Acererak: Difference between revisions

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|race=Half-fiend human
|race=Half-fiend human
|class=Wizard
|class=Wizard
|alignment=Evil
|alignment=Neutral evil
|age=800+
|age=800+
|universe=''[[World of Greyhawk]]''
|universe=''[[World of Greyhawk]]''
}}
}}
'''Acererak''' was a powerful wizard who became a demilich.


'''Acererak''' was a powerful wizard who became a demilich.
==Relationships==
Acererak was the son and ally of the [[demon|balor]] [[Tarnhem]] and an apprentice of [[Vecna]]. In life, he was the enemy of a paladin of [[Pelor]] named [[Pentivel]]. He is revered by a group of wizards known as the [[Covenenticle of Acererak]]. The group known as the [[Votaries of Vecna]] is made up of former followers of Acererak.


==History==
==History==
Acererak the Devourer was born a [[cambion]], the product of a [[balor]] named [[Tarnhem]] who took his [[Flan|human]] mother by force. At some point during his life, Acererak took up the study of wizardry and entered the service of the lich [[Vecna]], who ruled a great empire in the [[Flanaess]], between the [[Barrier Peaks]] and the [[Nyr Dyv]]. During Vecna's siege of [[Fleeth]], the lich was severely wounded and rescued by Acererak. Vecna subsequently promoted the cambion.
Acererak the Devourer was born a [[cambion]], the product of a balor named Tarnhem who took his [[Flan|human]] mother by force. Apparently an ancient conjurer summoned a demon that was far beyond his ability to control. The demon devoured the wizard, and forcibly conceived a cambion son in one of the wizard's servant girls.
 
Acererak's mother survived her son's birth, but she was killed by a torch-wielding mob ten years later. The boy was rescued by none other than Vecna, the Whispered One, who killed the advisors that urged him to kill the child and instead took the half-demon on as an apprentice. Even then, ten year-old Acererak loathed life, looking forward to becoming undead like his master. During Vecna's siege of [[Fleeth]], the lich was severely wounded and rescued by Acererak. Vecna subsequently promoted the cambion.
 
It is unknown if Acererak was present when Vecna was betrayed by [[Kas]] the Bloody-Handed in the fourth century before the [[Common Year|Common Year]], but at some point, he moved to the [[Vast Swamp]] where he constructed a lair for himself, colloquially known as the [[Tomb of Horrors]] (and described in an adventure module of the same name). While alive, Acererak built a subterranean temple complex in the name of Orcus, burying its architect and all of its workers within. Eventually, Acererak succumbed to the lure of lichcraft, and had himself buried in a labyrinthine tomb where he committed himself to his studies and, eventually, demilichdom, abandoning his body for the planes beyond. Many adventurers over the years have attempted to raid Acererak's tomb, but it is believed that none have been able to destroy him, despite some claims.


It is unknown if Acererak was present when Vecna was betrayed by [[Kas]] the Bloody-Handed in the fourth century before the [[Common Year|Common Year]], but at some point, he moved to the [[Vast Swamp]] where he constructed a lair for himself, colloquially known as the [[Tomb of Horrors]] (and described in an adventure module of the same name). Over the centuries, Acererak's body degraded until he became a [[lich|demilich]]. Many adventurers over the years have attempted to raid Acererak's tomb, but it is believed that none have been able to destroy him, despite some claims.
The sequel module ''[[Return to the Tomb of Horrors]]'' retconned and expanded on the setting. At some point, a group of necromancers settled the area outside the tomb, creating a community of sorts known as [[Skull City]]. Acererak's tomb was revealed to be a mere antechamber to the demilich's true dwelling, the lost city of [[Moil]] on the border of the [[Negative Energy Plane]], where he had spent thousands of years working on a process to fuse his essence with the plane and gain control over all [[undead]] throughout the multiverse.


The sequel module ''[[Return to the Tomb of Horrors]]'' retconned and expanded on the setting. At some point, a group of necromancers settled the area outside the tomb, creating a community of sorts. Acererak's tomb was revealed to be a mere antechamber to the demilich's true dwelling, a fortress on the border of the negative energy plane, where he had spent thousands of years working on a process to fuse his essence with the plane and gain control over all [[undead]] throughout the multiverse.
According to the ''Tome of Magic'', Acererak, following his destruction by adventurers completing the Tomb of Horrors, passed on to become a vestige - an ineffable, amoral entity which can be summoned and bound by characters known as Binders. Acererak grants his summoner lich-like powers, including immunity to cold and the ability to speak with the dead.


