Description
Orcus is first described in Eldritch Wizardry as a "grossly fat demon lord" covered in goat-like hair, 15 feet tall, with a goat-like head and legs, and the horns of a ram rather than those of a goat. His arms are human, but "Vast bat wings sprout from his back, and his long, snaky tail is tipped with a poisonous head". The book also notes that he is extremely intelligent, and mentions a number of magical abilities that he can use, such as being able to summon certain types of undead - "for he is their Prince". Orcus, like other types of demons introduced in Eldritch Wizardry, had the ability to use psionic abilities.
The first edition Monster Manual adds to the description for Orcus, giving him the title "Prince of the Undead". This book also suggests that is probable that Orcus "is one of the most powerful and strongest of all demons."
As Tenebrous, he is described in the adventure Dead Gods: "It was as if someone had taken a man and squeezed him until all the light was wrung out like water, leaving only the purest of darkness. The intruder on the sands had the form of a large man - gaunt as though from a long illness - who had never experienced illumination (or perhaps had driven itself from him completely). The invader carried no weapon and made no move to strike, yet there was something inherently threatening about him." Another character in the adventure describes him as such: "It was gaunt and angular, almost shadowy and ethereal. Eyes, dark and piercing, stared out at us, but the creature said nothing."
The Book of Vile Darkness describes Orcus as "a massive, bloated demon prince - bloated on spite, bule, and contempt." The book goes on to say that "Orcus is no longer content to grow old and fat on the larvae in his castle. He focuses his anger and hate on the absolute destruction of his enemies and the spread of woe and havoc among mortals. Truly a demon reborn, Orcus is more terrible and dangerous than ever." The book refers to him appearing as an archetypical demon, in fact, his description notes that, "when commoners think of demons, they most likely think of some terrible picture of Orcus that they once saw somewhere." His black, skull-tipped rod serves as his symbol. Orcus actually despises the undead, using them without thought or consideration, but despises the living as well, and hates all things except for achieving personal power and spreading misery and destruction.
The fourth edition Monster Manual describes Orcus as "one of the most powerful demons in the Abyss - powerful enough to threaten gods". It describes him as a "foul and corpulent humanoid creature who has powerful goat legs and a desiccated head similar to that of a ram. His great wings stir up a reeking cloud of diseased air. He seems somewhere between life and death - his sore-ridden body suggests diseased life, but his head and glowing red eyes suggest undeath. His thick, spiny tail is in constant motion." Aside from the Demon Lord of Undeath and the Demon Prince of the Undead, he also has the title of the Blood Lord.
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