Hordes of the Abyss: Q&A

[Rystil Arden]

Please tell me you're kidding. Cause that's not funny.

Yup, totally made it up Did I fool you? Seriously, all the fluff so far is looking top-notch. You know they wouldn't do something like that

 

[BOZ]

Yeah. And i think some of you are going to be blown away by where she's slinked off to.

heh, one of many cryptic clues that's got me curious... too bad i'll have to wait another week to get the book myself.

 

[Pants]

I might pick mine up on Fri or Sat.
Hopefully.

 

[demiurge1138]

Yeah. And i think some of you are going to be blown away by where she's slinked off to.

--Erik

My guess? Grazzt's harem. She's trying to seduce him and get him to launch an army against Thanatos so she can take her revenge on Orcus.

Demiurge out.

 

[Rystil Arden]

My guess? Grazzt's harem. She's trying to seduce him and get him to launch an army against Thanatos so she can take her revenge on Orcus.

Demiurge out.

I came this close to saying that as a joking response to Nightfall "No, no Orcus's, but..." but then I didn't. As such, it would be quite ironic if it was actually true.

 

[gizmo33]

Hmm... Marduk is a god from Babylonian mythology; the one who tore Tiamat in two to form the earth and the sea, if I'm not mistaken.

I wonder why Gary chose to use that name as a demon lord? It's an unusual leap from the source material.

What source material are you referring to? I always assumed that Gygax's names were from medieval grimoires (not hard to find transcripts of on the internet). Medieval demonologists probably started the confusion. I wouldn't necessarily identify Marduk with the god.

 

[Ripzerai]

As long as it's not near Orcus, I'm good Erik.

Orcus is too busy whimpering and shivering and seeing babies crawling around on the ceiling due to "Last Word" withdrawal to notice where Kiaransalee is.

 

[Mouseferatu]

What source material are you referring to? I always assumed that Gygax's names were from medieval grimoires (not hard to find transcripts of on the internet). Medieval demonologists probably started the confusion. I wouldn't necessarily identify Marduk with the god.

Purely Babylonian myth--which I was pointed toward, ironically enough, by the original Deities and Demigods.

I have no idea if Marduk appears in Medieval grimoires. If so, I'd love to see what they have to say.

 

[BogusMagus]

hey Bogus, or anyone else that has the book early, how does the Appendix of layers stack up to Rip's list? (scroll down a bit to see it)

i'm sure a few layers were cut (those dealing with real-world deities, for one), and i'm sure quite a few new ones were added.

I really like the Appendix 1&2.

The actual Appendix lists the Rulers of each layers.
For the list below, I have cut & pasted form the original thread, and have not checked/noted the Rulers, just the names of the Layers (except 359.).

FC1Appendix2 / Demonic Lore Thread (red: new or changed)

