I’ve been asked to convert the original
Monster Manual in a
manner similar to my conversion of the
Fiend Folio. I am going to do this a
bit differently, though, and just try to stick to the essence of creatures
without referring to the text of the original work. This is, in part, because
of my plans to create a monster book in the upcoming year. In this case, we are
dealing with IP that is currently held by Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro, so I
can’t imagine a published version of everything here coming out!
When converting the demons and devils from the original
Monster Manual, some deviation from the strict order of presentation is
required. Specifically, the demon princes and archdevils must be formatted in a
manner similar to the way I did Lolth,
the Elemental
Princes of Evil, and the Slaad
Lords
from the Fiend Folio. Well, maybe not the Elemental Princes, because I
decided against writing invoke patron tables for them. Going over the initial
material, I noticed that the poor manes is right between two demon princes, and
we don’t want to stick them in a post on their own. So, the order will be:
demon princes (one per post), other demons, archdevils (one per post), then
other devils. A change of order rather than a change of content.
As for actual use in games, Demogorgon has been a background
figure, but AD&D 1e was not set up to allow PCs in the kind of games I
ran to have any chance against a demon prince. And it isn’t like you would just
run into Demogorgon down at the local pub. The patron system from Dungeon
Crawl Classics makes powers like this far more useful, in my opinion
anyway. Even the most powerful PCs should think twice before getting in a fight
with Demogorgon!
Demogorgon
(Prince of Demons): Init +15; Atk tentacle +22 melee (2d6 plus rotting)
or tail lash +22 melee (3d6 plus XP drain) or gaze attack or spell; AC 23; HD 29d12
(200 hp); MV 50’; Act 4d20; SP demon traits, gaze attacks, rotting, XP drain,
infravision 200’; SV Fort +16, Ref +14, Will +18; AL C.
Spells (+25
to spell check): Charm person, comprehend languages, control ice, darkness, demon summoning,
detect magic, dispel magic, ESP, forget, levitate, phantasm, read magic, and scare. Demogorgon may cast spells using both of his heads
independently.
Demon
traits: Telepathy, immunities (weapons of less than +5 enchantment or natural
attacks from creatures of 12 HD or less, fire, cold, electricity, gas, acid),
projection (teleport at will to any location, as long as not bound or otherwise
summoned; can project astrally and ethereally), crit range 15-20.
Demogorgon is a terrible opponent. When he strikes an
opponent with a tentacle attack, the opponent must succeed in a DC 26 Fort save
or one limb (chosen at random) is disabled and begins to rot. After 1d6+6
rounds, if the rotting is not healed via a cleric’s laying on of hands (3 HD),
a
neutralize disease or poison with a
spell check result of 16+, a
restore
vitality spell with a spell check result of 20+, or some similar means, the
limb sloughs off, permanently costing the victim 1d20% of their total hit
points.
When Demogorgon’s forked tail strikes an opponent, they must
succeed in a DC 26 Will save or permanently lose 2d20 XP. If the opponent’s XP
drops below the threshold for their current level, they immediately lose that
level and all it attendant benefits. Survivors may, of course, gain new XP and
re-attain lost levels, but any random benefits or those gained through effort
(such as hit points and spells) must be rolled or learned anew. A target
reduced to 0 level who is struck again by Demogorgon’s tail is utterly
destroyed.
Finally, Demogorgon can make gaze attacks with his two
heads. Those who meet the gaze of his left head are stunned and unable to act
for 1d6 rounds, while those who meet the gaze of his right head become insane
for 1d6 rounds, lashing out at the closest creature (or randomly) with their
strongest attacks. Targets may attempt a DC 26 Reflex save to avoid this gaze.
If Demogorgon fixes the gaze of both his head upon his
enemies, which requires two action dice, he can hypnotize up to 10d10 Hit Dice
of creatures, preventing them from taking any actions for 1 round and giving
then a -1d penalty to all die rolls for the following 1d6 rounds. Targets may
attempt either a DC 26 Reflex save to avoid the gaze, or a DC 26 Will save to
resist, but not both.
Rivalry between demon lords is great, but the enmity between
Demogorgon and Orcus is immense and unending. It is contended by some that Demogorgon
is supreme, and others that Orcus is, and their proxies fight unending
skimishes in the mortal planes to decide the undecidable matter.
This gigantic demon prince is 18 feet tall, his blue-green
skin plated with ophidian scales. His heads resemble those of evil mandrills,
hideously colored, and he has two great tentacles in the place of arms. His body
and legs are those of a giant lizard, his twin necks resemble snakes, and his
thick tail is forked.
Demogorgon holds dominion over cold-blooded things, such as
serpents, reptiles, and octopi, although his dominion is neither absolute nor
uncontested. Creatures of this sort cannot resist obeying his commands. The
ceremony to bond with Demogorgon must occur in some location where the
creatures he commands are readily found.
