![[Pale Night.png]] **Pale Night** **Also Known as:** The Mother of Demons, The White Lady, The Queen of Night **Alignment:** Chaotic Evil **Classification:** Obyrith Demon Lord, Abyssal Princess **Principal Residence:** The Bone Castle, Endless Maze, 600th Layer of the Abyss **Additional Realm:** Androlynne, 471st Layer of the Abyss **Symbol:** A Billowing White Shroud Draped over a Starry Field **Domains:** Chaos, Corruption, Evil, Knowledge --- ### Overview **Pale Night**, known throughout the Lower Planes as **the Mother of Demons**, is one of the oldest and most enigmatic demon lords of the **Abyss**. She belongs to the ancient race of **obyriths**, primordial demons whose existence predates the ascendancy of the tanar'ri and whose unnatural forms reflect the corruption of an age almost entirely lost to history. Even among these ancient beings, Pale Night is regarded as exceptionally old, having existed during the era when the obyriths dominated the Abyss and the familiar demon princes of later ages had not yet established their kingdoms. Her extraordinary antiquity has earned her considerable reverence among certain fiends, although the precise origins of her authority remain uncertain. Unlike the monstrous rulers who demonstrate their strength through conquest, intimidation, and the destruction of rival armies, Pale Night possesses a profoundly elusive nature. She rarely speaks, seldom reveals her intentions, and appears content to remain within her ancient stronghold while the political struggles of the Abyss continue around her. Her apparent indifference does not arise from weakness, for even powerful demon lords approach her with caution. Her knowledge reaches into periods of demonic history that younger fiends cannot remember, while her supernatural abilities make direct confrontation extraordinarily dangerous. Pale Night's most distinctive characteristic is the concealment of her true appearance. She manifests as an incorporeal feminine figure enveloped within a shimmering white shroud, whose translucent folds suggest an elegant humanoid body without revealing the substance beneath. The veil moves as though disturbed by an invisible wind, occasionally lifting enough to suggest that something profoundly unnatural exists within its boundaries. Yet the shroud never permits an ordinary observer to perceive her true form, for the horror concealed beneath it is so great that reality itself appears incapable of accepting its existence. This concealment distinguishes Pale Night from other obyriths. Many ancient demons possess supernatural appearances capable of driving observers into madness, but the true form of the Mother of Demons is concealed by a more extraordinary phenomenon. Those who attempt to perceive what exists beneath her veil risk immediate death, while survivors discover that their minds have refused to comprehend the sight. Even magical restoration cannot ordinarily recover a meaningful memory of the revelation, leaving the actual nature of Pale Night unknown despite the efforts of planar scholars and powerful spellcasters. Her title, **Mother of Demons**, is among the greatest mysteries associated with her existence. Ancient texts attribute numerous demonic bloodlines to her, including those of several powerful tanar'ri lords. Other accounts claim that she is the progenitor of the entire tanar'ri race, while the writings attributed to **Iggwilv** instead associate her with the origins of monstrous creatures inhabiting the Material Plane. These conflicting traditions have never been conclusively resolved, for Pale Night possesses little interest in explaining her ancestry or confirming the claims made concerning her offspring. Although she rarely involves herself in the conventional struggles for Abyssal supremacy, Pale Night has demonstrated extraordinary cruelty when her interests are threatened. Her most infamous act was the deception of **Ascodel**, the celestial consort of **Queen Morwel**, through which she condemned an entire generation of eladrin children to imprisonment within **Androlynne**. The resulting conflict has continued for countless centuries, drawing celestial defenders from throughout the Upper Planes into a struggle against the demonic servants of the Mother of Demons. Her actions reveal that her apparent isolation does not indicate an absence of ambition or malice, but conceals purposes whose consequences can endure long after the original victims have passed from ordinary memory. --- ### Domain and Influence Pale Night's principal residence is the **Bone Castle**, an ancient fortress situated within the **Endless Maze**, the **600th layer of the Abyss**. Although the greater part of this layer belongs to **Baphomet**, the Prince of Beasts, Pale Night occupied a substantial portion of the realm long before his arrival. Her continued possession of this territory reflects an unusual arrangement between two demon lords whose interests rarely intersect, but whose respective powers have persuaded them to recognise the boundaries of one another's authority. The Bone Castle stands upon an immense circular expanse covered in skeletal remains, separated from the twisting passages and savage inhabitants of Baphomet's labyrinth. The surrounding plain is filled with the bones of creatures whose deaths occurred across countless ages, creating a desolate landscape whose pale surface appears almost entirely devoid of ordinary life. At its centre rises a grotesque fortress constructed from enormous quantities of bone, particularly the long finger bones and skeletal hands of creatures whose original forms can no longer be