Malcanthet

Malcanthet

Malcanthet, Queen of Succubi
Malcanthet, Queen of Succubi, as portrayed on the cover of Dragon #353 Art by Wayne Reynolds
Game background
Title(s)	Queen of Succubi
Home plane	570th layer of the Abyss - Shendilavri
Power level	Demon Lord
Alignment	Chaotic Evil
Portfolio	Seduction, Temptation, Sexuality, Eroticism
Domains	Chaos, Evil, Temptation, Trickery
Superior	None
Design details
First appearance	Maure Castle - Dungeon #112
Mythological	Succubus

For other uses of the word Succubus, see Succubus (disambiguation).

Malcanthet is a Demon Lord and is also known as the Queen of Succubi in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. She is described as being among the first of the Succubi to come into existence in the Abyss. She is ruthless, having battled numerous other demons, lords, and Succubi in untold numbers of wars to hold her current title. Physically she is an incredibly beautiful human-like female with bat-wings, horns, and a long prehensile tail tipped with a spike-like stinger.

Her home is the 570th layer of the Abyss, also known as Shendilavri and she defends it against her long time enemies Graz'zt, Yeenoghu, and Baphomet. She does have a powerful ally in Demogorgon however and her place as the Queen of Succubi is all but completely secure as a result.

Character Information

Relationships

Malcanthet is the current holder of the title of Queen of Succubi. Other demon lords aspiring to the position include Lady Lynkhab, the currently imprisoned Shami-Amourae, and the exiled Xinivrae. Other rivals exist elsewhere in the Abyss, but they ultimately pose little or no threat to Malcanthet.

Malcanthet was among the first of the succubi to come into being in the Abyss. She obtained her current title after years of waging wars and committing savage betrayals upon her fellow "sister" succubi and former paramours. As a result of her ruthless climb to the top, she has cultivated a long list of enemies, which includes Graz'zt, Yeenoghu, and Baphomet. Her few allies include the Prince of Demons Demogorgon, with whom she birthed the monstrous Arendagrost; Pazuzu, from whom she mothered the succubus Red Shroud; her current consort Mastiphal the Hunting Sovereign; and Socothbenoth, a demon lord concerned with sexual taboos and perversions.

Realm

The Succubus Queen's realm is the 570th layer of the Abyss, and is known as Shendilavri. Once a disgusting layer of heaving and "shuddering flesh", Malcanthet has transformed it into a verdant paradise. But ultimately, it is a paradise for Malcanthet herself only.

Cult of Malcanthet

The cult of the Succubus Queen is a widespread but disorganized lot. Each cult sees another not as an ally but as competition, and most are little more than simple brothels. Most of Malcanthet's followers are female; those few male cultists are viewed either as lowly servants or convenient muscle power. The Thralls of Malcanthet are exclusively female, and as they rise in power, they gain more and more powers similar to those of succubi until they too, can (temporarily) assume succubi forms.

Servants

The Radiant Sisters are thirteen lilitu bards who serve under their mistress. Their names are the colors they radiate, and each one has a soul-draining locket and a shining halo.

In Universe Appearances and Information

The following describes Malcanthet's official appearances in the Dungeons and Dragons universe:

Maure Castle

Maure Castle was an adventure module for Dungeons and Dragons that appeared in Dungeon Magazine Issue 112, written by Robert J. Kuntz and Gary Gygax. This adventure marked Malcanthet's first mention in D&D lore.

During this adventure, player characters encounter a statue which is described as a remnant of the Cult of Malcanthet that once dwelt in the area players are searching in. The statue is said to have been once a direct portal to Malcanthet, and her cultists offered their desires and adoration to her through the statue. The statue still has some powers of mind control and influence within it. Depending on the effects of the statue on players, several events can occur, the most likely is that whichever being is enthralled by the statue, they will eventually be killed by it and their soul absorbed by Malcanthet.

While Malcanthet is mentioned in this adventure and is noted as being the Queen of Succubi, she does not appear, nor are there any statistics or physical traits mentioned. She is a mystery untold and unrevealed.

Chambers of Antiquities

Chambers of Antiquities was an adventure module for Dungeons and Dragons that appeared in Dungeon Magazine Issue 124, written by Robert J. Kuntz. This adventure marked Malcanthet's second mention in D&D lore.

During this adventure, some background information is given. It is told that one member of the Maure family, Elluvia Maure, had a demonic patron and that was Malcanthet herself. It also was noted that Malcanthet was to ambush and kill the head of the Maure household in the coming days, but that plan was derailed by other events.

While Malcanthet is mentioned in this adventure, she does not appear, nor are there any statistics or physical traits mentioned. She is a mystery still untold and unrevealed.

The Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Baphomet

The Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Baphomet was a sourcebook article for Dungeons and Dragons that appeared in Dragon Magazine Issue 341, written by James Jacobs. This article marked Malcanthet's third mention in D&D lore.

While the focus of the article was on Baphomet, a reference was made about Malcanthet in passing. This consisted of a mention that Baphomet had approached Malcanthet several times in an attempt to forge an alliance with her. However, their mutual hatred of Yeenoghu had not been enough for them to come to terms.

While Malcanthet is mentioned, there are no statistics or physical traits mentioned. She is a mystery again untold and unrevealed.

Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss

Malcanthet as illustrated in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss

“	This statuesque beauty wears a sardonic smile on her ruby lips. Curved horns jut from her brow and hold back her long dark hair—and her eyes smolder with dangerous red sensuality. Large leathery wings stretch from her back, the joints of which are laced with razorlike claws, and a sinuous tail ending in a thin curved spike completes the image of demonic beauty. She wears a revealing gown of diaphanous silk and razor-studded leather straps, and she idly toys with a glittering and sparkling scourge made of fine adamantine spiked chains.	”

Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss marked the first time that Malcanthet was fully detailed in the Dungeons and Dragons role playing game. A full history, statistics, and the very first official image of Malcanthet appeared in her entry.

