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| {{refimprove|date=April 2017}}
| | '''Name''': Iuz |
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| {{Greyhawk Deity|
| | '''Gender: '''m |
| image=[[Image:SargentIuzEvilCover.jpg|200 px]]|
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| caption=Iuz, in his aspect on [[Oerth]] as a human male, from the cover of ''[[Iuz the Evil]]'' (TSR, 1993).|
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| bgcolor=#000|
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| name=Iuz|
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| title=The Evil, the Old, Old Wicked|
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| home=Prime Material (Oerth)|
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| power=Demigod|
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| alignment=Chaotic Evil|
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| portfolio=Deceit, Pain, Oppression, Evil|
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| domains=Chaos, Evil, Mind, Suffering, Trickery, Tyranny|
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| alias=[[Vatun]] (briefly)|
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| super=none|
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| }}
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| <!-- FAIR USE of SargentIuzEvilCover.jpg: see image description page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:SargentIuzEvilCover.jpg for rationale -->
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| In the ''[[Greyhawk|World of Greyhawk]]'' [[campaign setting]] for the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[roleplaying game]], '''Iuz''' (pronounced YOOZ, EE-uz<ref name="D&Dfaq">{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_FAQ.asp| title = ''Dungeons & Dragons'' FAQ| accessdate = 2008-10-03| publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]]| archiveurl = https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wizards.com%2Fdnd%2FDnDArchives_FAQ.asp&date=2008-10-03| archivedate = 2008-10-03}}</ref> or EYE-ooze<ref name="d&d gazetteer">[[Holian, Gary]], [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean K Reynolds]], and [[Frederick Weining]]. ''[[D&D Gazetteer]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2000)</ref><ref name="living gazetteer">[[Holian, Gary]], [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean K Reynolds]], and [[Frederick Weining]]. ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2000)</ref>) is the [[Alignment (Dungeons & Dragons)#Chaotic Evil|chaotic evil]] [[demigod]] of Deceit, Evil, Oppression, Pain, and Wickedness. Iuz is variously called "The Old One" and "Old Wicked," among other titles. Unlike most Greyhawk deities, Iuz makes his home on [[Oerth]], where he rules a broad swath of the [[Flanaess]] known as the [[Empire of Iuz]]. Iuz was also named as one of the greatest villains in D&D history by the final print issue of ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]''.<ref>{{cite journal| last = Bulmahn| first = Jason|authorlink=Jason Bulmahn|first2=James|last2=Jacobs|authorlink2=James Jacobs (game designer)|author3=Mike McArtor |first4=Erik|last4=Mona|authorlink4=Erik Mona |first5=F. Wesley|last5=Schneider|authorlink5=F. Wesley Schneider |author6=Todd Stewart |author7=Jeremy Walker | title = 1d20 Villains: D&D's Most Wanted; Preferably Dead| journal = [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]| volume = 32 | issue = 359| pages = 54–69| publisher = Paizo | date = September 2007 }}</ref> His symbol is a grinning human skull, or a human skull with blood-red highlights.
| | '''Rank: '''Demigod |
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| ==Publication history==
| | '''Areas of Concern/Portfolio: '''Deceit, Pain, Oppression, Evil |
| Iuz was created by E. [[Gary Gygax]] in his early [[Castle Greyhawk]] sessions in which [[Robert J. Kuntz]]'s character, [[Robilar]] was responsible for releasing nine demi-gods. Iuz emerged as one of these demi-gods.<ref>Kelly, Kent David. "''Hawk & Moor - Book II''" (2014) Chapter 18</ref>
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| ===Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)===
| | '''Titles: '''The Evil, Old Wicked, The Old One, His Most Profane Eminence, Lord of Pain, Fiend of the North, Child of the Evil One, Master of the Dread and Awful Presences, Iuz the Evil, Iuz the Old |
| Iuz was first mentioned in the [[Greyhawk]] campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons game in the original ''World of Greyhawk'' folio (1980),<ref>Gygax, Gary. ''The World of Greyhawk'' (TSR, 1980)</ref> and was then described in "The Deities and Demigods of the World of Greyhawk" by [[Gary Gygax]] in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #67 (1982).<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. "The Deities and Demigods of the World of Greyhawk." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #67 ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1982)</ref> Iuz was subsequently detailed in the ''[[World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting]]'' (1983),<ref>[[Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1983)</ref> and in ''Greyhawk Adventures'' (1988).<ref>[[Jim Ward (game designer)|Ward, James M]]. ''[[Greyhawk Adventures]]'' (TSR, 1988)</ref>
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| Iuz played a prominent role in the module, ''[[The Temple of Elemental Evil]]'' (1985).<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]], and [[Frank Mentzer]]. ''The Temple of Elemental Evil'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1985)</ref>
