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{{Creature
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'''Plague demons''' were fiends who were created when creatures succumbed to the [[abyssal plague]].
  
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| image = Plague demons 4e.jpg
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| caption = A group of plague demons
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| name = Plague demon
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| othernames =
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| size5e =
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| type5e =
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| subtype5e =
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| alignment5e =
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| challenge5e =
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| refs5e =
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| size4e = Medium, Large
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| origin4e = [[Elemental creature|Elemental]]
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| type4e = [[Humanoid]], [[Beast]]
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| subtype4e = [[Demon]]
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| alignment4e = [[Chaotic evil]]
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| refs4e = <ref name="Dng192-APD"/><ref name="MVNV-p14-16">{{Cite book/Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale|14-15}}</ref>
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| size3e =
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| type3e =
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| subtype3e =
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| alignment3e =
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| challenge3e =
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| refs3e =
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| size2e =
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| alignment2e =
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| refs2e =
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| size1e =
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| alignment1e =
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| refs1e =
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| patron deity = [[Tharizdun]]
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| movement =
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| vision = [[Darkvision]]
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| activecycle =
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| diet =
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| lifespan =
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| location = [[Plaguedeep]]
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| language = [[Abyssal]]
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| subraces =
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| climate =
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| terrain =
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| genrefs = <ref name="Dng192-APD"/><ref name="MVNV-p14-16"/><ref name="Dng197-EAPD"/>
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| height =
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| length =
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| wingspan =
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| weight =
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| skincolor =
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| haircolor =
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| hairstyles =
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| feathers =
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| eyecolor =
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| build =
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| distinctions =
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| appearrefs =
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| first = ''[[Abyssal Plague]]''
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| based =
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| histrefs =
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}}
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'''Plague demons''' were fiends that were created when creatures succumbed to the [[Abyssal Plague (disease)|abyssal plague]].<ref name="Dng192-APD">{{Cite dungeon/192/Creature Incarnations: Abyssal Plague Demons}}</ref><ref name="MVNV-p14-16"/>
   
 
==Creation==
  
==Creation==
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Similar to [[ghoul fever]], a victim infected by the Abyssal Plague, through the ingestion of or contact with [[voidharrow]], the exposure to the blood of another infected creature or the attacks/death throes of a plague demon, could develop symptoms of the disease and transform upon their death.<ref name="Dng192-APD">{{Cite Dungeon/192/Creature Incarnations:Abyssal Plague Demons</ref>
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Similar to [[ghoul fever]], a victim infected by the abyssal plague, either through the ingestion of or contact with [[Voidharrow]], exposure to the blood of another infected creature, or the attacks/death throes of a plague demon, could develop symptoms of the disease and transform upon their death.<ref name="Dng192-APD"/><ref name="MVNV-p14-16"/>
   
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Sometimes an infected creature would die before the infection of their body was complete. These creatures would still rise as plague demons, but they would be lesser, [[undead]] corpses.<ref name="Dng192-APD"/>
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Should the infection take root, the victim began to grow dark red crystalline sores seeming to be laced with silver and containing flecks of gold. These sores spread across the body, causing the victim to become even more contagious but they also became more resilient and wilful. Eventually, the victim would die and their corpse would explode, creating a fully formed plague demon.<ref name="Dng192-APD"/>
  
−  
⚫
Sometimes an infected creature would die before the infection of their body was complete. These creatures would still rise as plague demons, but they would be lesser, undead corpses.<ref name="Dng192-APD"/>
  
   
 
==Ecology==
  
==Ecology==
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Plague demons were under the control of the voidharrow, the sentient [[abyss]] located in another universe. The voidharrow desired to spread the abyssal plague across all known worlds, including [[Toril]].<ref name="Dng192-APD"/>
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Plague demons were under the control of the Voidharrow, the sentient [[Abyss]] located in another universe. The Voidharrow desired to spread the abyssal plague across all known worlds, including [[Toril]].<ref name="Dng192-APD"/> They had the same chaotic and destructive nature of the [[demon]]s from the normal Abyss.<ref name="MVNV-p14-16"/>
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⚫
There were five known types of plague demon:
  
   
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[[File:Abyssal plague animated corpses.jpg|thumb|left|Two [[adventurer]]s, a [[dragonborn]] and a [[tiefling]], fighting against a group of plague demons.]]
  ⚫
There were eight known types of plague demon:
 