identified. The architecture of the castle resembles a gigantic **grasping hand**, its towers rising like immense skeletal fingers reaching toward the heavens. The structure appears extraordinarily ancient and fragile, as though the slightest disturbance might cause its brittle components to collapse into dust. Yet this apparent weakness is deceptive, for the fortress possesses supernatural durability and has never been successfully conquered within the recorded history of the Abyss. Its preservation is particularly remarkable given the violent nature of the surrounding layer, where the armies of rival demon lords have repeatedly attempted to destroy Baphomet and seize control of his dominion. Within the Bone Castle extend enormous galleries whose walls contain deep niches occupied by the fractured shadows of Pale Night's victims. These strange remnants preserve distorted impressions of creatures destroyed through her power, creating a haunting collection whose precise supernatural nature remains uncertain. Some planar traditions suggest that the castle functions partly as a prison for the consequences of her cruelty, while others interpret the preserved shadows as trophies accumulated across the immense span of her existence. The published accounts establish the presence of these remains but do not reveal a complete explanation of their purpose, leaving the deeper significance of the castle's galleries another of the mysteries surrounding the Mother of Demons. The fortress is defended by numerous demonic creatures and animated skeletal remains. Severed hands and other bones move through its chambers and across the surrounding plain, while powerful servants patrol the approaches to the castle. Among the most terrible are the **draudnus**, ancient obyrith demons created through the corruption of celestial remains. Their existence is closely connected with Pale Night, whose supernatural power can transform the bones of fallen eladrins into monstrous beings devoted to the destruction of creatures that do not belong to the obyrith race. The draudnus possess bodies unlike those of ordinary humanoids. Their forms are supported by three powerful legs, while three long arms end in cruel hooks of sharpened bone. A single red eye protrudes from the lower portion of the creature's body, surrounded by swollen flesh and sacs filled with corrosive fluid. These demons possess a profound hatred of other creatures, including the tanar'ri inhabiting Baphomet's territories, and they attack intruders with extraordinary violence. Their devotion to Pale Night is absolute, and their creation demonstrates her ability to transform the remains of celestial beings into servants whose existence represents a corruption of everything their former lives embodied. The relationship between Pale Night and **Baphomet** is particularly unusual. When the Prince of Beasts first entered the ancient realm, he encountered a power whose presence could not easily be displaced through ordinary violence. Pale Night somehow persuaded him to enter an agreement that permitted her to retain her territory while he established the Endless Maze across the greater portion of the layer. The arrangement has endured despite Baphomet's notorious temper, and neither ruler ordinarily interferes with the internal affairs of the other's dominion. Their understanding is more substantial than a temporary cessation of hostilities. Both possess an interest in preventing outside demon lords from acquiring territory upon the 600th layer, and their agreement provides a degree of mutual security against such threats. Nevertheless, Pale Night and Baphomet do not maintain a conventional alliance involving the combined direction of their armies or the regular pursuit of shared ambitions. Each exercises authority within a separate territory, and their cooperation consists principally of respecting one another's dominions and resisting enemies whose success would threaten the existing arrangement. The Bone Castle also provides access to **Androlynne**, the **471st layer of the Abyss**, through a supernatural passage connected with the Endless Maze. This connection allows Pale Night to travel between her ancient residence and the realm in which her most infamous act of cruelty continues to produce suffering. Although she rarely enters Baphomet's personal territories, she spends considerable time within Androlynne, observing the conflict that has endured since the imprisonment of the eladrin children. **Androlynne, the Realm of Captive Innocence** Androlynne is among the strangest and most tragic layers of the Abyss. Unlike the infinite wildernesses and desolate wastelands associated with many demon princes, it is a finite realm whose landscapes have undergone extraordinary changes through the prolonged presence of celestial creatures. Pale Night originally transformed it into a colourless nightmare intended to serve as a prison and hunting ground for eladrin children. Its environment was populated by terrible demons and monstrous beasts, allowing the Mother of Demons and her allies to pursue their victims across a landscape designed to inspire despair. The arrival of celestial defenders gradually altered the nature of the layer. Through centuries of conflict and the enduring innocence of the imprisoned children, Androlynne became an extraordinarily beautiful landscape of vivid pastel colours, rolling hills, fragrant flowers, and strange vegetation. Its skies contain enormous lavender clouds whose changing outlines resemble animals, faces, and other improbable forms. This transformation does not mean that the realm has ceased to belong