Orcus (Dungeons & Dragons)

Orcus is the fictional demon prince, and lord of the undead in many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. He is named after Orcus of Roman mythology. His symbol is a mace with a human skull as the head. Orcus is one of the most detailed demon lords of the Dungeons and Dragons game and one of a small handful to be detailed in every edition of the game. Orcus was also named as one of the greatest villains in D&D history by the final print issue of Dragon.

Publication history

Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)

Orcus was first presented in the Eldritch Wizardry supplement in 1976, by Gary Gygax and Brian Blume, for the original (white box) Dungeons & Dragons game. Although the book states that there are several such demon Princes, only Orcus and Demogorgon are detailed, "two of the greatest of these exceptional demon lords". Game statistics for Orcus appear on page 27, while a description of Orcus appears on page 35 with an accompanying illustration, and a description for his Wand of Orcus appears on page 42 under the section for artifacts.

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)

Orcus (Prince of the Undead) was given coverage in the original 1977 Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual, by Gary Gygax. First edition AD&D game statistics and a description for Orcus appeared in pages 17-18 under the "demon" section, with an illustration of Orcus on page 17 and an illustration of the Wand of Orcus on page 18. The Wand of Orcus was detailed on page 162 of the 1979 Dungeon Masters Guide, also by Gygax, in the section on treasure (artifacts and relics).

Orcus was a central antagonist for the H1-4 "Bloodstone" series of adventures, by Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson. His involvement was only hinted at in H1 Bloodstone Pass (1985) through the activities of his high priest. In H2 The Mines of Bloodstone (1986), minions of Orcus are involved in a number of activities and plots, and the authors hint on page 7 that "Orcus has special reasons for being interested in Bloodstone Pass", promising that more will be revealed in module H3. On page 21, it is revealed that evil duergar have built a temple to Orcus underground, involving a series of planar gates through which he could one day enter the mortal world; the temple and its inhabitants are described on pages 33-42. The Mines of Bloodstone features an illustration of a representation of Orcus (the head of a horned goat) on page 6, and a pull-out map of the temple of Orcus is featured on pages 23 and 26. H3 The Bloodstone Wars (1987) reveals more details, including the fact that the Witch-King of Vaasa is possessed by Orcus. In the next module the adventurers must defeat the Witch-King in his own castle, and the series then ends in a final confrontation with Orcus in H4 The Throne of Bloodstone (1988).

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)

Orcus was considered to be dead during much of the 2nd edition run. The Planes of Chaos boxed set went out of its way to avoid mentioning him by name, as his murderer, the goddess Kiaransalee, was said within the setting of the Dungeons & Dragons game to have magically struck his name from all records. Orcus was mentioned by name in the in-game historical timeline in Hellbound: The Blood War. Orcus was the secret villain behind the mega adventure The Great Modron March, and his return from the dead was the central theme of the Dead Gods mega adventure (1997). The supplement Demihuman Deities (1998) mentioned that Orcus was "currently" dead.

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)

As of 3rd Edition, Orcus made his first appearance in Dungeon #89 in the adventure "Headless" (November 2001), and later in the Book of Vile Darkness (2002). Orcus' reappearance in the rules was even used as a selling point for the book (among others) and his image was featured in the online art gallery previews.

Orcus's aspect was detailed in the Miniatures Handbook (2003).

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)

Orcus was one of the deities featured in Libris Mortis (2004). He also played a small role in the Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic (2006).

He was also featured again in the Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (2006). He made an appearance in the climax of the "Savage Tide" adventure path in Dungeon #149 (August 2007).

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

Orcus is the only demon lord detailed in the 4th edition Monster Manual (2008), and he also appears on the cover. "Orcus" was the code word for the 4th Edition.

Description

Orcus is first described in Eldritch Wizardry as a "grossly fat demon lord" covered in goat-like hair, 15 feet tall, with a goat-like head and legs, and the horns of a ram rather than those of a goat. His arms are human, but "Vast bat wings sprout from his back, and his long, snaky tail is tipped with a poisonous head". The book also notes that he is extremely intelligent, and mentions a number of magical abilities that he can use, such as being able to summon certain types of undead - "for he is their Prince". Orcus, like other types of demons introduced in Eldritch Wizardy, had the ability to use psionic abilities.

