Each type of demon, and especially the high-level demon lords and
princes, have many unusual characteristics and extraordinary abilities.
Characteristics & abilities whic are common to all demons are
covered here. Further info can be found in MONSTER
MANUAL I under "Demon.".
See the individual treatment of each demon for specific info.
Demons are able to move from their own plane to that of Tarterus, Hades,
or Pandemonium or roam the astral plane.
However, they cannot <> <> enter the Prime Material Plane without
aid (conjuration, gate, name speaking or similar means). <>
Demons are chaotic and evil, the smarter and stronger rule those of
their
kind who are weaker and less intelligent. The less intelligent will
attack
without question and fight until slain. No demon can ever be subdued.
All are able to divide their attacks amongst 2 or even 3 opponents
if their
means allow.
Demons will never willingly serve anyone or anything. If forced to serve
through magic or threat they will continually seek a way to slay their
<>
master/captor. Those to whom demons show a liking are typically
carried off to the demon's plane to become a slave (although a favored
<>
one). Note that demons can be summoned by characters of any alignment,
<>
but controlling a demon is another matter entirely. A thaumaturgic
circle <>
will serve to keep out lesser demons. A special pentacle is <>
required for greater demons. The threat or reward which the conjuring
party uses to attempt gaining a demon's service must be carefully
handled by the DM. Demons are repelled by holy (Good)
relics or artifacts. <>
Demons frequently roam the Astral & Ethereal Planes. Their attention
<>
is attracted by persons in an ethereal state. If the name of a particularly
powerful demon is spoken there is a chance that he will hear and turn
his attention to the speaker. A base 5% chance is recommended. Unless
prepared to avoid such attention or to control the demon, the character
should know that the demon will thereupon immediately kill, by whatever
means are most expeditious, the one pronouncing his name.
Demons are affected by these attack forms:
acid, full;
cold, half;
electricity (lightning), half;
fire (dragon, magical), half;
gas (poisonous, etc.), half;
iron weapon, full;
magic missile, full;
poison, full;
silver weapon, none unless affected by
normal weapons in whcih case damage will be according to the weapon type.
Because they have a special form of telepathy, demons are able to understand
every intelligent communication.
Demons with average or better intelligence are likewise able to converse.
<links!>
Enumeration of the Rulers of the Abyss
| Abraxas | Ahazu (L) | Ahrimanes | Aldinach (F) (L) | Alrunes (F) (L) |
| Anarazel | Ansitif | Ardat (F) (L) | Areex | Aseroth |
| Asima (L) | Astaroth | Azael (L) | Azazel | Barbu (F) (L) |
| Bayemon (L) | Bechard (L) | Baltazo | Baphomet | Cabiri (L) |
| Charun (L) | Dagon | Demogorgon | Eblis | Ereshkigal |
| Fraz-Urb'luu | Graz'zt | Gresil (L) | Juiblex | Kostchtchie (L) |
| Laraie (L) | Lolth (F) | Mastiphal | Munkir | Nekir (L) |
| Nergel (L) | Nocticula (F) | Obox-ob | Orcus | Pazuzu (L) |
| Socothbenoth | Soneillon (F) (L) | Verin (L) | Yeenoghu | Zuggtmoy (F) |
<(There is a 5% chance that the heart of a demon with 81 or more HP is a Nanorion stone)>
Typical Inhabitants of an Abyssal Layer
| Alu-demon - rare | Achaierai - common | Babau - uncommon | Bar-Lgura - uncommon | Cambion - very rare |
| Chasme - common | Daemon - rare (see "Hades") | Demodand - very rare | Demon Lord/Prince - very, very rare | Dretch - common |
| Glabrezu (Type III) - uncommon | Ghast - uncommon | Ghoul - rare | Goristroi - very rare | Hezrou (Type II) - common |
| Manes - common | Mephit - common | Nabassu - rare | Nightmare - very rare | Quasit - common |
| Rutterkin - common | Succubus - rare | Thunder Beast - common | Type IV - uncommon | Type V - rare |
| Type VI - very rare | Vrock (Type I) - common | - | - | - |
ABRAXAS
dragon's tail = see Best of Dragon III
whip in his hand = whip specialist?
flail = flail, horseman's (he doesn't have feet!)
types of the Agathodaimon = see agathodaimon for ideas
scorpions = remember Poison article in 81 (although he's unique, poison
could still be harvested : this poison would be mythical, in a way, akin
to the head of the medusa)
"He usually shows himself as a fat-bellied character with the head
of a king, a dragon's tail, and serpents instead of legs. He also carries
a whip in his hand. He is often featured with the head of a cock. Express
the unspeakable name of the Supreme Being and to symbolize its solar power
for the sun is his element; he is the ruler of all the 365 heavens (Basilides
of Egypt). Abrasax represented the 365 Aeons or emanations from the First
Cause, and as a Pantheus, i.e. All-God, he appears on the amulets with
the head of a cock (Phoebus) or of a lion (Ra or Mithras), the body of
a man, and his legs are serpents which terminate in scorpions, types of
the Agathodaimon. In his right hand he grasps a club, or a flail, and in
his left is a round or oval shield”.
