Geryon (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Geryon was an Arch-Devil of Hell (Baator
in later editions of the game), also known as the "Wild Beast."
was a fearsome Titan in Greek mythology, but the D&D Geryon is based on the Geryon from Dante's Inferno
.
's "The Nine Hells Part I" in Dragon
#75 (1983).
Geryon did not initially appear in 2nd edition, and in the Planescape
line the lord of Stygia was instead a trapped archfiend named Levistus
. Eventually, Geryon's fate as a deposed Lord of Hell was revealed in Guide to Hell (1999).
In third edition, Geryon was given statistics in an online web enhancement for the Book of Vile Darkness
(2002) titled "Yet More Archfiends". Geryon appeared as a vestige in Tome of Magic
(2006). Geryon received a brief description in Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells
(2006).
.
.
Known for his staunch loyalty to Asmodeus, Geryon was the only one to support the Lord of Nessus upon the Hell-wide revolution known as the Reckoning of Hell
. But, in the aftermath, his faithfulness was apparently useless, as Geryon was demoted and banished to Avernus with his court by Asmodeus himself.
He was at one time a commander of a Stygian fortress known as Coldsteel, only to later lose that position as well. His physical form has ultimately been destroyed and his life-essence was given to power up Glasya, Asmodeus
's daughter who recently gained the rulership of Malbolge, the Sixth Layer of Baator. Geryon now exists as a vestige.
Binders who summon Geryon can gain some of his powers, such as his extra eyes, his baleful gaze and his power of flight, in return risking being influenced by his personality and acquiring his weakness of irrational loyalty.
Many in Geryon's court were destroyed in a battle with the followers of Levistus
.
's popular novel Elminster in Hell, where he is seen commanding an army of devils in Avernus.
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...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, Geryon was an Arch-Devil of Hell (Baator
Baator
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Baator, also known as the Nine Hells of Baator or the Nine Hells, is a lawful evil-aligned plane of existence...
in later editions of the game), also known as the "Wild Beast."
Creative origins
GeryonGeryon
In Greek mythology, Geryon , son of Chrysaor and Callirrhoe and grandson of Medusa, was a fearsome giant who dwelt on the island Erytheia of the mythic Hesperides in the far west of the Mediterranean. A more literal-minded later generation of Greeks associated the region with Tartessos in southern...
was a fearsome Titan in Greek mythology, but the D&D Geryon is based on the Geryon from Dante's Inferno
Inferno (Dante)
Inferno is the first part of Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem Divine Comedy. It is followed by Purgatorio and Paradiso. It is an allegory telling of the journey of Dante through what is largely the medieval concept of Hell, guided by the Roman poet Virgil. In the poem, Hell is depicted as...
.
Publication history
Geryon first appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977). Geryon's realm was further detailed in Ed GreenwoodEd Greenwood
Ed Greenwood is a Canadian writer and editor who created the Forgotten Realms. He invented the Forgotten Realms as a child, as a fantasy world in which to set the stories he imagined, and later used this world as a campaign setting for his own personal Dungeons & Dragons playing group...
's "The Nine Hells Part I" in 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...
#75 (1983).
Geryon did not initially appear in 2nd edition, and in the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
line the lord of Stygia was instead a trapped archfiend named 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...
. Eventually, Geryon's fate as a deposed Lord of Hell was revealed in Guide to Hell (1999).
In third edition, Geryon was given statistics in an online web enhancement for the Book of Vile Darkness
Book of Vile Darkness
Book of Vile Darkness is an optional supplemental sourcebook for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The book was written by Monte Cook and published by Wizards of the Coast in October 2002. Described as a "detailed look at the nature of evil," it was the first Dungeons &...
(2002) titled "Yet More Archfiends". Geryon appeared as a vestige in Tome of Magic
Tome of Magic
The title was reused for a 3.5 Edition supplement published in 2006. The new Tome of Magic is devoted to new forms and styles of magic as a path to power...
(2006). Geryon received a brief description 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).
Description
Geryon's only human feature is his handsome head. His body is snake-like with no legs, and he has huge bat wings, and a barbed tail that drips a deadly poison. His arms are strong and hairy and end in paw-like hands, and allow him to use his horn that summons minotaursMinotaur (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, minotaurs are a race of monstrous humanoids, resembling bull-human hybrids. Many minotaurs worship the demon lord Baphomet.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
.
History
Geryon was once the lord of Stygia, the Fifth Layer of Hell, a position he gained right after the demotion of LevistusLevistus
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Levistus is the arch-devil currently ruling Stygia, the Fifth layer of the Nine Hells of Baator...
.
Known for his staunch loyalty to Asmodeus, Geryon was the only one to support the Lord of Nessus upon the Hell-wide revolution known as the Reckoning of Hell
Reckoning of Hell
In the cosmology of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the Reckoning of Hell was a civil war that shaped the political landscape of the Nine Hells into its current form...
. But, in the aftermath, his faithfulness was apparently useless, as Geryon was demoted and banished to Avernus with his court by Asmodeus himself.
He was at one time a commander of a Stygian fortress known as Coldsteel, only to later lose that position as well. His physical form has ultimately been destroyed and his life-essence was given to power up Glasya, 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...
's daughter who recently gained the rulership of Malbolge, the Sixth Layer of Baator. Geryon now exists as a vestige.
Binders who summon Geryon can gain some of his powers, such as his extra eyes, his baleful gaze and his power of flight, in return risking being influenced by his personality and acquiring his weakness of irrational loyalty.
Vassals
The following beings were among the most notable subjects of Geryon on Stygia. The forces at their disposal are listed, where appropriate:- AgaresAgares (Dungeons & Dragons)Agares is a Duke of Hell in the service of Levistus, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:Agares first appears in Ed Greenwood's article "The Nine Hells Part I" in Dragon #75 ....
— thirty-one companies of osyluths (DR75) - AmonAmon (Dungeons & Dragons)Amon, also known as Amon the Wolf, is a deposed Duke of Hell, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:Amon was first detailed in Gary Gygax's article "From the Sorcerer's Scroll: New Denizens of Devildom," in Dragon #75...
— forty companies of osyluths (MM2) - CozbinaerCozbinaerCozbinaer or Cozbi, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, was the consort of the demoted lord of the 5th layer of Baator, Geryon...
or Cozbi — Consort to Geryon (DR75) - Fecor, pit fiend — eight companies of cornugons
- GorsonGorson (Dungeons & Dragons)Gorson is a Duke of Hell in the service of Geryon, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:Gorson first appears in Ed Greenwood's article "The Nine Hells Part I" in Dragon #75 ....
— Bailiff, also serves BaalzebulBaalzebul (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...
? (DR75) - HerodiasHerodias (Dungeons & Dragons)Herodias is a Duke of Hell formerly in the service of Geryon, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:Herodias first appears in Ed Greenwood's article "The Nine Hells Part I" in Dragon #75 ....
— Magistrate (DR75) - MachalasMachalasMachalas is a Duke of Hell in the service of Levistus, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:Machalas first appears in Ed Greenwood's article "The Nine Hells Part I" in Dragon #75 ....
— eleven companies of hamatula (DR75)
Many in Geryon's court were destroyed in a battle with the followers of 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...
.
Other media
Geryon also appears as a minor character in Ed GreenwoodEd Greenwood
Ed Greenwood is a Canadian writer and editor who created the Forgotten Realms. He invented the Forgotten Realms as a child, as a fantasy world in which to set the stories he imagined, and later used this world as a campaign setting for his own personal Dungeons & Dragons playing group...
's popular novel Elminster in Hell, where he is seen commanding an army of devils in Avernus.