The first edition Monster Manual adds to the description for Orcus, giving him the title "Prince of the Undead". This book also suggests that is probable that Orcus "is one of the most powerful and strongest of all demons."

His description often refers to him appearing as an archetypical demon, in fact, his description in Book of Vile Darkness notes that, "when commoners think of demons, they most likely think of some terrible picture of Orcus that they once saw somewhere."

Orcus cares for nothing save himself — not even for his devotees and undead servants — and focuses only on spreading misery and evil. One of his most identifiable symbols is his powerful artifact, the Wand of Orcus, a skull-topped wand with the power to slay any living being. In earlier editions of the game, Orcus also wielded a powerful artifact known as the Orcusword.

History

Orcus is a very old demon. Like many of the most powerful demon lords who struggle for power in the Abyss, Orcus started his existence as a mortal on the Prime Plane. He was apparently a wicked spellcaster of some sort, most probably a priest to some dark deity. After his death, his soul, like the souls of all chaotic evil mortals, went to the Abyss and Orcus began his afterlife as a lowly larva.

Orcus proceeded to climb through the demonic ranks in the next several thousand years, going from larva to mane, then on to dretch, rutterkin, vrock, glabrezu, nalfeshnee, and eventually a balor. From there, he ascended to the rank of demon lord, becoming the Prince of the Undead and ruling the layer of Thanatos, the Belly of Death. Even though there are other demon lords aspiring to the title of "Prince of the Undead", Orcus' claim to the title has gone unchallenged for the most part. Ever hungry for more power, Orcus wanted to be recognized as "Prince of Demons", a title held by Demogorgon and coveted also by Graz'zt. As a result, he became the arch-enemy of both demon lords. In time, Orcus also achieved true godhood.

However, shortly after his divine ascension, Orcus was slain by the drow demi-goddess Kiaransalee, who took over rulership of Orcus' layer of the Abyss and locked his wand away in the last layer of Pandemonium. Kiaransalee decreed that Orcus's name be erased from all existence.

A peculiar combination of events thwarted Kiaransalee's plans. Acererak's tampering with the nature of the Negative Energy Plane, the last prayers of Quah-Nomag, and the unexpected awakening of some of the sleepers of the demiplane of Moil combined to cause the spirit of Orcus to be reanimated as an undead god. Renaming himself Tenebrous in order to help obscure himself from his enemies, he traveled to ruins buried in the sands of Pelion. There, he discovered the Last Word, an utterance so powerful that it can destroy deities. The Last Word will also eventually kill those who know it unless the being is a true deity. Thus, to restore his lost divinity, Tenebrous went in search of his wand. During his search, Tenebrous killed several gods and other powerful entities, including Bwimb, Primus, and Maanzecorian. Tenebrous's efforts were stymied by a group of adventurers and he was again destroyed, this time by the power of the Last Word. A cabal of greater deities, in response to Tenebrous's predations, has since weakened the Last Word considerably.

Orcus was resurrected by Quah-Nomag, one of his foremost high priests and thralls, in a blasphemous ritual enacted in the Astral Plane. Orcus then reclaimed his kingdom and his original name, re-proclaiming himself "Prince of the Undead". However, as a result of his second death and resurrection, Orcus has lost his divinity and the ability to use the Last Word, and is a demon lord once more.

Orcus's divinity now exists as a vestige, also named Tenebrous: The Shadow That Was, and can be called upon by binders.

Realm

The first edition Monster Manual II described the realms of Orcus: "Orcus' manifold layers are populated with skeletal monsters, various sorts of zombies, huecuvae, shadows, sheet phantoms, vampires, and death knights." The first edition Manual of the Planes describes the layer of the Abyss ruled by Orcus: "The dwelling of Orcus is a great palace made of bones, rising out of ground bone meal. His guards and servants are undead. From his empty halls Orcus rules many layers and is said to have conquered a number of Prime Material planes."

In The Throne of Bloodstone, his realm is given as the 333rd layer of the Abyss.

