With the Netflix TV series “Stranger Things” the interest in this iconic Dungeons and Dragons creature has risen. The Demogorgon is one of the “Demon Princes” that lead demon kind in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. As this television show was wildly popular in it’s first season it drew a great deal of attention to Dungeons and Dragons. The four boys who are the primary heroes of the series play the game in the first installment of the series. And the Demogorgon makes an appearance in that game. Clearly the boys consider Demogorgon to be the most powerful creature they could face. Later when they discover a dangerous monster in their “real lives” they label this new threat as the Demogorgon.
A History of the Demogorgon
The actual origins of the Demogorgon begin possibly with Greek Mythology. It is believed that the name, or something quite similar, appeared in Hesiod’s Theogony. This 7th century poem was a geneology of the Greek gods. It is likely that this name came from a misreading of an earlier tome or document used in the creation of this work.
The first actual recorded instance of the name being used was in another work known as Statius‘s Thebaid. He is mentioned in several other works during the middle ages as perhaps being a god. Later writers such as Milton, in Paradise Lost II, mentioned Demogorgon as being a Demon from Hell. Demonologists from the 16th century considered Demogorgon to be the master of fate in Hell. Voltaire mentions him in a 1756 short story known as Plato’s Dream. And even in the Herman Melville book Moby Dick a white whale is referenced as the “heathen crew’s Demogorgon.”
So Demogorgon is most definitely not an invention of Dungeons and Dragons. He has a history far beyond the game. As does Orcus and some of the other nasties in the Monster Manuals.
A History of Demogorgon in Dungeons and Dragons
Demogorgon made his debut in Dungeons and Dragons with the publication of Eldritch Wizardry in 1976. He makes appearances in most of the other editions (not including Basic) over the years. He is a central figure in the 5th Edition module “Out of the Abyss” which was reviewed quite a while ago on this site. In Dungeons and Dragons he is a Prince of Demons. He is a leader in the Abyss.
Unlike Greek, and even Judeo-Christian, mythology Demons live in the Abyss…..not in Hell in Dungeons and Dragons. In fact….there are Nine Hells in Dungeons and Dragons which, more or less, parallels Dante’s Inferno and it’s description of the many layers of Hell.
Demogorgon was one of only two Demon Princes that appeared in the 1976 supplement to Original Dungeons and Dragons. Orcus was the other. Orcus also has mythological roots beyond the game.
Demons and Devils Sort of Disappeared in Dungeons and Dragons For a While
With the Satanic panic about Dungeons and Dragons in the early 80s TSR, the company that published Dungeons and Dragons at that time, chose to back away a bit from Demons and Devils. But Demogorgon and friends soon made a come back. They were just too popular as monsters to do away with entirely. In some later editions Demons and Devils do not appear at all. But they are added in supplemental works instead.
The Appearance of Demogorgon in Dungeons and Dragons
Demogorgon is very tall and has two heads. He is nearly 18 feet in height and has reptilian like skin. He has two monkey like heads. And he has arms which are basically long tentacles. Each of the two heads acts independently. Each is highly intelligent. He has blue-green skin and legs that resemble that of a giant lizard. At least one later edition suggested that the heads were that of hyenas rather than monkeys.
What exactly is a Prince of Demons?
The Abyss in Dungeons and Dragons is a chaotic place. There is no official hierarchy or leadership. Rule is based upon force and power. The strong lead. The weak follow. And so it is with Demogorgon. He is powerful and dangerous. And others follow because he is so powerful that they fear him. Even within the Abyss Demogorgon has many enemies. Not the least of these is the Demon Prince Orcus.
Demogorgon rules the 90th layer of the Abyss. The Abyss in Dungeons and Dragons consists of 666 layers. This particular layer is a sea of briny water with ugly things sticking up out of it. Two of these ugly things are the towers in which he makes his home.
Who Worships Demogorgon in Dungeons and Dragons?
In the game of Dungeons and Dragons even Demon Princes and Arch-Devils have followers and worshipers. Demons in Dungeons and Dragons are Chaotic Evil in alignment. Only those so evil that they are nearly insane are Chaotic Evil in alignment in Dungeons and Dragons. Even Devils are Lawful even if they are evil.
There are human cultists that worship the Demon Prince. As do many demons themselves. But a race of intelligent rays called the Ixitxachitl also worship him. It is likely that the humans (or humanoids) who worship him are insane.
Powers of Demogorgon in Dungeons and Dragons
It would be extremely unfortunate for a band of adventurers to meet Demogorgon. It would be even more unfortunate should they try to defeat him in battle. If he fixes the gaze of both of his heads on the same enemies he can hypnotize large numbers of these enemies. The mere sight of him can cause many to just immediately flee in terror.
If he puts his gaze towards different enemies things do not get a lot better. His left head has the power to beguile and his right head can cause temporary insanity in the enemy.
His tentacle arms cause withering disease causing enemies to rot away. His whip like tail could drain the life out of enemies stuck by it.
And if this sort of thing was not enough he had magical powers. All demons in Dungeons and Dragons had such powers. Demogorgon had more than most of the others. Such powers included:
- Continual Darkness
- Levitation
- Charm person
- Creating illusions
- Gating in fellow demons
- Detecting magic
- Reading magic
- Causing fear
- Detecting invisible objects
- ESP
- Dispelling magic
- Clairvoyance
- Clairaudience
- Suggestion
- Water Breathing
- Wall of ice
- Polymorphing himself
- Feeblemind
- Projecting an image
- Telekinesis
- Power word stun
- Sticks to snakes
- Symbol
These were his powers from 1st Edition. Later editions pared back a few of these powers but added the ability to shift planes. In any event…he is clearly quite powerful. And he has more than one way to deal with his enemies. In 1st Edition he also had an armor class of -8 which is nearly unhittable without a natural 20 for characters that are not extremely high in level. And he had 200 hit points which more than any other named creature in the 1st Edition Monster Manual (the Tarrasque did not arrive until the Monster Manual II) including Asmodeus (the most powerful Devil in the Monster Manual).
From a player’s perspective Demogorgon probably was the most dangerous foe they could meet. The kids from Stranger things were not wrong about him. He probably would be a near impossible encounter for most player characters unless they were extremely high level and powerful.
Demogorgon is someone you do not want to meet in a dark dungeon
Fortunately Demon Princes like Demogorgon do not travel to the Material plane all that often. It is unlikely that one would encounter him in just any dungeon. But even the 1st Edition Dungeon Master Guide suggested Demogorgon, and other Demon Princes, might be met in very deep dungeons of 10 levels or more. They are even listed in the random encounter table as something that could be met in deep dungeons. And those who travel the planes could well encounter him in the Astral plane. So do not feel too safe that you won’t find his two heads staring at you one day during one of your adventures.
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