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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ripzerai" data-source="post: 3330047" data-attributes="member: 38324">In 1st edition, all planar rulers were treated as lesser deities by default. That included everyone from Lolth, Graz'zt, Fraz-Urb'luu, and Baphomet to Primus, Ygorl, Ssendam, Asmodeus, and Tiamat. In 2nd edition, they were handled differently depending on the author and the context. In Monster Mythology (by Carl Sargent) the demon lords ranged from demigod (Sess'inek) to intermediate deity (Lolth) in rank. In Iuz the Evil (also by Carl Sargent), Graz'zt and Pazuzu ("Pazrael") were considered nondivine creatures. These stats for Graz'zt and Paz were later reprinted in Planes of Chaos, and non-divine Graz'zt also appeared in For Duty and Deity.In 3rd edition, they're all considered to have one divine rank as an optional rule, or no divine ranks as the standard. However, all demon lords have the ability to manipulate the layers under their control as if they were lesser deities. Some seem to have even greater power over their realms, according to the flavor text.By the flavor, planar rulers are an equal match for deities, even greater deities in many cases. Graz'zt fought the lesser god Raxivort to a draw, Bel drove the entire orcish pantheon out of his layer (he caught them by surprise while they were distracted with infighting, but still), and Set and Levistus are at a stalemate, Levistus slowly wearing away at Set's defenses while Set sends raiders out to kill Levistus' minions. Kostchtchie killed one of Thrym's demigod-level brothers, and demons and gods are often at direct loggerheads (Yeenoghu and Gorellik, Kostchtchie and Thrym, Demogorgon and Sekolah).At the same time, powerful mortals have been known to act as equals to demon lords as well. Iggwilv ensnared Graz'zt (albeit with disastrous results, since he stripped her of her powers when he escaped, and later imprisoned her in the Abyss and tortured her for a decade when she dared to summon him again). Graz'zt was also briefly imprisoned by Tuerny (with disastrous results, as Graz'zt ultimately escaped and dragged him into the Abyss, turning him into a dretch). Zagyg ensnared Fraz-Urb'luu (more successfully, but then Zagyg also ensnared Olidammara, an intermediate deity, so his feats are probably a bad example of what mortals can typically do). Eltab was imprisoned by the Red Wizard Jorgmacdon.</blockquote>

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