The Lilim (by WebWarlock)

Type I Lilim: Succubae
Note: This entry should replace the entry for the succubus in other products as Succubae are more properly Lilim and not Tanar’ri.

Appearance: Beautiful and seductive, the succubae are the temptresses of mortals. The succubi are temptresses of men of passion and energy. Succubi appear most often in polymorphed form, that of stunningly beautiful women with perfect figures and smooth, milky skin. In this form, succubi are as different in appearance to one another as mortal women are. They all share one thing with each other, though; uncommon loveliness. They may also appear as any demihuman race to tempt members of it. However, they do not often deal with demihumans because the fiery nature of humans makes them easier prey.
        Succubi have the ability to appear more frightful in their demonic form: that of a beautiful woman with large wings and sinister, glowing eyes.
        Succubi are capable of speaking the language of their victims. They can also communicate using telepathy.

Combat: Succubi are not warriors by any means. When pressed, they are capable of defending themselves, but will always choose to flee when possible. Although succubi try to avoid combat whenever possible, they can use their razor sharp talons and fangs to defend themselves. These attacks inflict but 1-3 points of damage per hit.
        The kiss of a succubi will energy drain their victim, causing him to lose one life level. A common tactic of the succubi is to lure mortal men into activities of passion and then drain the life from them. Even after being drained by the succubi once, the heat of the moment is so strong that most men will not notice they have been drained. Any man engaged in amorous activities with a succubi must make a wisdom check with a -4 penalty each time he is drained. If he fails the check, he will continue heedless of the danger. In addition to those available to all Lilim, succubi also have the following spell-like powers, usable once per round, one at a time, at will:

• Clairaudience
• Plane shift
• Shape change (to a humanoid form of approximately their own height and weight only)
• Suggestion

        They may also attempt to gate in a single Balor or Lilitu (Type IV demon) once per day with a 40% chance of success. They can also attempt to gate in any other Lilim with a 60% chance of success, expect for Shedim, whom they will never summon.
        Succubi are affected only by +2 or better weapons. They are immune to all fire-based attacks, magical or otherwise. They we never surprised.

Habitat/Society: The temptresses of the lower planes are subtle and slow. It is their way to cause mortals to succumb to their charms and beauty, ultimately bringing about the mortals’ deaths. They often have passionate encounters with mortal men, only to later destroy them and take their life forces to the Abyss.
        Succubi are sly and vicious. They will use any means at their disposal to force a target to submit.

Ecology: It could be argued that the destruction of mortals leads directly to power gained in the Abyss by the Lilim. Their Princess is Nahemah, a Lilitu of great power who used to be a succubus herself. This is the only recorded case of a lesser Lilim gaining enough power to become a Lilitu.
        Succubea are the most likely of all the Lilim to work for other demons, devils and even humans. Many of the harems of Demon Princes are made up of Succubea and Alu-Demons. It is believed that this why that most sage confuse succubea with other demon types. Succubea long only for personal power, if their quest helps the Abyss or the Lilim then fine. If they harm some one else, then better.
        Succubea are in direct conflict with the Erinyes of Hell.

Incubus

Incubi are the male forms of succubi, and are far less common. These creatures are male and travel to the Prime Material plane to tempt female mortals- These creatures always appear as the most perfect male specimen of the whatever race they are tempting, However, succubi and incubi do not mate to perpetuate their kind, that process is a mystery.
        It is uncertain if incubi are a separate gender or simply shape changed succubi. It is believed that a succubus will steal the seed of a man, shape change to an incubus to impregnate a woman. It is believed that in either case succubi outnumber incubi 9 to 1.


(Next on plate, the Shedim)

Type III Lilim: Empusa

These are the daughters of Lilith and the various Proto-demons. They are the most “demonic” of all of the Lilim.