- reference
ASTAROTH
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-12
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 12"
HIT DICE: 8
% IN LAIR: 30%
TREASURE TYPE: [C]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-16
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Regeneration
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE:
ALIGNMENT:
SIZE:
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE:
AZAEL (The Watcher)
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-12
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 12"
HIT DICE: 8
% IN LAIR: 30%
TREASURE TYPE: [C]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-16
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Regeneration
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE:
ALIGNMENT:
SIZE:
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE:
"Also known as AZAZIL, AZAEL or AZAZELLO, he has 7 snake heads, 14
faces and 12 wings; chief of the Se'irim, or goat-demons; the standard-bearer
for the infernal host; the leader of the fallen seraphim angel in Enoch.
He has origin as a Canaanite god, 'Asiz. On the Jewish Day of Atonement,
the priest 'place lots upon the two goats, one marked for the Lord and
the other marked for Azazel'.The goat designated by lot for the Lord is
to be used as a sin offering, while the goat designated for Azazel "shall
be left standing alive before the Lord, to make expiation with it and to
send it off to the wilderness for Azazel." Because of this ritual, Azazel
is known as the "scapegoat." When he came on Earth as a Watcher, Azazel
taught the art of warfare, and the making of swords and shields. He also
taught his wives how to use cosmetics, 'the art of deception by ornamenting
their bodies,' and revealed the secrets of witchcraft. He was defeated
by Raphaël and burried until the Judgment Day."
- reference
DAGON
:
<dagon : use for DDG?>
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-12
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 12"
HIT DICE: 8
% IN LAIR: 30%
TREASURE TYPE: [C]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-16
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Regeneration
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE:
ALIGNMENT:
SIZE:
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE:
<Eblis>
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-12
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 12"
HIT DICE: 8
% IN LAIR: 30%
TREASURE TYPE: [C]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-16
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Regeneration
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE:
ALIGNMENT:
SIZE:
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE:
Obox-ob
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-12
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 12"
HIT DICE: 8
% IN LAIR: 30%
TREASURE TYPE: [C]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-16
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Regeneration
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE:
ALIGNMENT:
SIZE:
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE:
Quote:
Originally posted by
Hadit
Hey Gary,
Have you had a chance to
see a publication called Demonographia, by Trident Books?
It is a complete collection
of illustrations of demons as decribed in J.A.S. Collin de Plancy's Dictionnaire
Infernal (along with descriptive text).
Its a very classy book and
quite useful for GM inspiration in regards to infernal adventures!
In case you are intrigued, Trident Books address is: P.O. Box 85811, Seattle, WA, 98105.
Take care, Duglas
Thanks Hadit 
That sounds like an excellent
work for the reference library of all GMs and writers in the fantasy genre.
I'll put it on my wish list!
Does Trident have a website?
I was wondering what the
price tag is...
Cheers,
Gasr
Quote:
Originally posted by
Hadit
They do... http://www.tridentbooks.us/
I confess that I've suggested
a book to you that appears to be out-of-print now (having just perused
the website myself)... I apologize.
(My copy was a gift from
a book publishing friend.)
There is a copy available on Ebay for around $120 the last I checked. (Yikes!)
Nevertheless, when reading
the Demonographia I was struck by the similarites between the demon descriptions
within and some of the descriptions of AD&D demons and devils.
Was the Dictionnaire Infernal
an inspiration for you when writing that part of the Monster Manual?
Take care, Duglas
Whoa!
Not likely I'll part with over $100 for the book.
The demon descriptions found
in the AD&D works I did are strictly
from my own imagination, and I have never seen Demonographia.
Must be parallel creative
description-illustrative rendering of the same envisaged looks.
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by khyron1144
Hi Gary,
I apologize, if this has
been asked before, but were any of the unique monsters in the orginal Monster
Manual 2 intended to be lesser deities as the Deities and Demigods cyclopedia
says the Archdevils and Demon Princes and Princes of Elemental Evil are?
In my campaign, I've always gone with the assumption that any unique monster from one of the 1e hardbacks that's tagged with the label Archdevil or Demon Prince is a lesser deity, as are the Princes of Elemental Evil, The Cat Lord, Anthraxus, and Primus.
Thanks.
Based on our world's actual
mythology, such evil entities can be a lot more than lesser deities. Using
the criteria mentioned, some are greater ones on a par with the benign
deities.
Cheers,
Gary