Orcus's realm is Thanatos, the 113th layer of the Abyss (although in H4: The Throne of Bloodstone, it is numbered 333rd). It is a frigid and frozen layer infested with the undead. Several cities dotted the layer, (most of whom are ruled by minions of Orcus, including a powerful succubus and Quah-Nomag himself). The Prince of the Undead rules from his palace of Everlost in the Bone Meal Desert north of a vast mountain chain (called the Final Hills) that cut across the layer. Despite Orcus regaining control over Thanatos, Kiaransalee's taint can still be found in the city of Naratyr on the Frozen Sea south of the layer, and in the so-called Forbidden Citadel in the city of Lachrymosa, located in the Final Hills.

Orcus also keeps a fortress, named Tchian-Sumere, on the Negative Energy Plane.

Cult of Orcus

The "Leomund's Tiny Hut" feature by Lenard Lakofka in Dragon #76 (August 1983) features a character class called the death master. The article describes on page 17 how a death master will eventually become a demon-worshipper, who ultimately worships Orcus. A high level death master who is killed on the feast day of Orcus ("sometimes called Halloween", according to the article) becomes an undead creature under the direction of Orcus. Some death masters even commit suicide on that date so that they may better serve Orcus, and he sometimes notices this action and will animate the death master with all the character's powers intact.

Unlike many of the other demon lords of the Abyss, Orcus has a widespread cult on the Material Plane. The cult of Orcus is mainly composed of twisted creatures with a morbid fascination with the undead, such as necromancers, as well as creatures deliberately seeking the path to undeath, such as would-be liches and vampires. They often wear macabre costumes decorated with bones and skulls; blood and skulls feature prominently in imagery devoted to him.

Orcus has a chance of hearing his name whenever and wherever spoken, and of reacting by manifesting to the speaker in an irritated mood. Unscrupulous merchants in various parts of the D&D multiverse have used this by selling parrots trained to speak only innocuous phrases until a predetermined time, when they scream Orcus's name non-stop. This draws the demon's attention and usually results in the deaths of all present, allowing their equipment to be looted by the merchant's associates.

Dogma

Promise your soul to Orcus, eat of his flesh and drink of his blood, and through him you will gain life everlasting. Mercy is a luxury that none are worthy of; suffering and torment are the fuel that will empower Orcus' ascent. The worshippers of Orcus will overwhelm the world in a tide of undeath and even the gods will perish.

Clergy

Clerics of Orcus are in charge of promoting necromancy, pain, torture, undeath, and the destruction of all that is good. They pray for spells at midnight. Their colors are red and black, although bone white is often used as decoration. Most of his faithful are called Skulls, while more powerful members are called Skull Lords. Particularly powerful Skull Lords may gain yet more prestige by traveling to Thanatos and gaining control over one of the numerous roving hordes of undead, becoming a Skull King or Skull Queen.

Rituals

The vilest ritual in Orcus's already vile faith is the Unhallowing. This ceremony has no set date, but involves sacrificing a paladin to Orcus and creating a self-loathing undead creature from the remains.

Holy Days

The holy days of Orcus are the nights of the new moons and Sunsebb 28, the last day of the year. When a moon is at its darkest, worshipers of Orcus are required to either create an undead creature or to bring a corpse to other Orcus cultists so that an undead creature can be made.

Wand of Orcus

The Wand of Orcus is first presented in Eldritch Wizardry, where it is also called "the wand of death" or "Orcus's Wand", and is described as "a rod of obsidian topped by a skull. This instrument causes death (or annihilation) to any creature" by touching it to their flesh, except for creatures of like status to Orcus himself.

The first edition Dungeon Masters Guide adds that while this "ghastly weapon" is the property of Orcus, "at timees it is said that he will allow his Wand to pass into the Prime Material Plane in order to wreak chaos and evil upon all living things there."

The Wand is highly coveted across the planes, and Orcus sometimes lets it fall into the hands of mortals in order to allow them to wreak chaos and evil. Inevitably the demon lord soon (typically after only a year or so) reclaims his wand and usually the soul of the mortal who wielded it as well.

The Wand of Orcus is currently thought to be in the possession of a cult called the "Lurkers In Shadow."