In her entry, Malcanthet is described as being as seductive as she is dangerous, and that she is the patron of the hedonistic, the lustful, and those who use their beauty and magic charms to control and ruin those around them.

The article explains Malcanthet in detail, noting that her home is the 570th Layer of the Abyss, also known as Shendilavri. The plane is described as being "exquisitely beautiful" and that it also seems like a hedonistic paradise. While this is true, the only pleasure that matters is, of course, Malcanthet's own and as such visitors to her home are often tormented and ruined by her to her amusement.

It is noted that Malcanthet's palace contains many Incubi and Succubi who serve her. There is also a cabal of 13 lilitu bards called the Radiant Sisters. These lilitus do not show intolerance for other lilitus or Succubi, and their songs are heard throughout Malcanthet’s palace. These songs can have unwelcome effects on those that have not been invited into Malcanthet's realm. Malcanthet also has Lamias, harpies, and half-fiend nymphs serving her as well.

Of note is the many cults who worship Malcanthet on the Material Plane. They consist of courtesans, hedonists, and bored nobles seeking a dangerous thrill. Her clerics have access to the domains of Chaos, Evil, Temptation, and Trickery. Her symbol is an iron thorn drawing a drop of blood from the lower edge of a pair of feminine lips.

As for Malcanthet's relationships, mention is given of her sometime lovers Pazuzu and Demogorgon. As well, it is noted that she has had flings with various demon lords to gain favor with them. Mentioned is also her previous battles with Shami-Amourae and Lynkhab for the title of Queen of Succubi, but she faces no real challenger currently.

Malcanthet's greatest enemy is Yeenoghu with whom she regularly sends armies against and vice versa. The source of their conflict is said to be uncertain, but seems to be related to the Maures family of wizards. Among the Maures, Malcanthet’s greatest servant was a woman named Elluvia, but her family as a whole served Yeenoghu. When Elluvia attempted to take control, with Malcanthet’s support, a magical catastrophe occurred. Since that time, Malcanthet and Yeenoghu have been at war. She also is at odds with Graz’zt. She claims that she spurned Graz’zt for being unworthy of her, and Graz’zt claims the reverse. Ever since they have been scheming against each other on how best to upset and ruin the other’s realms and plans.

Note is made that while Malcanthet is a formidable foe in combat, she finds no pleasure in fighting and would rather summon allies to fight for her while she observes the battle. While doing so she will use mind fog, mass charm monster, charm monster, symbol of persuasion, and greater command to cause dissent among those that oppose her.

If she is forced to fight, then Malcanthet will use seething rage while focusing on one enemy, then attempt to flank them with assistance before using a sneak attack. She fights with Combat Expertise at full effect, and mixes her attacks with disarm and trip attacks to keep her opponents off balance. She will use Improved Feint only if her foe is particularly difficult to hit. She will also limit her use of her scourge to one attack, but at the best attack bonus and, if possible, adding sneak attack damage.

This entry provided the source for all future appearances and information on Malcanthet going forward in D&D lore.

The Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Malcanthet

Malcanthet as illustrated in Dragon Magazine Issue 353 by Eva Widermann

“	She is a statuesque beauty who wears a sardonic smile on her ruby lips. Curved horns jut from her brow to hold back her long dark hair, and her eyes smolder with dangerous red sensuality. Large batlike wings stretch from her back, the joints of which are laced with razorlike claws and adorned with jewelry. A sinuous tail that ends in a thin curved spike completes the image of demonic beauty.	”

The Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Malcanthet was a sourcebook article for Dungeons and Dragons that appeared in Dragon Magazine Issue 353, written by James Jacobs. This article provided more detail on Malcanthet and her effects on D&D lore.

According to the mythos that was revealed, the Succubi came into existence in the time after the obyrith demons were scattered and the Queen of Chaos was defeated on the Fields of Pesh. As the Abyss lay in waste, the tanar'ri moved to claim the Abyss as their rightful home. As the tanar'ri were created from the wicked souls of mortals, their sins caused many different kinds of tanar'ri to appear. It was told that the most powerful and ageless of these sins was lust.

Through this sin came the creation of the Succubi, the first tanar'ri to spontaneously form in the Abyss. Succubi embraced the mortal form and in doing so they represented an evil that those before them could not understand. The subtle, seductive quality was of a nature never seen in the Abyss and, as a result, the first of the succubi quickly grew to great power. As these original succubi moved to secure minions, defenses and power, they quickly came into conflict with one another.

Countless Succubi died in what came to be known as the War of Ripe Flesh, and those who survived emeroed more powerful than before, grown more deadly and beautiful after absorbing the essences of their slaughtered sisters. Eventually the war came to an end and the surviving Succubi paragons settled in far-flung reaches of the Abyss. The names of most have been lost to time, but four in particular remain. And of these Malcanthet ascended the Razor Throne to claim the title of Queen of Succubi.

Malcanthet's primary goal is self-satisfaction which is the core of her own nature and existence. All her plots have this ultimate goal in mind no matter their focus. Malcanthet has held the title of Queen of Succubi for a short 2,000 years, she is the only demon to hold the title and she is well aware that her position needs protection. In order to secure her position in the beginning, she spent countless centuries waging war against other Succubi that wanted the position of Queen of Succubi.

Shami-Amourae, a succubus associated with depraved sexuality, became imprisoned in the Wells of Darkness after Malcanthet seduced Demogorgon and used him to defeat Shami-Amourae. Xinivrae, a succubus who reveled in the seduction of women, suffered an almost fatal wound at Malcanthet's hand and was cast into the infinite wash of the Dreaming Gulf. Only Lynkhab survived Malcanthet's wrath, and she is a shadow of her former glory as the patron of the self-destructive, no longer a threat to Malcanthet.

