Pale Night
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
roleplaying game, Pale Night, the so-called "Mother of Demons," is an Abyssal Lord
, both enigmatic and unbelievably ancient. In Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
, it was revealed that she is a member of the demonic race called the obyriths.
's second book; In this text, she is said to sit besides the Throne of Chaos.
Pale Night appeared in third edition in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
(2006).
, Lupercio
, Zivorgian, and Vucarik in Chains
. If she is indeed the mother of Graz'zt, she would also be the grandmother of Iuz
, and possibly the mother of Rhyxali
. Other texts make the bold claim that the entire tanar'ri race is descended from her in some way. As written in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, she speaks only very rarely and has not confirmed any of this. The same source quotes that she seems to have a mutual defense alliance with Baphomet
.
Pale Night also rules the 471st layer of the Abyss, called Androlynne. Long ago, by guile and trickery, she manipulated the sense of concern the eladrin
prince Ascodel, consort of Queen Morwel
, felt for his race's young to convince him to agree to a terrible pact. The pact trapped a whole generation of eladrin children on her layer, allowing Pale Night's forces to hunt them down one by one at her leisure. Since then, the layer has become a battlefield between the forces of the demoness and the celestials that have come to protect the young eladrins.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
roleplaying game, Pale Night, the so-called "Mother of Demons," is an Abyssal Lord
Demon lord (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, demon lords are demons who have gained great power and established a position of preeminence among demonkind. Each demon lord has a unique appearance and set of abilities. Most control at least one layer of the Abyss...
, both enigmatic and unbelievably ancient. In Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Chapter 1: Demonic Lore:...
, it was revealed that she is a member of the demonic race called the obyriths.
Creative origins
Pale Night's character (also named old Night) is based on John Milton's Paradise LostParadise Lost
Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton. It was originally published in 1667 in ten books, with a total of over ten thousand individual lines of verse...
's second book; In this text, she is said to sit besides the Throne of Chaos.
Publication history
Pale Night was first mentioned in Faces of Evil: The Fiends (1997).Pale Night appeared in third edition in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Chapter 1: Demonic Lore:...
(2006).
Description
Pale Night's form is incorporeal, and she appears as an empty flowing white shroud with the suggestion of a shapely female body underneath. It is said that Pale Night's true form, as befits an obyrith, is so hideous and terrifying that reality itself rejects it. The shroud that she "wears" hides it. To glimpse Pale Night's true form risks madness and death.Relationships
Ancient texts claim that Pale Night is the mother of Graz'ztGraz'zt
Graz'zt is a demon lord in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, and one of the most powerful demons in the Abyss. Graz'zt, one of the earliest and most famous demons created for Dungeons and Dragons, was named as one of the greatest villains in D&D history by the final print issue of...
, Lupercio
Lupercio (Dungeons & Dragons)
Lupercio is a demon lord, known as the Baron of Sloth, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:Lupercio was first mentioned in Faces of Evil: The Fiends ....
, Zivorgian, and Vucarik in Chains
Vucarik
Vucarik, the Consort of Chains, is a powerful demon lord thought to be a son of Pale Night, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:Vucarik was first mentioned in Hellbound: The Blood War ....
. If she is indeed the mother of Graz'zt, she would also be the grandmother of Iuz
Iuz
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Iuz is the chaotic evil demigod of Deceit, Evil, Oppression, Pain, and Wickedness. Iuz is variously called "The Old One" and "Old Wicked," among other titles. Unlike most Greyhawk deities, Iuz makes his home on...
, and possibly the mother of Rhyxali
Rhyxali
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Rhyxali is a demon lord. She claims rulership over the shadow demons, and may be related to the demon prince Graz'zt.-Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition :...
. Other texts make the bold claim that the entire tanar'ri race is descended from her in some way. As written in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, she speaks only very rarely and has not confirmed any of this. The same source quotes that she seems to have a mutual defense alliance with Baphomet
Baphomet (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Baphomet is a demon lord who rules a layer of the Abyss called the Endless Maze. He is the Prince of Beasts and the Demon Lord of Minotaurs.-Publication history:...
.
Realm
Pale Night lives in a bone castle which sits on a vast plateau in the Endless Maze of Baphomet, on the 600th layer of the Abyss. She has a strong alliance with Baphomet, the Prince of Beasts, and has lived on his layer since long before he became a demon lord. They do not work together, but each will defend the other's home from assault. Pale Night's castle looks like a giant grasping hand and is guarded by ambulatory bones and appendages. She rarely leaves this castle. It is said that those who stumble into her domain become new guardians for it.Pale Night also rules the 471st layer of the Abyss, called Androlynne. Long ago, by guile and trickery, she manipulated the sense of concern the eladrin
Eladrin
The Eladrin are a fictional race of creatures appearing in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Introduced in the Planescape setting of AD&D 2nd edition and D&D 3rd edition, Eladrin were described as a type of celestial of chaotic good alignment and hailed from the plane of Arborea...
prince Ascodel, consort of Queen Morwel
Morwel
Morwel is the queen of the eladrins, a race of chaotic good celestials inhabiting the plane of Arborea, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Her titles include Faerie Queen, Queen of Stars, and Lady of the Lake. These shouldn't be taken literally; eladrins are not fey, she doesn't literally...
, felt for his race's young to convince him to agree to a terrible pact. The pact trapped a whole generation of eladrin children on her layer, allowing Pale Night's forces to hunt them down one by one at her leisure. Since then, the layer has become a battlefield between the forces of the demoness and the celestials that have come to protect the young eladrins.
Worshippers
Worshippers of Pale Night are rare; most of them are malevolent spellcasters obsessed with creating new breeds of half-fiends to unleash on the world.Additional reading
- Baur, WolfgangWolfgang BaurWolfgang Baur is an American game designer, best known for his work with Dragon magazine. He designs role-playing games and also is known for his work at Wizards of the Coast.-Biography:...
, and Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel. Expedition to the Demonweb PitsExpedition to the Demonweb PitsExpedition to the Demonweb Pits is a super-adventure module for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. The adventure is designed for characters of levels 9–12...
(Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
, 2007). - Jacobs, James. "The Demonimicon of IggwilvIggwilvIggwilv is a fictional wizard from the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. She was created by Gary Gygax and was named one of the greatest villains in D&D history in the final issue of Dragon....
: Baphomet." DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#341 (Paizo PublishingPaizo PublishingPaizo Publishing is an American publishing company in Redmond, Washington that specializes in game aids and adventures for "the world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game" and its flagship spin-off game and setting, Pathfinder...
, 2006). - -----. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Graz'zt." DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#360. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007. Available online. http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dragon