Graz'zt

Graz'zt, called The Dark Prince and Prince of Pleasure, is a demon lord and one of the most powerful fiends in The Abyss. He is notorious for being the ultimate hedonist.  

Description

Standing nine feet tall, Graz'zt appears as a lithe, muscular large 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 decorating each hand. He is sometimes described as having six small black horns half-hidden amid his thick black hair. These fiendish traits are apparent, regardless of whatever form Graz'zt chooses to take. He is considered the comeliest demon in The Abyss, and dresses in the most expensive and elegant finery on the entire plane.   Wielding an acid-drenched greatsword in one hand and a profane tower shield in the other, the Dark Prince is a veritable killing machine when loosed upon the hordes of The Abyss. What's more, he has a vast repertoire of spell-like abilities at his disposal, making him a deadly magical opponent. Graz'zt's greatest weapons, however, are his mastery of seduction and guile. He entertains the notion that he is the most cunning and intelligent creature in The Abyss; indeed, there were few who could possibly contest such a claim.  

History

There are several competing, often contradictory theories as to Graz'zt's origin, some of which claim that he is not a native to The Abyss, but was once an archdevil who served 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 claims that Graz'zt became disillusioned with his place in Baator when he realised that the hierarchy of Hell 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 suggests that Graz'zt is one of several demonic children of Pale Night, sired after creation of Hell; this would make him the brother of several other demons, including Lupercio, Vucarik, Rhyxali and Zivorgian. Those who subscribe to this theory believe that Pale Night must have drawn some great evil entity to herself to father her children; suggestions for what this entity could have included a Great Old One, or even a sentient portion of The Abyss itself. Some maintain that Asmodeus was drawn from the Nine Hells to mate with Pale Night, implying that there may be truth in both theories.  

The Minions of Graz'zt

“The dark man, the shadow king, the ebony skinned master of all things that revel in the night, oh master Graz’zt, spare me your wrath and grant me your favor!" — Besmal, Human cultist of Graz'zt.
  Graz'zt is worshiped by many monstrous races, most notably the lamias. Many of his high priests, known as the Chosen, are female, and the rituals they perform are violent and involve themes of darkness and betrayal.   The Dark Prince is a deeply sexual, erotic being. He is known on many worlds only in legend, as a dark figure who visits witches and sorcerers, granting them sexual favors as well as magical powers. As a result, his female consorts have populated the multiverse with a depraved host of half-fiend children. Some learn of their father's identity and delve into The Abyss, hoping to usurp his power. His dark Elf son, Athux, leads Graz'zt's demonic army, while his daughter Thraxxia serves as a private assassin.   Graz'zt is always attended by six powerful lamias, and his marilith escorts, Unhath and Reluhantis, are never far from his side. When at his palace, the Dark Prince keeps many attractive demons at hand to feed his ferocious sexual appetite. Bodaks and similar horrors are the only other occupants of the Argent Palace.   Technically, every Demon living within Graz'zt's world-spanning empire is considered one of his loyal servants; those who prove otherwise are fed to the carnivorous plants in his perfumed hanging gardens. Noteworthy minions include a hulking goristro named Orwantz, who acts as Graz'zt's personal border control for Azzagrat, and Rule-of-Three, a cambion who meets secretly with other fiends of the Lower Planes, to strategize an attack against the celestials.   Graz'zt's most powerful servant is a mysterious, hyper-intelligent demon named Verin. Like Graz'zt, Verin appears almost human, but his skin is deathly pale, and he constantly oozes spiritual slime. Verin can change his form at will, and often elects a black-skinned mirror image of himself, known as Ztefano. He serves as the Dark Prince's majordomo and chief ambassador to the other demon lords.

Enemies

The wrath of a god cannot compare to the hatred and spite of the Dark Prince's chief rivals, Demogorgon and Orcus. The violence of the eternal war between these three demons rivals that of the Blood War, and costs them unthinkable resources that could be put to use in the battles against the devils. Graz'zt covets Demogorgon's title as the Prince of Demons above all else, and throws army after army at his most hated enemy in hopes of claiming it.   Graz'zt wars with many other lords of The Abyss as well, including Baphomet and Yeenoghu.   Naturally, the Dark Prince is a fundamental enemy of all that is good and holy in the multiverse, and despite whatever promises he makes, every mortal who deals with him is doomed to an afterlife of endless horror beyond the scythe-tipped gates of Zelatar.   Two of Graz'zt's other greatest enemies were Malcanthet, Queen of the Succubi, and Gwynharwyf, Champion of the AllFather. His conflict with the former ended up involving Kostchtchie, the Prince of Wrath, who swore revenge against Graz'zt for humiliating him, although Graz'zt himself did not consider the upstart demon lord as much of a threat.  

Divine Classification
Demon
Current Location
Realm
Children
Aligned Organization
Ruled Locations

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