Demon Lords

Alifanitax

Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Worshippers’ Alignment: Any Evil

Clerics’ Alignment: Within one step of Chaotic Evil

Domains: Chaos, Knowledge

In his previous existence on the Abyss, Alifanitax was a glabrezou demon of moderate power working his way up through the ranks of the Ta’Nari. Upon being summoned to Avlis by Kimonictinus, he took on the role of the Demon Lord’s lieutenant in the conquest of the underdark. Foremost in the personality of Alifanitax is a penchant for criticism, and it was this quality that made him work so well with Sharistracterus, the lieutenant employed by Kimonictinus to plan the conquest. Alifanitax’ function was to refine the plans set forth by his colleague and look for any holes they might pose. When Alifanitax got involved in matters, he wanted to know them inside out. He wanted to know how, why, when, and anything else he could find out. From there, a list of problems would be brought forth by him and corrected before the plan was brought to bear. Though Alifanitax was not especially good at sticking to a plan once created and refined because of his chaotic nature, his position in Kimonictinus’ command chain did not warrant the need.

After serving Kimonictinus for many years as a lieutenant, Alifanitax revolted from his capital city of Draigalon along with his other fellow lieutenants to gain their independence as separate Demon Lords. His victory was soon secured, after which Alifanitax turned his talents towards hedonism and debauchery. This pleased his worshippers to some extent, though problems often arose when battles threatened their borders and the ability to command entire armies was not his forte. In the end, this proved fatal to the short-lived Demon Lord who was killed by Kimonictinus after only 20 years of war-torn independence. Thus, Alifanitax is the only one of the major Demon Lords who has been killed so far.

Though there are still worshippers of Allifanitax who swear that he still lives or who try to revive him somehow, they do not gain any spells or benefits from their devotion. A good number of Alifanitax’s worshippers were related to him in some way, because it is rumored that he fathered tens of thousands of illegitimate children that are spread throughout the underdark. In hindsight, it was probably this behavior that diluted his Black Dagger essence and contributed to his downfall to the point that he was easily dispatched.

Kimonictinus

Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Worshippers’ Alignment: Any Evil

Clerics’ Alignment: Within one step of Chaotic Evil

Domains: Chaos, Death, Earth

The rise of Kimonictinus began when he was summoned to Avlis as a lowly dretch demon by some unknown Ta’Nari during the pre-historic years ruled by the spirit folk, when the Negerai Prime was ravaging the land mercilessly. When the battle that would ultimately crown the creation of Avlis and begin the age of mortal beings broke out, the Negerai Prime became an invincible deity and was immediately wrapped up in brutal combat with the Nine. Through a miraculous series of events (that some believe were orchestrated by the Supreme itself), the dretch known as Kimonictinus found what could not be found: the Black Dagger. Being greedy for power like any other Ta’Nari, he seized the opportunity and wielded the horrific artifact and slayed the Negerai Prime forever, leaving the Nine in power to this day. Most believe that shortly after that the Supreme removed the Black Dagger from Kimonictinus and spirited it away to a location that this time many swear can truly not be found. Unfortunately for the multitudes, mere possession of such a powerful item leaves the ex-wielder changed forever. By wielding the infinite destructive influence of the Black Dagger, Kimonictinus was no longer a mere dretch, but a powerful super demon, the first Demon Lord.

More than that, the deities of Avlis, especially Mikon, found that they could only contain Kimonictinus and not banish or kill him, for fear of causing irreparable harm to the planet. Their only choice was to set Kimonictinus down in the underdark, where he eventually corrupted his vasharan and kharakuro jailers into following him loyally. Now, Kimonictinus remains the most powerful Demon Lord in the Underdark, and many covet his power. Some of these folk show their avarice by worshipping him, and some show it by opposing him, and in many instances dying because of him.

The church of Kimonictinus worships him like serfs, mercenaries, and greedy magicians would fawn over a despotic monarch. As a Demon Lord, Kimonictinus does not control any aspect of nature or other deific type of influence. He merely seeks to conquer the caverns below ground before extending his power to the surface once more, as he tried to long ago. His philosophy is simple: complete loyalty must be paid by those who wish to serve him. All others will be eliminated and conquered, and the Demon Lords and their spawn are at the top of this list, for those kills restore him more of his original power, which he covets endlessly.

Kuthos

Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Worshippers’ Alignment: Any Evil

Clerics’ Alignment: Within one step of Chaotic Evil

Domains: Chaos, War

As an unsuspecting glabrezou demon on the Abyss, Kuthos was suddenly summoned to Avlis by a Demon Lord named Kimonictinus. From there, Kuthos made history as the Demon Lord’s main enforcer and executioner. Generally, Kuthos’ strengths do not lie in his intellect. Fortunately, Kimonictinus did not recruit him for the purpose of thinking. Kuthos’ job was doing. Any plans or ideas that were passed to him were carried out with primal glee and twisted pleasure.

Like anything else in Ta’Nari society, perserverance is not a key element in Kuthos’ mindset. Eventually he tired of being the muscle behind Kimonictinus’ conquest and he revolted from his main city of Demon’s Teeth, deep within the underdark. In that long battle, Kuthos gained his independence as a Demon Lord no longer subject to anyone.

Since that time, the worship and holdings of Kuthos have grown. The brutality and callous cruelty of his followers is known throughout the underdark, and feared accordingly. Like their Demon Lord, followers of Kuthos are not known for their elaborate scheming, planning, or ideas. Instead they are known for the blind, yet effective, way in which they charge into a situation with rage and hatred until victory is achieved.

Only the most cruel and evil races have a tendancy to worship Kuthos. Most of these are vasharan and kharakuro, though scattered sereg’wethrin offshoots have been known to serve him because of the similarities behind their modi operandi. As usual, exceptions are made, but not frequently.

Sharistracterus

Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Worshippers’ Alignment: Any Evil

Clerics’ Alignment: Within one step of Chaotic Evil

Domains: Chaos, Evil

Originally, this being was a glabrezou demon from the Abyss. On a fateful evening on that wind-scorched rocky plane, Sharistracterus found himself drawn by a summons he could not resist. When arriving on Avlis, he found that the summoner was a being unlike any other he had met, a powerful Demon Lord named Kimonictinus, and immediately Sharistracterus began to serve this creature in the hopes of supplanting him someday.

The talents of Sharistracterus were visible as soon as his clawed feet touched the grey stone of the Avlissian underdark. He was a powerful schemer and spinner of plans. Upon hearing the ideas of his captain, Sharistracterus was able to turn these macinations into firm plans that met with many successes throughout the years he served as Kimonictinus’ lieutenant. Thus, his counsel became indispensable to the Demon Lord.

Years later, when the lieutenant known as Kuthos revolted against Kimonictinus, a simultaneous revolt was staged by Sharistracterus to gain his own independence as a Demon Lord. After a bitter battle waged by his followers, their freedom was won, and to this day Sharistracterus rules from his home city of Sharis deep within the underdark.

Worshippers of Sharistracterus are evil and conniving. Their ideals are similar to those of the Demon Lord. Like their liege, these worshippers are not often proficient at coming up with ideas or refining and executing the plans they make. However, their ability to create elaborate schemes to fool, distress, destroy, or concquer are unparalleled in the underdark, and they are often sought after for this ability by those who are capable of the execution and delivery.

Naturally, individuals of this quality can be found among any races present on Avlis, and the diversity among the followers of Sharistracterus is large. Though there is not a lot of ceremony involved in his worship, the few ceremonies that do take place are extremely detailed and complicated, not to mention twisted.