Forgotten Realms Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Advertisement
Register
Forgotten Realms Wiki
Forgotten Realms Wiki
53,917
pages
in: Medium-sized creatures, Fiends, Fiends (5e),
and 24 more

Succubus

Revision as of 15:07, 5 February 2019 by Gringo300 (talk | contribs) (attempted clean up)
View source
Broom icon
 This article is currently being worked on by — BadCatMan (talk).
Please check back later for changes and check if edits made will not disrupt work. This article has been tagged since 12:16, February 5, 2019 (UTC).

A succubus (pronounced: /ˈsʌkjuːbʌs/ SUK-yoo-bus[7]) was once a type of demon, a beautiful lesser breed of tanar'ri from the Infinite Layers of the Abyss. They existed to seduce and tempt mortals and eventually slay them and take their life energy back to the Abyss.[3][4][5][6] In the 15th century DR, circa 1479 DR, they were considered to be a form of devil of the Nine Hells instead, and they tempted mortals into villainy.[2] However, after the Second Sundering of 1487 DR, they were known as simply fiends, found across all the Lower Planes in service to all kinds of evil.[1][note 1]

The male counterpart of this creature was called an incubus (pronounced: /ˈɪŋkjuːbʌs/ INK-yoo-bus[8]).[4][5] Legend held that incubi and succubi were wholly separate sexes,[1] and the males were significantly rarer than the female of their kind.[4][5] In fact, with their shapechanging powers, succubi and incubi could both change their sex with ease, though most had a preference for one or the other.[2][1][note 2]

Description

When uncovered in her true form, a succubus appeared as a stunningly beautiful woman of statuesque build and perfect figure, with flawless skin and red or raven-black hair, but also clawed fingers and large dark-hued or reddish bat-like wings mounted on their backs. Their eyes were said to glow with sinister desire.[1][2][3][4][5][6][note 3] Small horns or a tail might also be seen.[1][3][6][note 4] Succubi stood on average around 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and weighed 125 pounds (57 kilograms). [3][4][5][6] Demonic succubi were by far the most attractive of the otherwise-hideous tanar'ri, maybe even of all demons.[3]

Incubus-5e

An incubus.

Incubi, meanwhile, appeared as perfect examples of the male of whatever race they were working with.[4][5]

However, they often used their shapechanging ability to assume a humanoid form, and could maintain such as a disguise for as long as they liked.[3][4][5] Thus mortals rarely saw succubi and incubi in their true forms.[1] However, they were always good-looking to an observer.[2]

Abilities

With a kiss of her lips, an embrace in her arms, or something more intimate, a succubus could drain the life energy of a mortal who lacked stamina, weakening them in every aspect[3][4][5][6] or simply wounding their psyche until died or escaped and took time to recover.[1] For mortals who were unwilling, and perhaps some who were willing, the succubus would have to charm or grapple him or her in order to lay their kiss somewhere. Caught in the throes of passion, the victim often didn't even notice their life drained away, unless they could keep their heads.[3][4][5][6] However, a kiss from a fiendish succubus was actually quite painful, giving no satisfaction, only utter emptiness.[1] One slain by this life-draining kiss might rise again as a greater vampire; for example, this was the way Jonathon Morningmist was turned.[9] Moreover, as with a suggestion spell, the kiss of a demonic succubus could make the victim desire another kiss, if they did not have the willpower to resist, so they inevitably and willingly gave up their energy to the succubus.[3] Previously, they were presumed to be capable of any kind of suggestion, without application of a kiss.[4][5]

In contrast, a devilish succubus was a more commanding, dominant figure. Her kiss had instead a charming effect, causing a victim to be unable to attack her and even take attacks meant for their new mistress. If the succubus could keep her slave, then a kiss once a day was enough to keep them in her thrall, though she could only have one such slave at a time. Furthermore, at will, she could dominate the mind of another, even at a distance, though only for several seconds. They usually used this to make a worthy target come to them for the charming kiss.[2]