According to the ''[[Tome of Magic]]'', Acererak, following his destruction by adventurers completing the Tomb of Horrors, passed on to become a vestige - an ineffable, amoral entity which can be summoned and bound by characters known as Binders.  Acererak grants his summoner lich-like powers, including immunity to cold and the ability to speak with the dead.
According to the adventure "Prisoner of the Castle Perilous," Acererak created a simulacrum in the Negative Energy Plane to torment Saint Pentivel, an old foe from his mortal life. This simulacrum has since transformed itself into a complete being through the aid of an artifact known as the ''[[Soul Machine]]''.  


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
Line 44: Line 50:
**Reynolds, Sean K. ''The [[Scarlet Brotherhood]]'' (TSR, 1999).
**Reynolds, Sean K. ''The [[Scarlet Brotherhood]]'' (TSR, 1999).


*[[Carl Sargent|Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[From the Ashes (Dungeons & Dragons)|From the Ashes]]'' (TSR, 1992).
*[[Carl Sargent|Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[From the Ashes]]'' (TSR, 1992).


*Sernett, Matthew, [[David Noonan]], [[Ari Marmell]], and Robert J. Schwalb.  ''Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2006).
*Sernett, Matthew, [[David Noonan]], [[Ari Marmell]], and Robert J. Schwalb.  ''Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2006).

Revision as of 21:28, 22 June 2008

Greyhawk Character
Acererak
Homeland Vast Swamp
Gender Male
Race Half-fiend human
Age 800+
Class Wizard
Alignment Neutral evil

Acererak was a powerful wizard who became a demilich.

Relationships

Acererak was the son and ally of the balor Tarnhem and an apprentice of Vecna. In life, he was the enemy of a paladin of Pelor named Pentivel. He is revered by a group of wizards known as the Covenenticle of Acererak. The group known as the Votaries of Vecna is made up of former followers of Acererak.

History

Acererak the Devourer was born a cambion, the product of a balor named Tarnhem who took his human mother by force. Apparently an ancient conjurer summoned a demon that was far beyond his ability to control. The demon devoured the wizard, and forcibly conceived a cambion son in one of the wizard's servant girls.

Acererak's mother survived her son's birth, but she was killed by a torch-wielding mob ten years later. The boy was rescued by none other than Vecna, the Whispered One, who killed the advisors that urged him to kill the child and instead took the half-demon on as an apprentice. Even then, ten year-old Acererak loathed life, looking forward to becoming undead like his master. During Vecna's siege of Fleeth, the lich was severely wounded and rescued by Acererak. Vecna subsequently promoted the cambion.

It is unknown if Acererak was present when Vecna was betrayed by Kas the Bloody-Handed in the fourth century before the Common Year, but at some point, he moved to the Vast Swamp where he constructed a lair for himself, colloquially known as the Tomb of Horrors (and described in an adventure module of the same name). While alive, Acererak built a subterranean temple complex in the name of Orcus, burying its architect and all of its workers within. Eventually, Acererak succumbed to the lure of lichcraft, and had himself buried in a labyrinthine tomb where he committed himself to his studies and, eventually, demilichdom, abandoning his body for the planes beyond. Many adventurers over the years have attempted to raid Acererak's tomb, but it is believed that none have been able to destroy him, despite some claims.

The sequel module Return to the Tomb of Horrors retconned and expanded on the setting. At some point, a group of necromancers settled the area outside the tomb, creating a community of sorts known as Skull City. Acererak's tomb was revealed to be a mere antechamber to the demilich's true dwelling, the lost city of Moil on the border of the Negative Energy Plane, where he had spent thousands of years working on a process to fuse his essence with the plane and gain control over all undead throughout the multiverse.

According to the Tome of Magic, Acererak, following his destruction by adventurers completing the Tomb of Horrors, passed on to become a vestige - an ineffable, amoral entity which can be summoned and bound by characters known as Binders. Acererak grants his summoner lich-like powers, including immunity to cold and the ability to speak with the dead.

According to the adventure "Prisoner of the Castle Perilous," Acererak created a simulacrum in the Negative Energy Plane to torment Saint Pentivel, an old foe from his mortal life. This simulacrum has since transformed itself into a complete being through the aid of an artifact known as the Soul Machine.

Bibliography

  • Brown, Lloyd III. "Wizard Societies." Dragon #258. Renton, WA: TSR, 1999.
  • Greer, Stephen S. "Prisoner of the Castle Perilous." Dungeon Magazine January/February 2008. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2008. Available online: [1]
  • Mullin, Robert S. "Arcane Lore: Greyhawk Grimoires II." Dragon #241 (TSR, 1997).
    • Mullin, Robert S. "Campaign Classics: Three Greyhawk Grimoires." Dragon #225 (TSR, 1996).
  • Sernett, Matthew, David Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb. Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic (Wizards of the Coast, 2006).