The Prince of Decay
The Prince of Decay
Known in Life as: Orcus, the Hollow Lord
Patron Of:
- Undeath, Necromancy, and Soul Corruption
- Rot, Ruin, and the Inevitability of Collapse
- Those Who Reject the Peace of Death
Symbol:
A withered crown split down the center and set above a skull missing its jaw. Sometimes shown with hollow eyes weeping ash or surrounded by a ring of fading glyphs. His mark is etched into crypt walls, prison gates, and ancient tomes of forbidden rites—often scrawled in blood or decay-colored inks.
Common Appearance to Mortals:
Orcus appears as a towering, bloated corpse-demon with mottled, leathery skin, batlike wings stretched over bone, and a pair of curling goat horns sprouting from a skull-like head. His eyes are twin voids filled with flickering soul-embers, and his massive, decaying body radiates an aura of despair that wilts flesh and withers courage. He often carries the Wand of Oblivion, a jagged bone staff that pulses with the stolen essence of thousands. To gaze upon him is to feel the weight of time, death, and futility collapse upon your soul.
History and Myth:
Orcus did not seek death—he was betrayed into it, once a mortal or lesser god whose quest for control led him to the edge of true divinity. Slain by jealous rivals or divine schemers, he rose again through sheer hatred, clawing his way back not to life, but to undeath. In doing so, he rejected the cycle itself, choosing instead to become the master of what comes after.
He is not the god of the grave—that implies peace. He is the god of decay, where death does not end but lingers, infects, and unravels.
He is worshipped by necromancers, liches, and despairing souls who cannot accept loss. His greatest hatred is reserved for resurrection, purity, and those who seek to "undo" death. To Orcus, that is an insult—decay must be completed, not reversed.
Doctrine and Devotion:
“Let the light go dim. Let the walls crumble. Let the name fade. Only then are you free.”
His faithful believe:
- Death is not a failure—it is a transition to truth.
- The flesh is weak, but undeath is perfect stasis—unchanging, unfeeling, eternal.
- All power decays. The wise accelerate the process, so they can rise amid the ruins.
- Hope is the lie the living tell themselves. Orcus offers freedom from the lie.
His temples are tomb-fortresses, plague-ridden sanctuaries, and silent towers guarded by undead. Rituals are often performed in stillness, rot, and the presence of remains left unburied.
Relic of the Prince of Decay: The Crown of Deserted Kings
"A throne is not truly yours until the bones beneath it forget their names."
Wondrous Item (Crown or Circlet), Legendary → Artifact
Requires attunement by a Warlock, Cleric, or Necromancer who has desecrated a burial site or willingly raised an intelligent creature as undead.
Initial Form: The Crown of Deserted Kings (Levels 10–13)
A rusted iron circlet adorned with cracked obsidian and bone fragments from unknown royal lineages. When worn, it subtly darkens the light around the wearer, and their voice echoes with the hollow dignity of a dead emperor. Dust and ash swirl faintly at their feet, and animals instinctively avoid their presence.
Gravebound Authority:
Undead under your control have their maximum HP increased by your proficiency bonus × 2, and are immune to being turned while within 60 feet of you. When you cast Animate Dead, you may raise one additional corpse without expending extra resources.
Decay Made Sovereign (1/short rest):
As a bonus action, you may crown a creature you see within 60 feet in a halo of false majesty. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 16) or be cursed for 1 minute: it becomes undead for the purposes of spells and abilities, cannot regain hit points, and has disadvantage on Charisma checks. If they die while cursed, they rise as a wight under your control for 1 hour.
Rotting Majesty:
You are immune to disease and the effects of magical aging. Whenever a creature fails a saving throw against a necromancy spell you cast, they take an additional 2d6 necrotic damage.
Awakened Form: The Diadem of the Dread Sovereign (Levels 17–20)
Now reforged in black bone, tarnished gold, and soulsteel, the crown floats slightly above your head and sheds no reflection in mirrors. Its voice murmurs extinct names and fallen empires. It binds not just the dead, but the concept of decline itself.
Crown of Finality (1/day):
As an action, choose up to 3 creatures within 60 feet. Each must make a Constitution saving throw (DC 20). On a failure, they are paralyzed as their flesh begins to decay, taking 6d10 necrotic damage over 2 rounds unless removed by Greater Restoration or divine intervention. Undead creatures under your command are healed for half the damage dealt.
In Throne of Bone:
While attuned, you may cast Create Undead once per day without expending a spell slot. When doing so, you may choose to imbue one of the creatures with sentience and loyalty—it retains its free will but cannot betray you unless released.
Decay’s Crownbearer:
You cannot be frightened or charmed by undead or necromantic effects. Undead who see you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 18) or be considered friendly unless harmed.
Awakening Trigger:
The Crown awakens when:
- The bearer raises a legendary creature as undead, such as a dragon, hero, or saint.
- Or conquers a living nation through the use of undeath.
- Or when Orcus visits them in a dream, demanding a price—and they pay it, knowing it cannot be undone.
Upon awakening, the bearer begins to no longer cast a shadow, and the air around them carries the scent of crypts and old incense—even in places of life and light.