to the Abyss, for powerful demons continue occupying its settlements and battlefields. Instead, Androlynne has become an extraordinary place where celestial goodness and Abyssal evil struggle so persistently that the surrounding environment reflects the influence of both. The most important centres of the celestial resistance include **Melantonberg**, **Pascorel**, and **Eddleston's Blessing**, settlements whose inhabitants provide shelter and protection to the surviving eladrin children. Melantonberg is particularly significant because it has served as a gathering place for their defenders across generations, allowing celestial warriors, mortal allies, and benevolent creatures from numerous planes to coordinate their efforts. Its gardens are cultivated with extraordinary care, preserving an atmosphere of beauty that contrasts with the terrible warfare occurring beyond the settlement's boundaries. Another important region is **Boldybingian Woods**, a fragrant forest containing portals through which benevolent creatures may enter Androlynne from other planes. The celestial defenders carefully conceal these passages from the imprisoned children, for the discovery of a route they cannot themselves use to escape would threaten to deepen their despair. The portals have nevertheless allowed a continuing arrival of reinforcements, preventing Pale Night's armies from completing the destruction of the children despite the enormous length of the conflict. The principal stronghold of the demonic forces is **Golmendicoria**, a dark settlement whose twisted towers and decaying streets are inhabited by creatures seeking the favour of the Mother of Demons. Within the city stands the **Golmendicorian War College**, where the commanders of her armies prepare campaigns intended to overwhelm the celestial defenders. Among these commanders are **Sneer**, a powerful jovoc, and **Vulgorger**, a glabrezu whose forces have repeatedly attacked the settlements protecting the children. Their campaigns demonstrate that Pale Night's apparent withdrawal from conventional Abyssal politics does not prevent her from maintaining an organised military presence when the destruction of her enemies serves her particular interests. Other servants employ methods more subtle than open warfare. The darkweaver **Valastigor**, whose territory encompasses the **Fen of Ill Odor**, acts as a spy and manipulator among the forces defending the children. From its concealed sanctuary within the swamp, Valastigor observes celestial movements and employs supernatural means of communication to report its discoveries to Pale Night. Its activities have helped sustain the demonic campaign, creating dangers that cannot be overcome merely through the strength of the warriors defending Androlynne. The most important aspect of Androlynne remains the fate of the children themselves. They are held eternally young by the ancient pact through which Pale Night condemned them to the Abyss, preventing them from growing into adulthood or returning freely to Arborea. Their numbers have diminished across the centuries, and the detailed third-edition account records fewer than one hundred survivors from the original generation of thousands. The remaining children are not helpless, for some participate directly in the defence of their settlements, but their involvement exposes them to dangers that their celestial protectors have struggled for ages to prevent. Androlynne therefore represents one of the most enduring consequences of Pale Night's cruelty. What began as a deliberate attempt to destroy an innocent generation has become a prolonged war drawing powerful celestial beings into the depths of the Abyss. The Mother of Demons has failed to complete the extermination she originally intended, but the survival of the children has required an extraordinary and continual sacrifice from those devoted to protecting them. --- ### Symbols and Icons  The established symbol of **Pale Night** is **a billowing white shroud draped over a starry field**. The emblem represents the concealment of her true existence behind a supernatural veil, while the surrounding stars suggest the extraordinary antiquity and cosmic uncertainty associated with her origins. Unlike the imposing weapons or monstrous faces employed as symbols by many other demon princes, Pale Night's emblem emphasises absence and concealment. It reveals the outward appearance through which she is recognised while refusing to disclose anything concerning the true nature of the being beneath. Pale Night's visible form is that of a shimmering, incorporeal figure enveloped in a translucent white shroud. The fabric appears to move continuously, despite the absence of any ordinary source of wind, and its folds suggest the proportions of an elegant feminine body. The outline is sufficiently convincing that an observer may initially mistake the manifestation for a spectral woman or some other ethereal being. Yet closer attention reveals subtle movements beneath the shroud that cannot be reconciled with ordinary anatomy, creating an impression of profound wrongness that becomes increasingly difficult to ignore. The veil does not function as an ordinary garment that can simply be removed to expose the creature beneath. Its existence is inseparable from the supernatural concealment of Pale Night's true form, and when an observer attempts to part it, another shroud immediately forms around her incorporeal substance. This phenomenon reflects the refusal of reality itself to permit the revelation of her appearance. Although Pale Night can temporarily suppress the shroud through her own