Appearance: Empusae (or “forcers-in”), like all Lilim can appear as a stunningly beautiful woman or as a demon. The demonic form of the Empusa is the one of the most hideous of all of the Lilim. The body remains mostly humanoid and female, but covered in fine scales. It’s legs become like those of an horse or ass and end in hooves that are made of brass or bronze. It’s back supports a set of large leathery bat-like wings, similar to that of a succubus. It is it’s head that features it’s most horrible transformation. The creature’s long following tresses are replaced with a mass of snakes similar to that of a medusa. It’s facial features are blocked by an area of complete darkness, only it’s glowing eyes are visible. It is said among sages that face of the empusa is not shrouded in darkness, but it is so horrible that our minds block the vision from us. It is also said that other demons can actually see the empusa’s face and run in fear from it. It’s former delicate hands now end in razor tipped claws. A long reptilian tail completes the picture.
        An Empusa can appear as human or it can also shape shift into a large dire wolf (statistics as per Dire Wolf).

Combat: Unlike the combat shy succubus, Empusae live for battle. They can either use their natural claw/claw/bite routine or use a flaming sword that strikes for 1d12 points of damage plus 1d8 of flame damage. Empusa gain to hit and damage bonuses due to their high strength (21) as well.
        Empusa also have the following abilities in addition to ones granted to all Lilim:
Energy Drain: The energy drain of the Empusa attacks the personality, or charisma of the victim. While the victim is in the empusa’s embrace he will lose 1d6 points of charisma.
Touch Attack: They can cause fear or paralyze a victim with a touch, no save.
Magick: Empusa can also cast spells as if she were a 9th level witch.
Gate: The Empusa can gate in two other Empusa with a 60% chance of success.
        Empusa are the tempters of warriors and conquerors. Empusa also enjoy eating human children and blood.

Habitat/Society: For chaotic creatures, empusa live in a very regimented system. A group of empusae is known as a flight and they have jurisdiction over a particular area of the prime material. If one flight intrudes on another’s territory a grand battle will usually erupt. This division is necessary because of the empusea’s favorite victims, military leaders.
        Empusa often join human armies to get closer to a particular leader. Empusa will always pose as warrior maidens, their arrogance will not allow them to pose as any other type of woman. Adventurers are warned that not every blood thirsty warrior woman is not in fact an Empusa in disguise.

Ecology: Featured in the Faust legend, Many are employed by the Goddess Hecate and some have even been known to work for high level Demon Princes or Arch Devils. Empusa are also the warriors of the Lilim race. If a war needs to be won the Empusa are the first to go in.


(Next on plate, the Mormo)

Type V Lilim: Lamiae
Note: This entry should replace the entry for the Lamia and Noble Lamia in other products, as Lamiae are Lilim demons and not regular beasts. (although, lion-legged Lamia could be a variant.)

Appearance: Lamiae can appear as any female type humanoid they choose. They typically choose to emulate humans and elves of high charisma. Their demonic form is less innocent. The Lamiae has the same upper body of a beautiful woman, but her features have become twisted some how to show only evil. The lower half of the creature appears to be serpentine. This gives them a look similar to Lamia Nobles or Marilith. Much to all parties displeasure and distaste.

Combat: Lamiae will most often attack her prey when they are sleeping. They have a song that acts a sleep spell cast at the 14th level. They may use this song once per day. Lamiae then embrace their victim to drain their wisdom or blood (1d6 hit points). Typically a lamiae will spend many nights corrupting a single man by draining his wisdom, all the while laying with other men to drain them of their blood. A Lamiae will not let the corpses stack up to betray her nature.
        If forced into combat a Lamiae can use a weapon or change to her normal form and use a claw/claw/bite routine. A Lamiea will avoid open combat at all costs except to save her own life. She would rather poison a rival, or better yet, get some one else to do the killing for her.
        While a Lamiae can gate in 1-4 Empusa to aid her, she rarely does. But if her life is threatened she can and has a 60% chance.

Habitat/Society: A lamiae will attach her self to a powerful leader and slowly, maybe over years, drain off his wisdom. As she drains his wisdom, the victim comes to rely more and more on the lamiae’s advice. She will use her magic to heighten his power and cause him to commit great acts of evil before she sucks him dry herself. A successful lamiae will take a common boy of good alignment, raise him up to an evil dictator or world emperor, only to conspire with his young rival, often in the bedchamber, to have him killed. Then lamiae then moves on to the next dictator.
        Acting like a common whore is good enough for the succubus, or a deranged warrior woman for the Empusa, the Lamiae like to believe that what they do is a subtle art. Thus most is not all are very vain and extremely arrogant.

Ecology: There is some speculation that the Lamia might be some sort of mortal offspring of the demonic Lamiae. However it could also be that they are completely separate monsters that have been confused with each other.
        Many of history’s most evil queens were in fact Lamiae and it is also suspected that many of the so-called succubea that the demon princes keep as consorts may also be Lamiae plotting to take that Prince’s power.
        There is a strong rivalry between the Lamiae and the Marilith Tanar’ri. Each accuses the other of stealing their true forms. While the Marilith would rather settle such arguments in open combat, Lamiae prefer to maniuplate situations to either make the Marlilith’s look bad in the eyes of the Balor, or get them killed out right. A Lamiae is not above letting an army of Baatezu know the location of a troupe of Marilith. The only exception to this rivalry is that Lilith herself has forbade them from crossing the Marilith that are the personal attendants of the Goddess Kali.


(Next on plate, the Lilitu)

Lesser Goddess: Lilith
        Lilith (LIL-ith, LIL-lith) is many things, first woman, wife, mother of demons, consort to men, demons, devils and gods, witch, demon and Goddess.
        Lilith was the first wife of Adam, the first man. Adam and Lilith never found peace together, for when he wished to lie with her, she took offence at the recumbent position he demanded. “Why must I lie beneath you?” she asked. “I also was made from dust, and am therefore your equal.” She became proud and refused to lie beneath him during intercourse. This violated the command to be fruitful and multiply, since she was not being impregnated. Some traditions hold that she was impregnated and bore demons from him. Others claim She had two daughters with Adam. Naamah and Tubal, often refered to as Cain’s sisters. Naamah is the mother of many devils. He pushed the issue of her submission, and she uttered the Holy Name of God and flew away.
        It is said that soon after Lilith left Adam he stood in prayer before his creator and said: “God of the World, the woman that you gave me has run away from me.” God tried to force her to return to Adam and sent therefore the death-angel Azrafil to her in the desert at the Red Sea, where she dwelled with the Djinns, giving birth to countless demons. Then God dispatched the three angels, Sanvai, Sansanvai, and Semangelof to bring her back. They caught up with her in the desert near the Red Sea, a region abounding in lascivious demons, to whom she bore lilim at the rate of more than one hundred a day. “Return to Adam without delay,” the angels said, “or we will drown you!” Lilith asked: “How can I return to Adam and be his woman, after my stay beside the Red Sea?” “It would be death to refuse!”; they answered. “How can I die,” Lilith asked again, “when God has ordered me to take charge of all newborn children: boys up to the eighth day of life, that of circumcision; girls up to the twentieth day? Nevertheless,” she said, “I swear to you in the name of God who is living and exists, that if ever I see your three names on likenesses displayed in an amulet above a newborn child, I promise to spare it.” To this day they agreed; however, God punished Lilith by making one hundred of her demon children perish daily, and if Lilith could not destroy a human infant, because of the angelic amulet, she would spitefully turn against her own. As late as the 18th century, mothers and children across many cultures took advantage of the protection offered by these amulets. Charms and rituals accompanied the use of the amulets, protecting mothers and infants from the retribution of Lilith. Baby girls were considered vulnerable in their first three weeks of life. Boys were believed to be vulnerable for longer periods of time, however. Any boy under the age of eight was possible prey.
        Her power is over newborn children and women in childbirth. She may take boys up to the eighth day and girls up to the twentieth. She is also the mother of the Lilim or Lilitu, the Djinn, and the succubui and Lilim. It is said that Lilith has a cloven foot and hairy legs, being a kind of Sphinx. She is connected with riddles and prophecies.
        There was even a Biblical basis for Lilith. Genesis 1:27 reads, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Set opposite Genesis 2, in which Adam is created first and Eve is an afterthought to appease his loneliness, many see this as evidence that Adam had at least two wives.
        Lilith is a female demon who will haunt mankind until the last days, when all unclean spirits will be cast out by the Messiah. Contrary to most demons, Lilith is not mortal but eternal, and in this way may be called a Dark Goddess. If dark means evil or just unknown is hard to tell. Other Biblical references: Isaiah 34:14 “night hag” (NIV translates it as “Desert creatures” and “night creatures.” and Psalm 91 “terror by night”.
        In ancient Sumeria she was regarded as the “left hand” of the Great Goddess Inanna. She assisted her by bringing the men to the Goddess’ temples, to worship her by participating in “Tantric” rites with the temple-women. As a result of this role, Lilith became known as seducer of men and as harlot. Among the Semitic speaking peoples of Mesopotamia she was first a figure similar to Lil, a Sumerian Goddess of destructive winds and storms. When Hebrew/Semitic morals became dominant in the Near East she was equated and merged with Lamashtu, a demonic female spirit (sometimes witch) known in Syria as a killer of children. Here she acquired her characterization as a winged demon of the night (Talmud), as dangerous vampire and succubus (Zohar), as mother of the succubi and as screeching night-owl (Bible).
        Lilith did not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and hence is immortal. She was rewarded for service by Asmodeus (who had been the angel Semangelof or Sammael before the War in Heaven), the demon of lechery, luxuriousness and evil revenge. She ruled one of the levels of Hell in the company of Namah, Machlath, and Hurmizah. However her Chaotic nature was more than the Arch-Devils could tolerate so she was kicked out of Hell by Beelzebub. She took up residence in the Abyss where she became the consort to Chemosh, or Orcus. Lilith instructed the Demon Prince on creation. It is claimed that the creation of the first Vampire was done by Lilith with power she gained from Orcus. Soon even this relationship was too much for the young Goddess. She left Orcus to rule her own plane. She kept her daughters (the Lilim) but left control of the vampires and other undead for him.
        It is said that Lilith is but one of twenty names by which that first woman was known and each name is supposed to contain a “secret of sexual mysticism”. These “secrets” most likely represent the erotic teachings and sexual techniques that were taught to initiates and worshippers in the temples of Inanna, Ishtar and Astarte, teachings and practices that threatened the new patriarchal leaders and their attempts to make woman into a dependent, monogamous servant of their households. “There is no doubt”, says Ean Begg, that the “Queen of Sheeba in the cabbala, the Zohar and Arabic legends” is identical with the Near Eastern Goddess Lilith. She “is also associated with the concubine of Abraham, Hagar ‘the Egyptian’, whose son Ishmael, having been begotten on the Black stone of the Ka’bah, became the ancestor of the Arab peoples”
        In the Hebrew mysticism of the Qabbalah, Lilith is associated with the lunar position on the Qliphotic Tree, the so-called “World of Shells” that contains the “negative” and dark energies. Lilith also absorbed the local deities Abyzu and Ardat-Lili.
        Her name stems from a Semitic root meaning “night”, and in the Talmud, she is portrayed as a long-haired demon of the night. She is considered by many to be the first liberated woman.
        Lilith is a friend with the Lawful Neutral Goddess Astarte. The two share a bit of history with each other. While Lilith was cast out of Paradise for refusing to submit, Astarte was cast out of Heaven for the actions of her consort Baal (later known as Baalzebul or Beelzebub). Both Goddesses have been favored by the hierarchy of Hell, only to fall out of favor when Beelzebub ruled, and then favored again under Asmodeus. Both Goddess are considered examples of strong independent women and patronesses of witches. Also while still human Lilith served as Astarte’s main Priestess. The witches of both sects are forbidden to harm or to interfere with each other’s business, depsite their opposing alignments.
        Lilith has similar relationships to Hecate, with whom she shares magic, witches and lilim with. And Orcus, her one time consort.

