Yugoloth
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, yugoloths (formerly known as daemons) are neutral evil natives of the lower planes of the Bleak Eternity of Gehenna
and the Gray Waste of Hades
. In the third edition of the Forgotten Realms
, they are native to the "Blood Rift" plane.
. Descriptions for the Nycadaemon and Mezzodaemon appear in the Vault of the Drow module published in 1978. In that module, they are random encounter monsters in the city of Erelhei-Cinlu, the stronghold of the Drow. Along with other monsters, the Nycadaemon and Mezzodaemon were published in the Fiend Folio
in 1981. They are able to move among all the lower planes at will.
Along with demons and devils, their names were changed in the second edition of Dungeons and Dragons to avoid conflict with fundamentalist Christians who viewed the game as satanic. The Nycadaemon and Mezzodaemon thus became the Nycaloth and Mezzoloth respectively. While demons and devils had their original names restored in the third edition of Dungeons and Dragons, the yugoloths did not.
(1981); the guardian daemon also debuted in this book. The arcanadaemon, Charon
(The Boatman of the Lower Planes), the charonadaemon, the derghodaemon, the hydrodaemon, the Oinodaemon (Anthraxus
), the piscodaemon, the ultrodaemon, and the yagnodaemon first appeared in the original Monster Manual II (1983).
setting in the Planescape Campaign Setting
boxed set (1994), and the arcanaloth, the dergholoth, the hydroloth, the mezzoloth, the nycaloth, the piscoloth, the ultroloth, and the yagnoloth appeared in the first Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994). The gacholoth appeared in Dungeon
#49 (September 1994), and reprinted in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998). The canoloth appeared in the Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995). The baernaloth appeared in the Planes of Conflict boxed set (1995). The altraloths (including Anthraxus, Bubonix, Cerlic
, Taba, Typhus, and Xenghara) were detailed in Dragon
Annual #2 (1997).
(2001). The arcanaloth, the marraenoloth, and the yagnoloth appeared in Monster Manual II (2002). The piscoloth and the skeroloth appeared in the Fiend Folio
(2003). The arrow battleloth, the axe battleloth, the crossbow battleloth, the pick battleloth, the spiked chain battleloth, and the sword battleloth appeared in Dragon #306 (April 2003). The canoloth, the mezzoloth, the nycaloth and nycaloth commander, and the ultroloth appeared in Monster Manual III. The echinoloth appeared in Stormwrack
(2005). The corruptor of fate and corruptor of fate assasssin, and the voor appeared in Monster Manual IV (2006). Charon appeared in Dungeon #149 (August 2007), and the dergholoth appeared in Dungeon #150 (September 2007).
They are neutral regarding the affairs of the other fiendish
races, interfering only when they see a situation that may be profitable or has potential for the advancement of their own schemes. The yugoloths are manipulative, secretive, and mercenary by nature, often acting as soldiers for deities in their own private wars, or aiding one side or the other in the Blood War
between the demons (tanar'ri)
and devils (baatezu)
. Although yugoloths present themselves as simply greedy mercenaries, the members of the highest yugoloth castes view the entire course of the Blood War as their own to control and manipulate until they decide to end it, unify the Lower Planes, and turn their attention to the planes of Good.
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...
, yugoloths (formerly known as daemons) are neutral evil natives of the lower planes of the Bleak Eternity of Gehenna
Gehenna (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Gehenna , is a plane of existence of neutral evil/lawful evil alignment...
and the Gray Waste of Hades
Gray Waste
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Gray Waste is a strongly evil aligned plane of existence...
. In the third edition of the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
, they are native to the "Blood Rift" plane.
Publication history
Yugoloths were originally called daemons in the first edition of Dungeons and Dragons, possibly linking to the daemon of Greek mythologyDaemon (mythology)
The words dæmon and daimôn are Latinized spellings of the Greek "δαίμων", a reference to the daemons of Ancient Greek religion and mythology, as well as later Hellenistic religion and philosophy...
. Descriptions for the Nycadaemon and Mezzodaemon appear in the Vault of the Drow module published in 1978. In that module, they are random encounter monsters in the city of Erelhei-Cinlu, the stronghold of the Drow. Along with other monsters, the Nycadaemon and Mezzodaemon were published in the 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...
in 1981. They are able to move among all the lower planes at will.
