Yeenoghu (yee-NAG-hoo)
Demon Lord Yeenoghu (a.k.a. Prince of Gnolls, Beast of Butchery, Gnoll Lord)
(https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Yeenoghu)
Yeenoghu was a demon lord and the chief being worshiped by gnolls. Dedicated only to destruction, the Ruler of Ruin sought the collapse of civilization and he would brutally butcher all that stood between him and his rabid slaughter. Personality:
Yeenoghu's desires were savage in nature, wanting slaughter and destruction above all else. He took great pleasure in inflicting terror and sorrow before his victims' deaths, destroying treasured possessions and crushing their hopes. He despised civilization and if he were to conquer other realms, abyssal or otherwise, he would not attempt to rebuild their former structures. To the Beast of Butchery, the gnolls were both his instruments and children, whom he sought to use to bring his ideal world to fruition. Such a world would be one of endless combat and brutality, where gnolls ruled supreme and all other creatures would be either slaves or food. Ultimately when the mortal world possessed one final champion he would challenge them to battle, slay them, and preside victoriously in his version of paradise; a wasteland of decaying corpses, in an absolutely ruined world. Despite his savage nature, Yeenoghu was not stupid, being capable of subtlety and trickery, but merely choosing not to use it in most circumstances. He actively encouraged the arrival of new races into his followers, recognizing the lack of his people's unity. Counting among the Lord of Savagery's favourite demons were barlguras, dretches, hezrous, manes, and especially maw demons and Shoosuvas, all appreciated for their bestial natures. With any entity that did not serve him he would not waste any time on discourse, leaping boldly into battle unless he became bored. Activities:
The Gnoll Lord spent most of his time either guiding his gnoll children to victory through his mysterious omens, tormenting and hunting lesser demons and mortals for his amusement, and plotting against upcoming abyssal powers to prevent them from gaining influence. He also planned for future invasions of other layers of the Abyss, targeting weaker entities to conquer. Relationships:
Yeenoghu was the patron of all gnolls, having earlier displaced Gorellik, and commanded the servitude of ghouls through the subjugation of the demonic King of Ghouls, Doresain, a former ally of Orcus, who failed to strike back at Yeenoghu for the acquisition of one of his subjects. Yeenoghu was also the master of a massive mudskipper-like demon known as Crokek'toeck. The unique demon's near bottomless gullet and immunity to the mind-altering effects of the Styx made it Yeenoghu's go-to pet for transporting himself and other demons across the Blood River. Despite disliking the gods of the giant pantheon and forbidding gnoll and giant interaction, he admired their immense strength and power. Yeenoghu had a continuous feud with Baphomet, and both demons pulled no punches when dealing with one another. The feud had lasted so long that neither demon lord could remember what originally started the battle. Along with Baphomet, Yeenoghu loathed Malcanthet, the queen of the succubi, because the Queen destroyed a number of Yeenoghu's material plane cultists, the Maure Family.
Yeenoghu was a demon lord and the chief being worshiped by gnolls. Dedicated only to destruction, the Ruler of Ruin sought the collapse of civilization and he would brutally butcher all that stood between him and his rabid slaughter. Personality:
Yeenoghu's desires were savage in nature, wanting slaughter and destruction above all else. He took great pleasure in inflicting terror and sorrow before his victims' deaths, destroying treasured possessions and crushing their hopes. He despised civilization and if he were to conquer other realms, abyssal or otherwise, he would not attempt to rebuild their former structures. To the Beast of Butchery, the gnolls were both his instruments and children, whom he sought to use to bring his ideal world to fruition. Such a world would be one of endless combat and brutality, where gnolls ruled supreme and all other creatures would be either slaves or food. Ultimately when the mortal world possessed one final champion he would challenge them to battle, slay them, and preside victoriously in his version of paradise; a wasteland of decaying corpses, in an absolutely ruined world. Despite his savage nature, Yeenoghu was not stupid, being capable of subtlety and trickery, but merely choosing not to use it in most circumstances. He actively encouraged the arrival of new races into his followers, recognizing the lack of his people's unity. Counting among the Lord of Savagery's favourite demons were barlguras, dretches, hezrous, manes, and especially maw demons and Shoosuvas, all appreciated for their bestial natures. With any entity that did not serve him he would not waste any time on discourse, leaping boldly into battle unless he became bored. Activities:
The Gnoll Lord spent most of his time either guiding his gnoll children to victory through his mysterious omens, tormenting and hunting lesser demons and mortals for his amusement, and plotting against upcoming abyssal powers to prevent them from gaining influence. He also planned for future invasions of other layers of the Abyss, targeting weaker entities to conquer. Relationships:
