Obox-ob
Encyclopedia
In many campaign setting
s for the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, Obox-ob is a demon lord
, also called the Prince of Vermin. Unlike many of the infamous demon princes, Obox-ob is an obyrith, a type of demon far older than the tanar'ri.
, kraken
, and horrible fish-monsters.
Obox-ob is fully described years later, in the game's third edition in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
. Obox-ob's realm is described on Wizards of the Coast
's website.
and leading the obyriths against the eladrin, who played a part in his downfall.
, the home of demons in the Dungeons & Dragons setting, in a hideous world known as Zionyn. A portal to the 663rd layer of the Abyss exists in the fifth dungeon layer beneath the parody version of Castle Greyhawk
, in the form of a mural on the wall in room 13D.
Zionyn is an expanse of vermin-infested badlands. Insectoid obyriths called ekolids are the aristocracy of the realm, reigning over massive hive-cities which they create from the resin-preserved corpses of their victims. Other demonic and monstrous insects are common in Zionyn as well.
Having once held the title of 'Prince of Demons', Obox-ob once had a great and terrible cult following. Even after he was murdered by the Queen of Chaos
, one of his aspects (a common concept in the Dungeons & Dragons cosmology is that an entity's power is the entity itself, and thus it can send a part of its own power out to take a physical form) managed to survive, eventually growing in power and influence; this aspect is what is now called Obox-ob, and though its power rivals that of Graz'zt
or Orcus
, it is said to be only a pale shadow of its original power.
In the setting, Obox-ob is worshiped primarily by evil vermin across the multiverse, and the ekolids that inhabit his layer of the Abyss have numerous temples and effigies erected in his honor.
, but was killed once by the Queen of Chaos
. He managed to survive death, however, and now commands an entire layer of the Abyss, a hideous world known as Zionyn. Unlike many of the infamous demon princes in the series, Obox-ob is an obyrith, a type of demon far older than the setting's standard tanar'ri. Obox-ob despises the tanar'ri and hopes to cleanse them from the Abyss, taking back his title from Demogorgon
and leading the obyriths against the eladrin
, who played a part in his downfall.
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
s for 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...
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...
, Obox-ob is a demon lord
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...
, also called the Prince of Vermin. Unlike many of the infamous demon princes, Obox-ob is an obyrith, a type of demon far older than the tanar'ri.
Publishing history
Obox-ob is first mentioned by name only in the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook Monster Manual II, where it is said in passing that he rules a liquid layer dominated by marine dretch, hezrouHezrou
A hezrou is a humanoid demon in the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Dungeons & Dragons :The type II demon appeared under the demon entry in the Eldritch Wizardry supplement ....
, kraken
Kraken (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the kraken is a large, ocean-dwelling magical beast. It is akin to a squid the size of a house. It is almost 80 feet long and 60 feet tall and wide. Its body is similar to that of a squid, with a ring of tentacles surrounding a mouth connected to...
, and horrible fish-monsters.
Obox-ob is fully described years later, in the game's third edition 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:...
. Obox-ob's realm is described on Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
's website.
Description
Obox-ob is shown in an illustration to resemble a giant, platter-shaped centipede, with three scorpion-like tails serving as his heads. Curiously, he has a vaguely humanoid head at the tip of his segmented tail, which roars blasphemous litanies and senses the air with a long, razor-edged purple tongue.Relationships
Obox-ob despises the tanar'ri and hopes to cleanse them from the Abyss, taking back his title from DemogorgonDemogorgon (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...
and leading the obyriths against the eladrin, who played a part in his downfall.
Realm
Obox-ob's realm is the 663rd layer of the AbyssAbyss (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Abyss or more fully, the Infinite Layers of the Abyss, is a chaotic evil-aligned plane of existence. It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Planes that form part of the standard Dungeons & Dragons cosmology, used in the Planescape...
, the home of demons in the Dungeons & Dragons setting, in a hideous world known as Zionyn. A portal to the 663rd layer of the Abyss exists in the fifth dungeon layer beneath the parody version of Castle Greyhawk
Castle Greyhawk (module)
Castle Greyhawk is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, set in the game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting. The module bears the code WG7 and was published by TSR, Inc...
, in the form of a mural on the wall in room 13D.
Zionyn is an expanse of vermin-infested badlands. Insectoid obyriths called ekolids are the aristocracy of the realm, reigning over massive hive-cities which they create from the resin-preserved corpses of their victims. Other demonic and monstrous insects are common in Zionyn as well.
Worshippers
Demon Cults are a major aspect of many Dungeons & Dragons campaigns that focus of fighting demons. As such, much detail is given in source material to describe the cults and their goals.Having once held the title of 'Prince of Demons', Obox-ob once had a great and terrible cult following. Even after he was murdered by the Queen of Chaos
Queen of Chaos
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Queen of Chaos is a demon lord of obyrith origins.- Publishing history :The Queen of Chaos was first mentioned briefly in the second edition Dungeon Master's Guide under the description for the Rod of Seven Parts artifact...
, one of his aspects (a common concept in the Dungeons & Dragons cosmology is that an entity's power is the entity itself, and thus it can send a part of its own power out to take a physical form) managed to survive, eventually growing in power and influence; this aspect is what is now called Obox-ob, and though its power rivals that of 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...
or 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...
, it is said to be only a pale shadow of its original power.
In the setting, Obox-ob is worshiped primarily by evil vermin across the multiverse, and the ekolids that inhabit his layer of the Abyss have numerous temples and effigies erected in his honor.
History
According to the official story, Obox-ob was once the Prince of DemonsPrince of Demons
Prince of Demons is a title contested by the greatest demon lords of the Abyss, in the Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying game.-The current Prince of Demons:...
, but was killed once by the Queen of Chaos
Queen of Chaos
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Queen of Chaos is a demon lord of obyrith origins.- Publishing history :The Queen of Chaos was first mentioned briefly in the second edition Dungeon Master's Guide under the description for the Rod of Seven Parts artifact...
. He managed to survive death, however, and now commands an entire layer of the Abyss, a hideous world known as Zionyn. Unlike many of the infamous demon princes in the series, Obox-ob is an obyrith, a type of demon far older than the setting's standard tanar'ri. Obox-ob despises the tanar'ri and hopes to cleanse them from the Abyss, taking back his title from 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...
and leading the obyriths against the eladrin
Eladrin
The Eladrin are a fictional race of creatures appearing in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Introduced in the Planescape setting of AD&D 2nd edition and D&D 3rd edition, Eladrin were described as a type of celestial of chaotic good alignment and hailed from the plane of Arborea...
, who played a part in his downfall.
Additional reading
- Jacobs, James. "The Demonimicon of IggwilvIggwilvIggwilv is a fictional wizard from the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. She was created by Gary Gygax and was named one of the greatest villains in D&D history in the final issue of Dragon....
: DagonDagon (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...
." DragonDragon (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...
#349 (Paizo PublishingPaizo PublishingPaizo Publishing is an American publishing company in Redmond, Washington that specializes in game aids and adventures for "the world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game" and its flagship spin-off game and setting, Pathfinder...
, 2006).- Jacobs, James. "The Demonimicon of Iggwilv: KostchtchieKostchtchieKostchtchie 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...
." Dragon #345 (Paizo Publishing, 2006).
- Jacobs, James. "The Demonimicon of Iggwilv: Kostchtchie