; Animated corpses: Formed from a creature infected by the abyssal plague who died from a cause other than the disease itself.<ref name="Dng192-APD"/>
  
; Animated corpses: Formed from a creature infected by the abyssal plague who died from a cause other than the disease itself.<ref name="Dng192-APD"/>
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; Abyssal plague demons: The most frequently documented carriers of the plague, usually roughly humanoid in appearance in accordance with the diseases most common victims.
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; Abyssal plague demons: The most frequently documented carriers of the plague, usually roughly humanoid in appearance in accordance with the disease's most common victims. They were divided in six categories (from weakest to strongest): Chaos hound, Chaos Footsoldier, Chaos beast, Chaos bender, Chaos knight, and Chaos vanguard.<ref name="MVNV-p14-16"/>
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; Abyssal plague swarms: Hive minds of tiny demonic insects spawned from orbs found near areas dealing with the plague.<ref name="Dng192-APD"/>
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; Abyssal plague swarms: Hive minds of tiny demonic insects spawned from orbs found near areas experiencing the plague.<ref name="Dng192-APD"/>
 
; Swarmbringers: Resembling spiders, swarmbringers were more intelligent and could infect the ground around them if they were killed.<ref name="Dng192-APD"/>
  
; Swarmbringers: Resembling spiders, swarmbringers were more intelligent and could infect the ground around them if they were killed.<ref name="Dng192-APD"/>
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; Voidharrow Doomcallers: Capable of infecting entire countries by itself, Doomcallers communicated directly with the voidharrow and could launch plague-filled spores into the air.<ref name="Dng192-APD"/>
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; Voidharrow doomcallers: Capable of infecting entire countries by itself, doomcallers communicated directly with the Voidharrow and could launch plague-filled spores into the air.<ref name="Dng192-APD"/>
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; Abyssal plague blightwalker: Individuals stronger than the average person, such as [[adventurer]]s, didn't turn into common plague demons, instead they were transformed into the more powerful blightwalkers.<ref name="Dng197-EAPD">{{Cite dungeon/197/Creature Incarnations: Abyssal Plague Epic Threats}}</ref>
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; Voidharrow Exarchs: Specially powerful heroes were transformed into Voidharrow [[Exarch]]s, champions of the Voidharrow who commanded the lesser plague demons.<ref name="Dng197-EAPD"/>
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; Voidharrow Heralds: Specially powerful users of [[arcane magic]] were transformed into Voidharrows Heralds. They lost their magical abilities in exchange for the power of spreading the Abyssal Plague with a crystalline sword that was able to slice space itself. The Heralds were the voice and will of the Voidharrow itself.<ref name="Dng197-EAPD"/>
   
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==References==
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==History==
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At some point in the past, worshipers of [[Tharizdun]] tried to free their god from his ancient prison in [[Pandemonium]]. Heroes from the world of [[Nerath]], among them the [[Deva (aasimar)|deva]] [[Demascus]], disrupted the ritual, but not before the cultists had released the Voidharrow from Tharizdun's prison. The Voidharrow infected the cultists and some of the heroes, turning them into the first plague demons, among them [[Murmur]] and [[Scour]]. They were sealed away by the remaining heroes, thought Murmur and Scour were sent to [[Toril]] through the [[Vast Gate]].<ref name="TGoM">{{Cite book/The Gates of Madness}}</ref>
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In [[1479 DR]], plague demons were encountered in [[Akanûl]],<ref>{{Cite book/Sword of the Gods}}</ref> [[Luskan]],<ref>{{Cite book/Shadowbane}}</ref> [[Easting (town)|Easting]],<ref>{{Cite book/The Elder Elemental Eye}}</ref> and within the depths of [[Undermountain]].<ref name="HoU-p86-88">{{Cite book/Halls of Undermountain|86-88}}</ref>
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==Notable individuals==
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* [[Murmur]]
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* [[Scour]]
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==Appendix==
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===Appearances===
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;Adventures
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:''[[The Elder Elemental Eye]]'' • ''[[Halls of Undermountain]]''
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;Novels
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:''[[The Gates of Madness]]'' • ''[[Sword of the Gods]]'' • ''[[Shadowbane]]''
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===References===
 
{{refs}}
  
{{refs}}
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{{stub}}
  
 
[[Category:Demons]]
  