Yeenoghu was the patron of all gnolls, having earlier displaced Gorellik, and commanded the servitude of ghouls through the subjugation of the demonic King of Ghouls, Doresain, a former ally of Orcus, who failed to strike back at Yeenoghu for the acquisition of one of his subjects. Yeenoghu was also the master of a massive mudskipper-like demon known as Crokek'toeck. The unique demon's near bottomless gullet and immunity to the mind-altering effects of the Styx made it Yeenoghu's go-to pet for transporting himself and other demons across the Blood River. Despite disliking the gods of the giant pantheon and forbidding gnoll and giant interaction, he admired their immense strength and power. Yeenoghu had a continuous feud with Baphomet, and both demons pulled no punches when dealing with one another. The feud had lasted so long that neither demon lord could remember what originally started the battle. Along with Baphomet, Yeenoghu loathed Malcanthet, the queen of the succubi, because the Queen destroyed a number of Yeenoghu's material plane cultists, the Maure Family.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Yeenoghu appeared as a gnoll-like creature, 12‒14 ft (3.7‒4.3 m) tall with a grinning skull-like face and a leering pair of burning emerald or amber eyes atop his seemingly emaciated form. A mangy, yellow crest of fur reached from his head to mid-back, with the only hair on his body being small scabby patches. The rest of his body was pale and grey, his leathery hide contrasting with his taut mane and a crest of blackened spines within it. His canine chest was armoured with a patchwork of discarded shields and breastplates held together with weighty chains, and decorated with the flayed skin of his enemies. He wielded a three-headed flail in his paws.
Special abilities
Despite being a relatively powerful tanar'ri lord, Yeenoghu was not in the same league as entities like Orcus or Demogorgon, either in terms of strength or influence. He was incapable of arriving on the Material Plane of his own accord and required his fanatics to summon him in order to spread his taint.
Despite this, he was both capable of and willing to influence the Material Plane in order to further his agenda. He was remarkable among demon lords for his active influence on the Material Plane, mostly in the form of various types of omens. He would use various dreams, visions, and signs to guide his people, although his wavering commitment to specific groups at once and use of so many different methods could raise many false flags. Signs were noticed in blood trails, laughter without sources, winds, mental messages, and various other objects.
Once Yeenoghu was allowed entry to the mortal realm, he typically went on a rampage destroying any civilizations he encountered. Along his path of destruction, hyenas tended to follow, devouring the corpses of those that he killed until becoming bloated and immobile. Hyenas who consumed corpses killed by Yeenoghu might be transformed into numerous demonic forms, the most common of which were gnolls, followed by leucrotta.
Yeenoghu had the ability to grant his followers the ability to replicate this ability through rituals, giving his devoted the power to bestow corpses with abyssal energy and transform hyenas that consumed them. The powers granted to his followers also included raising fallen gnolls as skeletal withering servants, and granting enchanted flails to his powerful flind champions. Even his non-gnoll followers would take on gnoll-like aspects, becoming brutal, hunched, and sharp-fanged. He also created the shoosuva in order to protect his most powerful champions, who appeared when a gnoll clan achieved a great victory.
When put in direct combat situations, Yeenoghu did not bother with subtle tactics, instead wading directly into battle and hurling derogatory epithets at his enemies, although he might first attempt to pump himself up. The insults he hurled at his opponents were rumoured to be dangerous curses he used to weaken his enemies. He showed heavy resistance to electricity, fire, and frost, and complete immunity to poisons and non-magical weaponry.
Despite being able to conjure his mighty flail at will, he was just as likely to wade into battle with nothing but his fearsome fangs. He was well known for the use of fear and invisibility magic, as well as bestial transformations. His strong sense of smell and sharp perception made him an expert and dangerous tracker. If placed in serious danger, he could teleport away in order to plot another day and later amass a force necessary to take revenge.
Specialized Equipment
At his leisure, Yeenoghu could summon to his hand the three-headed magical flail known as the Butcher. It was constructed from the thighbone and torn flesh of an ancient god he slew, with three chains ending in rusty barbed heads. Those hit with more than one head of the flail could suffer from mental confusion and paralysis and it bled ichor when used in battle. Only when the Beast of Butchery held his flail would the powers of the three heads manifest. He could also will the chain to fly independently into battle while he himself tore his enemies to shreds.
Divine Classification
Demon Lord
Current Location
Realm
Church/Cult
Children
Pronouns
He/Him
Sex
Male
Gender
Man
Presentation
Masculine
Eyes
Burning emerald or amber
Hair
Mangy, yellow crest
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Small scabby patches, pale and grey
Height
12‒14 ft
Ruled Locations
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