| | '''Holy Symbol''': A grinning skull |
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| ===Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)===
| | '''Alignment''': Chaotic Evil |
| Iuz was one of the deities described in the ''[[From the Ashes (Greyhawk)|From the Ashes]]'' set (1992), for the Greyhawk campaign,<ref>[[Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[From the Ashes (Greyhawk)|From the Ashes]]'' (TSR, 1992)</ref> and appeared again in ''[[Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins]]'' (1998).<ref>[[Moore, Roger E]]. ''[[Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins]]'' (TSR, 1998)</ref>
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| The realms of Iuz were described in the accessory ''[[Iuz the Evil]]'' (1993),<ref>[[Carl Sargent|Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[Iuz the Evil]]'' (TSR, 1993)</ref> and are further detailed in the adventure anthology ''[[The City of Skulls]]'' (1993).<ref>[[Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[The City of Skulls]]'' (TSR, 1993)</ref>
| | '''Origin of Worship''': Unknown |
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| His role in the cosmology of the [[Planescape]] campaign setting was described in ''[[On Hallowed Ground]]'' (1996).<ref>McComb, Colin. ''[[On Hallowed Ground]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1996)</ref>
| | '''Core Worshippers: '''Human |
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| Iuz plays a major role in the ''[[Die Vecna Die!]]'' adventure.<ref>[[Bruce Cordell|Cordell, Bruce]], and [[Steve Miller (game designer)|Steve Miller]]. ''[[Die Vecna Die!]]'' (TSR, 2000)</ref>
| | '''Favored Weapon''':Greatsword |
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| ===Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)===
| | '''Domains: '''Chaos, Evil, Mind (CD), Trickery, Tyranny (CW) |
| Iuz's role in the 3rd edition Greyhawk setting was defined in the ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]'' (2000).<ref name="living gazetteer"></ref>
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| Iuz was one of the deities detailed in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #294 (2002), in the article "Beings of Power: Four Gods of Greyhawk."<ref name="DM294">Noonan, David. "Beings of Power: Four Gods of Greyhawk." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #294 ([[Paizo Publishing]], 2002)</ref> | | '''Iuz''' is the half-fiend or cambion demigod son of [[Graz'zt]], a demon lord of the [[Abyss]], and the human witch [[Iggwilv]]. Originally described as very handsome, Iuz now appears either as an old man with poisonous spit, or a big, red, hulking demon like creature. His weapon of choice is the whip and greatsword. He is referred to as "The Old One" or Iuz the Evil, and worshiped as the God of Deceit, Pain, Oppression and Evil. He is considered the enemy of every sane and free person in the Flanaess and every religion, except his own and holds a particular hatred for [[Zagyg]], [[Vecna]] and [[St. Cuthbert]]. |
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| ===Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)===
| | In 479 CY, a warlord in the Howling Hills left control of his land to his "son". In less than three years, that territory was expanded, creating a small kingdom. Refugees from his conquests told tales of a road of skulls leading from the hills to the capital of the land, [[Dorakaa]]. They told tales of Iuz being the son of a demon and a necromancer, being a 7ft tall demon driven by destruction. They claimed he had an army of evil men, terrible wizards and savage orcs, and worst of all, fiends. It was about this time Iuz used a dark ritual to steal power and life force from many victims, making himself a demigod. |
| His priesthood is detailed for this edition in ''[[Complete Divine]]'' (2004).<ref>Noonan, David. ''[[Complete Divine]]'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)</ref>
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| Iuz was discussed in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #358 (2007), in the "Core Beliefs" column for [[Saint Cuthbert (Dungeons & Dragons)|Saint Cuthbert]].<ref>[[Reynolds, Sean K]]. "Core Beliefs: Saint Cuthbert." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #358. ([[Paizo Publishing]], 2007)</ref> | | In 505 CY Iuz vanished. Many of the orcs, clans that had served him for years, as well as some of his human followers claimed he has ascended to full godhood, beginning to worship him, and actually able to perform cleric spells based on their worship. In reality, Iuz was trapped under [[Castle Greyhawk]] by the Lord Mayor of Greyhawk, [[Zagig Yragerne]] in the Mad Archmage's own quest for godhood. During this time, some of his more opportunistic followers and a few of his fiends broke away to form the [[Horned Society]]. |
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| ==Description==
| | In 570 CY, a group of adventurers lead by [[Lord Robiliar]] freed Iuz and he returned to his throne. Three years later, Iuz launched the [[Greyhawk Wars]]. |
| Iuz was originally a strikingly handsome [[Cambion (Dungeons & Dragons)|cambion]]. In the epic battle that resulted from Graz'zt striking out against Iggwilv in a bid for freedom, Iuz's handsome form was split into two "halves." He can either appear in the form of a gnarled, old human male, or as a bloated, red-skinned demonic figure. In his demonic form, he is seven feet tall, with reddish skin, pointed ears, and long, steely fingers. In his human form, he is barely five feet in height, and can attack with a disgusting spittle that withers all that it touches.
