Orcus

“Demon-Lord of the Undead”

Alignment: Chaotic evil

Domains: Chaos, Evil, Death, Destruction

Symbol: Wand of Orcus

Garb: Black cowl and robe ensemble

Favored Weapons: Ornamental heavy mace (spiked or skull-tipped)

Form of Worship and Holidays: Day of the Dead (Late Fall), Nights of blood red and horned moons. Worship usually involves grave robbery and the animation and conscription of the newly dead to the forces of evil.

Typical Worshipers: Monsters, undead and evil humanoids

Orcus is a demon prince with — surprisingly enough — many human worshipers. He has a strange fascination with humans and their desire for power, possibly because it is this very flaw that causes them so frequently to seek that which he controls: power over death. Orcus is the lord of all undead and he resides in the Abyss in his Palace of Bones surrounded by a legion of vampires and liches.

Evil, ruination and wanton destruction are his only goals. He is most often depicted as a bloated ram-headed, bat-winged monstrosity with cloven-hoofed goat legs. He wields the “Wand of Orcus,” a legendary skull-tipped obsidian rod that is rumored to slay any living thing it touches. Though mostly worshiped by the monstrous races, the ranks of Orcus’ human worshipers are swelling, as Orcus grants his followers power in large, liberal doses. It is not uncommon for Orcus to give relatively low-level priests command of vast numbers of undead to do his bidding. His symbol is either a demonic ram-headed skull (the most common), a representation of himself seated on his throne, or a depiction of his skull-tipped wand. His priests favor heavy, dark hooded robes and ornamental maces stylized to represent his skull-tipped wand.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Rappan Athuk © 2012 Frog God Games; Authors: Bill Webb, Matt Finch, Clark Peterson, WDB Kenower, Greg Raglund, Greg Vaughan, and Skeeter Green.

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