Page 52 - D&D Bestiary

manages to dro19 a demon in <wmbat, the fiend dissolves emerges from its container, it can possess a m0rtal host.
into fori ichor. It then instantly reforms in the Abyss, its Sometimes a fiend employs stealth to hide a successful '.
mind and essence intact even as its hatred is inflamed. possession. Other times, it unleashes the full bttmt of its
The only way to truly destroy a demon is to seek it in the fiendish drives through its new form.
Abyss and kill it there. As long as the demon remains in possession of its
Protected Essence. A powerful demon can take steps host, the soul of that host is in danger of being d~agged
to safeguard its life essence, using secret methods and to the Abyss with the demon if it is exorcised from the
abyssal metals to create an amulet into which part of flesh, or if the host dies. If a demon possesses a qeature.
that essence is ceded. If the demon's abyssal form is and the object binding the demon is destroyed, the ~.
ever destroyed, the amulet allows the fiend to reform at possession lasts until powerful magic is used to drive
a time and place of its choosing. the demonic spirit out of its host.
Obtaining a demonic amulet is a dangerous
enterprise, and simply seeking such a device risks DEMON LORDS
drawing the attention of the demon that created it. A The chaotic power of the Abyss rewards demon~ 0f
creature possessing a demonic amulet can exact favors
particular ruthlessness and ingenuity with a dark .
from the demon whose life essence the amulet holds-
blessing, transforming them into unique fiends whose
or inflict great pain if the fiend resists. If an amulet is
power can rival the gods. These demon lords rule
destroyed, the demon that created it is trapped in the
through cunning or brute force, hopipg to one day claim
Abyss for a year and a day.
the prize of absolute control over all the Abyss.
Demonic Cults. Despite the dark risks involved in
Reward for Outsiders. Although most demon
dealing with fiends, the mortal realm is filled with
lords rise up from the vast and uncountable mobs of
creatures that covet demonic power. Demon lords
demons rampaging across the Abyss, the plane also
manipulate these mortal servants into performing ever
rewards outsiders that conquer any of its infinite layers.
greater acts of depravity, furthering the demon lord's
The elven goddess Lolth became a demon lord after
ambitions in exchange for magic and other boons.
Corellon Larethian cast her into the Abyss for betraying
However, a demon r~gards any mortals in its service as
elvenkind. Sages claim that the Dark Prince Graz'zt
tools td use and then discard at its whim, consigning originated on some other plane before stealing his
their mortal souls to the Abyss. abyssal title from another long-forgotten demon lord.
Demon Summoning. Few acts are as dangerous as Power and Control. The greatest sign of a demon
summoning a demon, and even mages who bargain lord's power is its ability to reshape an abyssal realm. A
freely with devils fear the fiends of the Abyss. Though layer of the Abyss controlled by a demon lord becomes
demons ,yearn to sow chaos on the Material Plane, they a twisted reflection of that fiend's vile personality,
show no gratitude when brought there, raging against
and demon lords seldom leave their realms for fear of
their prisons and demanding release. allowing another creature to reshape and seize it.
Those who would risk summoning a demon might As with other demons, a demon lord that dies on
do so to wrest information from it, press it into service, another plane has its essence return to the Abyss, where
or send it on a mission that only a creature of absolute
it reforms into a new body. Likewise, a demon lord that
evil can complete. Preparation is key, and experienced
dies in the Abyss is permanently destroyed. Most demon
summoners know the specific spells and magic items
lords keep a portion of their essence safely stored away
that can force a demon to bend to another's will. If a
to prevent such a fate.
single mistake is made, a demon that breaks free shows
no mercy as it makes its summoner the first victim BAPHOMET
of its wrath. The demon lord Baphomet, also known as the Horned
Bound Demons. The Book of Vile Darkness, the King and the Prince of Beasts, rules over minotaurs and
Black Scrolls of Ahm, and the Demonomicon of Jggwilv other savage creatures. If he had his way, civilization
are the foremost authorities on demonic matters. These would crumble and all races would embrace their base
ancient tomes describe techniques that can trap the animal savagery.
essence of a demon on the Material Plane, placing it The Prince of Beasts appears as a huge, black-furred
within a weapon, idol, or piece of jewelry and preventing minotaur with iron horns, red eyes, and a blood-soaked
the fiend's return to the Abyss. mouth. His iron crown is topped with the rotting heads
An object that binds a demon must be specially of his enemies, while his dark armor is set with spikes
prepared with unholy incantations and innocent blood. and skull-like serrations. He carries a huge glaive
It radiates a palpable evil, chilling and fouling the named Heartcleaver, but often hurls it into the fray so as
air around it. A creature that handles such an object to face his enemies with horns and hooves.
experiences unsettling dreams and wicked impulses,
but is able to control the demon whose essence is DEMO GORGON
trapped within the object. Destroying the object The Sibilant Beast and the self-styled Prince of
frees the demon, which immediately seeks revenge Demons, Demogorgon yearns for nothing less than
against its binder. undoing the order of the multiverse. An insane
Dem"onic Possession. No matter how secure its assemblage of features and drives, the Prince of
bindings, a powerful demon often finds a way to escape Demons inspires fear and hatred among other demons
an object that holds it. When a demonic essence and demon lords.

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