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| ==Relationships==
| | Iuz was deceived and imprisoned in 581 by a powerful riven, [[Vecna]]. Absorbed into the powerful lich, Iuz served to fuel Vecna's ascension into a Greater Deity. Vecna was eventually thwarted by a group of adventurers, freeing Iuz in the process and allowing the Prince of Pain to renew his warring on [[Oerth]]. Iuz holds a deep hatred for Vecna as a result of his humiliation. |
| Iuz is the [[Cambion (Dungeons & Dragons)|cambion]] child of the [[Demon lord (Dungeons & Dragons)|demon prince]] [[Graz'zt]] and [[Iggwilv]], the so-called "Witch Queen of [[Perrenland]]." He is an ally, and sometimes lover of, [[Zuggtmoy]], Demon Queen of Fungi, who keeps his soul amulet safe in her layer of the [[Abyss (Dungeons & Dragons)|Abyss]]. His half-sister [[Drelnza]], a [[Vampire (Dungeons & Dragons)|vampire]] daughter of Iggwilv, was slain by adventurers. | |
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| Iuz is the maternal grandson (by adoption) of [[Baba Yaga (Dungeons & Dragons)|Baba Yaga]], and through Graz'zt, the half-brother of [[Athux]], [[Thraxxia]], and [[Arzial]]. He is also related, through his father, to the demon lords [[Pale Night]], [[Lupercio (Dungeons & Dragons)|Lupercio]], [[Rhyxali]], [[Vucarik|Vucarik of Chains]], and [[Zivorgian]].
| | In 582 CY, Iuz appeared to the northern barbarian tribes as their imprisoned deity, [[Vatun]], and using magic to control Sevvord Redbeard, ruler of [[Stonehold]], used the combined forces launched an attack on [[Tenh]]. At the same time, Iuz's armies destroyed the Horned Society and conquered the [[Shield Lands]], The [[Bandit Kingdom]], the Barrens and the a portion of [[Furyondy]] near his border as well as the edge of the Vesve Forest boarding the Highvale. The war raged for three years before the various nations involved ended it. After the War Iuz seemed unstoppable. However, his control over the nomadic Rovers was loose at best and his control of the Bandit Kingdoms was challenged by various rebel groups within the land. Most of the regions under his control are monitored by the Greater and Lesser [[Boneheart]], a group of spellcasters and clerics that serve as commanders of his forces and administrators of his empire, as well as the [[Boneshadow]], his most valued spies. |
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| Iuz is allied with Graz'zt and [[Pazuzu (Dungeons & Dragons)|Pazuzu]], whom he must deal with to summon demonic minions in any great numbers. He deals carefully with [[Lolth]], but has no formal alliance with her. Thus far, they seek to dominate very different territories.