Along with demons and devils, their names were changed in the second edition of Dungeons and Dragons to avoid conflict with fundamentalist Christians who viewed the game as satanic. The Nycadaemon and Mezzodaemon thus became the Nycaloth and Mezzoloth respectively. While demons and devils had their original names restored in the third edition of Dungeons and Dragons, the yugoloths did not.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The mezzodaemon and the nycadaemon first appeared in first edition in the adventure module Vault of the Drow (1978), and reprinted in the original Fiend FolioFiend Folio
Fiend Folio is the title shared by three products published for successive editions of the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
(1981); the guardian daemon also debuted in this book. The arcanadaemon, Charon
Charon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Charon is a powerful altraloth, a lord of the yugoloths, reportedly transformed into a more powerful creature by the night hags of the Gray Waste. Charon's role is to provide travel on the River Styx, but he always charges a steep price and kills those...
(The Boatman of the Lower Planes), the charonadaemon, the derghodaemon, the hydrodaemon, the Oinodaemon (Anthraxus
Anthraxus
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Anthraxus the Decayed is a powerful altraloth, a unique magically augmented yugoloth...
), the piscodaemon, the ultrodaemon, and the yagnodaemon first appeared in the original Monster Manual II (1983).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The least guardian daemon, the lesser guardian daemon, and the greater guardian daemon appeared in second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993) as the least guardian yugoloth, the lesser guardian yugoloth, and the greater guardian yugoloth. The arcanaloth, the dergholoth, the hydroloth, the mezzoloth, the nycaloth, the piscoloth, the ultroloth, and the yagnoloth appeared in the Monstrous Compendium Outer Planes Appendix (1991). The marraenoloth appeared for the PlanescapePlanescape
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...
setting in the Planescape Campaign Setting
Planescape Campaign Setting
The Planescape Campaign Setting was a boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The set was designed by David "Zeb" Cook and published in 1994, and introduced the Planescape setting.-Contents:...
boxed set (1994), and the arcanaloth, the dergholoth, the hydroloth, the mezzoloth, the nycaloth, the piscoloth, the ultroloth, and the yagnoloth appeared in the first Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994). The gacholoth appeared in 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...
#49 (September 1994), and reprinted in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998). The canoloth appeared in the Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995). The baernaloth appeared in the Planes of Conflict boxed set (1995). The altraloths (including Anthraxus, Bubonix, Cerlic
Charon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Charon is a powerful altraloth, a lord of the yugoloths, reportedly transformed into a more powerful creature by the night hags of the Gray Waste. Charon's role is to provide travel on the River Styx, but he always charges a steep price and kills those...
, Taba, Typhus, and Xenghara) were detailed 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...
Annual #2 (1997).
Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition (2000-2007)
The canoloth, mezzoloth, the nycaloth, and the ultroloth appeared in the third edition Manual of the PlanesManual of the Planes
The 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....
(2001). The arcanaloth, the marraenoloth, and the yagnoloth appeared in Monster Manual II (2002). The piscoloth and the skeroloth appeared in the 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...
(2003). The arrow battleloth, the axe battleloth, the crossbow battleloth, the pick battleloth, the spiked chain battleloth, and the sword battleloth appeared in Dragon #306 (April 2003). The canoloth, the mezzoloth, the nycaloth and nycaloth commander, and the ultroloth appeared in Monster Manual III. The echinoloth appeared in Stormwrack
Stormwrack
Stormwrack is a supplemental source-book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:The book has detailed information and descriptions on various types of both realistic and fantastical watery environments, including underwater, the open ocean, ships, coral...
(2005). The corruptor of fate and corruptor of fate assasssin, and the voor appeared in Monster Manual IV (2006). Charon appeared in Dungeon #149 (August 2007), and the dergholoth appeared in Dungeon #150 (September 2007).
Description
There are several dozen sub-types of yugoloths of varying degrees of power. Their progenitors are the ancient, diseased baernaloths. The yugoloth leader holds the title of Oinoloth, and rules from the Wasting Tower of Khin-Oin. (But even this figure does not oppose the General of Gehenna, who has ruled since their race colonized that plane. On the other hand, yugoloths will act on their own without hesitation in the General's absence.)They are neutral regarding the affairs of the other fiendish
Fiend (Dungeons & Dragons)
Fiends is a term used in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game to refer to any malicious otherworldly creatures within the Dungeons & Dragons universe. These include various races of demons and devils that are of an evil alignment and hail from the Lower Planes...