To aid their efforts, a succubus or incubus could change their body, as with a polymorph or shapechange spell, into any humanoid form, as small as a halfling or tall as a human of roughly their own height and weight. This could even include demihumans. They could maintain this appearance indefinitely, and it granted them skill in disguise. They could even take the forms of specific people.[3][4][5][6][2][1] However, for a fiendish succubus, this disguise did not extend to whatever they carried or wore, if anything. When slain, they reverted to their fiendish forms.[1]

Succubi were uncanny linguists, able to speak all languages, or at least just the language of their victim, as with a permanent tongues spell. Like other demons, they possessed telepathy, but they preferred to speak aloud with mortals.[3][4][5] With those they'd charmed, a fiendish succubus could forge a telepathic bond that stretched even to other planes.[1]

Demonic succubi had an array of other powers too, being able to become ethereal (as with an oil of etherealness[4][5][6] or ethereal jaunt, though only themselves and what they carried[3]), to charm people[4][5][6] and even monsters,[3] to read minds,[4][5][3][6] to listen from afar as with clairaudience,[4][5][6] and to cross planes as with plane shift[4][5] or greater teleport (but taking only themselves and what they carried)[3] They could use such magic as often as they pleased.[3][4][5][6] Moreover, once a day, demonic succubi could attempt to summon back-up if threatened. Originally, with a 40% chance of success, they could gate in a type IV or type VI demon or, very rarely, even a demon prince or lord.[6] After the Time of Troubles of 1358 DR, this came in the form of a single balor with a 40% chance of success.[4][5] After the Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR, this was but a single vrock with only a 30% success rate.[3]

While devilish succubi lacked all this magic, they also had a corrupting touch with which to defend themselves.[2]

Fiendish succubi could become ethereal by slipping into the Ethereal Plane. They could also magically charm a humanoid, in sight up to 30 feet (9.1 meters) away, and make them obey any command they gave them. The victim might resist, especially if made to perform a harmful or suicidal action. Resisting freed their mind for 24 hours, but failure kept them beholden to the succubus for a full day. The succubus could only have one charmed victim at a time; taking another would free the last one.[1]

They were good listeners and good at noticing things. They were persuasive, deceptive, stealthy, and had a little skill in bonds, both tying them and escaping them.[3]

As demons, they were immune to all fire, whether mundane or magical, and could only be hurt by moderately enchanted weapons.[4][5][6] Later, they were considered to be immune to electricity and poison; resistant to acid, cold, and fire and to spells; and were best harmed by cold iron or good weapons.[3] Devilish succubi were merely highly resistance to fire.[2] Fiendish succubi were resistance to cold, fire, lightning, poison, and mundane attacks.[1]

Their wings, when they had them, let them fly with average ability.[3][2][1]

Combat

Lovers not fighters, succubi fled all conflict if they could, using their claws only as a last resort, but these were only usable if revealed in their fiendish form.[3][4][5][1] Rather, they focused on dodging blows and running for safety."/>[3] However, they were rarely taken by surprise.[4][5]

Instead, they preferred subterfuge and seduction, turning their enemies against each other, making them into loyal servants, or trying to get individuals alone.[3][2] A preferred tactic was to disguise themselves and feign friendship or pretend to be a damsel in distress, especially if encountered in a dungeon, then find a moment to be alone with a potential victim where they could use their life-draining kiss.[3]

Personality

Succubi and incubi were lusty creatures.[1]

A fiendish succubus desired a corrupted soul like nothing else, feeling utter emptiness until they claimed one. Their deadly kiss was an echo of this emptiness.[1]

Activities

Demonic succubi lived to seduce and tempt mortal beings of the Prime Material Plane,[3][4][5] and in the end slay them and carry their life-forces back with them, for the destruction of mortals increased the power of the Abyss. This in turn aided the demons in the Blood War.[4][5] They seemed to have fed on this life-force themselves.[10]