The Orcusword

The Orcusword was Orcus's personal weapon when he was still a balor. It is currently held in Tchian-Sumere, Orcus's fortress on the Negative Energy Plane.

Relationships

Enemies

The first edition Monster Manual suggests that rivalry between demon lords is great, "but the enmity between Demogorgon and Orcus is immense and unending". The first edition Monster Manual II reveals that the demon lord Graz'zt is a dedicated foe of both Demogorgon and Orcus.

The article "Setting Saintly Standards" by Scott Bennie in Dragon #79 (November 1983) mentions on page 29 that Saint Bane the Scourger attacked and nearly slew Orcus on his home plane; for his valor, Bane was rewarded with sainthood.

In the adventure The Throne of Bloodstone, Bahamut sends Saint Sollars the Twice-Martyred, patron saint of Bloodstone Pass, to ask the players to steal the Wand of Orcus and deliver it to Bahamut on Mercuria in the Seven Heavens.

In The Throne of Bloodstone, the player characters have the opportunity to search the Abyss for allies to help them against Orcus. According to the module, Demogorgon and Orcus have been at war "for thousands of centuries", and it is possible that if Demogorgon hears about the player characters' mission to stop Orcus, he will want to help them. Baphomet, the demon ruler of minotaurs, has been captured by Orcus and is held in the dungeons of Orcus; the minotaurs of Baphomet are willing to accompany the player characters to help free their lord. Graz'zt offers to assign the characters several Type VI demons as soldiers if the characters explain their crusade against Orcus, and will also send his army into the layer of Orcus after the characters successfully capture his wand.

Servants

• Hacamuli, one of the messengers of Orcus, is described with first edition AD&D game statistics in the article "Demons, Devils, and Spirits" by Tom Moldvay, on page 8 of Dragon #42 (October 1980). The article describes this creature: "He appears as a pale, gaunt horse with hazy black eyes. Flies crawl over his mangy, sore-infested body." When Hacamuli gazes into a creature's eyes, he drains the life from the victim. Hacamuli can also rear up on his hind legs and strike with his hooves; the right hoof disintegrates a target's armor and cause a target to age rapidly, while a hit from the left hoof causes disease.

• Khuul the witch-ghoul was mentioned in the article "Setting Saintly Standards" by Scott Bennie in Dragon #79 (November 1983) on page 29. Khuul was one of Orcus's greatest servants, but was slain by Saint Bane the Scourger.

• Banak, an evil cleric, high priest and devoted minion of Orcus, appears in the adventure module Bloodstone Pass as an opponent for the player characters. He wears a glowing skull-shaped amulet on his chest, which summons undead from their graves when used in a graveyard at midnight, and creates a magical screen of protection flames around him which makes him completely invulnerable to all magical, mental, and physical attacks. Game statistics for Banak appear on page 3 of the roster book included in the module. Banak is revealed in the next module, The Mines of Bloodstone, as haing been killed during the Bloodstone War. In the same adventure, the ghost of Banak may appear and attack the characters while they are in a centaur village.

• Zhengyi, the Witch-King of Vaasa, appears as an adversary to the player characters in the adventure module The Throne of Bloodstone. He is identifed as a minion of Orcus, and that he has an army which consits largely of undead, and the Baron of Bloodstone seeks adventurers to enter Zhengyi's castle to learn its secrets and the role of Orcus. He formed the Kingdom of Vaasa, and in a single night built his evil castle atop a lonely crag. his armies invaded the Kingdom of Damara, and the two kingdoms fought for 10 years before the Witch-King finally won. The Witch-King is a lich with the powers of a wizard. The Citadel of the Witch-King is described on pages 12-29, and game statistics for Zhengyi appear on page 19-20. Zhengyi has been dead for nearly four centuries at the time of the events depicted in the module, formerly one of the wizards of Thay and has been a devotee of Orcus throughtout his death. Zhengyi's servants the white dragon Arctigis (statistics on page 15) and type VI demon Klavikus (statistics on page 23-25, with an illustration on page 24) also appear as opponents for the player characters.