| | In 586, Canon Hazen of [[Veluna]] used the [[Crook of Rao]] to banish many of the fiends from the Flanaess in what became known as the [[Flight of Fiends]], which had a devastating effect on Iuz as it cost him nearly half his army Shortly after, Furyondy, Veluna and the Knights of Holy Shielding launched the [[Great Northern Crusade]] which saw the northern portion of Furyondy restored. However, the alliance discovered Iuz's forces had slaughtered every last man, woman and child, bringing them back as the undead. A small part of the Shield Land was reclaimed, though Iuz still controls the majority of the broken nation. [[King Belvor III]] of Furyondy then declared a permanent state of war against the [[Empire of Iuz]], which would not end until the Old One was defeated and his evil wiped from the land. |
| | | [[Category:Demigod]] |
| Iuz has many enemies, notably [[Vecna]], [[Saint Cuthbert (Dungeons & Dragons)|Saint Cuthbert]], [[Zagyg]], and the [[Horned Society]]. He hates [[Keoghtom]], [[Kelanen]], [[Heward]], and [[Murlynd]] for aiding in his imprisonment, and hates [[Bigby (Greyhawk)|Bigby]], [[Neb Retnar]], [[Quij]], [[Robilar]], [[Riggby]], [[Tenser]] for trying to kill him.
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| ==Realm==
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| Iuz rules from "blood-black [[Dorakaa]]," the City of Skulls.
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| ==Dogma==
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| ''The strong should exploit the weak, for such is their right. Deceit and guile are the proper tools of the enlightened ruler. Iuz, who is the strongest and most deceitful of all, is the rightful and destined ruler of all of [[Oerth]]. The infliction of pain and suffering is a delight comparable with none other. No atrocity committed in the name of Iuz is so sickening, no trick so cruel, that it does not meet with the Old One's approval.''
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| ==Worshippers==
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| The worshippers of Iuz seek to further the expansion of their master's empire. Outside the Empire of Iuz, his worship is uncommon and usually suppressed by the local government. Even if a community espouses tolerance toward the Iuzian creed, his followers prefer to remain a secret, as befits the worshipers of the god of deceit.
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| ===Clergy===
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| Clerics of Iuz are commonly known as Liars or Oppressors among the faithful. These titles are accepted as the honor it is intended to be; the twisted culture that Iuz cultivates considers these words to be flattering. Often they are multi-classed wizards or fighters.
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| Iuz's clergy believe in the survival of the fittest, and so battle one another as often as they battle the enemies of their lord. They travel the [[Flanaess]] in disguise, seeking powerful magic and captured creatures of great good (or simply their skulls) as trophies to prove their worthiness. They adopt inconspicuous garb outside the Empire of Iuz, but among the faithful they dress in rusty black or white streaked with rust-red stains of blood. Some adorn their robes with bones. Most learn to use greatswords, though whips and flails are greatly approved of for their ability to inflict pain.
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| ===The Boneheart===
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| The [[Boneheart]] is divided into two tiers, the Greater Boneheart and the Lesser Boneheart. Each tier is populated by six evil spellcasters who use their magic to serve the will of the Old One. Among them are the high priestesses [[Althea]] and [[Halga]], who sit at the top of Iuz's priestly hierarchy. He once had a High Priest, Patch, who was destroyed by the armies of Furyondy during the [[Greyhawk Wars]].
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| ===The Boneshadow===
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| The [[Boneshadow]] are spies and secret agents. They are six in number: [[Obmi]], [[Keak]], [[Gleed (Greyhawk)|Gleed]], [[Sunifarel Brightrobe]], [[Griswald Hairhand]], and Lord [[Dorag]].
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| ==Temples==
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| The Old One builds great temples to himself within his empires, but elsewhere his places of worship are small and secret things. Iuz's temples and shrines must be old, filthy, and dark. His altars are built of bones and include many skulls.
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| In forbidding wilderness terrain, far from the eyes of the forces of Good, Iuz maintains sites for mass rituals, sacrifices, and other foul deeds.
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| ==Rituals==
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| The ceremonies of Iuz include the burning of dung and other noxious substances, the beating of drums, and the clang of bronze bells. Blood sacrifice is practiced as often as is practical, in as painful and horrific manner as the priests' creativity allows.