supernatural power, doing so exposes nearby creatures to a danger far greater than the ordinary madness associated with witnessing other obyriths. No reliable description of the form beneath the veil has survived. Those who successfully resist its supernatural influence are incapable of comprehending what they have seen, while those who fail may die immediately. Even creatures restored to life after such an encounter retain no meaningful recollection of the hidden form, preventing their testimony from revealing the truth. Pale Night's actual appearance therefore remains unknown, and descriptions of tentacles, mouths, impossible limbs, or other monstrous features beneath her shroud should be regarded as speculation rather than established physical characteristics. --- ### Worship and Tributes The worship of **Pale Night** is extraordinarily rare upon the Material Plane. Unlike demon lords whose mortal cults number in the thousands, the Mother of Demons attracts only a small following among individuals whose interests concern forbidden magical experimentation and the creation of monstrous creatures. These worshippers are generally accomplished spellcasters whose willingness to manipulate living beings has led them into practices rejected by most established magical traditions. Their devotion is not principally concerned with ordinary political authority, wealth, or personal gratification, but with obtaining knowledge through which the substance of the Abyss can be introduced into mortal life. The most distinctive religious practice associated with her cults is the deliberate creation of **half-fiend offspring** through rituals employing raw Abyssal chaos. Such ceremonies involve the magical corruption of living creatures and the production of progeny whose supernatural characteristics may differ considerably from those of ordinary half-fiends. The resulting beings can possess unusual abilities or physical traits reflecting the extraordinary powers involved in their creation. These practices provide the principal basis for the cult's reputation, while also explaining why its members commonly operate in secrecy and avoid contact with established religious institutions. Pale Night's cults are usually extremely small, frequently consisting of only three or four spellcasters who cooperate in the pursuit of a shared experiment. Their activities do not require magnificent temples or extensive public congregations, for their interests are sufficiently specialised that ordinary worshippers would provide little advantage. They may instead maintain secluded laboratories or hidden sanctuaries containing the magical equipment and forbidden knowledge necessary for their work. Such establishments are dangerous not because they necessarily contain large numbers of demons, but because the creatures produced through their experiments may possess powers whose effects are poorly understood even by those responsible for their creation. No universally established calendar of sacrifices or religious festivals governs Pale Night's worship. The published accounts identify the particular practices and interests of her cultists without providing a complete system of ceremonies, offerings, or daily obligations. Their devotion is therefore best understood through the activities by which they seek to reproduce or exploit the Mother of Demons' supernatural influence, rather than through invented rituals attributed to an otherwise undocumented priesthood. --- ### Clergy and Cults Pale Night possesses recognised clerics, although her following is too small and secretive to sustain a universal religious hierarchy. Her priests are associated with the **Chaos, Corruption, Evil, and Knowledge domains**, reflecting both the malign nature of their patron and the forbidden understanding sought through service to her. Unlike the clergy of demon princes who employ large cults as instruments of political or military influence, Pale Night's worshippers generally remain occupied with their own experiments. Their individual ambitions may differ considerably, and the limited published evidence does not establish a formal system of ranks or an organised church governing the faithful across multiple worlds. The priests and spellcasters who serve Pale Night are distinguished by their interest in the supernatural creation of life. They seek knowledge concerning the mingling of mortal and demonic substance, believing that the powers associated with the Mother of Demons may permit them to produce creatures whose existence challenges conventional distinctions between fiends and ordinary living beings. Their experiments may result in monstrous offspring capable of spreading the influence of the Abyss into regions where conventional demons would have difficulty establishing themselves. Yet the survival or usefulness of these creations is not guaranteed, and the dangers associated with such rituals make the cultists themselves vulnerable to the beings they attempt to produce. Within the Abyss, Pale Night possesses more substantial servants than those gathered among mortals. Her principal stronghold is defended by animated skeletal remains, powerful demons, and the **draudnus** created from the bones of fallen celestial warriors. These creatures provide a formidable defence against intruders, particularly because their hatred of non-obyriths makes them willing to attack demons as readily as mortals or celestials. Their obedience is not an expression of conventional priestly devotion, but arises from the supernatural circumstances of their creation and their profound fear of the ancient power responsible for their