Dagon
Dagon is a demon lord, also called Prince of the Depths. His realm is the 89th layer of the Abyss, and is known as Shadowsea. Dagon is an obyrith. As one of the oldest demon lords in existence, Dagon is said to possess vast and forbidden knowledge.
Dagon is first mentioned in the first edition 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.
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 ends in finger-like digits tipped with long sharp talons.
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.
Realm
Dagon's layer of 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. 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.
Relationships
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. Dagon does have one active rival, the relatively minor demon lord Lascer, who poses little threat to the Lord of the Depths.
Cult of Dagon
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.
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.
References
- Greenwood, Ed. "Nine Hells Revisited." Dragon #91 (TSR, 1984).
- Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II (TSR, 1983).
- Jacobs, James. "The Demonimicon of Iggwilv: Dagon." Dragon #349 (Paizo Publishing, 2006).
- 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). Available online: [1]
