Demon Queen of Seduction and Undeath, Mistress of Succubi [Lesser]
| Symbol | Smoke-filled glass sphere | |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil | |
| Priest Alignment | CE, NE, CN, LE, N | |
| Plane | Abyss | |
| Worshippers | Courtesans, seducers, necromancers, some humanoids, some drow | |
| Race | Any | |
| Sex | Female | |
| Attributes | Wisdom 13 | -1 |
| Proficiency Groups | Priest, General | |
| Bonus Proficiency | Etiquette | 2 |
| Preferred Weapon | Charm and seduction | |
| Allowed Weapons | As for standard cleric | |
| Armor | Chain mail and lighter armors, any shield | -5 |
| Primary Sphere | Charm | 10 |
| Major Spheres | All, Chaos, Guardian, Healing, Necromantic, Wards | 48 |
| Minor Spheres | Astral, Combat, Divination, Elemental (Air, Fire), Protection, Thought | 28 |
| Additional Spells | Calm Animals (1st), Create Food and Water (3rd), Produce Fire (4th), Stone Tell (6th) | 2 |
| Abilities | ||
| Control Undead | 15 | |
| Normal priestly followers | 5 | |
| Lay on Hands as Paladin (1/hp level, once per day), only usable on those pledged
to the service of Erishkigal or allied powers 7 (1/day) * 3/4 (limitation) = 5 |
5 | |
| 5th level | Suggestion (3/day), only usable on those who might be seduceable by the priestess 8 (many/day) + 6 (W3) - 2 (5th level) - 1 (2 powers) = 11 * 3/4 = 8 |
8 |
| 9th level | Spiteful word: effects as Symbol of Pain on all hostile targets within 60', 1/day 5 (1/day) + 14 (P7 x 12) - 4 (9th level) - 1 (2 powers) = 14 |
14 |
| Limitations | ||
| Holy symbol is granted directly from Erishkigal, it must be possessed to cast any spells and cannot be replaced except through her hands | -8 | |
| Spells are granted through direct communing with Erishkigal, who may deny or grant them as is her whim. She cannot, however, read minds with greater skill than the ESP spell allows. | -3 | |
| Raiment | Black robes, always attractively cut | |
| Animal | Succubus | |
| Holy Days | New moon of Luna or Celene, erotic rituals and bloodletting of animals and humans | |
| Notes | ||
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Priestesses of Erishkigal cannot cast any spells that raise the dead, including reincarnate, raise dead, and resurrection.
Erishkigal's cult is obsessed with sexual acts and seduction, the priestesses need
not be attractive physically, but are always accomplished seductresses. They will
use their allure in preference to actual combat. |
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| Background | ||
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Erishkigal rose to power as the greatest of all succubi, a Queen of the Abyss
as attractive as the fairest in the Heavens. She has turned countless warriors
of Light against their cause, bending them to her will -- their souls now serve
her in her Abyssal realm. Of these, the greatest story is of a mighty paladin,
mortal servant of Saint Cuthbert of the Cudgel. He journeyed to the Abyss itself
to do battle with Erishkigal, assailing her fortress, dispatching scores of lesser
demons and cursed servitors. Upon reaching the throne of the Queen, he was overcome
by her beauty and charm, and turned to her service. He inhabits the Abyss still,
possessing the powers of both a mighty demon and an undying death knight, his soul
long since consumed.
In the Greyhawk campaign setting, Erishkigal came to recent attention during the clearing of the Caves of Chaos, a den of evil controlled by the cult of Erishkigal. Her priests, never strong in numbers, were scattered, her temple desecrated. Incensed by this blasphemy, Erishkigal bent more attention to the realm of Oerth, cultivating an alliance with Nerull, god of Death. Seeking to weaken the servants of Orcus (and thus aid his goal of dominating the lower planes), Nerull has granted Erishkigal and her priests a measure of power over Undeath, intruding upon Orcus's Abyssal influence. Nerull hopes that Erishkigal will displace Orcus in the affairs of Oerth, granting him another ally amongst the forces of the Abyss. |
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| Sources | ||
| Return to the Keep on the Borderlands Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology, pp. 57, 64 |
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