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| ==History==
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| ===Rise to power===
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| Iuz was conceived around 460 [[Common Year (Greyhawk)|CY]], shortly after his mother Iggwilv imprisoned the demon lord Graz'zt. He first came to prominence in 479 CY, when the handsome youth gained control of a petty fief in the [[Howling Hills]]. Ostensibly beholden to [[Furyondy]], in practice it was independent. It had been left to Iuz upon the death of his "father," a human ruler who had supposedly claimed that Iuz was his son. Almost immediately, Iuz transformed his estate into an armed camp, and began cultivating alliances with the other local lords. Using cunning and guile, Iuz manipulated his "allies" against one another and against stronger opponents, weakening all of the cambion's rivals. Slowly Iuz's forces increased in size as humans and [[Orc (Dungeons & Dragons)|orcs]] gathered under the banner of the Child of the Evil One. The humans cared little for the orcs, but they liked how their opponents feared the orcish shock troops. [[Goblin (Dungeons & Dragons)|Goblins]], similarly, began rallying to his cause as well. By 480 CY, Iuz had earned the title Lord of Pain as his conquest began against his weakened neighbors. The atrocities he committed during these early campaigns made it clear to all who witnessed those battles that whoever his parents were, Iuz certainly had no humanity. Before long, Iuz controlled three neighboring fiefs in addition to his original one. King [[Avras III]] of Furyondy called his southern nobles for aid against the warlike upstart, but the nation fell into internal squabbling and in the end did nothing to restrain the cambion's ambitions.
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| Iuz's true mother Iggwilv was conquering [[Perrenland]] at the same time, but she found time to aid her son with her magic. Iuz, as a marquis cambion, had magic of his own that he used to great effect in intimidating his followers and enemies. Soon Iuz's capital of Dorakaa had become a charnel house, with a road made from the skulls of the young leader's enemies leading up to it. Watchtowers built along the road by chained slaves were used to burn the living flesh of prisoners en masse. By 500 CY, Iuz had conquered the westernmost [[Bandit Kingdoms]] and named the city of [[Molag]] his "summer capital." As far away as the [[Principality of Ulek]], contingency plans were drawn up in case Iuz should invade.
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| In 491, Iuz was present at his mother's court when his father Graz'zt made his bid for freedom. Iggwilv had, at Graz'zt's suggestion, decided to use her pet fiend [[Tsojcanth]] to seal an ever-growing hole leading to the Abyss. Tsojcanth rebelled unexpectedly, and as Iggwilv was recovering from his attack, Graz'zt attacked as well. Caught between the uncontrolled magic of both his parents, Iuz was inadvertently split into his human and fiendish halves. From then on, Iuz's once-handsome visage resembled a withered old manikin or a bloated, bestial-faced demon. He took the former form when he wished to put his supplicants at ease, and the latter when he wished to intimidate his foes.
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| Although Graz'zt was ultimately banished, Iggwilv's powers were exhausted by the melee, and she retreated to other worlds to recover. Without his mother's magic, the progress of Iuz's empire slowed, though it did not stop.
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| Iuz began the process of transforming himself into a deity, gathering powerful wizards or extra-planar beings beneath the [[Soul Husks Caverns]] in the Howling Hills. With horrific magics, he drained them of their power, incorporating them into his own being. He also cultivated an alliance with Zuggtmoy, the demon queen of fungi, laying the foundations of what would become the [[Temple of Elemental Evil]].
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| ===Zagig's ''Godtrap''===
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| In 505 [[Common Year|CY]], Iuz was captured by the wizard [[Zagig Yragerne]] and his allies. Along with eight other demigods, he was incarcerated in Zagig's [[Godtrap]] beneath [[Castle Greyhawk]] until released by Lord [[Robilar]] in 570 CY. In the cambion's absence, several "false Iuzs"—illusionists, demons, and demodands with delusions of grandeur—began dividing the empire between them. Further south, the landholders of Iuz's former lands dedicated themselves to the worship of [[Nerull]], [[Anthraxus]], and the [[Lords of the Nine]].
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| In the meantime, the orcs of the northlands had named him the Old One, and their worship helped increase the demigod's power. Loyal and opportunistic humans joined the cult, and soon some were rewarded with clerical powers in spite of their patron's imprisonment. Uneasy with the growth of Iuz's faith, the southerners joined together to form the [[Horned Society]], making Molag their capital.
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| ===Iuz's return===
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| In the next half-century, the cultists of the imprisoned Iuz had eliminated their rivals in Dorakaa and established a tenuous peace with the Horned Society to the south. In 570, Robilar, his orcish henchman Quij, and the priest Riggby ventured to the Godtrap at [[Mordenkainen]]'s urging. Using magics Mordenkainen had given them, they freed Iuz with the intent of slaying him. Tenser, Bigby, and Neb Retnar showed up shortly thereafter, and a six-against-one melee ensued. Bigby might have crushed the weakened Iuz to death using his famed ''Hand'' spells, but Iuz's magic lashed back at him, leaving Riggby catatonic for days and turning Neb Retnar to evil.
