and lava made his lair a difficult place for his enemies to assault. Fraz- Urb'luu knew this and, as a result, only rarely ventured out of his domain. Instead, he was content to spend his time tormenting his minions. For a time, Fraz-Urb'luu counted all the rulers of the Abyss as his enemies, yet, they could never set aside their personal differences long enough to forge an alliance capable of taking him in his lair. So a few of his cannier enemies did the next best thing - they had him imprisoned. When the Prince of Deception became trapped, his enemies descended upon his realm in terrible endless waves of devastation. Without their master, the denizens were unable to rely on the realm’s mutability, and they were slaughtered completely. Not long after, the domain itself collapsed.
Only when a pair of adventurers discovered the bas-relief he had been bound inside was the demon prince able to capitalize on the weakened state of his prison. He tricked the adventurers into performing a set of tasks, and with the final quest, they inadvertently set the Prince of Deception free. After a desperate attempt to call upon one of their gods for aid, Fraz-Urbluu was delighted to learn that most of his powers had returned during his long imprisonment. He took up his “saviors” in his great arms and returned to his realm on the Abyss - only to find it gone, along with his coveted staff. With this final insult, something within Fraz-Urb'luu changed forever. The terrible rage and hatred he had nursed during his imprisonment bloomed, inspiring him with a rage that now infuses his every fiber and thought. Fraz-Urbluu has spent the better part of the past twenty-five years rebuilding his realm. Known as Hollow’s Heart, this Abyssal layer still consists of vast realms of white sand and black sky. Here and there, pockets of terrain have appeared where minor unique demons have laid claims and learned, on a smaller scale, to mold the terrain to their will. Fraz-Urbluu has routed and ruined most demonic squatters and has slowly been reshaping things to his liking. Yet without his staff, the task is arduous and lengthy, ln addition, Fraz-Urbluu must constantly defend his realm from demonic incursion, as the other demon lords have not forgotten their hatred of the Prince of Deception. So far, none have managed to force him from his home, although Graz’zt and Demogorgon came close before Fraz-Urb'luu managed to repulse their armies from his realm. The process of rebuilding is, as a result, slow and painful. The terrain of his realm grows daily, as do the ranks of his subjected demon slaves and thralls. Once Fraz-Urbluu has reworked his realm to his liking and gathered what he deems to be an acceptable army he’ll be ready to begin his crusade against humanity.
The Cult of Fraz-Urb'luu: The cult of Fraz-Urb’luu can be divided into two distinct groups. The lesser of these two groups is loosely organized into cells, Each of these cells operates independently, with the leaders of each in contact with the leaders of other cells. These groups focus their efforts on corrupting secular establishments like guilds, governments, and other organizations. By infiltrating these groups, the cults can leech off the profits generated by them to aid in funding the more dangerous cults. The greater, more dangerous cults are known as the Cults of Deception. A Cult of Deception typically consists of a dozen or so members, most of which have at least a few levels in cleric. In addition to clerical servitors, a thrall of Fraz-Urb’luu always leads a Cult of Deception. While they worship Fraz-Urb’luu, they mask this worship in the guise of another deity, typically a good-aligned lesser deity. Using deception/illusions, enchantment, and other forms of trickery, these cultists operate small shrines located in rural areas and outwardly often do a lot of good for communities that otherwise don’t have access to powerful healing. As a general rule, a Cult of Deception won’t charge money for their spellcasting services, since the lesser cults who siphon money and other resources from the guilds and governments fund them. Sacrifices to Fraz-Urb’luu from the Cults of Deception occur only once per year, but the cult typically takes that entire year preparing for the sacrifice, since the sacrifice must be someone who has been deceived into joining the “religion.” Thralls of Fraz-Urb’luu are deceivers and charlatans. They work behind the scenes, worming their wiles into the minds of nobles, leaders, and heroes and manipulating events for the glory of the Prince of Deception. Clerics of Fraz-Urb’luu have access to the domains of Evil, Trickery, and War. Fraz-Urb’luu’s favored weapon is the greatclub.
Malcanthet, Queen of the Succubi - 570th Layer
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. Malcanthet has held the title of Queen of the Succubi for a relatively short period of time - 2,000 years. In order to secure the position, she spent countless centuries waging war, both overtly and covertly, against her primary competitors. She knows the title has made her more enemies than allies and she's become quite accomplished at defending her realm. Chief among her enemies is the Dark Prince, Graz'zt for spurning his advances and wounding his ego. This was enough for him to assault her realm of which she was only just able to turn back. Malcanthef s allegiances with other demon lords generally serve one purpose: satisfying the queen’s constant lusts. Yet Malcanthef s greatest conquest is without a doubt Demogorgon. By securing the allegiance of the Prince of Demons, Malcanthet has all but ensured her safety. Her symbol is a pair of feminine lips, the lower of which is pierced with an iron thorn that drips a single drop of blood.
Goals: Malcanthet has few goals outside of her pursuit of pleasure and the defense of her realms. A strange development in Demogorgon has given her pause though and she's quietly steering the actions of heroes on the Material Plane to defeat his plans.
The Cult of Malcanthet: On the Material Plane, Malcanthet's cult is widespread yet relatively disorganized. Her cults rarely, if ever cooperate - often they function as fierce competitors. She approves of such clashes, of course, as they serve to temper those cultists who serve her well and winnow from the ranks those who are weak and unable to serve their mistress as well as they should. To the casual observer, a cult of Malcanthet appears as nothing more than a brothel. Just as there are all manners of sexual fetishes and kinks her cults range widely in specialties and goals. One cult might operate out of a run-down waterfront warehouse, while another might be located in the noble quarter of a large city and cater only to the most discriminating of clients. For the most part, those who unknowingly visit cult of Malcanthet never know how close they come to sacrifice. The majority of Malcanthefs cultists are women, and although she certainly doesn’t turn away men who seek to honor her, men are not allowed to achieve the highest ranks within her cult and become her thralls. In most cults, men are looked upon as servants and thugs, bouncers to keep unruly clients in line or laborers to take care of tasks the rest of the cultists find too distasteful. Each cult seeks a particular type of sacrifice, and they generally keep their sacrifices to a minimum of one per month, at most, to avoid arousing undue suspicion. One cult might seek only men who have a certain body type or occupation, while others seek only women of high birth and noble upbringing. Others prey on the dregs of society, seeking only the most debased of a city's undesirables to offer up to their mistress. It’s also not uncommon for a single agent to serve the Queen of Succubi, Often, such a woman (for these agents are invariably female) secures a place of prominence in society or a powerful family and uses her charms to gain a position of power, all in Malcanthet's name. Clerics of Malcanthet have access to the domains of Evil, Healing, and Trickery. Her favored weapon is a scourge.
Juiblex, The Faceless Lord - 222nd, 528th Layers
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.
Goals: Juiblex 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.
The Cult of Juiblex: Although a few demented souls (and the occasional aboleth) revere the Faceless Lord, there is no organized cult of Juiblex. For example, Duvamil (gnome female) is a native of the Material Plane. She reveres Juiblex, but he is unaware of her. Nevertheless, her devotion to the Faceless Lord grants her disgusting powers with which she terrorizes the land, causing chaos and woe for its own sake, in the name of the demon she reveres.
Pazuzu, Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms - 1st Layer
Of all the dark and dreadful demonic rulers of the Abyss, perhaps none pose as dire a threat to the Material Plane as Pazuzu. Whereas the other demon princes are embroiled in constant warfare (either with each other over rulership of Abyssal realms or with the infernal denizens of the Nine Hells in the endless Blood War), Pazuzu prefers to spend his time in the skies above these bloody, endless conflicts. While others are bound to their domains, as often as not prisoners of the very realms they claim to rule, unable to visit the Material Plane without first being summoned by powerful spellcasters, Pazuzu can (and often does) travel there on a whim. Pazuzu, more than any other demonic lord, takes a keen interest in the affairs of mortals, and takes a keen in interest in tempting them from what they know to be honest and true. In return for questionable gifts and doubtful rewards, Pazuzu seeks nothing less than the corruption of all that lives and breathes, one broken vow or shattered moral at a time. Pazuzu takes great delight in tempting and corrupting mortals to chaos or evil. If a creature utters the name "Pazuzu" three times in succession, an unholy link between the speaker and Pazuzu is immediately established. Pazuzu never provides aid to chaotic evil creatures and often punishes them for calling upon his aid rather than using the tools he has likely already granted the creature in question. He particularly enjoys providing aid to paladins and takes pains to ensure that the first time he helps a paladin no evil comes as a result of his assistance, hoping to encourage the paladin to call on him again. If a creature calls upon Pazuzu too often or if the creature calls upon the demon prince to save him from a doom brought about through incompetence, Pazuzu is more likely to punish the supplicant for his hubris or failure than he is to provide assistance. Although Pazuzu can use his planewalking spell-like ability to travel anywhere in the multiverse, he often doesn't have the time or interest to handle all of his affairs personally. In these cases, he entrusts the work to an aspect, a physical embodiment of a small portion of his life force. Pazuzu's aspect looks identical to his true form, although its presence is much less overwhelming. Pazuzu's symbol is a gnarled raptor's talon, often one bejeweled with rubies or glittering with gold. This talon is always shown clutching an eye of some sort. Its claws just barely piercing the surface of the eye.
