In the Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

 fantasy

Fantasy

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...

 roleplaying game, an Aspect is the physical embodiment of a god, demon lord, or other such powerful, godly being sent to the Material Plane to act as a representative of the being itself, for whatever reason.

Publication history

Aspects were originally created to represent god figures in the Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures line.

The aspect of Asmodeus

Asmodeus (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Asmodeus is an Arch-Devil: a lord of the game's version of Hell . There he is the Overlord of the Dukes of Hell...

, Bahamut

Bahamut (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Bahamut is a powerful draconic deity, who has the same name as Bahamut from Arabic mythology....

, Demogorgon

Demogorgon (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Demogorgon is a powerful demon prince. He is known as the Prince of Demons, a self-proclaimed title he holds by virtue of his power and influence; which in turn, is a title acknowledged by both mortals and his fellow demons...

, Hextor

Hextor

In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting and the default pantheon of deities for the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Hextor is the Oeridian god of war, discord, massacres, conflict, fitness, and tyranny....

, Kord, Lolth

Lolth

Lolth is a fictional goddess in the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Lolth , the Demon Queen of Spiders, is the chief goddess of drow elves...

, Mephistopheles

Mephistopheles (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Mephistopheles is an Arch-Devil of Hell , also known as the "Lord of No Mercy" and the "Cold Lord"....

, Nerull

Nerull

In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, as well as in the game's default pantheon of deities, Nerull is the Flan god of death, darkness, murder, and the underworld. He is known as the Reaper, the Foe of All Good, the Hater of Life, and the Bringer of...

, Orcus

Orcus (Dungeons & Dragons)

Orcus is the fictional demon prince, and lord of the undead in many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. He is named after Orcus of Roman mythology. His symbol is a mace with a human skull as the head...

, Tiamat

Tiamat (Dungeons & Dragons)

Tiamat is the name of a powerful draconic goddess in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The name is taken from Tiamat, a goddess in ancient Mesopotamian mythology who is substantially different ....

, and Vecna

Vecna

In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Vecna was a powerful wizard who became a lich. He was eventually destroyed, and his left hand and left eye were the only parts of his body to survive...

 were introduced in the Miniatures Handbook (2003).

Dragon

Dragon (magazine)

Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...

s "The Demonomicon of Iggwilv" series featured aspects of several demon lords

Demon lord (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, demon lords are demons who have gained great power and established a position of preeminence among demonkind. Each demon lord has a unique appearance and set of abilities. Most control at least one layer of the Abyss...

, including Pazuzu

Pazuzu (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Pazuzu is a powerful demon prince, called the Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms. He rules the skies above all layers of the Abyss. He is sometimes known as Pazrael or Pazuzeus....

 in #329 (March 2005), Fraz-Urb'luu

Fraz-Urb'luu

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Fraz-Urb'luu is a demon lord, sometimes known as the "Prince of Deception." In Gary Gygax's Gord novels, Fraz-Urb'luu is alternately called Var-Az-Hloo.-Publication history:...

 in #333 (June 2005), Zuggtmoy

Zuggtmoy

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Zuggtmoy is the Demon Queen of Fungi. Her symbol is a jawless human skull with fungi blooming from within, though some of her false cults use other symbols...

 in #337 (November 2005), Baphomet

Baphomet (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Baphomet is a demon lord who rules a layer of the Abyss called the Endless Maze. He is the Prince of Beasts and the Demon Lord of Minotaurs.-Publication history:...

 in #341 (March 2006), and Kostchtchie

Kostchtchie

Kostchtchie is a demon lord from the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game.-Publication history:Kostchtchie made his first appearance in the first edition module The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth...

 in #345 (July 2006), Dungeon

Dungeon (magazine)

Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...

 also featured aspects of Zotzilaha in #143 (February 2007), Khala in #145 (April 1007), and both Obox-ob

Obox-ob

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Obox-ob is a demon lord, also called the Prince of Vermin...

 and Gorgant the Two-Faced in #149 (August 2007)

The aspects of the demon lords

Demon lord (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, demon lords are demons who have gained great power and established a position of preeminence among demonkind. Each demon lord has a unique appearance and set of abilities. Most control at least one layer of the Abyss...

 (although they were not named as aspects), including the aspects of Baphomet, Dagon

Dagon (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Dagon is a obyrith demon lord, also called Prince of the Depths. His realm is the 89th layer of the Abyss, and is known as Shadowsea...

, Demogorgon, Fraz-Urb'luu, Graz'zt

Graz'zt

Graz'zt is a demon lord in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, and one of the most powerful demons in the Abyss. Graz'zt, one of the earliest and most famous demons created for Dungeons and Dragons, was named as one of the greatest villains in D&D history by the final print issue of...

, Juiblex

Juiblex

In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Juiblex, also called The Faceless Lord, is the demon lord of Slimes and Oozes. Juiblex's lair is on the 222nd layer of the Abyss, which he shares with Zuggtmoy, the Demoness Lady of Fungi. In Gary Gygax's Gord novels, Juiblex is alternately called Szhublox...

, Kostchtchie, Malcanthet

Malcanthet

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Malcanthet is a demon lord. She is also called Queen of Succubi.-Creative origins:...