Still, Malcanthet is well aware that she has more enemies than allies, having to defend her realm on the 570th layer of the Abyss. Malcanthet's greatest enemy is Graz'zt who she once spurned and Graz'zt's wounded ego triggered a war on Shendilavri that Malcanthet was just able to stop from succeeding. Since that battle, the two demons have a cold war, each sending spies into the other's realm while working to defend their own. Graz'zt once masqueraded as Malcanthet and seduced Kostchtchie, one of the ugliest of tanar'ri lords. The humiliation that Malcanthet suffered fueled her wrath against him.

Malcanthet's allegiances with other demon lords serve one purpose, to satisfying her constant lusts. Her lovers have included Pazuzu, with whom she gave life to many powerful succubi children, including Red Shroud of Broken Reach), Mastiphal, the Hunting Sovereign and lord of Malcanthet's iron fortress of Vanelon on Pazunia, and Socothbenoth, a demon lord associated with incest and other sexual taboos. Malcanthet's greatest success is without a doubt Demogorgon. By securing his favor, Malcanthet has all but ensured her safety as none dare strike a blow against the one who is the lover of the most powerful demon in the Abyss.

Of late Malcanthet has become aware that Demogorgon is planning to harvest savage energy from the Material Plane and she fears what he might do or might become as a result. To protect herself, she has quietly betrayed her lover and is using a group of Material Plane heroes to attempt to secretly end his plans.

Malcanthet has other focuses as well, one of which is that Xinivrae might find her way out of the Dreaming Gulf and make a bid for power. As a result, every few dozen years Malcanthet patrols that realm to see if she has returned. During her travels, Malcanthet found a dormant loumara lord called Sifkhu and bound him to a specially prepared ruby prison crafted for her by her favorite minion, Elluvia Maure. Malcanthet keeps Sifichu imprisoned below her palace with the intent of discovering a way to absorb Sifichu's essence without losing what she values most, the sensuality of her physical form.

Alternative Character Histories

The following are possible alternative character histories and information which can be used in place of the official Dungeons and Dragons lore for Malcanthet:

Nothlands Universe

Description

Malcanthet is relatively young, as far as demon lords are concerned. The Queen of the Succubi has only come to power in the past few thousand years, after centuries of scheming and warring with her like-minded kin. She is a demon of pleasure and self-satisfaction, and constantly seeks new ways to please herself while relaxing (and scheming) from her palace in Shendilavri. Her title is currently uncontested, but she is known to constantly be working to keep all that would oppose her in their place.

Malcanthet appears as a woman of about human-size, and is marked by her beauty and sexual appeal. However, clear signs of the doom that awaits those who seek her company are manifested in a pair of horns that jut from her brow, as well as large, bat-like wings sprouting from her back and a tail ending in a curved spike. She is most often seen wearing tight, form-fitting robes or nothing at all.

History

Malcanthet is young compared to other demon lords, having only in the past few thousand years entered the playing field. She was born as a product of pure, unrelenting lust and grew in power as the sin of lust grew across the Material Plane. She emerged at a time when many rivals would lay claim to her throne: Shami-Amourae, Lynkhab, and Xinivrae were all potential competitors, but Malcanthet managed to defeat each of them one at a time, either through scheming (as she did with Shami-Amourae) or direct combat (as she did with Xinivrae).

Malcanthet's recent history consists mostly of her attempts to manipulate and seduce other demon lords, particularly Pazuzu and Demogorgon. She has become almost exclusively the Prince of Demon's consort by this point, granting her a firm position within the Abyss. However, some suspect that the Queen of the Succubi is not as loyal to Demogorgon as she appears.

Agenda

Malcanthet's primary goal is and always has been self-satisfaction, and she is constantly working to develop new forms of physical pleasure, and she draws on souls and demons from all over the Abyss to achieve this goal. However, she is aware of her vulnerable position in the Abyss, and constantly schemes to ensure her title as Queen of the Succubi. Her primary competition for the title has mostly disappeared, however: Shami-Amourae, a succubus associated with depraved sexuality, was imprisoned ages ago by Malcanthet and Demogorgon, Xinivrae, a succubus known to seduce women, has been badly wounded and imprisoned within the Dreaming Gulf, and Lynkhab (the patron of self-destructive behavior) has become weak and impotent. Without these enemies, Malcanthet feels quite confident about her abilities to hold on to the title of Queen of the Succubi.

Yet Malcanthet is not without other enemies. Chief among them is the Dark Prince, Graz'zt. Each of the demon lords claims to have spurned the others advances, and the two are constantly scheming to ensure the others destruction. Yet the two are not overtly hostile, as both seem to prefer sending spies and saboteurs to interrupt the others plots.

Malcanthet's alliances with other demon lords seem to be primarily concerned with one thing: fulfilling the Queen's unending lust. Her lovers are many, including Pazuzu (with whom she has sired many powerful succubi, including the enigmatic Red Shroud, but also the terrible Shax) and Socothbenoth (a minor demon lord associated with incest and other sexual taboos). Yet Malcanthet's greatest conquest is without a doubt Demogorgon, with whom she has sired many beings too horrifying to imagine, including the dreaded Arendagrost. With the Prince of Demons' aid, Malcanthet has likely secured her position within the Abyss, so long as Demogorgon's moods do not sway too radically.

Followers

Malcanthet draws her mortal followers from those who seek pleasure more than anything else. Her followers are wicked hedonists, often tempted into following Malcanthet by a succubus or incubus. She has a widespread cult, but these cults rarely, if ever, work together. Her cults often appear as nothing more than brothels to the untrained eye, but they are secretly much more fiendish: victims are often lured inside with promises of sex, only to become the newest sacrifice to the Queen. Thaumaturges of Malcanthet range from simple pleasure seekers, seeking to gain an advantage when courting their preferred sex, to power-hungry politicians who wish to use Malcanthet's mastery of charm and manipulation to drive their political success. Many thaumaturges and followers of Malcanthet fail to realize the horrors that await them once their soul has been forever claimed; most are mislead to believe the afterlife will be a sexual paradise.

During their obedience ritual, a thaumaturge of Malcanthet must achieve sexual release, either alone or with a partner. More powerful thaumaturges of Malcanthet are required to show their obedience by either performing a circumcision on themselves or applying a genital piercing to themselves.

Malcanthet at the Dungeons and Dragons Wiki

“	Although the most beautiful nude woman you can imagine stands before you, twirling her red hair and looking at you with her red eyes full of passion, your gaze is strangely drawn to the amulet she wears around her neck. Even the bare breasts just beneath it do not distract you from gazing at its beautiful deep red colour, its silver setting and its beautiful chain. Once you tear yourself away from gazing at it, you see that she is indeed perfectly formed to seduce, and your blood runs just thinking about her. You hardly notice her slight horns and her six batlike wings unfurled behind her back. As her red eyes gaze at you, you forget everything but the thought of her wrapped around you.	”

Character History

Like Abaddon, Malcanthet was also once an angel, but unlike Abaddon, her fall from grace was quite different - perhaps as different as it is possible to get. However, one thing they have in common is that it was the circumstances of the Time of Mercy that led to their falls, and that were it not for the policy of interference, she may have never ended up the way she was.

To understand the nature of her fall, it is important to know that angels do not conceive of the idea of sex for pleasure, or as a form of control or corruption. While they understand the importance of sexual reproduction for the purposes of strengthening and continuation of a species, and see the enjoyment of the act of sexual intercourse as an important part of this, it is at this point that their curiosity stops - they simply see no need to extend this notion further. This is not to say that they do not conceive of the idea of rape, for example - however, they view it in the broader scheme of a violent or hateful act, rather than as something related to sex specifically. Thus, during the Time of Mercy, it seemed only natural to them to appoint an angel to oversee the procreation of the humanoid races, and to protect them from all of the pitfalls that this could have. They appointed an planetar, named Astara, this task.

Little could they have known that Astara would learn far, far more from this than they ever expected.

At first, Astara took to her duties with zeal and dedication, seeking to ensure that the humanoid races reproduce in a way that was healthy and non-destructive, while avoiding violence or oppression of others. However, as she witnessed more and more sexual pairings, she began to realise that there was much more to all of this than simple procreation. She witnessed sex purely for pleasure, prostitution and other such things, and was at first bemused. An angel herself, she could simply not make sense of these occurrences. She also saw the consequences of sexual reproduction on an emotional level: the pain of loss, the manipulation of others with sex, the madness that it could drive others to, and once again, felt she simply had no understanding of what it meant. She wished desperately to protect her charges, all those who engaged in such practices, or, indeed, were harmed by them, but felt that until she could understand the problem, she couldn't do much about it.

At the same time, Pale Night was watching. She saw Astara's confusion, and felt that the situation could be one she could profit from. Although the Material Plane had been cleansed of much of the Abyssal energy that had once created it, during these early times, Pale Night still had some power over it. She used this power to create a love-venom so powerful that it could even infect an angel, and planted this venom into the body of a young man, whose name was Adam. It was then merely a matter of time before the already-curious Astara came upon this bizarre man, whom women lusted after in a way that could only be described as unnatural.

And sure enough, it happened. It wasn't too long before the High Angelic Council dispatched Astara with an urgent order to investigate this strange occurrence, and to take all necessary measures to prevent it. Astara departed for the location, little-knowing what awaited her there.

She found Adam in mid-orgy, surrounded by nude or near-nude women, and the light in his eyes and vigour in his muscles shone with the power of the Abyss. Horrified by what she saw, Astara tried to summon her power to destroy the energy, but as she was about to unleash the full extent of her power, Adam looked up at her. His red eyes met hers, and she froze, the gathered energies dissipating around her. He then spoke but three words that set Astara's blood ablaze and awoke desires in her that no angel before had experienced.

"Come to me."

What followed was a lovemaking unlike anything that the Material Plane had ever seen. The two spent six days in almost constant, uninterrupted sex, Astara fuelled by her angelic essence and Adam by the Abyssal love-venom that coursed through his veins. Astara experienced every form of sex that their imaginations could conceive of, and finally began to understand exactly why all of the things that mortals did for sex, and around sex, made sense. She understood the joy that it could bring, the ideas of completeness that it involved, and most importantly, why mortals sought it so much and to such an extent. As the sixth day drew to a close, she felt she had enough understanding, and was almost ready to depart, but it was only then that she realised that Adam, being just a mere man, could not have managed this on his own. The love-venom had given him enormous stamina and energy, but at the cost of his soul's energy. Although Astara tried, she could not extend his life and she found herself unable to do much more than delay the inevitable. Just before he died, he spoke one simple phrase to Astara:

"Thank you. I can now die happy."'

As his body collapsed under all of the strain it had been put under, the love-venom departed it in the form of a snake, which quickly fled the scene. It was only then that Astara became aware of the angels that had been watching the entire proceedings in horror, and just how much of her duties she had neglected.

The angels began to question Astara as to what had just happened, and why she did what she did. The more they asked, the less Astara understood why she took the actions she just had. The angels' questions became more and more insistent, and the more insistent they grew, the less Astara could answer them. Eventually, their discussion became a debate, and eventually it had devolved into an argument. Astara became increasingly more insistent that she had done the right thing, and when the matter almost came to violence, they decided that the High Angelic Council should be the ones to deal with this matter.

If Astara had been confused before, she became even more confused now, as all of the feelings of loss, anger and other emotions she had simply not known as an angel flooded through her. She blamed herself for what had happened, for her loss of control and inability to perform her duties, but also felt anger at this man and what he had made her do, and towards her inability to save him. In amidst all this, Astara failed to realise that Adam had impregnated her, combining her angelic essence with his own, mortal one, and filled with the love-venom that Pale Night had created. Having taken the life of Adam, the venom took on an intellect of its own, and was ready to begin the true ruin of Astara via the life growing inside her.