Demonic succubi typically targeted men of energy and passion. The fiery spirits of humans meant they were easier prey, so succubi did not often concern themselves with demihumans. They were content to take things slow and work subtly. Incubi meanwhile tempted mortal females.[4][5]

Devilish succubi were also adept at winning hearts and breaking hearts, but they also made for cunning and skilled spies and assassins. They served higher-ranked devils as scouts and advisors, as emissaries to key mortals, and of course as concubines.[2] They tempted mortals into sin on behalf of Asmodeus.[1]

Fiendish succubi commonly used their ethereal form to slip through walls to reach a mortal's bedside, and linger there as they slept. Here, they filled their victim's dreams with debauched scenes and whispered of forbidden pleasures, tempting them to indulge in dark desires, appetites, and taboos. The more the succubus did this in their dreams, the more vulnerable their victim became to temptation in the waking world. Eventually, the succubus entered the mortal realm directly, in a pleasing form previously seen only in the dreams, and befriended or seduced the victim, so they could influence them directly and indulge all their desires so they would perform evil deeds of their own free will. When the victim was utterly corrupted, such as by committing three betrayals of thought, word, and deed, their soul was in the grip of the succubus, without need of contract or pledge. For a more virtuous victim, this corruption might take longer, but their downfall was more rewarding for the succubus. Finally, the succubus slew their victim with a kiss, and the corrupted soul went down to the Lower Planes as their prize. The succubus actually avoided charming the victim if they could help it, as they would not be responsible for their actions and not truly corrupted. Thus, charming was mostly used for self-defense. Similarly, their lethal kiss was only used as a final assault or a parting shot before escaped.[1]

Society

Demons

Three demons: a nalfeshnee, a quasit, and a succubus. The succubus is the better-looking one.

Demonic succubi were independent of tanar'ri society, going where they liked and doing as they willed, and answering to none. The greater tanar'ri tolerated them and even accepted their independence, for they served the Abyss in their own way.[4][5] In turn, succubi could dominate lesser demons through a mixture of threats and wits.[6] Succubi and incubi served demon lords like Graz'zt as advisors and consorts.[1]

Fiendish succubi served greater fiends of all kinds, from demons to devils and night hags and rakshasas and yugoloths in between.[1]

Preferring to work alone, they operated as singles[3][4][5][6] and rarely gathered in numbers.[6]

Succubi greatly outnumbered incubi. The reason for this was unknown, but sages speculated it was because mortal men were more easily swayed by beauty than women.[4][5]

Many succubi were under the command of the demon lord Graz'zt, but on the whole, they were ruled by their queen, Malcanthet.[citation needed]

Procreation

Once it was considered that demonic succubi and incubi did not mate with one another to procreate.[4][5] However, fiendish succubi and incubi could indeed reproduce to birth more of their race.[1]

The female child of a succubus and a human male was traditionally called an alu-fiend. Those with non-evil human fathers had a slight tendency to avoid the evil of their heritage.[11] The male child of an incubus (indeed, any lesser tanar'ri) and a human female was a cambion. Again, those with non-evil human fathers had a slight tendency to be non-evil.[12] However, the offspring of an alu-fiend or cambion's union with a human had no specific name but fell into the larger category of tiefling.[citation needed] In the Realms circa 1370 DR, these terms were defined regardless of sex: a cambion was the spawn of a tanar'ri and a human or demihuman, while alu-fiends were specifically a subgroup of cambions with succubus or incubus parents. Finally, tanar'ric tieflings were any descendants with a less than 50% demonic bloodline[13] or even more distant ancestry. Succubi, along with mariliths, were the most common ancestors of these demon-blooded tieflings.[14] Circa 1487 DR, a cambion was considered the child of a humanoid and a fiendish succubus or incubus, and to be villainous as the fiendish parent.[1]