Goals: The Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms is an enigma amongst the Abyssal powers, for he alone of their scheming ranks seems content to let the other demonic rulers go about their business. While the other demon lords regard Pazuzu with suspicion at best, few take the time to oppose his actions, for they are concerned with more antagonistic enemies. This is as Pazuzu wishes, for he views all of the skies above the tortured Abyssal layers to be his own, and to date, no demon lord of significant power has seen fit to challenge his claim. Whether or not this is due to fear or due to a perception that the skies above are empty and without value is unclear. Pazuzu is not without ambitions. His desires are innocence, purity, and honesty. To him, these are sweet nectars and intoxicating liquors fine enough to harvest personally. Pazuzu seeks out the noble paladin, the laughing child, and the toiling honest peasant; they are his vineyard. He takes from them what makes them strong, and what he excretes back into their hollow shells is bitter, cruel, and wicked. The very act of corruption of the spirit and the slaughter of virtue is Pazuzu's finest addiction, and he has had eons to perfect the methods of cultivation. Often the temptations he offers mortals spread out over generations and he watches silently from above as families slowly succumb. What might have seemed an idle evil to a hard-working cobbler is the seed, and his children and grandchildren are the fertile soil in which Pazuzu's wickedness grows.
The Cult of Pazuzu: Pazuzu’s cults are commonly made up of humanoids, most often humans, since they typically form the most numerous and powerful societies on the Material Plane. He generally has no interest in the various savage humanoids like goblins, ores, and kobolds, for he finds their manners too coarse and takes no pleasure in corrupting societies that are already filled with evil and debauchery. The major exception to this are the kehku. Pazuzu's cults generally follow the same path from creation to destruction. Unlike most demon princes, Pazuzu usually takes an active role in a cult's early formation. Each Pazuzu cult starts with the same seed, a desperate plea for aid by someone who has learned Pazuzu's name (possibly through an ancient text). Often*these pleas are born of true and honest need: a sickly farmer in need of a good harvest or a desperate warrior faced with insurmountable odds in the defense of his homeland. These people aren't evil. Their greatest sin is perhaps foolishness. When they call upon Pazuzu he usually grants their desires without attempting to pervert the results or twist the meaning of the request; he honors the spirit of the request, not its letter. His methods are far more insidious. He only asks that his name not be repeated to others, assuring the mortal that his gifts are for him and him alone. Many of his cultists don't know his identity, while others worship him under similar names, like Pazrael or Ghiaunder. Before long, the original mortal realizes that he wants more of Pazuzu's power and when he calls upon him again the results are a little more twisted a little more dark. Before long, the mortal has become a minion, and his neighbors, friends, and family have flocked to his side. His cult has formed. As the cult grows, Pazuzu's gifts grow more and more dark and sinister. Eventually, when Paruzu judges his cultists have come to depend on him for success rather than themselves, he reveals himself in his true might and horror. Those cultists who try to repent or flee he commands the faithful to capture and bind. Pazuzu then demands sacrifice. Once a cult has committed its first sacrifices, Pazuzu leaves it to its own devices, seeking new prospects elsewhere. He rarely (if ever) answers that cult’s pleas again. Pazuzu cultists understand that once they have been accepted into the Lower Aerial Kingdoms, they are expected to serve Pazuzu, not to be served. Out of a warped sense of loyalty and commitment, most of these cultists spend the rest of their lives striving to please their master, converting new members and sacrificing their enemies until finally, inevitably, they are sought out and destroyed by the forces of law and good.