Although she had been thoroughly debriefed, none suspected that Astara was any worse for wear. Her mental fortitude had seen her through everything that had transpired, and the High Council, ever-forgiving, decided that she should resume her duties - even claiming that this experience with a mortal, although bizarre and inexplicable, would prove a useful piece of learning in her future work as a protector of humanoid races. Astara, although still feeling confused and strange at everything that had happened, agreed to this, and returned to her duties. However, she now saw things very differently, coloured by her experience and by the new life in her body - one which was both vulnerable, as mortals were, and tainted by Abyssal energy.

As she went about her duties, her experience of sex, and then loss, made her see each instance of her duties in a whole new light. Whereas before, she had seen sex as a purely biological function, requires for the continuation and strengthening of any humanoid race, she now became aware that it also revealed the greatest truths about humanoids and their reality. She also saw for the first time with how little instruction or guidance (or, in her opinion, good guidance) many undertook this step. At the same time, she also saw the importance of the unity of opposites that it represented, for it was the very key to creation - and new life. As she gazed upon that, she felt her loss and sadness all over again, and the new life within her, ever-watching, began to whisper in her mind, in a voice so familiar she thought that those thoughts were her own.

The voices told her to calm the loss by spreading her understanding and her sexuality among the mortals she was to protect. It was for their own good, they said: after all, you know far more than they, as an eternal and wise being, and surely it would be best if you taught them the true power of all of this? Astara relented after a long struggle, and discovered that more sex calmed her loss - but only for a moment. This, the voices insisted, was simply because she couldn't give herself to the experience as she had with Adam - but next time, it'll all be better. The more she followed the voice in her head, the less she resisted it, and eventually, other suggestions began to creep in. Surely too, mortals should know loss like she had - how else would they be prepared for it? And while we're on the subject, surely you should demonstrate the true power of sex to them - its capacity to ruin and lead others to madness? Are you not a greater being, a protector; is it not your task to guide humanoid life through this, and they ought to be thankful?

As she took these actions more and more readily, and more and more willingly, she began to be called by another name - Malcanthet. Uttered often as a curse toward her, it was a name she initially despised, but eventually grew to love. However, no matter how much she followed the advice of the voice, first reluctantly, then willingly, she could not find a way to stop the feeling of loss and pain forever - only for a time. Eventually, this made Astara believe that in truth, the original feeling of unity was simply an illusion, and that all sought that illusion. It was a lie, a sham - and who better than her to reveal it, through the most direct means possible?

Her true fall, however, occurred only later, when her actions and their consequences began to filter back to the High Angelic Council. The reports were slow at first, but then became more and more urgent and voluminous. Not suspecting her a unique case, the High Angelic Council felt it was their duty to protect humanoids from the angels - and vice versa - and thus issued the Edict of Observation. They also sent a notice of official censure to Astara, telling her to stop in her activities and return directly to the High Angelic Council, without going to the Place of Gathering.

Once this news reached her, Astara became afraid, for she realised that something was not going right with her, even if she couldn't guess what. It was then that the life within her made its presence known. Its voice, and Pale Night's voice, spoke in Astara's mind, revealing to her the truth of her actions. Malcanthet came to realise that in fact, her actions and current thoughts fitted the Abyss' pattern perfectly, and that ruin and chaos were to the benefit of the Material Plane. However, the imminent danger of censure and punishment would mean that her work would no longer be done - and with the Edict of Observation about to come into effect, none else could do it for her. Pale Night had a solution for this too - she could continue her work as an agent of the Abyss, but she had to hide her angelic essence so that the High Council couldn't find her. Following the instructions of Pale Night, Astara foreswore her angelic nature, and bound it into a gemstone. She then melted down the weapon that served her as a planetar, turning it into a setting and a chain, which allowed her to wear her essence around her neck. She abandoned her name, so that the High Angelic Council couldn't trace her through it. What remained of her joined with the being growing inside her to become her new, current form - Malcanthet, Worlds' Ruin.

Malcanthet's Worshippers

Malcanthet has a relatively broad base of worship, as many seek the gifts of her sexual abilities and the way it can control others. Cults to her tend to be quite secretive, however, as they risk exposure on more fronts than most. Her clerics tend to be women, but the vast majority of ordinary cultists are instead men. They seek to use sex and its power to ruin and destroy as much as possible - relationships, friendships, cities, nations... even worlds if possible. Always seeking to be the power behind the throne, such cults are hard to locate, and even harder to root out, as they draw upon the most fundamental of passions.

In the Abyss, Malcanthet's most numerous servants are succubi, whose patron (if not outright creator) she is considered to be. A large number of the monstrous Nalfeshnees also serve her.