existence. The forces operating within Androlynne provide another example of her authority. Although Pale Night rarely addresses her servants directly, powerful demons such as Sneer and Vulgorger command armies dedicated to the destruction of the imprisoned eladrin children. Valastigor supplements these forces through espionage and manipulation, providing information that allows the demonic commanders to direct their attacks against the settlements of the celestial defenders. The existence of these organised military efforts demonstrates that Pale Night is capable of maintaining substantial forces when the fulfilment of her purposes requires them, even though her ordinary behaviour remains characterised by isolation and silence. --- ### Powers and Abilities As an ancient **obyrith demon lord**, Pale Night possesses extraordinary supernatural powers whose effects differ considerably from those associated with conventional tanar'ri. Her most distinctive quality is her **incorporeal existence**, which allows her to move through solid objects and avoid many ordinary physical attacks. She does not possess a stable body that can be seized or restrained through conventional means, making her exceptionally difficult to confront directly. Her movement is swift and precise, and she can pass through a battlefield while exposing enemies to the supernatural consequences of her presence. Her most feared ability is known as **Truth Beyond the Veil**, the revelation of the impossible form concealed beneath her white shroud. Unlike the typical supernatural madness associated with many obyriths, this power threatens the immediate destruction of creatures whose minds and bodies cannot withstand what they perceive. Those who attempt to look beneath the veil may discover that their senses refuse to process the sight, causing the shroud to reform before any meaningful understanding can occur. Creatures unable to withstand the revelation may die instantly, while those restored to life afterward retain no memory capable of describing the hidden form. Pale Night can also suppress her veil deliberately, briefly exposing nearby creatures to the same terrible danger without requiring them to approach or attempt to uncover her. The supernatural nature of this concealment makes Pale Night particularly disturbing even among the oldest demons. Her veil is not merely an illusion intended to prevent recognition, but a manifestation of the incompatibility between her true existence and the reality surrounding her. The fact that the shroud reappears automatically suggests that its purpose extends beyond ordinary protection, preserving the world itself from exposure to something that should not be capable of existing within it. Yet the published account does not establish that Pale Night continually reshapes the surrounding landscape or creates persistent regions of altered physical law. Her most extraordinary effect concerns the concealment and revelation of her own form. Pale Night's **incorporeal touch** possesses the ability to drain the personality and emotional strength from living creatures. Victims of this attack may become increasingly withdrawn, despairing, and consumed by self-loathing, their former confidence and sense of identity weakened through supernatural force. The ability is particularly cruel because it attacks qualities that ordinarily distinguish one individual from another, leaving the victim physically present while diminishing the characteristics through which they understand themselves. Pale Night also derives renewed strength from the suffering inflicted through these attacks, allowing her to continue fighting while her opponents become progressively less capable of resisting. Another terrible power is her **Embrace**, through which Pale Night can wrap a portion of her shroud around a living creature and remove it from ordinary existence. Those unable to resist become trapped in a condition resembling **temporal stasis**, their bodies reduced to faint, insubstantial projections concealed beneath billowing white veils. Other creatures and objects can pass through these suspended victims, whose physical presence no longer functions according to ordinary material laws. The condition is exceptionally difficult to reverse and requires powerful magic capable of restoring a creature whose existence has been removed from the normal passage of time. The victims may remain in this state indefinitely, providing the Mother of Demons with another means of preserving the consequences of her cruelty. Pale Night also possesses extensive mastery of **possession magic**. Through powers resembling _magic jar_, she can transfer her consciousness into another creature, employing its body as an instrument through which to act upon the surrounding world. Her white shroud serves as the supernatural vessel ordinarily required by such magic, and a creature possessed by the Mother of Demons becomes surrounded by an invisible shawl detectable through certain forms of magical sight. Once she has acquired a suitable host, she may employ its body without concern for the harm it suffers, abandoning the creature when it has ceased to be useful. This ability allows her to interfere in events without exposing her true form, while also providing another demonstration of her complete disregard for the independence of other beings. Her magical abilities extend beyond possession and the destruction of individual identities. Pale Night can project herself across the planes, employ powerful teleportation, manipulate objects through telekinetic force, and create supernatural disturbances capable of confusing or