D&D Lore: The Death of Orcus

Orcus, the demon prince of undeath. Kiaransalee, the dark drow Goddess and vengeful banshee. Two formidable antagonists of the undead, their conflict is at the center of our discoveries today.

A corpulent and grotesque demon lord, Orcus rules the 113th layer of the Abyss known as Thanatos. His dominion of the undead is absolute, perhaps unrivaled. His rise recent rise to divinity empowered by one of the most legendary and well known talismans in all the multiverse, the Wand of Orcus.

Despite his disdain for their very existence, few are those that can challenge his command of undeath. But beneath this bloated facade of hate, lies a growing complacency. A negligence slowly eroding his once-unassailable domain. A dangerous vulnerability waiting to be exploited and setting the stage for challenges to his rule and the emergence of opportunistic foes.

Kiaransalee, the necromancer queen is herself a silhouette wrapped in shadow and madness. Her ascension to divinity, its own harrowing tale of death and rebirth, vengeance and bloodshed. Her every action driven by an innate and incessant desire for retribution.

The Revenancer's own authority of deaths domain is imposing. Yet unlike Orcus, the Lady of the Dead holds a quiet fondness for the undead at her command. Kiaransalee's ambitions clear, the stage is set for a battle of domain and dominion, with control of Thanatos and the balance of abyssal power the unholy prize.

Our expedition into the depths of discord will uncover the obscure and dread lore that led to this most unlikely confrontation and it's impacts, still felt today.

We will examine the motivations that drove Kiaransalee's audacious bid for power, the convergence of factors that changed the trajectory of outcomes and the surprising events that ultimately shaped the destinies of each.

The sea of chaos holds many secrets, and as we unravel this tale, we will uncover obscure truths you've like not heard before, fill in historical gaps both intentional and driven by some real world lore… that will forever alter your understanding of these two profane powers.

The Battle for the realm of the undead... The Death of Orcus!

Twitter: @ RichesandLiches

Timecodes
00:00 Intro
02:35 Chapter 1 - Motivations
08:51 Chapter 2 - Timing
12:11 Chapter 3 - Complacency
16:53 Chapter 4 - Conquest
23:20 Chapter 5 - Aftermath
28:11 Chapter 6 - Rebirth
32:32 Chapter 7 - Search
37:52 Chapter 8 - March
42:18 Chapter 9 - Memories
45:48 Chapter 10 - Recall
49:24 Chapter 11 - Finality
55:46 Chapter 12 - Panic

Additional Video Links:

[elwoodbrown]

My wife isnt a DND player but she was doing a puzzle while I was watching this one and stopped to watch because of the art work. That is an A+ grade. Keep it up

[MrPenguin]

Kiaransalee is such a cool god. The banshee knights and undead legions fighting demons and their own undead is just so cool. Not a story of good vs evil just two evils going to war. Love it

[levismith]

Finishing up bloodstone in the next few months and then delving into great modron march and dead gods. This overview is absolutely fantastic and well done. Thank you for making this

[DelverofDungeons]

Excellent work! Orcus was my first and favorite demon lord! Been getting back into your channel and it's always a blast. Can't wait to see more

[kjvail]

I loved this storyline back in the day. I played through this with my group back around 1998-9. Dead Gods is my fave module of all time.

[HiroProtaganist]

I've always found Kiaransalee interesting, I'm running a Drow necromancer campaign in BG3 now in tribute to the Revenancer.

[paulflood]

I love seeing your videos come out. I love all the old lore and backstories to things I didn’t even think about. Keep up the amazing work!

[neks]

I'm very happy to see you released a new video.
I thoroughly enjoy your content.

[briancaban]

33:58 He was really... ORCUStrating his schemes

[darthrellim]

I love your long lore videos. You are doing a fantastic job! Thank you for your hard work!

[punchlord]

Ran a post Out of the Abyss “Into the Abyss: The Wand of Orcus” high level home brew one shot where a party ventured deep into Orcus’ layer to destroy the wand only to learn that one of the party members was destined to serve as a vessel for Demogorgon’s rebirth after the party slew the demon lord previously in his layer and had to face a new avatar or projection of Demo.

The transformation scene drew its inspiration from nightmare on elm street 2, and an American werewolf in London. Good time, Orcus rocks 🤘

[ForrestBushstone]

Orcus' Tenebrous arc is probably the most interesting part of his lore. I'm glad they referenced him in the Pact Magic section of the Tome of Magic.

[destondenniston]

The wand was made from the spine and skull of a hero named anarchocles; literally: to honor no rules.

[damonmchaney]

I love the orcus artwork, im interested in seeing how well you can generate other demon lords

[broadsidedarth]

It's honestly surprising she didn't take out orcus even earlier. Sure, he's a powerful entity, but he's outclassed in this battle. Even a lesser diety is more than a match for a demonlord.

[Daekeyas]

Just stumbling around youtube to find you. I really enjoy your presentation style. Thanks for sharing.

[MidKnightOTC]

How I completely missed this is beyond me. Kiransalee is a good idea of what it takes to depose Lolth. Even with all her acquired power, lolth crushed her like a fly.

[destonlee]

I shall ressurect the demon prince of undeath. Inexorably. And demons and devils are back. I shall recall them all.

[CharlesOakes-ju]

lantern again..i got to say this..i was one of the kids that. how u say caught the wurst end of the real world info. you have pointed out..i was suddelly the devil rurshiper..lol..as if high schoole and dislesic wasnt enuff.but i still ad will always stand by the things i love. stan lee was my dad.. he threw his heros gave me morals.this game gave me friends

[a.m.pietroschek]

Luckily, my stories flop anyway, so I need not find a not-evil deity of Undeath, but only declare the rogues deluded about `Orcus´ being a deity instead of a Demonic Patron only...