Hordes of the Abyss: Q&A

[Erik Mona]

The first answer is that decisions like that weren't up to us, so issues of layout, what to cut, text density, etc. were not under our control.

I will say, however, that it's pretty obvious that they made some concessions to allow for more text, at the cost of making a lot of the art smaller than it maybe should have been. The armanite in particular strikes me as very small. The art surely could have been much better, but they were trying to fit in as much as they could.

I actually turned in a little less than my assigned word count (which is unusual for me), but when you've got a topic this exciting, it's difficult not to let things get a little out of control and write write write.

In all I'm comfortable with the cuts WotC made. If they had tried to fit in more text, it would have come at the expense of the art, and that would have been unfortunate.

--Erik

 

[BOZ]

I know what you mean. I had sworn off doing any more freelance until this opportunity came up, and I jumped at the chance for much the same reasons. Of course, once I was done I once again swore off doing any more freelance, reasoning that WotC had given me the coolest assignment I could hope for.

That held for about three months, until I got my current assignment.

verry interrrrreshting.

if it isn't greyhawk - then, FC3?

 

[BOZ]

BTW, i'm having fun looking at the old "Demonic Lore" and "Locations in the Abyss" threads to see how many of the obscure tidbits we dug up actually made it into the book. one that i just found today: Rozvankee the lich who created the vargouilles (see the top of page 140).

 

[Shemeska]

Score two for a unified fiend creation myth *grin*

More little nuggets of joy I noticed today, this time in the writeup of Yeenoghu's realm, about the slowly dying Obyrith lord, Bechard, telling Yeenoghu about pre-Tanar'ric history and the era of his own race in the early days of the Abyss.

"A trusted frequent visitor might eventually hear Bechard say that the demons did not originate on the Abyss but instead migrated here from elsewhere after abandoning a race of fiendish creators now lost to history."

Good stuff. Good stuff.

And also, noticed the DL deities included in the list of layer lords this afternoon. Sweet.

 

[NiTessine]

Got the book a couple of days ago. Great, excellent, beautiful stuff. My sole complaint is that it's several hundred pages too short, but that one goes for most WotC books nowadays.

Just one question, though... What's the story behind That Hellhole?

 

[Zarnam]

I have a couple of questions for those lucky souls already possessing the unholy tome:

1. Are there any Ioumara demon lords ??
2. Do the Obyriths have any immunities or just resistances ??
3. Since Pale Night is an Obyrith, are any of her supposed children Obyriths (Vucarik, Lupercio) ??

Thanks !!

 

[Wavestone]

Zarnam, I have an answer to your second question - the Obyrith traits are listed in the second web enhancement, as Dagon is an Obyrith, and so is his aspect. Download it and read..

 

[Shemeska]

I have a couple of questions for those lucky souls already possessing the unholy tome:

1. Are there any Ioumara demon lords ??

Not that I noticed, at least not named. They do talk and hint about much more powerful Ioumara lurking about in the Dreaming Gulf (layer 230) however.

2. Do the Obyriths have any immunities or just resistances ??

Yes, poison and mind affecting things.

3. Since Pale Night is an Obyrith, are any of her supposed children Obyriths (Vucarik, Lupercio) ??

No, those of her children that are listed are listed as Tanar'ri, not Obyriths. Her title of 'mother of demons' seems to be both direct and indirect.

 

[James Jacobs]

The loumara are a relatively new demonic race (even though they've been around for a LONG time); they're a MUCH younger race than the tanar'ri. As a result, none have become powerful enough to be recognized as demon lords... at least, none have become recognizable and famous demon lords yet.

On a somewhat side trek: the three demon races more or less break down like this:

Loumara: Immaterial or invisible demons that act more like ghosts or undead; all loumara can possess creatures.

Obyrith: Ancient demons that rarely, if ever, have a humanoid shape. They predate mortal life and even the gods, some say, and just looking at them can drive you insane. There's a lot of Lovecraft in the obyriths. Obyriths that have evolved over time with the tanar'ri take on more recognizable shapes, like Pazuzu or Pale Night (althgouh in Pale Night's case, her "humanoid" form is merely an attempt by reality to make sense of the true nightmare of her actual form).

Tanar'ri: Classic demons; those that arose as a result of faith and humanity. They're reflections of cruelty and evil and sin, and usually have a basic humanoid shape, although there are several exceptions.

 

[Zarnam]

Hmm...neato news James

Waiting for this book is really killing me...can somebody answer two more questions of mine - one about FC 1, second about Dragon #345 ???

1. What strength has and what size Dagon is ??
2. What strength has and what size Kostchtchie is ??

Thanks !!