On November 27th, 2022, the 8,000th article was added to the SuccuWiki!
Dagon
 Dagon Prince of the Darkened Depths as illustrated by Franz Vohwinkel | |
| Game background | |
|---|---|
| Title(s) | Prince of the Darkened Depths |
| Home plane | 89th layer of the Abyss - Shadowsea |
| Power level | Demon Lord |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Domains | Chaos, Entropy, Evil, Water[1] |
| Design details | |
| First appearance | Monster Manual II |
Dagon is an obyrith Demon Lord, also called the Prince of the Depths. His realm is the 89th layer of the Abyss, and is known as Shadowsea. As one of the oldest demon lords in existence, Dagon is said to possess vast and forbidden knowledge.
Description
Dagon appears as a colossal-sized eel with the leering fanged face of a deep-underwater fish. Numerous suckered tentacles cover his body, two of which end in finger-like digits tipped with long sharp talons. Dagon's symbol is six spiraling tentacles arranged around a fanged mouth, and his favored weapon is the harpoon.[1]
Relationships
Dagon and Demogorgon have an alliance of sorts, and it is rumored that Demogorgon gained his power and influence from the unspeakable knowledge he has gleaned from the Lord of the Depths.
Other than his alliance with Demogorgon, Dagon has few allies, and fewer enemies, for most other demon lords prefer to leave Dagon alone in his deep realm; those who do not are now dead. Despite being an isolationist, many demons, lords or otherwise, pay tribute to Dagon in the hopes of gaining information about the Abyss from him, as he is also revered throughout the Abyss as a great sage and oracle. The demon lord Lascer has attempted to ally himself with Dagon at the urging of his master, Obox-ob.
Though Dagon has followers among the kuo-toa, the feelings of their patron goddess, Blibdoolpoolp, are unknown on this matter.
Realm
Dagon's realm, known as Shadowsea, is the 89th layer of the Abyss. Shadowsea is an underwater realm with a seabed dotted with ruined cities, but without a surface. At certain points, if one ascends or swims upward, he will find himself surfacing on the 88th layer, which is the Gaping Maw of Demogorgon.
Worshipers
Dagon is served by aquatic demons, especially wastriliths and the obyrith uzollrus. He is worshipped by aquatic races such as kraken, chuul, sea hags, water nagas, and kuo-toa.
History
Dagon is one of the few obyrith lords that are still in power in the Abyss, mainly from his isolationist nature and his sheer power. The hostile nature of his realm also protects him from any invasion attempts by rivals. When the Queen of Chaos tried to rally the obyriths in the war against Law, Dagon was one of those who refused her call, and one of the few who escaped her resultant wrath, mostly because the Queen feared his power. After the fall of the obyriths, Dagon remained as he always was, safe and secure in his deep realm.
4th Edition
According to the 4th edition Monster Manual 2, Dagon was the first creature in the Abyss. When the first primordials entered and began conquering realms, they found Dagon already there deep within the dark seas. This has led to speculation that Tharizdun did not actually create the Abyss, but simply opened the way in; whether this is true or not, Dagon alone knows and he has never revealed it.
The Demonomicon goes into more detail: after Tharizdun plunged the shard of evil into the Elemental Chaos and created the Abyss, the primordials who entered felt the presence of the shard and went in search of it. Demogorgon found it first and waded into the waters after it, but Dagon rose from the depths unexpectedly and challenged him. The two engaged in a ferocious battle while the obyrith Obox-ob took advantage of the distraction to claim it for himself. Dagon and Demogorgon became allies at some unknown point later.
The Outcast Dagon
The demon lord Dagon should not be confused with the exiled devil of the same name, who dwells on Avernus, first layer of Baator. Originally known as Jaqon, Asmodeus forcibly changed Jaqon's name to Dagon to thwart attempts to summon the offender. The original, in turn, took this as a grave insult.[2]
Publishing History
Dagon is first mentioned in the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook Monster Manual II, where it is said in passing that he rules a liquid layer dominated by marine dretch, hezrou, kraken, and horrible fish-monsters.[3]
Dagon is fully described years later, in the game's third edition in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss.[4] Dagon's realm is described on Wizards of the Coast's website.[5]
Dagon appeared in the fourth edition Monster Manual 2 (2009). He is described as Demogorgon's close ally.[6] The 4th edition Demonomicon (2010) confirms his obyrith origins.[7]
Other Publishers
Dagon appeared under the "demon" heading in the Tome of Horrors (2002) from Necromancer Games.[8]
Dagon appeared in Paizo Publishing's book Book of the Damned, Vol. 2: Lords of Chaos (2010), on page 14.[9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jacobs, James. "The Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Dagon." Dragon #349 (Paizo Publishing, 2006).
- ↑ Greenwood, Ed. "Nine Hells Revisited." Dragon #91 (TSR, 1984)
- ↑ Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II (TSR, 1983)
- ↑ Jacobs, James, Erik Mona, and Ed Stark. Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (Wizards of the Coast, 2006)
- ↑ Jacobs, James, Erik Mona, and Ed Stark. Fiendish Codex I: The Lost Annals (Wizards of the Coast, 2006)
- ↑ Heinsoo, Rob, and Chris Sims. Monster Manual 2. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2009
- ↑ Mearls, Mike, Brian R. James, and Steve Townshend. Demonomicon. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2010
- ↑ Green, Scott (2002). Tome of Horrors, 76–77, Necromancer Games.
- ↑ Jacobs, James. Book of the Damned, Vol. 2: Lords of Chaos (Paizo, 2010)