Demonomicon of Iggwilv
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Demonomicon of Iggwilv Yeenoghu, Demon Prince of Gnolls by Robert J. Schwalb art by Jason A. Engle and Brian Hagan There is nothing unique about the wanton violence of the Destroyer. All demons hunger for slaughter, and they all seek the end of all things. They all want to tear down the Tworks of the gods and reduce all things to ruin. Where Yeenoghu differs, however, is in his ability to turn the business of killing into a breathtaking spectacle. With him, it is a form of art—if you can stomach the screams and noxious odors issuing from the dead. Yeenoghu is special because he embodies killing. He has few ambi- tions beyond the visceral thrill of rending the soft flesh of his enemies and drinking deep the hot blood from their bodies. He craves nothing more than the utter defeat of all those who stand against him and is relentless in his pursuit of feeding the emptiness of his existence with the frantic screams of those he slays. Butchery is the provender of Yeenoghu, and his single-minded pursuit of annihilation makes him a dangerous force in the infinite layers of the Abyss. TM & © 2008 Wizards of the Coast, Inc. All rights reserved. June 2008 | DRAGON 364 5 Demonomicon of Iggwilv N A THRONE of bone, in the dim light of smoke-filled hall, surrounded by the sounds of screams and the endless grinding of the YEENOGHU AND D&D wheels far below, sits the Beast of Butch- O ery. Yeenoghu, by those with the courage Yeenoghu, like Graz’zt, was one of the cre- began to fade. Although he was still favored to address him as such, is a demon prince of the Abyss. As ations of the late Gary Gygax for the DUNGEONS by the gnolls, he was no longer their prin- patron of the gnolls, he is worshiped as a god. As kindred & DRAGONS game, making him one of the first cipal god. The coup de grace, so to speak, to other fiends who carve out their own kingdoms in the demon lords mentioned in 1st Edition. From for Yeenoghu, was the loss of Doresain, the Abyss, he is a terrifying scourge, a force of destruction, and the start, Yeenoghu was an important figure, King of Ghouls. Libris Mortis, by Andy Collins a liability to the designs and ambitions of his rivals. Few who was described as being “one of the most and Bruce Cordell, revealed Yeenoghu lost aside from other more powerful demon lords dare chal- powerful and feared” of the demon princes. the ability to command Doresain, implying lenge him or the reckless legions clambering to his banners Part of his power stemmed from the fact he either the King of Ghouls had ascended to because his forces are nigh unstoppable, and if Yeenoghu’s enjoyed the worship of the gnolls, and he also true godhood (which his rank as demigod forces could maintain coherency for more than a single enjoyed the support and homage of the King supported) or that Yeenoghu had lost so campaign, he might have emerged long ago as the true of Ghouls. Jeff Grubb, in the Manual of the much power he was fast becoming irrelevant. master of the Abyss. As history has shown, though, Yeeno- Planes, implied the demon prince controlled Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, by Ed ghu is his own worst enemy, and he is frequently the cause far more than one layer in the Abyss. Of par- Stark, James Jacobs, and Erik Mona, con- of his own undoing. ticular note, this book gave us the first look firms the latter explanation, describing the at Yeenoghu’s Realm, a barren salt-waste Destroyer as a “lesser demon lord,” with few through which Yeenoghu roamed inside his ambitions beyond seeing his chosen servants Description rolling fortress city pulled by legions of slaves thrive in the world. Even Wolfgang Baur’s Yeenoghu combines the worst features of a gnoll and demon under the watchful eyes of gnoll overseers. and Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel’s Expedition to in one immense form. Standing 12 feet tall, his body is Yeenoghu faded from the game for a time the Demonweb Pits portrays Yeenoghu as a gaunt and lanky, and patches of yellow fur stained with during the early years of 2nd Edition. In 1992 minor player in the demonic conclave, his brown spots cover him. Leprous gray skin and suppurating he returned to the game in Carl Sargent’s attendance diminished by his peers. wounds mar his body, revealing the corruption of his flesh Monster Mythology. Here, Yeenoghu remained In the 4th Edition rules, Yeenoghu is again and spirit. His head is a large, anthropomorphic hyena’s, a demon (tanar’ri) lord, and he was also a full- one of the few demon lords mentioned in the with glowing red eyes and a toothy maw from which