Ygorl
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Ygorl is the Slaad
Lord of Entropy.
, and first appeared in the first edition Fiend Folio
(1981).
Ygorl appeared in second edition in Dragon
#221 (September 1995). Ygorl had small parts in the anthologies Tales of the Outer Planes
(1988), and Tales From the Infinite Staircase (1998).
In third edition, Ygorl appeared in Necromancer Games
's Tome of Horrors (2002) and Tome of Horrors Revised (2005).
Ygorl, Lord of Entropy, appeared in The Plane Below (2009) along with Shkiv and Skirnex, Voice of Ygorl.
named Shkiv. As one of the exemplars of the chaotic neutral alignment, Ygorl is not truly evil, but still very dangerous, unpredictable, and self-serving. He believes in bringing death, decay, and disorganization to the multiverse, and thinks this is best done by the slaadi, the truest agents of Chaos.
Ygorl ignores Ssendam
and fears Rennbuu
. He enjoys the company of Chourst
, at least at times.
The "entropic reapers" from Libris Mortis
are said to arise in Limbo to "enforce the twisted edicts of chaotic beings that decree the death of lawful creatures." They are not explicitly connected to Ygorl, but they are connected to the force of entropy and the plane of Limbo.
constantly changes appearance; it can be a rough cavern, a shattered marbled temple, or (as the 1st edition Manual of the Planes describes it) a series of interlaced carved spheres that whirl through Limbo's layers.
, and is considered the de-facto ruler of Outer Plane
of Limbo
. He is said to have created the Spawning Stone that is the focus of the slaad race, forcing them to take froglike forms rather than their original, purely chaotic shapes.
The Plane Below: Secrets of the Elemental Chaos suggests that Ygorl actually sprang into being the moment the multiverse finally died and has been perceiving time backwards ever since, so that the past is the future to him, and his "death" will be some time in the distant past. He is thus patient in his attempts to spread entropy, because he remembers the time when entropy claims everything, and regards it as inevitable.
in the video game Demon Stone
where he was voiced by Michael Clarke Duncan
. In the game he was depicted as humanoid in appearance but was covered in tough chitinous armor and had many claw-like mandibles extending from the back of his head.
Ygorl's brass dragon companion Shkiv is a recurring character in the comic strip Downer by Kyle Stanley Hunter, which originally appeared in the pages of Dungeon
magazine.
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...
, Ygorl is the Slaad
Slaad
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, slaad are a fictional race of Outsiders that resemble giant humanoid toads of various colors.-Development and licensing:...
Lord of Entropy.
Publication history
Ygorl was created by Charles StrossCharles Stross
Charles David George "Charlie" Stross is a British writer of science fiction, Lovecraftian horror and fantasy. He was born in Leeds.Stross specialises in hard science fiction and space opera...
, and first appeared in the first edition Fiend Folio
Fiend Folio
Fiend Folio is the title shared by three products published for successive editions of the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
(1981).
Ygorl appeared in second edition 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...
#221 (September 1995). Ygorl had small parts in the anthologies Tales of the Outer Planes
Tales of the Outer Planes
Tale of the Outer Planes is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, set in that game's Outer Planes. TSR, Inc. published the module in 1988 for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules. The module is a collection of adventures designed by Deborah A. Christian, Vince...
(1988), and Tales From the Infinite Staircase (1998).
In third edition, Ygorl appeared in Necromancer Games
Necromancer Games
Necromancer Games was an American publisher of role-playing games. With offices in Seattle, Washington and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, the company specialized in material for the d20 System, with most of its products being released under the Open Game License of Wizards of the Coast.The company's...
's Tome of Horrors (2002) and Tome of Horrors Revised (2005).
Ygorl, Lord of Entropy, appeared in The Plane Below (2009) along with Shkiv and Skirnex, Voice of Ygorl.
Description
Ygorl appears as a blackened, bat-winged, skeletal hulk, wielding a large scythe. He rides a great wyrm brass dragonDragon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game , dragons are an iconic type of monstrous creature used as adversaries or, less commonly, allies of player characters...
named Shkiv. As one of the exemplars of the chaotic neutral alignment, Ygorl is not truly evil, but still very dangerous, unpredictable, and self-serving. He believes in bringing death, decay, and disorganization to the multiverse, and thinks this is best done by the slaadi, the truest agents of Chaos.
