Molydeus

A molydeus was a powerful two-headed tanar'ri demon that existed in a strange place outside the regular Abyssal hierarchy. Feared even more than the balors, they served both as intermediaries and enforcers for their respective demon lords.

Description
Molydei were enormous humanoid creatures that stood 12 feet (3.6 meters) tall and weighed 1500 pounds (680 kilograms). Their muscular bodies were covered in crimson red skin and equipped with a set of clawed hands. Their main head resembled a slavering, silver-eyed wolf or hyena, while a writhing serpent protruded out from their neck.

At nearly all times, molydei carried a special demonic weapon specially linked to them. Although it was normally a greataxe, its form was often dependent on the demon lord they served, such as manifesting as a flail for Yeenoghu. Jagged runes were carved into the weapon and a shimmering ruby laid within the base of the shaft. If a molydeus was slain, its weapon dissolved into a puddle of ichor.

Abilities
Due to their two heads and truesight it was nearly impossible to get the jump on a molydei. Their various resistances made them hard to bring down physically, while possessing two heads increased their resistance to magical manipulation. A slew of spells were at their disposal making them difficult to deal with even disregarding their potent physical abilities. The tanar'ri they summoned were often a small group of babaus, chasmes or a marilith. Most dangerously of their powers was the venomous bite of their serpentine head. When their dripping fangs injected venom into a creature, even demons who were normally immune to poison, they would undergo a terrifying transformation into a mane. This transformation was so shockingly permanent that only some form of divine intervention or a carefully worded wish spell could undo it.

Combat
The heads of a molydeus took turns biting a foe in combat, while at the same time the demon attacked with its greataxe and used its potent innate spellcasting abilities.

Society
A molydeus could be hired by a demon lord to destroy a specific target, but their most common assignment was to roam the Abyss looking for demons to enlist into the Blood War, hunting down its deserters, or simply finding intruders and punishing them however they wanted. Another common position was as one of the many generals of a demon lord, since, thanks to the fear and power they commanded, they often ruled over many demons as if they were demon lords themselves.

Molydei were typically found alone or with only a small entourage of lesser demons, typically mariliths, which they enjoyed working with. A molydeus sometimes took balors, klurichirs, or other powerful demons in its mission as the enforcer of a demon lord. It was possible for a powerful spellcaster to summon molydei, although they rarely lasted long on the job and typically left their posts violently.

A molydeus was bound to its weapon, and if separated from its weapon, the demon became mad with rage until the weapon was recovered or the molydeus was able to forge a new one.

Ecology
Demons that performed acts of particular ferocity, showed devious cunning, or displayed acts of surprisingly genuine devotion could earn the favor of a demon lord. In these cases these demons might be rewarded through an excruciatingly painful tormenting process in order to be molded into a molydeus.

History
Some origin stories maintained that, when Tharizdun discovered the shard of utter evil and buried it in the Elemental Chaos, he charged seven angels with the protection of his treasure. The celestial beings were naturally obedient to his wishes, but were unsure if they were doing what they should be in listening to the scheming deity, leaving them frustrated and irresolute. Proximity to the shard caused their forms to violently wrench apart, turning them into the first of the molydei. While the snarling canine head symbolized their rage and fighting ability, the hissing serpent represented their mistrust of their masters and uncertainties about their given task. The axes normally wielded by molydei were sometimes described as tools containing the raw light of creation from their previous existence as angels.

Notable Molydei

 * Grekzith

Appearances

 * Novels
 * The Crystal Mountain
 * The Crystal Mountain