Demon lord

Demon lords, also known as Abyssal lords, were archfiends who gained great power and established a position of preeminence among demonkind. Over millennia, these demons have amassed tremendous power and authority over their domain.

Hierarchy
Each demon lord had a unique appearance and set of abilities and commanded over at least one layer of a plane in the Abyss. Those that controlled several layers and rose higher in power gave themselves the title of demon prince. Both "demon lord" and "demon prince" were self-proclaimed titles by those who had gained enough power and influence. The demonic fiends have been in an eternal struggle, edging and fight for dominion over one another. Unlike the archdevils, the chaotic evil demon lords did not have a rigid hierarchy, though they appeared in greater numbers throughout the Blood War.

A demon lord, when slain in a plane other than the Abyss, was banished to the Abyss for a hundred years, whereas ordinary demons, including the mariliths and glabrezus, risked being reborn into a lesser form, or not at all.

History
Demon lords waged eternal war with each other, often seeking ways to expand their holdings into other layers and at the same time defend their personal domains from rival lords and scheming underlings. Miska the Wolf Spider was the first demon lord to hold the title of Prince of Demons, a coveted status symbol, followed by Obox-ob, and then Demogorgon. Orcus and Graz'zt have contested this title, while Obox-ob desired to regain it.

Most demon lords had secretive mortal cults who sought to elevate their lords to godhood through prayer and sacrifice.

Lords & Their Domain
These were some of the Demon Lords of note, each holding dominion over their layer of the Abyss.


 * Abraxus the Unfathomable, whose concerns were magic words, arcane secrets and talismans
 * Baphomet the Prince of Beasts, ruler of minotaurs in the Endless Maze
 * Dagon the Prince of the Depths, who presided over the deep creatures of the sea in the Shadowsea on the 89th layer of the Abyss
 * Demogorgon the Prince of Demons (as of 1372 DR), ruler of the Gaping Maw

Appearances

 * Novels:
 * Archmage