dreaded_beast said:
In regards to Orcus, so what is the deal? Deity or Demon Prince?
Par for the course, the book seems to want to have it's cake and eat it to on this issue.
Page 143, under "Features of the Abyss" states:
The Abyss has no divine realms, and no true deities make their homes there. However, a great many demon princes - probably as many as there are layers of the Abyss - vie for power and territory on this plane. Prominent demon princes include Demogorgon, Eltab, Yeenoghu, Orcus, Graz'zt, Baphomet, and Kostchtchie, most of whom are described in the Book of Vile Darkness
However, page 189 has a table (Table A-10) describing the "Vile and Exalted Deities" of Faerun...that is, the deities who can grant exalted domains (from the
Book of Exalted Deeds) and vile domains (from the
Book of Vile Darkness). The thing to note is that several archfiends (and celestial paragons) are listed among the "deities" of the table with no discrepancies noted. While Orcus is not among them (he has no vile domains, though he has other domains), this clearly points out that several demon lords can grant spells...something they shouldn't be able to do, unless they were gods.
I remember the Bloodstone Modules that have him as the final BBEG, where he is presented as a deity.
From what I've heard about module H3
Mines of Bloodstone, it does have an appearance by an "avatar of Orcus" yes. However, Orcus as displayed on pages 76-77 of H4
Throne of Bloodstone is decidedly not a god there. He does have a full stat listing which is different from his
Monster Manual depiction, which is stated as being his stats within his actual fortress - the
Monster Manual stats are used if he's elsewhere on his plane or another plane (as modified by
Manual of the Planes). Nothing about his description notes him as a deity (though, to be fair, you fight Tiamat later in the adventure, and she has no notations that depict her as a deity either, save that Bahamut tells you that even if you kill her, she'll come back - same for destroying the Wand of Orcus).
However, from my understanding, the PGtF presents him as a Demon Prince.
Like I said, it waffles on that issue.