mordenkainens tome of foes

FRAZ-URB'LUU

The most deceptive of all demons, Fraz-Urb'luu is a mas-

ter illusionist and weaver of lies. He thrives by luring

his

cultists and his enemies alike into lives of self-delusion.

He can take on nearly any form, usually

appearing in

whatever shape is most pleasing to a potential cultist.

Fraz-Urb'luu considers himself the smartest entity

in the cosmos, the only one who can see through all of

reality's lies and understand

the truth that lies beyond

them. Yet the truth that

he sees remains known only to

him. He utters cryptic remarks about a grand design

that guides the cosmos toward some unknown end,

but none can say whether these statements are another

layer

of deception or evidence of a true insight.

Cultists. Those who worship Fraz-Urb'luu fall into

two camps. Most of his so-called "cultists," rather than

being true volunteers, are unfortunates duped into hon-

oring him because they listened to his lies. Fraz-Urb'luu

might appear to a desperate paladin and claim to be a

saintly figure, or contact a wizard while in the guise of

a wise sage. He tells these folk whatever stories and

promises they want to hear, playing to their needs and

slowly drawing them into his circle

of influence. He es-

pecially enjoys using the arrogance

and vanity of good

folk against them, helping to bring about their downfall.

A few of his followers are illusionists, deceivers, and

con artists who seek him out. Fraz-Urb'luu makes use

of their tal

ents, and rewards these supplicants appropri-

ately,

as long as they follow his example in the campaign

to bring about the downfall of all that is lawful and good.

CHAPTER I I THE BLOOD WAR

GRAZ

1

ZT

The lord of pleasure and limitless indulgence, Graz'zt is

the ultimate hedonist. He incites lust and uncontrollable

urges in both his cultists and his enemies.

In Graz'zt's eyes, the universe is a great

plaything, and

one day he will be its master. All other creatures and

things will be allowed to exist only if they give him plea-

s ure. When he ascends to dominate the cosmos, all who

are left will love and worship him.

Despite h is extreme

self-indulgence, Graz'zt isn't blind

to what goes on a round him. He can curb his lust when

he needs to plot against an enemy or counter an attack.

When he must contend with an enemy, he fights with a

GRAZ'ZT'S MURKY PAST

Sages have

put forth ideas for why demons consider the

denizens of the Nine Hells as the greatest threat to their

designs for the cosmos. Some researchers claim to have

uncovered evidence that the animosity between demons

and devils has its roots in a primeval time

when Graz'zt,

now a demon lord, was a member

of the devils' hierarchy.

As the hypothesis

goes, Graz'zt wasn't satisfied with the

prospect

of being eternally subservient to Asmodeus in the

Hells, where only one devil can claim absolute rulership.

The Abyss offers greater freedom to those who are pow·

erful enough to carve out a realm for themselves-and,

after forsaking his status in the Hells,

that's exactly what

Graz'zt did.

Those who

find this idea plausible hope that Graz'zt's

defection is a unique event, never to be repeated. If that

turns out not to be the case, another such shift could be a

major turning point in the Blood War.