yes / LAYER 1: PLAIN OF INFINITE PORTALS/Pazunia
yes / LAYER 2: DRILLER'S HIVES
yes / LAYER 3: FORGOTTEN LAND
yes / LAYER 4: GRAND ABYSS
yes / LAYER 5: WORMBLOOD
yes / LAYER 6: REALM OF A MILLION EYES (THE GREAT MOTHER'S REALM)
yes / LAYER 7: PHANTOM PLANE (KEARACKININ; SESS'INEK'S REALM)
yes / LAYER 8: "SKIN-SHEDDER" (I)
yes / LAYER 9: BURNINGWATER (I)
yes / LAYER 10: "THAT HELLHOLE" (I)
yes / LAYER 11: MOLRAT (I)
yes / LAYER 12: TWELVETREES
yes / LAYER 13: BLOOD TOR (Beshaba and Umberlee's realms; F&A)
moved from 657 -> 14 : The Steaming Fen
new 17 : Death's Reward
new 21 : The Sixth Pyre
yes / LAYER 23: IRON WASTES (Kostchtchie's realm)
yes / LAYER 27: MALIGNEBULA (Lissa'aere the Noxious' realm; Hellbound)
new 32 : Sholo-Tovoth: The Fields of Consumption
yes / LAYERS 45, 46 AND 47: AZZAGRAT (TRIPLE REALM) (Graz'zt's realm; For Duty and Deity)
moved from 561 -> 49 : Shaddonon
new 52 : Vorganund
yes / LAYER 57: TORTUROUS TRUTH (Duke Alvarez's realm; FoE)
no / LAYER 65: LOLTH'S WEB (Lolth's realm, formerally Zanassu's realm; implied in Demihuman Deities)
yes / LAYER 66: THE DEMONWEB PITS (Lolth's, Selvetarm's, and Keptolo's realm)
yes / LAYER 67: HEAVING HILLS (Hezrou realm)
yes / LAYER 68: The Swallowed Void <-UNNAMED (Void) (I)
yes / LAYER 69: THE CRUSHING PLAIN (I)
yes / LAYER 70: THE ICE FLOE (I)
yes / LAYER 71: SPIRAC
yes / LAYER 72: "DARKLIGHT" (I)
yes / LAYER 73: THE WELLS OF DARKNESS (I)
yes / LAYER 74: SMARAGD (Merrshaulk and Ramenos' realms)
Re: The Viper Pit (Sseth's realm; P&P)
Si: The Silent Temple (Planar Handbook)
new 77 : The Gates of Heaven
new 79 : The Emessu Tunnels
yes / LAYER 88: THE GAPING MAW (BRINE FLATS) (Demogorgon's realm)
new 89 : The Shadowsea
new 90 : The Guttering Grove
new 92 : Ulgurshek
yes / LAYER 111: THE MIND OF EVIL (Realm of Sch’theraqpasstt; Dragon #151)
yes / LAYER 113: THANATOS (THE BELLY OF DEATH)
yes / LAYER 128: THE SLUGBED (Lupercio's realm; FoE)
new 137 : Outcasts' End
yes / LAYER 142: LIFEBANE (Chemosh's Realm, OHG)
yes / LAYER 148: TORRENT (Planar Handbook Web Enhancement)
yes / LAYER 176: HOLLOW'S HEART (Fraz-Urbluu's new realm; FoE)
new 177 : The Writhing Realm
yes / LAYER 181: ROTTING PLAIN (Laogzed's realm)
yes / LAYER 193: VULGAREA (Eshebala's realm; OHG)
yes / LAYER 222: SHEDAKLAH (THE SLIME PITS) (I) (Jubilex's and Zuggtmoy's realms)
yes / LAYER 223: RARANDRETH (OFFALMOUND) (Moander's realm; now Lolth's realm; F&A; OHG; DD)
new 230 : The Dreaming Gulf
yes / LAYER 241: PALPITATIA (Grankhul's and Skiggaret's realms; OHG)
yes / LAYER 245: The Scalding Sea <- OCEAN OF SCREAMS (Planar Handbook)
yes / LAYER 248: THE HIDDEN LAYER (Eltab's domain; Champions of Ruin)
yes / LAYER 274: DURAO (gateway layer)
yes / LAYER 297: THE SIGHING CLIFFS (Lynkhab's realm; FoE)
yes / LAYER 300: FENG-TU (Tou Mu and Lu Yueh's realm; 1e Manual of the Planes)
yes / LAYER 303: SULFANORUM
yes / LAYER 313: Gorrion's Grasp <-UNNAMED
Si: Illssender's Tower (Hellbound)
yes LAYER 333: THE BROKEN SCALE (Hiddukel's realm; OHG)
moved to 359 <- LAYER 334: UNNAMED (Eldanoth's realm; Faces of Evil)
yes / LAYER 340: The Black Blizzard <- UNNAMED (A cold, desolate, voidlike place; Faction War)
new 348 : Indifference
moved from 334 -> 359 : The Arc of Eternity
yes / LAYER 377: PLAINS OF GALLENSHU (armanite realm)
yes / LAYER 399: WORM REALM (Urdlen's realm)
yes / LAYER 400: WOEFUL ESCARAND (nalfeshnee realm)
yes / LAYER 403: THE RAINLESS WASTE
IT: Mal Arundak, the City of Confusion (Fallen archon realm; FoE)
yes / LAYER 421: The White Kingdom <-SALTED WOUND (Realm of Doresain, the King of the Ghouls, vassal of Yeenoghu; Libris Mortis, name from the Mimir)
yes / LAYER 422: Yeenoghu's Realm <-THE SEEPING WOODS (Yeenoghu's realm)
new 423 : Galun-Khur
new 452 : Ahriman-abad
new 471 : Androlynne
yes / LAYER 487: LAIR OF THE BEAST AND MANSION OF THE RAKE (Kanchelsis' realm; OHG)
yes / LAYER 489: NOISOME VALE (Tarnhem's realm; deserted; Dungeon Builder's Guidebook)
yes / LAYER 493: SLEEPLESS (Siragle's realm; Dungeon #28)
yes / LAYER 499: CARRORISTO (Hellbound)
yes / LAYER 503: TORREMOR (LAYER OF FLIES) (Pazrael's realm)
yes / LAYER 507: OCCIPITUS (Shackled City)
yes / LAYER 524: SHATTERSTONE (Vaprak's realm, OHG)
yes / LAYER 531: VUDRA (Marilith realm, Dungeon #60)
new 558 : Fleshforges
moved to 49 <- LAYER 561: SHADDONON (Layer of Rhyxali, Princess of Shadow; Book of Vile Darkness web enhancement)
yes / LAYER 566: SOULFREEZE (The Inner Planes Sourcebook)
new* 570 : Shendilavri
yes / LAYER 586: PRISON OF THE MAD GOD (Diinkarazan's realm)
new 597 : Goranthis
yes / LAYER 600: ENDLESS MAZE (Baphomet's and Pale Night's realm, OHG, FoE)
yes / LAYER 601: CONFLAGRATUM (Alzrius' realm, Hellbound)
new 628 : Vallashan
yes / LAYER 643: CAVERNS OF THE SKULL (I) (Kali's realm)
new 651 : Nethuria
moved from 672 -> 652 : The Rift of Corrosion
moved to 14 <- LAYER 657: THE STEAMING FEN (Rod of Seven Parts)
new 663 : Zionyn
no / LAYER 666: OPEN MAW (The Blood Wars trilogy; name by William Northern)
moved to 652 <- LAYER 672: RIFT OF CORROSION (3e DMG; Monte Cook)

* missing from the Appendix.

 

[James Jacobs]

Unfortunately, poor Malcanthet got left off of the list in the book...

LAYER 570: SHENDILAVRI (Malcanthet's realm)