races, interfering only when they see a situation that may be profitable or has potential for the advancement of their own schemes. The yugoloths are manipulative, secretive, and mercenary by nature, often acting as soldiers for deities in their own private wars, or aiding one side or the other in the Blood War
Blood War
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the Blood War is an eternal conflict between the fiends of the Lower planes. The Tanar'ri are the demonic forces of the Abyss, an evil plane of chaos. Representing the equally evil but lawful realm of Baator are the Baatezu, the dominant caste of...
between the demons (tanar'ri)
Demon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, demons are the most widespread race of fiends. The demons are chaotic evil by nature, and are native to the Abyss...
and devils (baatezu)
Devil (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, devils are a powerful group of monsters used as a high-level challenge for players of the game. Devils are Lawful Evil in alignment and originate from the Nine Hells of Baator. True to their Lawful Evil alignment, devils are locked in a strict and brutal...
. Although yugoloths present themselves as simply greedy mercenaries, the members of the highest yugoloth castes view the entire course of the Blood War as their own to control and manipulate until they decide to end it, unify the Lower Planes, and turn their attention to the planes of Good.
Types of Yugoloths
- Altraloth: Yugoloths who have made pacts with night hagsNight hag (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the night hag is an outsider that comes from the Gray Waste of Hades. The night hag's relationship to other types of hags is unclear...
to become unique and powerful creatures, resented as traitors by the rest of their kind. An altraloth sometimes fits a given theme, such as Death, Pestilence, War, and Famine. - Arcanaloth: Jackal-headed scribes, record-keepers, negotiators, and deal-makers of the yugoloths.
- Baernaloth: The ancient progenitors of all other yugoloths.
- Canoloth: Doglike scouts and skirmishers.
- Corruptor of Fate: Stealthy and cunning manipulators of luck, they often become assassins.
- Dergholoth: Serve as infantry and rank-and-file mercenaries. Dergholoths have round bodies with five arms and three legs with insect-like heads.
- Echinoloth: Rear echelons of the yugoloth armies, these fiends combine features of a starfish and squid into an unlovely whole.
- Gacholoth: Ebony-skinned, four-legged infiltrators and saboteurs.
- Hydroloth: Froglike elite forces used for amphibious attacks and ambushes.
- Marraenoloth: Skeletal ferrymen on the River Styx.
- Mezzoloth: Insectile footsoldiers of the yugoloth armies.
- Oinoloth: There is only ever one oinoloth in existence, and he rules in the Grey Waste of Hades from the Wasting Tower.
- Piscoloth: Fishlike sergeants and overseers of the yugoloth armies.
- Nycaloth: Green, gargoylelike elite cavalry of the yugoloth armies.
- Skeroloth: Dregs of the yugoloth armies.
- Ultroloth: Cruel officers of the yugoloth armies.
- Voor: Tentacles, hulking brutes used as guardians, protectors, bodyguards, and enforcers. Greater versions are known as dreadful lashers.
- Yagnoloth: Minor lords with one mighty arm.
Guardian Yugoloths
These creatures were created by the yugoloths as lesser servants for their mortal allies, and to serve in their stead when powerful wizards call upon them for favors. They are found in least, lesser, and greater varieties.Battleloths
A subgroup of yugoloths are known as battleloths. These creatures take the shapes of various weapons:- Arrow Battleloth: The weakest of the battleloths; often serve as spies.
- Axe Battleloth: Recklessly brave combatants.
- Crossbow Battleloth: The most sought-after battleloths due to their versatility.
- Pick Battleloth: Vicious, predatory yugoloths that feed on the blood of living creatures.
- Spiked Chain Battleloth: Aggressive hunters that hunt down other battleloths for sport.
- Sword Battleloth: Independent and wily, and hard bargainers, they demand conquests, glory, and loot.
Unique yugoloths
- ApompsApompsApomps the Three-Sided is the creator of the demodand race, also known as the gehreleths, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:...
: A grossly disfigured baernaloth which created the gehreleth (demodand) race and was then banished to Carceri for it. - AnthraxusAnthraxusIn the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Anthraxus the Decayed is a powerful altraloth, a unique magically augmented yugoloth...
: An altraloth and the former Oinoloth. - BubonixBubonixBubonix is an altraloth, a unique magically augmented yugoloth, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:...