overwhelming nearby creatures. Her powers include enchantments that induce **insanity**, symbols that inflict madness upon those who encounter them, and magic capable of imprisoning an individual beyond ordinary physical reach. She can also summon demons to fight on her behalf, allowing her to avoid direct confrontation whenever lesser creatures can accomplish the destruction she desires. Her defences are exceptionally formidable. As an incorporeal obyrith, Pale Night possesses substantial resistance to harmful magic and numerous forms of supernatural attack. She is immune to poison and many effects directed against the mind, while her ability to recover from injuries makes prolonged combat particularly difficult for enemies unable to overcome her protections. These qualities do not render her invulnerable, but they ensure that ordinary physical strength provides little advantage against her. Those attempting to destroy the Mother of Demons must confront a being whose body does not obey conventional material limitations and whose most terrible power may be unleashed merely through the revelation of her appearance. --- ### Treatment of the Faithful Pale Night's treatment of her followers is governed by motives that remain largely incomprehensible to mortal observers. She possesses no established obligation toward her worshippers and rarely provides the consistent rewards associated with demon princes who depend upon extensive mortal cults. Those who seek her favour may acquire forbidden knowledge concerning the creation of half-fiends and other monstrous beings, but the published accounts do not establish that every devotee receives such knowledge directly from her. Many instead pursue their own investigations, attempting to reproduce the powers attributed to the Mother of Demons without knowing whether she has recognised their existence. Her indifference does not prevent sudden acts of extraordinary cruelty. Visitors who enter her dominion may be permitted to depart without explanation, while others are seized and condemned to the supernatural stasis produced by her Embrace. The absence of any reliable pattern makes it impossible to predict her response through ordinary demonstrations of respect, submission, or religious devotion. Even those who regard themselves as faithful servants possess no assurance that the Mother of Demons will distinguish them from an intruder whose destruction happens to amuse her. The fate of those captured through her supernatural powers is particularly terrible. Individuals suspended beneath portions of her shroud remain removed from ordinary life, their former existence reduced to a faint projection that can endure until sufficiently powerful magic restores them. Others may become victims of possession or have their personalities diminished through repeated contact with her incorporeal form. These punishments reflect her interest in the destruction and transformation of identity rather than the acquisition of conventional servants. Her worshippers therefore approach a being whose powers can eliminate not merely the body, but the continuity of the existence they hope to preserve. --- ### Myths and Legends The history of **Pale Night** extends into the earliest known ages of the **Abyss**, when the ancient **obyriths** ruled territories that would later be claimed by the tanar'ri. Her extraordinary antiquity has made her the subject of numerous conflicting traditions, and the information preserved concerning her origins is often contradictory. Some accounts describe her as a progenitor of powerful demon lords, while others attribute the creation of entire races to her influence. These claims are particularly difficult to assess because Pale Night rarely speaks and has never provided a reliable explanation of the relationships attributed to her. **The Mother of Demons** Among the most important sources concerning Pale Night is the ancient text known as the **Mors Mysterium Nominum**, whose accounts identify her as the mother of several powerful tanar'ri. These include **Graz'zt**, the Dark Prince, **Lupercio**, the Baron of Sloth, and **Vucarik of Chains**, a demon lord associated with torture and bondage. The suggestion that these beings share a common progenitor has encouraged considerable speculation among planar scholars, particularly because their individual powers and histories differ so greatly. If the accounts are genuine, Pale Night would occupy an extraordinary position within the ancestry of some of the most influential demons in the Abyss. Other traditions extend these claims considerably further. The **Black Scrolls of Ahm** attribute the origin of the entire **tanar'ri race** to Pale Night, suggesting that her influence was instrumental in producing the generation of demons that eventually displaced the obyriths. Such a claim would explain the reverence shown toward her by numerous fiends, but it also raises questions concerning the wars through which the younger demons overthrew their ancient predecessors. The source does not provide sufficient evidence to establish that every tanar'ri descends directly from her, and the account is therefore preserved as a significant tradition rather than an uncontested fact. The writings attributed to **Iggwilv** offer another interpretation. Within the **Demonomicon**, Pale Night is associated not principally with the creation of tanar'ri, but with the origins of several monstrous races inhabiting the Material Plane, including **harpies** and **lamias**. This tradition portrays her as a source of unnatural life whose influence extends beyond the Abyss, providing a possible explanation