Graz'zt
(a.k.a. Dark Prince of Pleasure)
Standing nine feet tall, Graz'zt appears as a lithe, muscular humanoid. His skin shines like polished obsidian, and his eyes glitter with malevolent green light. He has yellowed fangs, pointed ears, and six slender fingers on each hand. He is sometimes described as having six small black horns half-hidden amid his thick black hair. He is considered the comeliest demon in The Abyss, and dresses in the most expensive and elegant finery on the entire plane.
The appearance of the Dark Prince is a warning that not all beautiful things are good. Standing nearly nine feet tall, Graz’zt strikes the perfect figure of untamed desire, every plane and curve of his body, every glance of his burning eyes, promising a mixture of pleasure and pain. A subtle wrongness pervades his beauty, from the cruel cast of his features to the six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. Graz’zt can also transform himself at will, appearing in any humanoid form that pleases him, or his onlookers, all equally tempting in their own ways.
Graz’zt surrounds himself with the finest of things and the most attractive of servants, and he adorns himself in silks and leathers both striking and disturbing in their workmanship. His lair, and those of his cultists, are pleasure palaces where nothing is forbidden, save moderation or kindness.
The dark Prince of Pleasure considers restriction the only sin, and takes what he wants. Cults devoted to him are secret societies of indulgence, often using their debauchery to subjugate others through blackmail, addiction, and manipulation. They frequently wear alabaster masks with ecstatic expressions and ostentatious dress and body ornamentation to their secret assignations.
Although he prefers charm and subtle manipulation, Graz’zt is capable of terrible violence when provoked. He wields the greatsword Angdrelve, the Wave of Sorrow, its wavy, razor-edged blade dripping acid at his command.
For a time, Graz'zt was trapped on the Material Plane by the witch-queen Iggwilv, who used his insight to elevate her own power. Eventually, however, she succumbed to the Dark Prince's charms. Graz'zt ultimately returned to the Abyss, but rumors abound that he did, in fact, fall in love with his captor and sire a son.
History
There are several competing, often contradictory theories as to Graz'zt's origin, some of which claim that he was not a native to the Abyss, but was once one of the Archdevils of Hell who serve Asmodeus. In one of these theories, Graz'zt was chosen to lead an invasion of the Abyss as part of the Blood War—and conquered three layers of the Abyss—but became corrupted by the chaotic forces he had been sent to destroy and renounced his allegiance to the devils. Another theory claimed that Graz'zt became disillusioned with his place in The Hells when he realized that the hierarchy ultimately benefited only one creature - Asmodeus - and felt that pledging his allegiance to the Abyss was the only way to place himself beyond Asmodeus' clutches. Yet another theory suggested that Graz'zt is one of several demonic children of Pale Night, sired after the fall of the Obyrith.Realm
Graz'zt's realm of Azzagrat spans three layers of the Abyss, and across all three spans the demonic city of Zelatar. Within the city lies the Argent Palace, the personal home of Graz'zt. The Argent Palace consists of 66 ivory towers, and from here, Graz'zt plots his conquest of the Abyss. Graz’zt’s principal lair is his Argent Palace, a grandiose structure in the city of Zelatar, found within his Abyssal domain of Azzagrat. Graz’zt’s maddening influence radiates outward in a tangible ripple, warping reality around him. Given enough time in a single location, Graz’zt can twist it with his madness. Graz’zt’s lair is a den of ostentation and hedonism. It is adorned with finery and decorations so decadent that even the wealthiest of mortals would blush at the excess. Within Graz’zt’s lairs, followers, thralls, and subjects alike are forced to slake Graz’zt’s thirst for pageantry and pleasure.
Divine Classification
Demon Lord
Children
Ruled Locations
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