History

Circa −4800 DR, the noble but half-fiend sun elf House Dlardrageth allied with three minor noble houses—Aelorothi, Ealoeth, and Floshin—of the sun elven realm of Siluvanede and incited crossbreeding with demons to strengthen their bloodlines. Succubi and incubi were of course among these demons. These unions spawned demon–elf hybrids: half-elf cambions and alu-fiends known as daemonfey and the half-elf tieflings known as fey'ri. The fey'ri had the power to shapeshift as easily as their succubi and incubi ancestors did. These now fey'ri houses, while hiding their heritage, soon began to dominate Siluvanede.[15][13][16][17][18][19][20][note 5]

Whereas succubi and incubi were previously known to be tanar'ri demons of the Abyss,[3][4][5][6] after the Spellplague of 1385 DR, by 1479 DR they were presumed to be devils of the Nine Hells.[2] According to Lorcan, the reason for this was that the succubi decided on a species-wide level to switch allegiances around the same time as Asmodeus gained his godhood. The rumor was that through this act, Asmodeus gained the last bit of necessary power to push the Abyss to the bottom of the Elemental Chaos to end the Blood War.[21]

After the Second Sundering of 1487 DR, succubi had completed their transition and become fiends found across the Lower Planes.[1]

Reputation

"Succubus" was a not uncommon nickname or title in the Realms. "The Succubus" was an assassin of the Night Masks active around 1370 DR known for using contact poison on her lips and killing with a kiss.[22] The goddess Sharess was called "Succubus of Sensation".[23]

Notable Succubi

Appendix

This article is incomplete. You can help the Forgotten Realms Wiki by providing more information.

Notes

  1. ↑ In 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-sources, succubi and incubi were demons of chaotic evil alignment, but in 4th edition they were retconned as lawful evil devils and in 5th edition as general fiends of neutral evil alignment. These will be respectively clarified as "demonic", "devilish", and "fiendish" where necessary, though there is much overlap in their concepts and powers and fiendish succubi fill roles once occupied by demonic and devilish succubi.
  2. ↑ By not mentioning incubi and having succubi appear as men and women, Monster Manual 4th edition seems to imply that there are no incubi, only succubi in male form. If so, it is also possible this only applies to the devilish succubi of 4th edition. The Monster Manual 5th edition clarifies the two are interchangeable. Thus, many descriptions of succubi apply to incubi. However, the wording does not strictly contradict the existence of separate sexes, only saying the sexes are changeable.
  3. ↑ Some description is taken from artwork consistent in each edition.
  4. ↑ Artwork often depicts succubi with horns and/or a tail, but these are not always mentioned in text, nor shown in all art. For regular shapeshifters, such features might be optional.
  5. ↑ Only Monsters of Faerûn page 73 and Lords of Darkness page 126 specify succubi and incubi as among the ancestors of the fey'ri, while other sources only refer to tanar'ri or demons.