for the interests of mortal cultists who seek to create new half-fiend creatures through forbidden magic. Yet the relationship between these accounts and the claims concerning her demonic offspring remains unresolved, leaving the title Mother of Demons open to several interpretations. Later traditions also associate Pale Night with additional demonic figures, including **Rhyxali** and **Zivorgian**, although the strength of the evidence differs between sources. These claims should not be treated as proof that every named demon belongs to a confirmed family whose ancestry can be traced without uncertainty. Pale Night's actual reproductive history remains concealed, and even those who possess extensive knowledge of demonic genealogy cannot reliably distinguish historical truth from the traditions accumulated around her extraordinary age. **The Coming of Baphomet** Pale Night had already established her dominion upon the **600th layer of the Abyss** long before **Baphomet** acquired the power and authority necessary to claim the layer as his own. During the period preceding his arrival, the realm was associated with the fading influence of the obyriths, whose supremacy had been diminished through the wars that brought the tanar'ri to power. Pale Night remained within her ancient fortress, apparently indifferent to the struggles occurring elsewhere in the Abyss while preserving sufficient strength to prevent other rulers from removing her. When Baphomet entered the realm, his violent disposition made conflict appear inevitable. The Prince of Beasts was already a formidable demon lord whose desire for conquest frequently brought him into direct confrontation with other fiends, and he possessed little inclination to recognise the authority of a rival power. Yet Pale Night somehow persuaded him to accept an agreement that preserved her territory while allowing him to establish the **Endless Maze** across the greater portion of the layer. The precise circumstances of their negotiations remain unknown, making the continued success of the arrangement particularly remarkable. The resulting pact has endured despite the numerous conflicts that have threatened Baphomet's realm. His labyrinth avoids the territory surrounding the Bone Castle, while Pale Night refrains from interfering with the affairs of the Prince of Beasts beyond those matters that affect their shared security. Their relationship is not one of obedience or conventional friendship, but a recognition that mutual restraint provides advantages neither wishes to abandon. The arrangement is particularly significant because it demonstrates that Pale Night possesses the influence necessary to establish an enduring agreement with a demon lord whose violent temper ordinarily makes such cooperation difficult. **The Betrayal of Ascodel** The most terrible recorded act of Pale Night occurred during the decline of the ancient obyriths, following the defeat of **Miska the Wolf-Spider** upon the **Fields of Pesh**. With the Queen of Chaos deprived of her champion and the old demonic order weakened, a great army of celestial **eladrins** entered the Abyss in an attempt to destroy the surviving obyrith powers. Their campaign carried them across the **Plain of Infinite Portals**, where they assaulted ancient fortresses and contributed to the collapse of the authority through which the obyriths had ruled. Although their intentions were directed toward the destruction of evil, their success created opportunities for the rise of the tanar'ri, whose later supremacy would shape the history of the Abyss. Pale Night recognised the eladrin campaign as an opportunity for terrible revenge. Rather than confront the celestial host through a conventional military struggle, she devised a deception directed against **Ascodel**, the royal consort of **Queen Morwel** and one of the important leaders of the eladrins. Ascodel possessed a profound concern for the welfare of his people, particularly the children whose innocence made them especially vulnerable during the conflict. Pale Night exploited this concern through a combination of deception and supernatural influence, persuading him to accept an agreement whose true consequences remained concealed until it was too late. The pact condemned an entire generation of eladrin children to imprisonment within **Androlynne**, the four-hundred-and-seventy-first layer of the Abyss. Thousands were carried into the realm, bound through magic that prevented them from escaping or growing beyond childhood. Pale Night had already prepared the layer as a place of horror, filling it with demons and monstrous creatures intended to pursue the children and prolong their suffering. Her objective was not merely to destroy the captives, but to ensure that their deaths occurred gradually, allowing the surviving obyriths to enjoy their revenge upon the celestial race responsible for weakening their supremacy. The deception became one of the greatest tragedies in the history of the eladrins. Ascodel had acted from a desire to protect his people, yet his agreement placed the most vulnerable members of their society within the reach of an ancient demon lord. The extraordinary cruelty of the arrangement ensured that its consequences would continue long after the original conflict against the obyriths had ended. **The Eternal Defence of Androlynne** The destruction intended by Pale Night was interrupted when benevolent creatures began entering Androlynne to defend the imprisoned children. The first rescuers included a noble **ki-rin**, followed by **foo creatures**, a **hollyphant**, and a pack of **moon