Relationships
Ygorl considers the slaadi to be his living pawns. They do not serve him in any organized fashion, but most will obey his orders rather than allow him to devour them. Besides Shkiv, Ygorl is allied with Sorel, his lieutenant, who he is grooming to become the Lord of Anarchy. Skirnex is the Voice of Ygorl, a misshapen void slaad with a stunted third arm, and an almost palpable aura of wrongness; Skirnex serves both as Ygorl's intermediary and something like a priest.Ygorl ignores Ssendam
Ssendam
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Ssendam is the Slaad Lord of Insanity.-Publication history:Ssendam was created by Charles Stross, and first appeared in the first edition Fiend Folio ....
and fears Rennbuu
Rennbuu
Rennbuu, the flamboyant Lord of Colors, is one of the youngest slaad lords, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. He takes great joy in his newfound powers to transform everything around him into works of art. Rennbuu can be practically cruel and malicious as he busily roams Limbo and the...
. He enjoys the company of Chourst
Chourst
Chourst the Unpredictable is the slaad Lord of Randomness, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:Chourst appeared in second edition in Dragon #221 .-Description:...
, at least at times.
The "entropic reapers" from Libris Mortis
Libris Mortis
Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead is a book which is an official supplement for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game...
are said to arise in Limbo to "enforce the twisted edicts of chaotic beings that decree the death of lawful creatures." They are not explicitly connected to Ygorl, but they are connected to the force of entropy and the plane of Limbo.
Realm
Ygorl's fortress in LimboLimbo (Dungeons & Dragons)
In Dungeons and Dragons, fantasy role-playing game, Limbo or more fully, the Ever-Changing Chaos of Limbo, is a chaotic neutral-aligned plane of existence...
constantly changes appearance; it can be a rough cavern, a shattered marbled temple, or (as the 1st edition Manual of the Planes describes it) a series of interlaced carved spheres that whirl through Limbo's layers.
History
Ygorl is the second oldest slaad lord, after SsendamSsendam
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Ssendam is the Slaad Lord of Insanity.-Publication history:Ssendam was created by Charles Stross, and first appeared in the first edition Fiend Folio ....
, and is considered the de-facto ruler of Outer Plane
Outer Plane
In the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, an Outer Plane is one of a number of general types of planes of existence. They can also be referred to as godly planes, spiritual planes or divine planes. The Outer Planes are home to beings such as deities and otherworldly creatures such as...
of Limbo
Limbo (Dungeons & Dragons)
In Dungeons and Dragons, fantasy role-playing game, Limbo or more fully, the Ever-Changing Chaos of Limbo, is a chaotic neutral-aligned plane of existence...
. He is said to have created the Spawning Stone that is the focus of the slaad race, forcing them to take froglike forms rather than their original, purely chaotic shapes.
The Plane Below: Secrets of the Elemental Chaos suggests that Ygorl actually sprang into being the moment the multiverse finally died and has been perceiving time backwards ever since, so that the past is the future to him, and his "death" will be some time in the distant past. He is thus patient in his attempts to spread entropy, because he remembers the time when entropy claims everything, and regards it as inevitable.
Ygorl in other media
Ygorl appeared as the final bossBoss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
in the video game Demon Stone
Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone
Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone is a video game that was released in 2004 for PlayStation 2, Xbox and Windows PC. It is set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons , but the gameplay only vaguely models D&D's structure. The story was written by R.A...
where he was voiced by Michael Clarke Duncan
Michael Clarke Duncan
Michael Clarke Duncan is an American actor, best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in The Green Mile, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.- Early life :...
. In the game he was depicted as humanoid in appearance but was covered in tough chitinous armor and had many claw-like mandibles extending from the back of his head.
Ygorl's brass dragon companion Shkiv is a recurring character in the comic strip Downer by Kyle Stanley Hunter, which originally appeared in the pages of Dungeon
Dungeon
A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period...
magazine.
Additional reading
- Grubb, JeffJeff GrubbJeff Grubb is an author and game designer. He has worked on a number of computer and role-playing games and has written a number of successful novels, short stories and comics...
. Manual of the PlanesManual of the PlanesThe Manual of the Planes is a manual for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe....
(TSRTSR, Inc.Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, 1987).
- Grubb, Jeff, Bruce R Cordell, and David NoonanDavid Noonan (game designer)David Noonan is an author of several products and articles for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from Wizards of the Coast.-Role-playing games:...
. Manual of the PlanesManual of the PlanesThe Manual of the Planes is a manual for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe....
(Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards 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...
, 2001).