Invoke Patron check
results:
12-13 Demogorgon is otherwise engaged, and has
little time for the caster. A single lost spell of the caster’s choosing is
restored.
14-17 The caster can gaze at one target each
round, without using their action dice, and that target must succeed in a DC 12
Will save or be unable to act for 1 round. The effective range is 50’, and the
caster gains this ability for 1d8 + CL rounds.
18-19 The caster’s head and neck bifurcate,
forming two duplicate heads which can act independently. Each head has access
to all of the caster’s action dice, effectively doubling the caster’s spell
ability. After 2d6 + CL rounds, the heads remerge, taking one round to do so.
The caster can take no actions while their heads remerge.
20-23 The caster grows two lashing tentacles from
their shoulder, each of which can attack independently of the caster’s actions.
They can reach targets up to 10’ away, attacking with +8 melee for 1d8 damage.
The tentacles rot and drop off after 1d3 + CL turns.
24-27 As 20-23, above, except that any creature
struck by a tentacle attack must succeed in a DC 15 Fort save or being rotting,
taking an additional 1d8 damage each round until they die or receive magical
healing.
28-29 Demogorgon
sends a Type I demon to serve the caster for the next 1d6 + CL hours.
Fat Beetle Demon (Type I, Demogorgon): Init +1; Atk bite +4 melee (1d6+2
plus venom) or spell; AC 14; HD 4d12; MV 20’ or fly 20’; Act 1d20; SP demon
traits, venom (Fort DC 11 or additional 2d6 damage), infravision 60’,
spellcasting (+4 to spell check): darkness,
fireball, mirror image, and shatter;
SV Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +4; AL C.
Demon traits: speaks infernal and
common tongues, half-damage from non-magical weapons and fire.
30-31 Demogorgon
dispatches 1d3 Type II demons, which serves the caster for 1d6+ CL days.
Stinging Serpent Demon (Type II, Demogorgon): Init +2; Atk constriction
+9 melee (1d6+2 plus constriction) or sting +10 melee (1d6+4 plus paralysis) or
spell; AC 17; HD 8d12; MV 40’ or swim 20’; Act 2d20; SP demon traits,
constriction (automatic damage each round, opposed Strength vs. +6 escapes),
paralysis (1d6 hours, Fort DC 15 negates), crit range 19-20; infravision 60’,
spellcasting (+8 to spell check): darkness;
SV Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +7; AL C.
Demon traits: speaks infernal and
common tongues; reads minds; immune to non-magical weapons or natural attacks
from creatures of 3 HD or less; half-damage from fire, acid, cold, electricity,
and gas.
32+ As 30-31, above, but Demogorgon also
dispatches a crococonda demon, a loathsome 1d12+6-foot-long admixture of
crocodile, spider, and snake, which will serve the caster for an indefinite
period. Every 13 days, the caster must renew the bond with an appropriate
sacrifice to Demogorgon, and make a DC 20 Will save. The judge may grant a +1
to +4 bonus to this save, based on the quality of the sacrifice, or may even
penalize if the judge deems the sacrifice too anemic.
If the save succeeds, the
crococonda serves the caster for another 13 days, and the process is repeated.
If the caster fails, the bond with the crococonda is broken, and it returns to
its own plane. If the caster rolls a natural “1” on this save, however, the
crococonda seeks to drag the caster back to the Abyss with it, there to deliver
it as a sacrifice to its fell prince. If the caster dismisses the demon on or
before the 12th day, they do not run this risk.
Crococonda (Type III Demon, Demogorgon): Init +5; Atk bite +11
melee (1d8 plus venom) or constriction +9 melee (1d8 plus constriction) or
spell; AC 20; HD 6d12; MV 30’ or climb 10’ or swim 40’; Act 2d20; SP demon traits, venom
(1d4 Stamina damage plus DC 19 Fort save or additional 1d6 Stamina damage),
constriction (automatic damage each round, opposed Strength vs. +4 escapes),
crit range 18-20; infravision 90’, spellcasting (+12 to spell check): darkness, Nythuul’s porcupine coat, and write
magic; SV Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +7; AL C.
Demon traits: speaks infernal and
common tongues; reads minds and communicate telepathically within 120’; immune
to weapons of less than +2 enchantment or natural attacks from creatures of 5
HD or less; half-damage from fire, acid, cold, electricity, and gas.
Note that while bound to the caster, these demons cannot
teleport. However, once released all but Type I demons can teleport back to the
Abyss or to another point on the same plane. Once their period of servitude is
finished, fat beetle demons are summoned back to the nether regions by
Demogorgon or one of his lackeys.