[[Category:Demons]]
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[[Category:Creatures]]

Latest revision as of 11:37, 6 November 2023

Plague demons were fiends that were created when creatures succumbed to the abyssal plague.[1][2]

Creation[]

Similar to ghoul fever, a victim infected by the abyssal plague, either through the ingestion of or contact with Voidharrow, exposure to the blood of another infected creature, or the attacks/death throes of a plague demon, could develop symptoms of the disease and transform upon their death.[1][2]

Sometimes an infected creature would die before the infection of their body was complete. These creatures would still rise as plague demons, but they would be lesser, undead corpses.[1]

Ecology[]

Plague demons were under the control of the Voidharrow, the sentient Abyss located in another universe. The Voidharrow desired to spread the abyssal plague across all known worlds, including Toril.[1] They had the same chaotic and destructive nature of the demons from the normal Abyss.[2]

Abyssal plague animated corpses

Two adventurers, a dragonborn and a tiefling, fighting against a group of plague demons.

There were eight known types of plague demon:

Animated corpses
Formed from a creature infected by the abyssal plague who died from a cause other than the disease itself.[1]
Abyssal plague demons
The most frequently documented carriers of the plague, usually roughly humanoid in appearance in accordance with the disease's most common victims. They were divided in six categories (from weakest to strongest): Chaos hound, Chaos Footsoldier, Chaos beast, Chaos bender, Chaos knight, and Chaos vanguard.[2]
Abyssal plague swarms
Hive minds of tiny demonic insects spawned from orbs found near areas experiencing the plague.[1]
Swarmbringers
Resembling spiders, swarmbringers were more intelligent and could infect the ground around them if they were killed.[1]
Voidharrow doomcallers
Capable of infecting entire countries by itself, doomcallers communicated directly with the Voidharrow and could launch plague-filled spores into the air.[1]
Abyssal plague blightwalker
Individuals stronger than the average person, such as adventurers, didn't turn into common plague demons, instead they were transformed into the more powerful blightwalkers.[3]
Voidharrow Exarchs
Specially powerful heroes were transformed into Voidharrow Exarchs, champions of the Voidharrow who commanded the lesser plague demons.[3]
Voidharrow Heralds
Specially powerful users of arcane magic were transformed into Voidharrows Heralds. They lost their magical abilities in exchange for the power of spreading the Abyssal Plague with a crystalline sword that was able to slice space itself. The Heralds were the voice and will of the Voidharrow itself.[3]

History[]

At some point in the past, worshipers of Tharizdun tried to free their god from his ancient prison in Pandemonium. Heroes from the world of Nerath, among them the deva Demascus, disrupted the ritual, but not before the cultists had released the Voidharrow from Tharizdun's prison. The Voidharrow infected the cultists and some of the heroes, turning them into the first plague demons, among them Murmur and Scour. They were sealed away by the remaining heroes, thought Murmur and Scour were sent to Toril through the Vast Gate.[4]

In 1479 DR, plague demons were encountered in Akanûl,[5] Luskan,[6] Easting,[7] and within the depths of Undermountain.[8]

Notable individuals[]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Adventures
The Elder Elemental Eye • Halls of Undermountain
Novels
The Gates of Madness • Sword of the Gods • Shadowbane

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Michael E. Shea (July 2011). “Creature Incarnations: Abyssal Plague Demons”. In Steve Winter ed. Dungeon #192 (Wizards of the Coast) (192).. Archived from the original on 2016-11-10. Retrieved on 2015-03-29.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Brian R. James, Matt James, Sterling Hershey, Steve Townshend (December 2011). Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 14–15. ISBN 978-0-7869-5838-2.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Michael E. Shea (December 2011). “Creature Incarnations: Abyssal Plague Epic Threats”. In Steve Winter ed. Dungeon #197 (Wizards of the Coast) (197)., pp. 1–6.
  4. ↑ James Wyatt (2010). The Gates of Madness. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-4406-4.
  5. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (April 2011). Sword of the Gods. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-5739-2.
  6. ↑ Erik Scott de Bie (September 2011). Shadowbane. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-5855-9.
  7. ↑ Pieter Sleijpen and Chris Sims (2012). The Elder Elemental Eye. (Wizards of the Coast).
  8. ↑ Matt Sernett, Shawn Merwin (2012). Halls of Undermountain. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 86–88. ISBN 0786959940.
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