: The lord of the Tower of Incarnate Pain in Carceri. - CharonCharon (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Charon is a powerful altraloth, a lord of the yugoloths, reportedly transformed into a more powerful creature by the night hags of the Gray Waste. Charon's role is to provide travel on the River Styx, but he always charges a steep price and kills those...
: the boatman of the River Styx. - CholerixCholerixCholerix is an altraloth, a unique magically augmented yugoloth, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:Cholerix was first mentioned by name only in the daemon entry in the original Monster Manual II as one of the chief beings challenging Anthraxus for the position of...
: The second in command of Bubonix. - Daru Ib Shamiq: A baernaloth, responsible for granting the younger fiend races their innate teleportation abilities.
- Diptherius: One time rival to Anthraxus for title of Oinoloth.
- The General of GehennaGeneral of GehennaThe General of Gehenna is a powerful yugoloth, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:The General of Gehenna was first mentioned in Hellbound: The Blood War .-Description:...
: The near-mythical ruler of the yugoloth race, rumored to be the first ultroloth. - Harishek Ap Thulkesh: "The Blind Clockmaker," a baernaloth and a member of The Demented.
- Helekanalaith: Keeper of the Tower Arcane, an arcanoloth.
- Inajira: An arcanoloth trapped in RavenloftRavenloftRavenloft is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. It is an alternate time-space existence known as a pocket dimension called the Demiplane of Dread, which consists of a collection of land pieces called domains brought together by a mysterious force known only as "The Dark...
that played a major role in the Grand Conjunction. - Larsdana Ap Neut: the former Keeper of the Tower Arcane, an arcanoloth.
- MydianchlarusMydianchlarusMydianchlarus is the Oinoloth, ruler of the Wasting Tower of Khin-Oin on the Gray Waste of Hades, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:...
: The current Oinoloth, the so-called "Ultroloth Prince". - Shemeshka: An Arcanaloth who makes her living selling knowledge and misinformation in Sigil.
- Taba: Master shapeshifter, this altraloth can take the form of any fiend she desires.
- Typhus: Known as "The Idiot Savant."
- Xell: Commander of the brigade of darkness.
- Xenghara: This altraloth is called the 'living incarnation of hopelessness"
Non-canonical yugoloths
Gary Gygax, in his Gord novels: City of Hawks, Come Endless Darkness, and Dance of Demons, included several non-canonical yugoloths, although Gary Gygax called them "Daemons"- Brucilosu: An altraloth and member of the Diseased Ones, became the most powerful Diseased One after the Demogorgon-Verin batte.
- Infestix: Original Oinoloth, and master of the diseased ones, a group of altraloths that included caononical yugoloths such as Anthraxus, Bubonix, Cholerix, Diptherius, and Typhus. Infestix may have some connection to the Greyhawk god Nerull.
- Krung: Presumably and altraloth, Krung is mentioned to be "one of the 33 able to move out of the nether pits".
- Poxpanus: An altraloth servent of Infestix. He is believed to be Infestix's brother.
- Pneumonis: An altraloth and member of the Diseased Ones.
- Rheumatus: An altraloth and member of the Diseased Ones.
- Variolaz: An altraloth, former member of the diseased ones.
- Virulex: Unknown species, either altraloth or ultrloth, a servant of Infestix.
Forgotten Realms setting yugoloths
The following yugoloths appeared in the Forgotten Realms setting.- Aulmpiter A nycaloth, general of the Army of Darkness.
- Gaulguth A nycaloth, berzerker warrior in the Army of Darkness.
- Inthracis Ultroloth necromancer who rules the city of Corpsehaven.
- Kexxon Unknown species, Kexxon is somewhat like a combination of the Oinoloth and the General of Gehenna. In Paul Kemps book Resurrection he is called "Archgeneral of the Blood Rift:.
- Malimshaer A nycaloth, scout and and stealth warrior in the Army of Darkness.
- Tyranthraxus While not called a yugoloth, this incorporeal spirit of possession and flame was called a Daemon.
Additional reading
- Grubb, Jeff. 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). ISBN 0-7869-1850-0 - Larme, John. Dangerous Games? Censorship and "Child Protection" http://www.members.tripod.com/anthonylarme/gc/gamesthesis.pdf (2000).
- McComb, Colin. Faces of Evil: The Fiends (TSR, 1997). ISBN 0-7869-0684-7
- Stewart, Todd and Oliver Diaz. "Multiple Dementia" 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...
#253 (Paizo Publishing, 2007).