spills fledged god and member of the “giantish” Monster Manual. The Beast of Butchery is the strings of drool. pantheon. Deemed an interloper god, he was sole master of the gnolls, and packs of these Always suspicious of treachery, Yeenoghu wears armor not originally part of the pantheon, but he feral creatures roam the world in search of assembled from the pieces he scavenges on the battlefield, joined it later when he subverted the gnolls raid, plunder, and victims to sacrifice on their with bits of mail and plate held together by strips of flesh from their god Gorellik. Yeenoghu remained bloody altars. Yeenoghu is still a savage and collected from his victims. His pride is his Triple Flail, an evil a part of the giant pantheon, but he cared bestial figure, but he has reclaimed his place weapon constructed from the bones of a god he slew during nothing for the giants themselves—he just among the mighty demon lords. It’s just a the ancient wars between the deities and the primordi- sought the power he could steal from them matter of time before the Beast of Butchery als. The handle is a thighbone wrapped in the god’s torn as he had from fallen Gorellik. stirs in his fetid realm and brings horrific war flesh. Three chains extend from the top of the handle, each With 3rd Edition, Yeenoghu’s significance to the planes once more. ending in a rusty, barbed head. When used in combat, the weapon bleeds divine ichors, splashing the field with the tears and blood of the fallen deity. June 2008 | DRAGON 364 6 Demonomicon of Iggwilv Yeenoghu Level 28 Solo Skirmisher A Crushing Grasp (minor; recharge ⚃ ⚄ ⚅ ) ✦ Force Yeenoghu Lore Large elemental humanoid (demon) XP 65,000 Area burst 2 within 20; +36 vs. Reflex; 3d10 + 10 A character knows the following information with a force damage, and the target is immobilized until the successful Arcana check. Initiative +24 Senses Perception +22; end of Yeenoghu’s next turn. Miss: Half damage and darkvision, low-light vision the target is pushed up to 10 squares. DC 15: Yeenoghu has many names, and each one Fetid Cloud (Poison) aura 5; enemies that start their C Filthy Curse (minor; recharge ⚃ ⚄ ⚅) ✦ Psychic, reflects another facet of his cruel and savage nature. turn in the aura take 10 poison damage and are Necrotic Most know him as the Demon Prince of Gnolls, but slowed until the start of their next turn. Close blast 5; +32 vs. Will; 1d8 + 5 psychic damage, among the gnolls, he is called the Destroyer, and in HP 1,290; Bloodied 645; see also bloodied wrath ongoing 10 necrotic damage (save ends), and the certain circles and writings, he has been called the AC 46; Fortitude 44, Reflex 46, Will 42 target is stunned until the end of its next turn. Beast of Butchery and the Ruler of Ruin. Yeenoghu Immune disease, poison; Resist 10 variable Feint (move; at-will) is the undisputed master of the gnolls, and through (2/encounter); see MM glossary Yeenoghu can shift 3 squares. Yeenoghu gains combat Saving Throws +5 advantage against targets he ends his move adjacent them, he works his evil in the natural world. Speed 7 to until the end of his turn. DC 20: As a demon lord, Yeenoghu is a vehicle of Action Points 2 Hyena Strike destruction. Like many demon lords, Yeenoghu was m Triple Flail (standard; at-will) ✦ Weapon If Yeenoghu moves at least 3 squares from where he once a primordial, one of the shapers of creation, but Reach 2; +32 vs. AC; 2d8 + 10 damage, and the began his turn, his attacks deal an extra 3d6 damage. was transformed and awakened by the mysterious target is immobilized (save ends). Aftereffect: 15 Threatening Reach Chained God believed to lurk at the bottom of the damage. Requires Triple Flail; Yeenoghu can make opportunity Abyss. As with other demons, Yeenoghu hungers for m Bite (minor; at-will against a target hit by attacks against all creature within his reach (2 squares). Yeenoghu’s Teleport (move; recharge ⚂ ⚃ ⚄ ⚅ ) ✦ Teleportation carnage, but also craves power over his rivals and Triple Flail attack) Yeenoghu teleports up to 12 squares. the gods themselves. To this end, he goads his mortal Reach 2; +32 vs. AC; 1d8 + 10 damage, and ongoing Alignment Chaotic evil Languages Abyssal, Common servants into performing appalling acts of evil in his 5 damage (save ends). Skills Athletics +29, Insight +22, Intimidate +24, name throughout the lands. He admonishes his ser- ✦ M Ribbons of Flesh (standard; at-will) Fear Nature +22, Stealth +27 vants to show no mercy in their perpetual war—they Reach 2; Yeenoghu makes two melee basic attacks Str 31 (+24) Dex 26 (+22) Wis 16 (+17) must kill all creatures they encounter and take pris- against two different targets.