Official Statistics

Malcanthet, Queen of Succubi

Type	Succubus
Sub-Type	Medium outsider (chaotic, evil, extraplanar, tanar’ri)
Alignment	Chaotic Evil
CR	21
Init	+10
Senses	Darkvision 60 ft., true seeing; Listen +37, Spot +37
Aura	Profane beauty
Languages	Abyssal, Common; telepathy 300 ft.
AC	Touch 35, flat-footed 32 (+10 Dex, +7 natural, +15 deflection)
hp	412 (25 HD); fast healing 10
DR	20/cold iron and good
Immune	electricity, poison
Resist	acid 10, cold 10, fire 10
SR	32
Fort	+26
Ref	+24
Will	+23
Speed	30 ft. (6 squares), fly 70 ft. (perfect)
Melee	+5 shocking burst adamantine scourge +37/+32/+27/+22 (1d8+12/19–20 plus 1d6 electricity [plus 1d10 electricity on a critical hit]) and claw +27 (1d4+3) and 2 wings +27 (1d6+3) and tail +27 (1d6+3 plus poison)
Space	5 ft.
Reach	5 ft.
Base Atk	+25
Grp Atk	+32
Atk Options	Combat Expertise, Improved Disarm, Improved Feint, Improved Trip, sneak attack +10d6
Special Actions	Seductive gaze, summon tanar’ri
Abilities	Str 24, Dex 30, Con 34, Int 24, Wis 28, Cha 40
SQ	Profane beauty, reflect enchantment, tanar’ri traits
Feats	Combat Expertise, Dark Speech, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (scourge), Greater Spell Focus (enchantment), Improved Critical (scourge), Improved Disarm, Improved Feint, Improved Trip, Spell Focus (enchantment)
Skills	Balance +12, Bluff +43, Concentration +40, Diplomacy +49, Disguise +43 (+45 acting in character), Escape Artist +38, Forgery +35, Intimidate +45, Jump +9, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +35, Knowledge (the planes) +35, Listen +37, Perform (dance) +43, Sense Motive +37, Spot +37, Tumble +38, Use Magic Device +43
Possessions	+5 shocking burst adamantine scourge

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 20th)

At Will	Astral projection, charm monster (DC 31), desecrate, detect good, detect law, disguise self (DC 28, no limit on duration), greater command (DC 32), greater dispel magic, greater teleport, telekinesis (DC 30), unhallow, unholy blight (DC 29)
1/day	Mass charm monster (DC 35)
3/day	Fog (DC 32), symbol of persuasion (DC 33)

• Poison (Su): Stinger—Injury, Fort DC 34, initial 3d6 Wisdom, secondary domination. The secondary domination effect of Malcanthet’s poison functions as the dominate person spell (CL 20th) except that it does not affect creatures that are immune to poison. Any effect that neutralizes poison also removes this effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.

• Profane Beauty (Su): Malcanthet’s otherworldly beauty grants her a deflection bonus equal to her Charisma bonus to her Armor Class as long as she doesn’t wear armor. Good creatures must attempt a DC 37 Fortitude save each time they attempt to make a melee attack or otherwise touch Malcanthet. Failure indicates that they gain two negative levels as their souls are infused with her corruption. Malcanthet heals 10 hit points each time her profane beauty deals negative levels to a creature. The save DC is Charisma-based.

• Seductive Gaze (Su): 30 feet, Will DC 37 negates. Those who meet Malcanthet’s gaze and fail to resist are overwhelmed by her otherworldly beauty and take a –2 penalty on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, ability checks, and level checks for the remainder of the round. Once per round as a free action on her turn, Malcanthet can attempt to dominate a creature (as dominate monster cast at 20th level) that is currently overwhelmed by her beauty. The target creature can resist becoming dominated with a DC 37 Will save. Malcanthet can dominate only one creature at a time; if she selects a new target, the old target is immediately freed from this effect. The domination otherwise persists until it is removed by break enchantment, miracle, or wish; it cannot be dispelled. The save DC is Charisma-based.

• Sneak Attack (Ex): Malcanthet can make a sneak attack like a rogue, dealing an extra 10d6 points of damage whenever a foe is denied his or her Dexterity bonus, or when Malcanthet is flanking.

• Summon Tanar’ri (Sp): Once per day, Malcanthet can automatically summon 1d4+2 succubi or 1d3 lilitus. This ability functions as a 9th-level spell (CL 20th).

• Reflect Enchantment (Ex): Whenever an enchantment spell that targets Malcanthet fails to penetrate her spell resistance, that spell is reflected back upon the caster as if Malcanthet had cast the spell herself (although it still uses the caster’s ability score modifier to set the save DC).

Malcanthet Lore

DC	Result
20	Malcanthet is the Queen of Succubi and the patron of hedonists and those who use their charms to control and ruin those around them.
30	Malcanthet’s beauty is so perversely intense that it can drain the life from good creatures that try to attack or touch her.
35	Malcanthet can control a creature’s will in a number of ways; she possesses many enchantment spell-like abilities, her sting drains wisdom and results in domination, and even her gaze can wipe away free will and make a person her eternal thrall.
40	Enchantment spells that fail to affect Malcanthet are reflected back on their caster, possibly resulting in the caster’s enslavement to the Queen of Succubi.

• Characters with ranks in Knowledge (religion) or Knowledge (the planes) can learn more about Malcanthet. When a character makes a successful skill check, the above lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.

OGL Statistics

Malcanthet, Worlds' Ruin

Akignment	Always Chaotic Evil
Challenge Rating	23
Size/Type	Medium Outsider (Chaotic, Evil, Extraplanar)
Hit Dice	23d8+230 (414 hp)
Initiative	+13
Speed	50ft, fly 150ft (perfect)
Armor Class	50, touch 31, flat-footed 41 (+6 armour, +9 Dexterity, +19 natural, +6 deflection)
Base Attack/Grapple	+23/+35
Attack	Melee touch +43 melee (touch of dark ecstasy)
Full Attack	Melee touch +43 melee (touch of dark ecstasy)
Space/Reach	5ft/5ft
Special Attacks	Alter reality, dispel good (see spell description), dispel law (see spell description), rapture of rupture (see spell description), ravage form, spell-like abilities, touch of dark ecstasy
Special Qualities	Darkvision 60ft, cloak of chaos (see spell description), dark blessing, fallen angel, godlike, immune to acid, cold, electricity, petrification and poison, invisibility (see spell description), Lord of the Abyss, low-light vision, nondetection (see spell description), protective aura, regeneration 25 (see the Bloodmare Stone), resistance to fire 25, sexual embrace, spell resistance 35, telepathy 1000ft, tongues, true mistress of temptation, unholy aura (see spell description)
Saves	Fort +34, Ref +33, Will +35
Abilities	Str 35, Dex 29, Con 30, Int 32, Wis 33, Cha 32
Skills	Appraise +37, Bluff +38, Concentration +36, Diplomacy +37, Disguise +37, Gather Information +38, Intimidate +38, Knowledge (arcana) +37, Knowledge (history) +37, Knowledge (nature) +37, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +37, Knowledge (religion) +37, Knowledge (the planes) +37, Listen +38, Perform +37, Sense Motive +38, Spellcraft +37, Spot +38, Use Rope +35
Feats	Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Craft Staff, Craft Wondrous Item, Flyby Attack, Goad, Gripping Vice, Improved Initiative
Environment	A chaotic-evil aligned plane
Organization	Solitary or orgy (Malcanthet plus any number creatures the GM deems suitable)
Treasure	The Bloodmare Stone, plus any treasure the GM deems acceptable
Advancement	None
Level Adjustment	None