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| Iuz returned to Dorakaa, slaying impostors, dissidents, and those whose bodies exploded particularly entertainingly, their skulls adding to Iuz's grisly road. Iuz established himself as a living god, and the Oerth trembled.
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| Though aware of the return of his nation's old foe, King [[Belvor IV]] of Furyondy ignored it at first, concentrating on uniting the quarreling factions within his own country. Iuz, for his part, spent some time ensuring he had absolute mastery of his kingdom before making his next move.
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| ===The Greyhawk Wars===
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| That move came in 582 CY, when a band of barbarian heroes—[[Stumred Barduran]], [[Baern Barraeth]], [[Fenestir "Swifthand" Galander]], [[Ingrid Hashandir]], [[Sabrala Starbreaker]], and [[Helden Stormfist]]—reunited the legendary [[Blades of Corusk]]. The mage [[Karasten Meldraith]] arranged them in an alternating pattern, uncovering a spell hidden in the runes of the blades. Before he could finish reading the spell that would awaken the lost god [[Vatun]], however, Iuz manifested in Vatun's guise, scattering the blades to the four corners of the world. The whole episode had been a set-up by the clever Fiend of the North. With a guileful tongue, Iuz convinced the rulers of the [[Fruztii]], [[Schnai]], and [[Cruski]], and the raiders of the [[Hold of Stonefist]], that he was the Great God returned. At his direction, the Fists invaded the [[Tenh|Duchy of Tenh]], decimating its armies and driving the Duke and Duchess to exile in the [[County of Urnst]].
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| The alliance did not last long. The [[Suloise]] barbarians resisted "Vatun's" orders to invade the [[Bone March]] and [[Ratik]]. Eventually they refused to believe Iuz was their Great God at all, but the damage had already been done: Stonefist was firmly allied to Iuz's cause.
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| Iuz returned to Dorakaa in 583. During his absence, his chaotic empire had already begun to disintegrate. Iuz responded by executing the exiled Furyondian nobles who had been his vassals and replacing them with things from the Abyss—nabassu, cambions, vrocks, hezrou, and mariliths. His mother, using her ''Nethertome'', summoned many demons to bolster her son's armies, but this resource soon ended when she attempted for the second time to summon Graz'zt himself. This time Graz'zt was prepared for her arts, arriving in her protective circle with a device that disrupted it. Smiling wickedly, Graz'zt seized the shocked Mother of Witches and dragged her back to his Abyssal realm to torment her at his leisure. Iuz continued to ''gate'' in summoned demons, but from then on he did so only with the permission of his [[Demon lord (Dungeons & Dragons)|demon lord]] allies [[Pazuzu (Dungeons & Dragons)|Pazuzu]] and Graz'zt. Graz'zt had the upper hand in these dealings, holding Iuz's mother hostage as he did. Yet Iuz knew that Iggwilv craved only her own power, and might well have turned against him had she been free, so his feelings on the matter were complex. Iuz dealt regularly with [[Lolth]] as well, though they made no formal alliance. Lolth's ambassador to Iuz's court, [[Eclavdra]], served Lolth and Graz'zt simultaneously at the time, with all parties involved being well aware of this.
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| On the night of the [[Blood Moon Festival]] of that year, Iuz struck against the Hierarchs of the Horned Society, his agents slaughtering all but two of them (who were away at the time) and adding the Horned Lands back to his growing empire. With the hobgoblin warriors of the former Horned Society bolstering his own troops, Iuz swept into the [[Shield Lands]] in the [[Greyhawk Calendar|Flocktime]] of the following year. Perhaps the Shield Lands could have resisted, but they refused to allow the Furyondians to aid them, fearing re-annexation by their former Furyondian rulers. The Shield Lands were conquered, and Iuz moved on to the borders of Furyondy. Worse yet for the forces of Good, Iuz had managed to acquire an alliance with [[Ket (Greyhawk)|Ket]], who had long born a grudge against the peoples of the [[Sheldomar Valley]]. With Ket flanking them on one side and Iuz attacking on another, the defenders were hard pressed to resist. At the same time, Lolth manipulated hordes of giants into invading [[Geoff (Greyhawk)|Geoff]] and [[Sterich]], distracting the peoples of the Sheldomar still further.