, Obox-ob, Orcus, Pale Night

Pale Night

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Pale Night, the so-called "Mother of Demons," is an Abyssal Lord, both enigmatic and unbelievably ancient...

, Pazuzu, Yeenoghu

Yeenoghu

In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Yeenoghu is a Demon Prince, the Demon Lord of Gnolls, and the bestial embodiment of savage butchery. His personal weapon is his dreaded triple flail, created from the bones and skin of a slain god. Yeenoghu commands the obedience of ghouls and ghasts...

, and Zuggtmoy appeared in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss

Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss

Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Chapter 1: Demonic Lore:...

 (2006), while the aspects of the archdevils, including the aspects of Asmodeus, Baalzebul

Baalzebul (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Baalzebul is a fictional character, described as an Arch-Devil of Hell , also called the "Lord of the Flies."Baalzebul is lord of Maladomini, the Seventh Plane of Hell...

, Bel

Bel (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Bel the pit fiend, is the Arch-Devil currently in charge of Avernus, the First Layer of the Nine Hells of Baator...

, Belial

Belial (Dungeons & Dragons)

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Belial is an Arch-Devil of Hell , lord of the Fourth Hell, Phlegethos. He retained his rule after the Reckoning of Hell, though he now shares this responsibility with his daughter Fierna who serves as his mouthpiece...

, Dispater

Dispater (Dungeons & Dragons)

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Dispater is an Arch-Devil of Hell , and the Lord of the Iron City of Dis....

, Fierna

Fierna

In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Lady Fierna is the ruler of the Fourth Layer of the Nine Hells of Baator. She is the daughter of arch-Duke Belial and his late consort Naome, and currently shares the rulership with her father...

, Glasya, Levistus

Levistus

In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Levistus is the arch-devil currently ruling Stygia, the Fifth layer of the Nine Hells of Baator...

, Mammon

Mammon (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Mammon is an Arch-Devil of Hell , also known as the "Lord of Avarice." His symbol is a pair of red scaled hands open and looming over a black gemstone, or gold medallions emblazoned with the image of a snake-bodied devil.Mammon is the lord of Minauros,...

, and Mephistopheles appeared in Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells

Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells

Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Contents:...

 (2006).

The aspect of Bahamut appeared in Races of the Dragon

Races of the Dragon

Races of the Dragon is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:This book contains info on two new races...

 (2006) and the aspect of Tiamat appeared in the module Red Hand of Doom

Red Hand of Doom

Red Hand of Doom is a 128-page adventure module for the 3.5 edition of Dungeons & Dragons . It is designed to be used as a generic D&D adventure, which can be dropped into any campaign world, including a personal one...

 (2006), and both appeared in Dragon Magic

Dragon Magic

Dragon Magic is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game.-Contents:...

 (2006). The aspect of Chernovog appeared in Expedition to Castle Ravenloft (2006), and the aspect of Obox-ob and Yeenoghu appeared in Expedition to the Demonweb Pits

Expedition to the Demonweb Pits

Expedition to the Demonweb Pits is a super-adventure module for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. The adventure is designed for characters of levels 9–12...

 (2007).

Wizards of the Coast's website also featured articles which used aspects, including: Demogorgon, Juiblex, Kostchtchie, and Zuggtmoy in "Fiendish Aspects I", Asmodeus, Baalzebul, Bel, Belial, Dagon, Dispater, Fierna, Glasya, Kurtulmak

Kurtulmak

In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Kurtulmak is the chief deity worshipped by the kobold race. He is a member of the default pantheon....

, Levistus, Malcanthet, Mammon, Mephistopheles, Orcus, Sekolah

Sekolah

In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Sekolah is a powerful devil and the primary deity worshipped by the sahuagin race. His sacred animal is the shark...

, Tiamat in "Fiendish Aspects II", and Baphomet, Fraz-Urb'luu, Pale Night, and Pazuzu "Fiendish Aspects III", and the aspect of Atropus in the excerpt for Elder Evils

Elder Evils

Elder Evils is an official supplement for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game.-Contents:It includes new content for epic level characters, in the form of extremely powerful, alien monstrosities intent on destroying the world .The book presents nine “elder...

.

Description

Although the weakest direct representative of a god (as compared to the more potent Proxies and Avatars), Aspects remain a potent force, on the level of the stronger giants and the older elementals. Any god is easily capable of creating dozens of Aspects with little effort; but they usually only do so in response to their favored clerics

Cleric (Dungeons & Dragons)

The cleric is one of the standard playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In the game, clerics are versatile figures, both capable in combat and skilled in the use of divine magic. Clerics are powerful healers due to the large number of healing and curative...

, as destroying an Aspect weakens the original, and the original has no direct control over the Aspect. An odd quirk all Aspects share is that two Aspects of the same god will almost never be found in the same area; only powerful magic can force two of the same Aspects into close proximity. Aspects forced together so are likely to attack each other; evidently, the presence of another Aspect of the same deity causes an Aspect great distress.

As with most divine minions, Aspects can speak whatever language(s) their god speaks, and share the same alignment.