Geryon
| Geryon | |
|---|---|
 Geryon as portrayed in Dungeon #176. Art by Spikytiger. | |
| General information | |
| Portfolio: | Controlled rage, revenge |
| Home: | Nine Hells |
| Alignment: | Lawful evil |
| Gender: | Male |
| Class: | n/a |
| Superior: | Asmodeus |
| Rules items | |
| Domains: | Diabolic, Evil, Bestial |
Geryon was an Arch-Devil of Hell (Baator in later editions of the game), also known as the "Wild Beast." His symbol is a bull's head surrounded by a serpentine border.
Description
Geryon's only human feature is his handsome head. His body is snake-like with no legs, and he has huge bat wings, and a barbed tail that drips a deadly poison. His arms are strong and hairy and end in paw-like hands, and allow him to use his horn, the Horn of the Bull.
History
Before the conquest of Hell, Geryon was one of Asmodeus's most potent generals. Although not initially granted a layer of his own to rule, he was given rulership of Stygia, the Fifth Layer of Hell, right after the demotion of Levistus.
Known for his staunch loyalty to Asmodeus, Geryon was the only one to support the Lord of Nessus upon the Hell-wide revolution known as the Reckoning of Hell. But, in the aftermath, his faithfulness was apparently useless, as Geryon was demoted and banished to Avernus with his court by Asmodeus himself.
He was at one time a commander of a Stygian fortress known as Coldsteel, only to later lose that position as well. His physical form has ultimately been destroyed and his life-essence was given to power up Glasya, Asmodeus's daughter who recently gained the rulership of Malbolge, the Sixth Layer of Baator. Geryon now exists as a vestige.
Binders who summon Geryon can gain some of his powers, such as his extra eyes, his baleful gaze and his power of flight, in return risking being influenced by his personality and acquiring his weakness of irrational loyalty.
Vassals
The following beings were among the most notable subjects of Geryon on Stygia. The forces at their disposal are listed, where appropriate:
- Agares - 31 companies of osyluths. Agares now serves Levistus. (DR75)
- Alloces - Alloces was Geryon's kennel-master for a time, but he abandoned the Wild Beast during the years when Geryon's influence was waning, before Levistus seized control. (DR373)
- Amon - 40 companies of osyluths (MM2)
- Cozbinaer or Cozbi - Consort to Geryon (DR75)
- Fecor, pit fiend - 8 companies of cornugons
- Gorson - Bailiff, also serves Baalzebul? (DR75)
- Herodias - Magistrate (DR75)
- Machalas - 11 companies of hamatula. Machalas now serves Levistus. (DR75)
- Machalos - A pit fiend injured during Levistus's coup. Now, in a new body, Machalos serves Alloces (DR373).
Many in Geryon's court were destroyed in a battle with the followers of Levistus. Of his former nobles, Amon remained his servant until his death. Cozbi continued to dwell with him as well, though she was gravely wounded and kept alive by vile, techno-sorcerous means.
Dogma
Despite his ironic moniker "Lord of the Filth," Geryon values cleanliness. His primary goal while he was alive was to regain his original position, to which end he was gathering a mercenary army of disaffected devils in his Stygian citadel.
Worshippers
Geryon's worshippers are often rangers and barbarians. They include gnolls, minotaurs, bugbears, hobgoblins, and other humanoids.
Clergy
Geryon's clerics wear red or dark green clothing and wear jewelry of serpentine design.
Temples
Geryon's temples, found deep within the wilderness, take the form of subterranean labyrinths. They incorporate cold, bluish steel whenever possible. Their aesthetic is stark and extremely clean.
Creative origins
Geryon was a fearsome Titan in Greek mythology, but the D&D Geryon is based on the Geryon from Dante's Divine Comedy. The version of Geryon, as a vestige, that appeared in 3rd edition's Tome of Magic was more closely based on the original Greek mythological character of a giant with three torsos. The 4th edition version of Geryon, detailed in Dungeon #176, is a hybrid of the two, combining Dante Alighieri's serpent-bodied look with Greek myth's triple torso.
Publishing history
In the 4th edition Manual of the Planes, Geryon is alive and the foremost of the outcast devils in the Astral dominion of Tytherion.
See also
Bibliography
- Richard Baker, Rob Heinsoo, and James Wyatt. Manual of the Planes. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2008.
- Cook, Monte. A Paladin in Hell. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998. ISBN 0-7869-1210-3
- -----. "Yet More Archfiends: a Book of Vile Darkness Web Enhancement." Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002. Available online: [1]
- Greenwood, Ed. "The Nine Hells Part I." Dragon #75. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, July 1983.
- Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1977.
- Laws, Robin D, Schwalb, Robert J. Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2006.
- Marmell, Ari. "Codex of Betrayal: Alloces, the Butcher of Nessus." Dragon #373. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2009.
- -----. "Codex of Betrayal: Geryon, the Broken Beast." Dungeon #176. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2010.
- Sernett, Matthew, David Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J Schwalb. Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2006.