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| Somehow, despite losing much of its northern territories and the [[Vesve]], Furyondy managed to hold. With tens of thousands of his troops slain, Iuz agreed to the sign on to the [[Pact of Greyhawk]]. He would consolidate his gains for a time before striking anew.
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| ===The Great Northern Crusade===
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| Before this could happen, however, Iuz's armies were hobbled by the ''[[Crook of Rao]]'', directed by Canon [[Hazen (Greyhawk)|Hazen]] to perform a miracle no one, least of all Iuz, had dreamed it capable of. The vast majority of the fiends in Iuz's armies were banished for a hundred years. After the Flight of Fiends, as it became known, many of Iuz's generals and subjugated populations rebelled. Furyondy gained back most of its territories in what was named the [[Great Northern Crusade]], and Iuz neglected the [[Rovers of the Barrens]] and the [[Bandit Kingdoms]] to war against Furyondy.
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| ===Recent developments===
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| In 597, Iuz attempted to invade the [[Free City of Greyhawk]] using a passage in the [[Underdark]] leading from his lands all the way to the caverns beneath [[Castle Greyhawk|Greyhawk Castle]]. Before his plans could be completed, however, he was trapped again in Zagyg's ''Godtrap'' by a simulacrum of his mother Iggwilv, who hoped to use his power to make herself into a true living being. Iggwilv's simulacrum was defeated by a party of adventurers, however, and a weakened and chastened Iuz returned to his lands to plot anew.
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| ==Further reading==
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| *Brown, Anne. ''Player's Guide'' (TSR, 1998).
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| *Brown, Richard W, and [[Anne Brown (game designer)|Anne Brown]]. ''[[Falcon's Revenge]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
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| *Brown, Richard W, and Anne Brown. ''[[Falconmaster]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
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| *Brown, Richard W, and Anne Brown. ''[[Flames of the Falcon]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
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| *[[Jason Bulmahn|Bulmahn, Jason]], [[James Jacobs (game designer)|James Jacobs]], and [[Erik Mona]]. ''[[Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007.
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| *Conforti, Steven, ed. ''Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign,'' version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:[http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip]
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| *Cook, David. "History of the Greyhawk Wars." ''Wars'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1991). {{cite web|url=http://www.nyrond.org/turbine/page/university/greyhawkwars.html|title=Available Online|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060206031911/http://www.nyrond.org/turbine/page/university/greyhawkwars.html|archivedate=February 6, 2006}}
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| **Cook, David. ''[[Vecna Lives!]]'' (TSR, 1990).
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| *[[Nigel Findley|Findley, Nigel]]. ''[[Greyspace]]''. ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1992).
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| *[[Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Artifact of Evil]]'' (TSR, 1986).
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| **Gygax, Gary. ''Come Endless Darkness'' ([[New Infinities]], 1988).
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| **Gygax, Gary. ''Dance of Demons'' (New Infinities, 1988).
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| **Gygax, Gary. ''Sea of Death'' (New Infinities, 1987).
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| **Gygax, Gary. "Protection Circles and the Like..." Dragon #56 (TSR, 1981).
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| *Henson, Dale. ''[[Howl From the North]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991.
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| *[[Jacobs, James]]. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Graz'zt." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #360. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007. Available online. [http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dragon]
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| *Jacobs, James. "Dragon's Bestiary: Minions of Iuz." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #270. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
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| *Marmell, Ari. "Iggwilv's Legacy: The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #151. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007. Available online [http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/duad/20071012]
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| *Mullin, Robert S. "Campaign Classics: Three [[Greyhawk]] Grimoires." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #225. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.
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| *[[Niles, Douglas]], and [[Carl Sargent]]. ''[[The City of Greyhawk]]'' (TSR, 1989).
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| *[[Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[The Marklands]]'' (TSR, 1993).
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| *Stephens, Owen, and Gary Holian. "The [[Demonomicon of Iggwilv]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #336 ([[Paizo Publishing]], 2005).