Spell-Like Abilities

At Will

animate objects, blasphemy, chaos hammer (can be used as a swift action), charm monster, cloak of chaos, confusion (can be used as a swift action), create undead, desecrate, disguise self (can be used as a swift action), dispel good, dispel law, dominate monster, dream, Elush's elemental extraction, Elush's epiphyseal erosion, Elush's explosive exsanguination, Elush's eye-blasting explosion (can be used as a swift action), Erzebet's skull bomb (can be used as a swift action), false vision (can be used as a swift action), greater dispel magic (can be used as a free action 3/round), greater teleport, invisibility (can be used as a swift action), Ishara's enticing directive (affects up to one creature per caster level, can be used as a swift action), magic circle against good, magic circle against law, mass hold monster, mass suggestion, mislead, nondetection (can be used as a swift action), protection from good, protection from law, rapture of rupture, screen, shatter (can be used as a swift action), suggestion (can be used as a swift action), summon monster IX (chaotic or evil creatures only), symbol of persuasion, unholy aura, turn to the Abyss (can be used as a swift action), unholy blight (can be used as a swift action), word of chaos

1/day

apocalypse from the sky, demise unseen, gate, mage's disjunction, polymorph any object, time stop

• Caster level: 23rd. Save DCs are Charisma-based (32 by default)

• Combat: Malcanthet is a lover, not a fighter - she will attempt to use her magic to convince her enemies to fight each other, or better still, not fight at all. If this is impossible, however, Malcanthet will not hesitate to gently caress the life away from her enemies, or even crush them between her sensuous thighs. Her spell-like abilities also give her a wide range of options for dealing with her enemies - or escape, if needs be.

• Alter Reality (Sp): Malcanthet has the ability to advance her portfolio. This is considered identical to the wish spell, but may only be used to produce effects appropriate to Malcanthet's portfolio or goals. Malcanthet may only use this ability once per minute.

• Dark Blessing (Su): Malcanthet has a resistance bonus on all saves equal to her Charisma modifier (+11 by default).

• Fallen Angel (Ex): While she no longer calls herself an angel, Malcanthet still shares many of their traits. At the same time, while not being a true demon, Malcanthet has taken on many of their traits. This gives her Darkvision 60ft, low-light vision, immunity to acid, cold, electricity, petrification and poison, resistance to fire 25, and telepathy out to 1000ft.

• Godlike: Although Malcanthet is not a true deity, she has many of the powers of such. She can grant spells to clerics, and gives access to the Chaos, Corrupt, Evil, Lust and Trickery domains. Her favoured weapon is the whip-dagger and her portfolio is ruin, bringing down anything good about everything and lust.

Additionally, Malcanthet is immune to any attack that changes her form, mind-affecting effects, ability damage, ability drain and energy drain, unless such an effect comes from a creature that has a caster level or character level (or CR, for monsters) over 20.

Lastly, Malcanthet can burn off some of her essence to stop magic dead in its tracks. As a free action that can be used outside of her turn, Malcanthet can lose 42 hit points to counter any spell, supernatural ability or spell-like ability in Medium range, as if by greater dispel magic (although it can counter supernatural and spell-like abilities as if they were spells). This ignores temporary hit points, and can be used any number of times. For any ability with an ongoing or permanent duration, this merely suppresses it for 6 rounds.

• Lord of the Abyss (Su): Malcanthet is an ancient evil, and one of the greatest of her kind. As a result, she receives a +8 enhancement bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls, a +8 resistance bonus to all saves (although this is superseded by her Dark Blessing ability) and a +6 deflection bonus to AC. Malcanthet also has maximum hit points per hit die.

Additionally, the Abyss itself protects Malcanthet from any attempt to scry on her. Anyone that uses a divination effect on Malcanthet or the area within 1 mile of her must make a DC 32 Will save or become dazed for 1 round, and ending the effect automatically. Additionally, if the save is failed and Malcanthet wishes it, she can use an immediate action to transport herself over to the location of the user of the divination effect, even if it is on a different plane.

Lastly, Malcanthet's very presence is a blight on the surrounding area. She radiates a desecrate spell effect to a radius of twenty miles, and the innermost mile of this is subject to an unhallow effect instead, both at caster level 23rd.

• Protective Aura (Su): Just like other angels, Malcanthet radiates a protective aura, although hers is very different in its nature to that of other angels. This aura provides a +4 deflection bonus to AC and a +4 resistance bonus on all saves to all allies within 40ft of Malcanthet against any abilities from good or lawful creatures. Additionally, it functions as a magic circle against good, magic circle against law and a globe of invulnerability out to a radius of 40ft (caster level 23rd). These are not included in Malcanthet's statistics block.

• Ravage Form (Sp): As a full-round action, Malcanthet may bestow her ravage on a creature eligible to gain a level. That creature gains its first level in the ravaged by Malcanthet racial paragon class. If Malcanthet attempts to ravage an unwilling creature, it receives a DC 32 Will save to resist (Cha-based).