The following beings are some of Orcus's most infamous servants:

• Acererak. The infamous lich Acererak was once a servant of Orcus, long ago.
• Elder Arantham, a huecuva priest, formerly devoted to Bahamut, who seeks to transform Orcus once again into a true god.
• Bleeding Setch, a cambion, was once a proxy of Orcus. He went into hiding after Orcus's demise, but it is not clear whether or not he has returned to the service of the Prince of Undeath.
• Eldanoth, a former vassal of Orcus who abandoned Thanatos when the wards keeping him enslaved to the Prince of Undeath were broken by the demon lord's death. He now dwells on the 359th layer of the Abyss, seeking to become a god of hate and crime.
• Eldrua, a derro savant who sought to build a device that would siphon thousands of souls to her master in the Abyss.
• Glyphimhor is a balor who serves Orcus faultlessly and enjoys slaying Kiaransalee's faithful.
• Harthoon is a powerful lich sorcerer from the material plane. He is Orcus's vizier and a master embalmer.
• Kauvra is a deadly half-orc vampire known for her rages. She is Orcus's personal enforcer.
• Khavra Akti, a grey elven wizard who hopes to aid Orcus in annexing the world of the dead to his Abyssal realm.
• Kierno Varim, a tiefling warlock known as the "mad animator," who believes that if the undead ever outnumber the dead, reality will rearrange itself so that undeath is the natural order.
• The King of Ghouls, who served Orcus before his layer was conquered by Yeenoghu.
• Mauglurien, a dwarven death knight rival of Elder Arantham. Mauglurien hopes to elevate Orcus by slaying an existing goddess of death and reanimating her as an undead thrall. Mauglurien leads a mercenary company called the Ebon Riders.
• Quah-Nomag is a half-ogre Skull King who was pivotal in Lord Orcus's return. He now inhabits Lash Embrar, having been stationed there after Orcus tired of his pretentions.
• Shonvurru, an undead marilith who seeks to alter reality by studying or controlling Elder Evils from the dawn of time.
• Sithas Tyrr, a "paladin" of Orcus who seeks to change the world by controlling something that even the gods fear.
• Xerivar, a bloody animated corpse with three quasits continually tearing at his flesh.

Other versions

• Orcus was one of two demon rulers (along with Demogorgon) described in the Dungeons & Dragons Immortals Rules set (1986) by Frank Mentzer, in the "DM's Guide to Immortals" booklet on pages 33-34, with accompanying charts on pages 35-36. Orcus and Demogorgon are said to command all the other demons described in the book, although they are but two of the many Eternals of the Sphere of Entropy. Orcus (also called The Goat, Master of the Dead, Lord of Darkness, and The Black Prince) commands all mortals of the Sphere of Entropy, which includes undead monsters, and he also commands a small body of loyal Immortals. The book notes that Demogorgon can even command Orcus, although he requires great and sufficient cause to do so. In this version, Orcus attacks with any convenient weapons, wielding one in each hand.

• Orcus was detailed as one of the gods for the Ghostwalk campaign setting (2003).

Other publishers have also used Orcus as either an antagonist or as a deity in their own publications.

• Orcus was also featured in the 2002 book Tome of Horrors (an ENnie award winning) by Necromancer Games, who have also featured Orcus in many of their own products. Necromancer Games also uses Orcus as their company mascot and logo.

• Orcus is briefly mentioned as the “Prince of Undead” in the Book of Fiends II by Green Ronin Publishing.

• Goblinoid Games in their Classic Fantasy Review, dedicated to the D&D spin off system OSRIC, introduces a cult of Orcus in their second publication.

Other media

Orcus's aspect appears in the D&D Miniatures: Archfiends set #47, released in 2004.

In 2010, Wizards of the Coast also released a full sized gargantuan figure of Orcus as part of their Icons line.

In other games

The Demon Prince Orcus in the NetHack computer game is based on the Dungeons and Dragons Orcus, (see Orcus (mythology)).

Further reading

• Larme, John. Dangerous Games? Censorship and "Child Protection" [1] (2000).

• Marmell, Ari. "The Ashen Covenant." Dragon #364. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2008. Available online:[2]

• O'Connor, Shane. History of Orcus. Necromancer Games.

• Vaughan, Greg A. "Prince of Demons." Dungeon #150. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.