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| *Living Greyhawk Journal no. 3 - "Gods of Oerth"
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| ==External links==
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| *{{cite web|url=http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=358|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611201351/http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=358 |title=The Shadow of Iuz|website=Canonfire!|archivedate=June 11, 2011}}
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| {{D&D topics}}
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| [[Category:Dungeons & Dragons fiends]]
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| [[Category:Fictional half-demons]]
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| [[Category:Greyhawk characters]]
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| [[Category:Greyhawk deities]] | |
Name: Iuz
Gender: m
Rank: Demigod
Areas of Concern/Portfolio: Deceit, Pain, Oppression, Evil
Titles: The Evil, Old Wicked, The Old One, His Most Profane Eminence, Lord of Pain, Fiend of the North, Child of the Evil One, Master of the Dread and Awful Presences, Iuz the Evil, Iuz the Old
Holy Symbol: A grinning skull
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Origin of Worship: Unknown
Core Worshippers: Human
Favored Weapon:Greatsword
Domains: Chaos, Evil, Mind (CD), Trickery, Tyranny (CW)
Iuz is the half-fiend or cambion demigod son of Graz'zt, a demon lord of the Abyss, and the human witch Iggwilv. Originally described as very handsome, Iuz now appears either as an old man with poisonous spit, or a big, red, hulking demon like creature. His weapon of choice is the whip and greatsword. He is referred to as "The Old One" or Iuz the Evil, and worshiped as the God of Deceit, Pain, Oppression and Evil. He is considered the enemy of every sane and free person in the Flanaess and every religion, except his own and holds a particular hatred for Zagyg, Vecna and St. Cuthbert.
In 479 CY, a warlord in the Howling Hills left control of his land to his "son". In less than three years, that territory was expanded, creating a small kingdom. Refugees from his conquests told tales of a road of skulls leading from the hills to the capital of the land, Dorakaa. They told tales of Iuz being the son of a demon and a necromancer, being a 7ft tall demon driven by destruction. They claimed he had an army of evil men, terrible wizards and savage orcs, and worst of all, fiends. It was about this time Iuz used a dark ritual to steal power and life force from many victims, making himself a demigod.
In 505 CY Iuz vanished. Many of the orcs, clans that had served him for years, as well as some of his human followers claimed he has ascended to full godhood, beginning to worship him, and actually able to perform cleric spells based on their worship. In reality, Iuz was trapped under Castle Greyhawk by the Lord Mayor of Greyhawk, Zagig Yragerne in the Mad Archmage's own quest for godhood. During this time, some of his more opportunistic followers and a few of his fiends broke away to form the Horned Society.
In 570 CY, a group of adventurers lead by Lord Robiliar freed Iuz and he returned to his throne. Three years later, Iuz launched the Greyhawk Wars.
Iuz was deceived and imprisoned in 581 by a powerful riven, Vecna. Absorbed into the powerful lich, Iuz served to fuel Vecna's ascension into a Greater Deity. Vecna was eventually thwarted by a group of adventurers, freeing Iuz in the process and allowing the Prince of Pain to renew his warring on Oerth. Iuz holds a deep hatred for Vecna as a result of his humiliation.
In 582 CY, Iuz appeared to the northern barbarian tribes as their imprisoned deity, Vatun, and using magic to control Sevvord Redbeard, ruler of Stonehold, used the combined forces launched an attack on Tenh. At the same time, Iuz's armies destroyed the Horned Society and conquered the Shield Lands, The Bandit Kingdom, the Barrens and the a portion of Furyondy near his border as well as the edge of the Vesve Forest boarding the Highvale. The war raged for three years before the various nations involved ended it. After the War Iuz seemed unstoppable. However, his control over the nomadic Rovers was loose at best and his control of the Bandit Kingdoms was challenged by various rebel groups within the land. Most of the regions under his control are monitored by the Greater and Lesser Boneheart, a group of spellcasters and clerics that serve as commanders of his forces and administrators of his empire, as well as the Boneshadow, his most valued spies.
In 586, Canon Hazen of Veluna used the Crook of Rao to banish many of the fiends from the Flanaess in what became known as the Flight of Fiends, which had a devastating effect on Iuz as it cost him nearly half his army Shortly after, Furyondy, Veluna and the Knights of Holy Shielding launched the Great Northern Crusade which saw the northern portion of Furyondy restored. However, the alliance discovered Iuz's forces had slaughtered every last man, woman and child, bringing them back as the undead. A small part of the Shield Land was reclaimed, though Iuz still controls the majority of the broken nation. King Belvor III of Furyondy then declared a permanent state of war against the Empire of Iuz, which would not end until the Old One was defeated and his evil wiped from the land.