Verin (Dungeons & Dragons)
| Game background | |
|---|---|
| Title(s) | The Voice of Graz'zt |
| Home plane | Abyss |
| Power level | Demon lord |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Superior | Graz'zt |
| Design details | |
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Verin is a demon lord. He is called the Voice of Graz'zt, and serves Graz'zt as an advisor and right-hand man.
Creative origins
The name Verin itself comes from a demon of the same, first recorded in 1612 by Sebastien Michaelis, also spelled Verrine.[1]
Publishing history
The demon lord Verin has his origins in Gary Gygax's Gord novels. In Sea of Death, Come Endless Darkness, and Dance of Demons, Graz'zt is served by a demon lord named Vuron, who is as hyper-intelligent as he was evil. Vuron's patience and forethought contributes to Graz'zt's success, and he is thus regarded as unlike any of the other demons of the Abyss.
Vuron was equated by fans of the game with Verin, who in turn, was one of the many demon lords listed in the first edition Monster Manual II.[2] In the Planescape supplement Faces of Evil: The Fiends, Verin has been canonically and officially designated as a demon lord who serves Graz'zt.[3]
Upon the publishing of Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss in the game's third edition, Verin is the so-called Voice of Graz'zt.[4]
Description
Verin appears as a tall, albino, androgynous figure. Most who encounter him would not think him a demon if it wasn't for the fact that he "oozes spiritual slime".
Verin is soft-spoken and sociable for a demon, making an excellent diplomat. Because he is well-known among other demons, however, he also has a second form, as dark as his original form is white, and goes under the name Ztefano. As Ztefano, he is a trusted adviser to several other demon lords, though his loyalty secretly remains with Graz'zt.
Late in the adventure For Duty and Deity, Verin appears as a dark-skinned cambion who can take the form of a male marilith.
Relationships
Verin is unswervingly loyal to Graz'zt.
History
Verin has been the longest-lasting of Graz'zt's allegiances. While Graz'zt was imprisoned by Iggwilv, Verin administered his master's realm, successfully defending it against assaults by Graz'zt's opportunistic rivals. When Graz'zt returned, Verin stepped down without complaint.
References
- ↑ Bane, Theresa (11 January 2012). Encyclopedia of Demons in World Religions and Cultures. McFarland. pp. 325–. ISBN 978-0-7864-8894-0.
- ↑ Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II (TSR, 1983)
- ↑ McComb, Colin. Faces of Evil: The Fiends (Wizards of the Coast, 1997)
- ↑ Jacobs, James, Erik Mona, and Ed Stark. Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (Wizards of the Coast, 2006)
Additional reading
- Donovan, Dale. For Duty and Deity (TSR, 1998).
- Gygax, Gary. Come Endless Darkness (New Infinities, 1988).
- Gygax, Gary. Dance of Demons (New Infinities, 1988).
- Gygax, Gary. Sea of Death (New Infinities, 1987).
- Jacobs, James. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Graz'zt." Dragon #360. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007. Available online: