Canonfire! - Excerpts from the Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Baphomet

The background and powers of Baphomet, the Demon Lord of Minotaurs, as researched and recorded by the Witch of Perrenland.

Author: grodog

Excerpts from the Demonomicon of Iggwilv:
Baphomet, Demon Lord of Minotaurs

by grodog (see also
http://www.rpg.net/ehp/imrryr/greyhawk.html)
Copyright 2001 by Allan T. Grohe, Jr. Used with Permission. Do not repost without obtaining prior permission from the author.

Baphomet, Demon Lord of Minotaurs
"The White Prince," "The Senile King"

Baphomet, King of Demonkind and Rightful Lord and Champion of the Abyss, is quite a pathetic figure these days. Once tall, muscled, and malign, Baphomet is now stooped, balding, and weak. Where the power and majesty of the Firstborn once reigned, only confusion and dotage remain.

The Senile King no longer rules the Abyss in the absence of Abraxus, his dark father. His court on the 149th layer, properly called Minauros, no longer attracts demons to pay homage, offer gifts, etc. Baphomet sits upon his Horned Throne---surrounded by the massive, ever-shifting labyrinthine patterns on his ballroom's floor tiles---and drools. Sometime he talks to himself, or to others long lost to the ages. The shell that is Baphomet remains a sign of the ancient traditions and power of the Firstborn, now maintained as a museum exhibit. Very occasionally visited by his sisters, few others pay Baphomet any heed.

The White Prince's hair---including the few patches of his body hair that remain---is an almost-angelic snow white hue, and is braided in a nine-foot long, flowing ponytail. Intertwined among the loops are small mementos of past conquests: all 56 finger bones of the Daemon Masters Uelirandrinqol and Luirnwalvriq, both slain by Baphomet millennia ago; a corroded bronze armband covered with incomprehensible glyphs, a gift from Sceirion before his disappearance; the miniature skull of a pit fiend; etc.

Baphomet's skin is a mottled grey with dark brown overmarking scattered across his frame. His proud horns are still long, sharp, and a glossy black, although they bow Baphomet's once-mighty head with their weight. Upon his brow, between the horns, rests the triple-tiered Crown of Rulership, forged of black ayrn, and topped with 66 glowing lavanreals. Baphomet unconsciously clasps and unclasps the grip of The Nyt Scepter, an eight-foot mace-like rod of mitrhil-alloyed duranol, carved into the shape of an abyssal dragon or a other bat- or lizard-like creature atop some spire, its tail wrapping around the shaft. (For details about these extra-planar metals, see The Glooms of Hades).

Though senile, Baphomet does have periods of lucidity. During these, he dons his blackened breastplate (which bears his personal rune), and wields his great bardiche (3d4+8 damage), forged from a rare red adamantite mounted in murkwood. He summons his chief aide, the demon Belitfint, to request updates on Abyssal intelligence, to dispatch couriers and spies on various missions, etc. Baphomet has begun wars subsequently forgotten as his faculties slipped back into chaos….

While intact, Baphomet has full access to his spell-like powers, and builds plots with thousands of millennia of Chaotic and Evil acts from which to draw inspiration. In such times, Baphomet is a force of such primal and cunning evil, that it is an irrational act of foolhardiness merely to fear and avoid him.

In addition to demonic standard powers and abilities for Firstborn lords and princes, Baphomet can employ the following magical powers (at will, unless otherwise limited): maze, telekinese 75,000 gp weight, shout, great shout (3/day), bellow (as a dragonne roar, 2/day), roar (1/day; 30" cone, save vs. Breath Weapon or take 60-110% [d6+5] of current hit points in damage, items save vs. Disintegration), gate in various lower planar nasties (balrogs, goristroi, catoboligne, barghests, nycadaemons, etc.), summon 11-30 tough minotaurs (+2 hit points per HD), and teleport others (7" range, save applies only if the victim's destination is not a maze; cross-planar destinations are ok as long as Baphomet has visited the maze site; Labyarax is a favorite destination).

Despite his powers, Baphomet's periods of sanity grow further apart. He often flies into uncontrolled rage when conscious of his decrepitude, and attacks his servants, his few visitors, etc. After his rants subside, Baphomet feels much better. He is aware that his powers have faded, and continue to decline.

Notes:

[stats in brackets reflect Baphomet in a lucid phase]

Frequency: Unique
No. Appearing: 1
Armor Class: 4 (0 if charge) [-3 in breastplate]
Move: 2" (24" charge, rarely) [9" while lucid]
Hit Dice: 76 Hit Points (17 HD)
% in Lair: 99%
Treasure Type: ?
No. of Attacks: 1 (+3 if charge)
Damage/Attack: by weapon or 15-24 by charge (3d4+12)
Special Attacks: Maze radius (any who come within a 7" radius must save vs. Spells at -1 per 1" within the 7" radius or be confused; minotaurs and Baphomet's servitors are immune), Charge (items must save vs. Crushing Blow at -1 per 5 points of damage inflicted or be destroyed), see below
Special Defenses: +3 or better weapon to hit
Magic Resistance: 76%
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral [CE while lucid]
Size: 10' tall (L)
Psionics: Nil
Level/XP Value: X/?

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Abyss, Firstborn