The Wand of Orcus in Dungeons and Dragons is a powerful artifact possessed by a Demon Prince. Orcus is one of the most powerful demon princes in the game. And his weapon of choice is a rod made from obsidian and topped with a human skull. It is said that a mere touch of this wand upon a creature’s flesh causes instant death.
Orcus himself is often described as a grossly fat demon lord. He is about 15 feet tall. His appearance is that of a goat like humanoid with a goat like head and rams horns. His legs are like that of a goat but not his arms. These are humanoid in appearance. He has large bat like wings and a tail which is poisonous to the touch.
The Wand of Orcus in Dungeons and Dragons is a Powerful Artifact
Artifacts in Dungeons and Dragons are meant to be powerful. Artifacts are more powerful than mere magical items. But they come with a cost. Each has side effects and drawbacks which makes their continued use very dangerous for the user (and sometimes his or her friends).
Artifacts are not to be trifled with. They can do great things. And they can do great harm. Some are cursed and cannot easily be disposed of.
The History of the Wand of Orcus in Dungeons and Dragons
The Wand of Orcus is one of the earliest artifacts in Dungeons and Dragons. It was first described in the Eldritch Wizardry supplement for Original Dungeons and Dragons in 1976. It is sometimes referred to in that edition as the “Wand of Death.” It is further described in the Monster Manual for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 1st Edition near the end of the description of Orcus himself. It is further detailed for 1st Edition in the Dungeon Master’s Guide in the section on Artifacts on page 162. This version of the wand describes the wand and suggests a certain number of powers that the device might have as well as side effects. Second Edition mentions the wand in the fourth edition of the Encyclopedia Magica and in the Planes of Chaos. Third edition mentions the wand in it’s Book of Vile Darkness. The Fourth Edition Monster Manual describes the wand and elaborates a bit on it’s description. Fifth Edition describes the wand in it’s Dungeon Master’s Guide in the section on artifacts on pages 226-227.
There are a number of differences in the descriptions of the device from edition to edition. All of them refer to it as a wand with a skull at the top. But there are some wide variances in the descriptions:
- Original Dungeons and Dragons describes it as a rod of obsidian topped with a skull
- 1st Edition describes it as a “ghastly weapon” but also calls it a rod of obsidian topped with a skull
- 3rd Edition describes it as a rod of obsidian and iron topped with a skull of a human hero personally slain by Orcus.
- 4th Edition describes the wand as a heavy mace topped with an enormous skull. It also states that it is studded by blood rubies.
- 5th Edition changes the appearance entirely. It is no longer made of obsidian but it’s haft is made of magically enhanced bones which make it hard as iron. It is topped by a large skull of a hero slain by the Demon Lord himself. The wand can change size in order to fit the wielder more appropriately.
Creation of the Wand of Orcus in Dungeons and Dragons
An adventure called “Dead Gods” written by Monte Cook for 2nd Edition describes how Orcus created this evil device. There was once a great hero named Anarchocles. Orcus trapped the spirit of this warrior within a circlet used for the control of Skeletal Warriors. But Orcus removed the skull from this warrior and then destroyed the corpse. He placed it on the end of a long iron scepter and infused it with his own demonic essence. Anyone wearing this circlet can see through the eyes of the skull at the end of the wand. But if the circlet is touched to the wand both will turn to dust.
However the Fourth Edition Monster Manual mentions that some legends exist about the skull that differ greatly from this story. According to those legends this skull once belonged to a good deity that once challenged Orcus and was defeated. Other legends suggest that the skull once belonged to a good human hero but is now filled with evil.
Orcus is not always in possession of the wand
It is known that sometimes the wand makes appearances on the Prime Material Plane. It is believed that Orcus allows it to fall into the possession of mortals from time to time in order to create chaos and mayhem with it. For mere mortals cannot control the intense evil within this object. Not for long anyway. Soon it is a force of it’s own and will bring nothing but ruin to those around it.
Destruction of the Wand of Orcus in Dungeons and Dragons
In addition to the method described earlier, involving the circlet, another method for the wand’s destruction is detailed in the the adventure module “The Throne of Bloodstone.” The wand must be steeped in the blood of foul black blood from the heart of Tiamat. But this is only a temporary reprieve. The wand will disappear for centuries but will eventually return. When it explodes the wand will leave behind a single white gem which can then be planted to grow into a tall white tree. No demons can enter the land while this tree stands.
The Fifth Edition DMG offers another method. The wand could be taken to the Positive Plane of Energy by the hero whose skull is attached to it. He would first, of course, need to be restored to life. His soul is kept imprisoned by Orcus himself so this is no easy task. The wand could then be bathed in the positive energy which will cause it to explode.
Powers of the Wand of Orcus
The Powers of the wand vary greatly in different editions and adventures.
- In First Edition the powers are left up to the Dungeon Master to determine (randomly or otherwise) from a list of suggested powers and side effects.
- The Fifth Edition wand has seven charges. It also gives the Dungeon Master discretion to assign powers and side effects from a random list. But it also assigns some specific powers which can be used such as animate dead, blight, circle of death, finger of death, power word kill and speak with the dead. It can also call forth the undead to serve the wielder of the wand. It is a sentient magic item and can communicate telepathically with the wielder. It understands the common tongue as well as Abyssal.
- The Throne of Bloodstone adventure assigns the following powers to the wand: Abyssal Night, Bodak Birth, Call Nightmare, Clutch of Orcus, Summon Monster VII, Wrack and Wretched Blight.
The wand always wants to return home
The Wand of Orcus is a terrible device of evil. And it is sentient. Therefore it knows when it is separated from Orcus. And it always wants to return to him. It also wants to spread death everywhere it goes. These two overriding goals will always come out in the end. The device will make these two things happen sooner or later. If Orcus is somehow slain the wand will try to find a way to raise him or reanimate him.
Do not feel lucky if you come into possession of the Wand of Orcus
Coming into possession of the Wand of Orcus is not good fortune at all. It is a curse. For it will bring about your destruction and that of your friends and allies. While the powers of the device might seem to be a great boon to you in the short term you will come to regret their use later on. For Orcus does not part with this powerful device for long. And the wand itself longs for his embrace. The two are never separate for long. And those in their way are soon crushed.
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