See also

Further Reading

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 284–285. ISBN 978-0786965614.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 67. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33 3.34 3.35 3.36 3.37 3.38 3.39 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 40, 45, 47–48. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 4.35 4.36 4.37 4.38 Allen Varney, ed. (June 1994). Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix. (TSR, Inc.), p. 109. ISBN 978-1560768623.
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 5.30 5.31 5.32 5.33 5.34 5.35 5.36 5.37 5.38 J. Paul LaFountain (1991). Monstrous Compendium: Outer Planes Appendix. Edited by Timothy B. Brown. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 1-56076-055-9.
  6. ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 18. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
  7. ↑ Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 30.
  8. ↑ Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 26.
  9. ↑ Ed Greenwood et al. (December 1988). Lords of Darkness. Edited by Scott Martin Bowles. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 42, 49. ISBN 0-88038-622-3.
  10. ↑ Allen Varney, ed. (June 1994). Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix. (TSR, Inc.), p. 93. ISBN 978-1560768623.
  11. ↑ Allen Varney, ed. (June 1994). Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix. (TSR, Inc.), p. 94. ISBN 978-1560768623.
  12. ↑ Allen Varney, ed. (June 1994). Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix. (TSR, Inc.), p. 99. ISBN 978-1560768623.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Steven E. Schend, Sean K. Reynolds and Eric L. Boyd (June 2000). Cloak & Dagger. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 90. ISBN 0-7869-1627-3.
  14. ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 125. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  15. ↑ Steven E. Schend (March 1998). Hellgate Keep. (TSR, Inc), p. 10. ISBN 978-0786907861.
  16. ↑ James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo (February 2001). Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn. Edited by Duane Maxwell. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 73–74. ISBN 0-7869-1832-2.
  17. ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 118. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  18. ↑ Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds (October 2001). Lords of Darkness. Edited by Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 126. ISBN 07-8691-989-2.
  19. ↑ Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout (February 2005). Lost Empires of Faerûn. Edited by Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 84. ISBN 0-7869-3654-1.
  20. ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 26. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  21. ↑ Erin M. Evans (November 2011). Brimstone Angels (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), locs. 1711–1719. ASIN B004ZZKRPE.
  22. ↑ Steven E. Schend, Sean K. Reynolds and Eric L. Boyd (June 2000). Cloak & Dagger. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 57. ISBN 0-7869-1627-3.
  23. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 51. ISBN 978-0786906574.

Connections

Demons
Fiendish Beings of Evil and Anarchy
Loumara
Caligrosto • Dybbuk • Guecubu • Manitou

Tanar'ri
Adaru • Alkilith • Armanite • Arrow demon • Babau • Balor • Bar-lgura • Bulezau • Cerebrilith • Chasme • Dretch • Gadacro • Glabrezu • Goristro • Hezrou • Jovoc • Kastighur • Klurichir • Lilitu • Mane • Marilith • Maurezhi • Mavawhan • Molydeus • Myrmyxicus • Nabassu • Nalfeshnee • Palrethee • Rutterkin • Solamith • Sorrowsworn • Spyder-fiend • Succubus • Uridezu • Vrock • Yochlol
Obyriths
Draudnu • Ekolid • Golothoma • Laghathti • Sibriex • Uzollru • Verakia • Wastrilith

Miscellaneous Demons
Abyssal chicken • Abyssal scavenger • Abyssal wretch • Abyssal wurm • Bebilith • Bonegouge assassin • Deathdrinker • Demon spawn • Dire whiner • Ferrolith • Ghour • Haures • Immolith • Jarrlak • Kazrith • Mahataa • Maw demon • Nashrou • Quasit • Rageborn • Retriever • Ruin demon • Runespiral demon • Rupture demon • Shadow demon • Shoosuva • Skulvyn • Tomb demon • Voracalith • Whisper demon • Zythar


Devils
Fiendish Beings of Evil and Tyranny
Baatezu

Least: Lemure • Nupperibo • Spinagon
Lesser: Abishai (Black • Blue • Green • Red • White) • Barbazu • Erinyes • Excruciarch • Ghargatula • Hamatula (Stony devil) • Kocrachon • Merregon • Osyluth • War devil • Xerfilstyx
Greater: Amnizu • Cornugon • Gelugon • Logokron • Narzugon • Orthon • Paeliryon • Pit fiend
Baatezu of unknown rank: Advespa • Dogai • Gulthir • Jerul

Miscellaneous Devils
Araton • Burning devil • Fimbrul devil • Hellcat • Hellwasp • Imp (Bloodbag • Book • Euphoric • Filth) • Kalabon • Kyton • Misfortune devil • Seared devil • Shocktroop devil • Soulrider devil • Stitched devil • Succubus • Tar devil • Vizier devil
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
More Fandoms
Advertisement

Fan Feed

More Forgotten Realms Wiki