Orcus (Dungeons & Dragons)

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The demon prince Orcus emerging from a gate created by his followers on the cover of the adventure module "The Mines of Bloodstone". Art by Keith Parkinson.

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Orcus is a demon prince, and lord of the undead. He is named after Orcus of Roman mythology.

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

Contents

1 Description
2 History
3 Cult of Orcus
4 Wand of Orcus
5 References

Description

Orcus typically is shown as having the head and legs of a goat, although with ram-like horns, a bloated body, bat-like wings and a long tail.

History

Killed after a string of successful wars with Graz'zt and Demogorgon he was restored as the undead demon Tenebrous by Quah-Nomag the Skull King, one of his most devout followers. Rising against his murderers, Orcus reclaimed his layer of the Abyss, Thanatos (from the drow demi-goddess Kiaransalee, who had taken over the layer during his absence), and his original name, proclaiming himself 'Prince of the Undead'.

Cult of Orcus

The cult of Orcus comprised of mostly twisted creatures with a morbid fascination with the undead, such as necromancers, as well as creatures deliberately seeking the path to unlife, such as would-be liches and vampires.

Wand of Orcus

The Wand of Orcus is a powerful artifact. This skull-tipped wand has the ability to automatically slay any living creature it touches.

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.

References

Collins, Andy and Bruce R Cordell. Libris Mortis (Wizards of the Coast, 2004).

Cook, Monte. Book of Vile Darkness (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).
Cook, Monte. Dead Gods (TSR, 1997).

Dobson, Michael, and Douglas Niles. The Mines of Bloodstone (TSR, 1986).
Dobson, Michael, and Douglas Niles. The Throne of Bloodstone (TSR, 1988).

Gygax, Gary. Dungeon Master's Guide (TSR, 1979).
Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977).

Gygax, Gary, and Brian Blume. Eldritch Wizardry (TSR, 1976).

Henson, Dale, and Doug Stewart, eds. Encyclopedia Magica Vol 4. (TSR, 1995).

Jacobs, James. "Headless." Dungeon #89 (Paizo Publishing, 2001).

Jacobs, James, Erik Mona, and Ed Stark. (Wizards of the Coast, 2006).

Sernett, Matthew, Dave Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb. (Wizards of the Coast, 2006).

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