If Malcanthet wishes, she can attempt to share the senses of a creature that has at least one level in ravaged by Malcanthet. This works identically to a scrying spell, except it must be centred on the creature in question. The creature doesn't get any say in the matter. Malcanthet may use this ability at will. This has a caster level of 23rd.

Additionally, if any creature with at least one level in ravaged by Malcanthet attempts to affect Malcanthet or the area within 20 miles of her with any ability, Malcanthet may choose to use dominate monster on that creature as a free action that she can use even outside of her turn. The creature receives a DC 32 save as normal. This has a caster level of 23rd, and the DC is Charisma-based.

Malcanthet can also create retrievers. The process is identical to applying her normal ravage, but is subject to the usual restrictions of becoming a retriever.

• Sexual Embrace (Ex): Malcanthet has learned to use her body to hold her opponents (and lovers) in ways that should not be possible. She ignores any immunity to grappling a creature possesses, and causes any size modifiers to grapple checks for her opponents to become inversed (i.e. bonuses become penalties and vice-versa).

• Tongues (Su): Malcanthet can speak to any creature, as if under the effects of a tongues spell (caster level 23rd). This ability is always active.

• Touch of Dark Ecstasy (Su): Malcanthet's touch is one of the most intensely pleasurable experiences one can feel, but it also steals away the soul. Any touch by Malcanthet, as well as any successful grapple checks, inflict one negative level per Malcanthet's CR (23 by default). Assuming the creature survives, the Fort save to remove these negative levels is Charisma-based (32 by default). Her touch also causes so much pleasure that it requires a DC 32 Will save (Cha-based) from the touched creature, or it becomes dazed with pleasure for 6 rounds. Those who fail this save are also afflicted with a suggestion that forces them to seek out the touch again, no matter the cost. Those killed by this ability transform into Succubi instead of wights. Malcanthet may use her touch instead of a normal attack for the purpose of attacks of opportunity.

• True Mistress of Temptation (Ex): Malcanthet can tempt almost anything, even those that would normally be immune. She ignores the following immunities on any creature whose CR or character level is lower than 20: charms, compulsions, fear effects, enchantments and mind-affecting effects. If the immunity comes from a spell, Malcanthet only ignores it if its caster level is below 20th.

• The Bloodmare Stone: Although Malcanthet rarely wears clothes unless she has to, this blood-red stone, set in silver and suspended by a thick chain, also of silver, is never far from her body, usually hanging just above her breasts. It almost forces the eye to gaze upon it, and within it, souls can be seen to writhe. It is believed that the stone was the place where Malcanthet hid her angelic essence, and that her angelic sword was melted down to make its setting. If this is true, then breaking this amulet could potentially release this essence - although what this could cause is unknown.

The Bloodmare Stone can be commanded to appear as a suit of any kind of clothing. This is not an illusion - it actually transforms into those clothes. If removed, they rapidly decay to nothingness. The Bloodmare Stone is always clearly visible as part of such an outfit, although its precise form might change - it might appear as a large decorative jewel on a dress, or a large ring, etc. Commanding the Bloodmare Stone to become a suit of clothing, to change this clothing, or to return to its normal form all require a swift action.

Additionally, those gazing at Malcanthet feel their eye intensely drawn to the stone, making them distracted and unable to focus. Every time a creature attacks Malcanthet, or uses an ability on her requiring line of sight, it must make a DC 32 Will save (Cha-based) or take a -6 penalty on any rolls and any DCs for any action affecting Malcanthet this round. Success grants immunity to this ability for 24 hours.

Lastly, Malcanthet has regeneration 25 and a +6 armour bonus to AC as long as she wears this stone, as she can draw on the power of her angelic essence. The armour bonus also applies to touch attacks against Malcanthet, and nothing can bypass the regeneration. This makes Malcanthet incredibly difficult to kill, and she must be parted from the stone before she can be truly destroyed.

Creative Origins

Compared to other demon lords like Demogorgon, Lolth, Orcus, Zuggtmoy, and Graz'zt, Malcanthet is a relative newcomer to the game. Malcanthet has no real-world basis in myth, she was specifically crested for the third edition of Dungeons and Dragons and she was first mentioned in the Maure Castle adventure in Dungeon #112, and in another adventure in Dungeon #124, and later in Baphomet's entry in the "Demonomicon of Iggwilv" series in Dragon. Since that time, Malcanthet evolved into a key role in the Savage Tide Adventure Path.

Malcanthet was then fully detailed in the hardcover guide Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (2006), and her own entry in the "Demonomicon of Iggwilv" series in Dragon #353.

The concept of a Queen of Succubi is not new to Dungeons and Dragons, having first appeared in Dungeon Magazine 5, where Shami-Amourae was introduced as the Queen of Succubi in the adventure The Stolen Power, and in the second edition Planescape setting Lynkhab also appeared in a similar role.

As with Malcanthet, neither of these demon lords had a specific real-world mythological basis although all three drew inspiration from any number of mythological demonic women like the sirens of the Odyssey, or the Lilith of ancient Mesopotamian myth who became a singular entity associated in Christianity as Adam's first wife or Satan's consort, depending on which myth or story is referenced.

See Also

• Shami-Amourae
• Lynkhab
• Lynnara
• Xinivrae
• Thralls of Malcanthet
• The Radiant Sisters
• Empusar (3.5e Class)
• Ravaged By Malcanthet (3.5e Racial Paragon Class)
• Retriever (3.5e Racial Paragon Class)
• Demogorgon
• Graz'zt
• Yeenoghu
• Arendagrost
• Kostchtchie
• Mastiphal
• Socothbenoth
• Tanar'ri
• Demon Lord (Dungeons and Dragons)
• Demon (Dungeons and Dragons)
• Thrall to Demon (Dungeons and Dragons)
• Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure
• Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss

External Links

• Malcanthet at Wikipedia
• Malcanthet at the Forgotten Realms Wikia
• Malcanthet at the D&D Wiki
• Malcanthet at the Nothlands Wiki