Orcus, Demon Lord of the Undead

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Orcus, Demon Lord of the Undead, is one of the most dangerous beings the Abyss has ever produced and arguably the most influential across the multiverse. His ultimate goal is the conversion of all life into undead that will serve him, and only him, until the end of time. His followers are many, from those who fear death and seek to stave it off to those who wish to learn the art of necromancy from one of the multiverse's greatest practitioners. Orcus' impact on the history of the realms is long and sordid, filled with his various rises to and falls from power. At the height of his power, he even temporarily became the god Tenebrous and managed to slay several other gods using the Last Word, most notably the god of the modrons Primus, the Supreme Modron, and the mind flayer god of magic Maanzecorian, the Philosoflayer. So great had his threat become that several other deities were forced to unite to slay Orcus and strip him of his godly power. But his cultists remained and in time resurrected their undead lord; indeed, with the power Orcus and his followers possess over necromancy it is unclear whether the demon lord can ever be truly destroyed.
Table of Contents

History

Shadows Unleashed Campaign

Though Orcus prefers the use of undead, even he must acknowledge that creating powerful undead is a difficult and lengthy process. While it is not his preferred method of gaining power, the Lord of the Undead can also create life by bedding partners that produce half-demon heirs to his power. He has had many of these children by mortal standards, considering many of them failures but using those few successes to fuel his plans of ultimate conquest. It was through this breeding program that Mesogog was born, taking after his father more than any of Orcus' other children. Mesogog was charged with research new, more powerful forms of undead that could be used to build an army strong enough to defeat The Raven Queen's forces once and for all. Orcus dispatched his son to the world of Nexus along with the cultist Moltor to act as an advisor, hoping that the older Moltor's wisdom would counterbalance the young Mesogog's headstrong attitude.
Mesogog's first attempt at his mission ultimately failed when a group of adventurers defeated him and placed him under a powerful imprisonment spell. Though he was defeated, his lieutenants managed to escape and spent many decades scheming of a way to free him. They found a way when they discovered a powerful artifact in the possession of the alhoon Rhith, who they killed to claim the artifact for themselves. After gathering the necessary resources to attack the city that had been build around Mesogog's prison, they managed to free Orcus' son who was free to try and regain his father's favor. Having already dismissed this son as another failure, Orcus remained unsurprised when news was brought to him that Mesogog had once again been defeated, this time permanently slain by a group of adventurers.

Enemies

Demogorgon

Orcus has many enemies among both his fellow demon lords and the gods. Chiefly among them is Demogorgon, the Demon Prince. Legend tells that Orcus once engaged Demogorgon and Graz'zt in a free-for-all battle that would determine who claimed the title of Demon Prince. The contest was fought without use of weapons and the naturally adept Demogorgon bested Orcus, forced to fight without his wand, and Graz'zt, who battled without his sword. The three have remained bitter enemies ever since.

Vecna

While many good-aligned gods oppose Orcus, it is the evil god Vecna whom Orcus hates above all else. In ages past, it was Orcus who taught Vecna the secrets of lichdom that ultimately led to Vecna's rise to godhood. A godhood that Vecna has been able to successfully maintain over the millennia, unlike Orcus himself. It is somewhat unclear whether it is jealousy or envy, but either way Orcus is clearly unhappy that Vecna was able to maintain a goal that has eluded Orcus for so long despite the demon lord's best efforts.

The Raven Queen

The last of Orcus' chief enemies, and often considered his greatest, is The Raven Queen, the goddess of death. Like Vecna, Orcus covets The Raven Queen's divine portfolio and control over not only her Fortress of Memories but the entire Shadowfell. Orcus is convinced that if he can usurp her, the rest of the Shadowfell will quickly fall under his rule. To that end, his many minions scour the multiverse for any hint of The Raven Queen's true name, which Orcus believes is the key to defeating her. That is not to say he wouldn't suffice for defeating her by other means, and it is that very goal that lead to Orcus becoming involved with the world of Nexus.