Lilith’s Avatar (Mage 23, Witch 30)
        Lilith always appears as beautiful human woman in her early thirties, with ebony hair and pale skin. Her most striking characteristic about Lilith is her lack of navel. This is because she was created, not born. She can appear as any type of female humanoid at will. Typically she appears naked, surrounded swirling darkness. Lilith can also appear as an exceptionally beautiful succubus without wings. At will, brilliant wings of darkness sprout from her back. In this form, she may fly at a rate of 30. She can also appear as a hideous night hag. In either form she can attack with a claw/claw/bite attack routine. Lilith disdains the use of weapons.
        Lilith favors spells from the spheres of Chaos, Creation, Elemental Air, Healing (reversed), and Necromancy and from the schools of Illusion/Phantasm, Invocation/Evocation, and Necromancy, although she can cast spells from any sphere or school.
        Lilith is an accomplished spellcaster; she has the spellcasting ability of a 23rd level wizard and a 30th level witch. In addition, she can use any of these abilities at 30th level (at will unless noted): Kiss of Death (as per witch spell, no save) Charm Person, Charm Monster, ESP, Clairaudience, Suggestion, Shapechange (as succubus), Obscure Alignment (always active), Continual Darkness, Advanced Illusion, Detect Magic (always active), Detect Invisibility (always active), Comprehend Languages (always active), Read Magic, Hold Monster, Dispel Magic, Telekinesis, Magic Missile (6 missiles striking as +3 magic flight arrows, 3/day), grant another’s Wish (1/day), Heal herself for 5-50 points of damage (2/day), Chaos (1/day), Symbol (hopelessness, discord, or death, once each per day), and Gate in 1-4 succubi (35%), 1-2 shedim (30%), 1-3 empusa (20%), or 1-2 mormo (15%) once per turn up to 3 times per day.

The Church (Daughters of Lilith)
Clergy Classes: Cleric, speciality priest, witch, wizard
Clergy’s Alignment: LN, N, LE, NE
Turn Undead: Cleric: No, Speciality priest: No, Witch: No, Wizard: No
Command Undead: Cleric: Yes, Speciality priest: Yes, Witch: Yes, Wizard: No
        All clergy (including multi-classed clerics), witches, and specialty priests receive witchcraft as a bonus nonweapon proficiency. Wizard clergy receive spellcraft as a bonus nonweapon proficiency, and they are required to purchase witchcraft as well (at a cost of 1 nonweapon proficiency slot). Wizard worshippers are often sorcerers. The overwhelming majority of her worshippers are witches.

Day-to-day activities:
Important Ceremonies: Most witches of Lilith have adopted the Pagan calendar sabbats as their primary worship days. Her holiest days are Fridays.
Major Centers of Worship: ??
Affiliated Orders: Lilith has no affiliated orders.
Priestly Vestments: The witches and clergy of Lilith always perform their duties and worship while skyclad, that is nude.
Adventuring Garb: The clergy of Lilith are not limited to what they wear while adventuring. Most will tend towards clothing that reflects their moods: dark and mysterious. The more tantric witches will wear revealing clothing, but Lilith is nothing if not a survivor, her clergy will wear what ever is needed on an adventure.
Specialty Priests: The Specialty Priest of Lilith are her Witches and Mystics.
        In mythic tradition Lilith was regarded as a satellite invisible from the Earth, the Black Moon. Figures as such (together with Hectate, the triple-faced evil goddess, mother of all witches) in astrological lore. If present in horoscopes, she signifies malign sexual influences.
        Lillith is the archetypal Unshackled Woman who refuses to be controlled. Lillith passionately claims her personal power, stands firm on her convictions, and is driven by an internal motive. She was considered a Divine Lady in Sumerian texts. She is also referred to as Handmaiden to the Goddess Inanna and is woven into her mythology and the story of the sacred huluppu tree, or the Tree of Life. She is a largely misunderstood archetype who has been called Poetess of Darkness, Imp of Impetuosity, and Occasional Serpent of Seduction. Lillith is the personification of the restless sea. She is deeply committed to her personal freedom and keeps her moral strength alive.


(I am done! Comment, if you desire.)

Thanks.

If not for the fact that Orcus is an Etruscan equivalent of Hades/Pluto (a brooding, otherwise human-looking underworld god), it would seem like an odd match from a D&D player's prospective.