dogs**. Their arrival demonstrated that the isolation of the layer was not absolute, and their determination encouraged additional celestial beings to seek access. As further defenders entered, including powerful **couatls** and eladrin warriors, the conflict developed into an extensive war between the servants of Pale Night and those committed to preserving the children. Ascodel himself eventually entered Androlynne in an attempt to correct the consequences of his deception. He fought to protect the children whose imprisonment had resulted from his agreement with Pale Night, ultimately losing his life during their defence. His death did not end the struggle, for later consorts and champions of Queen Morwel continued the effort to preserve the surviving captives. Among the most important is **Faerinaal**, whose duties include the continued protection of the children and the direction of the celestial forces operating within the layer. The conflict has endured for countless centuries, transforming Androlynne into a battlefield whose appearance differs radically from its original condition. The prolonged presence of benevolent creatures and the continuing innocence of the children have produced a landscape of remarkable beauty, despite its location within the Abyss. Settlements such as Melantonberg preserve communities dedicated to protecting the captives, while demonic armies continue attacking from territories surrounding Golmendicoria. The **Hoppenstain Run**, a river separating important regions of the opposing forces, has become a recurring location of battles whose outcomes seldom produce more than temporary advantages for either side. The defenders have succeeded in preventing the complete destruction of the children, but they have not broken the ancient pact that binds them to the realm. The surviving captives remain eternally young, and their numbers have been reduced to a fraction of the original generation. Their continued existence therefore represents both a victory against Pale Night's original objective and an unresolved tragedy whose consequences remain beyond the ability of even powerful celestial beings to reverse. **The Children of Pale Night** Another terrible legacy of Pale Night concerns the creation of the **draudnus**, monstrous obyrith demons formed from the remains of fallen eladrin warriors. According to the traditions preserved in the study of these creatures, Pale Night stands upon a balcony overlooking the skeletal remains scattered across her domain and employs supernatural power to transform the bones into new demonic beings. The resulting creatures possess three powerful legs, three long arms ending in hooked bones, and a grotesque arrangement of features that bears little resemblance to the celestial bodies from which they were created. The draudnus retain none of the benevolent qualities associated with their former existence. They possess a profound hatred of other creatures and devote themselves to the destruction of beings that do not belong to the obyrith race. Their unnatural bodies contain sacs of acid that burst when they are injured, while their hooked limbs can fasten enemies to surrounding surfaces and prevent their escape. The sight of a draudnu can also inflict a terrible supernatural conviction that something monstrous is growing within the observer's body, producing an enduring sickness of the mind that requires powerful magic to remove. These creatures are especially significant because they demonstrate Pale Night's ability to create obyrith servants through the corruption of celestial remains. Their existence converts the bodies of those who opposed the ancient demons into instruments that perpetuate the same hatred responsible for their destruction. Although draudnus are particularly common near the Bone Castle, their desire to destroy non-obyrith creatures sometimes brings them into conflict with Baphomet's servants, revealing that the agreement between the two rulers does not eliminate every hostility within their shared layer. --- ### Encounters with Pale Night Encounters with **Pale Night** are exceptionally dangerous because her true appearance and intentions remain concealed even when she manifests directly before another creature. Those entering the **Endless Maze** may discover that a region of the labyrinth appears to avoid an immense circular plain whose surface is covered with skeletal remains. At its centre stands the Bone Castle, its enormous fingers and arches of pale bone rising above the surrounding wasteland. The fortress's apparently fragile construction provides little indication of its extraordinary supernatural durability, while the animated skeletal remains and demonic guardians inhabiting its grounds ensure that unwelcome visitors face considerable danger before reaching its interior. Within the castle, travellers may encounter the preserved shadows of Pale Night's victims, whose distorted forms occupy niches along its immense galleries. These remnants demonstrate that the Mother of Demons possesses methods of destroying or imprisoning creatures whose effects extend beyond ordinary physical death. The presence of **draudnus** presents an additional danger, for their hatred of non-obyrith beings makes them likely to attack strangers without warning. Their unnatural bodies and supernatural influence can leave survivors afflicted with enduring mental disturbances, while their willingness to confront even powerful demons makes negotiation exceptionally difficult. An audience with Pale Night herself may begin with little warning. Her manifestation appears as a shimmering white shroud whose folds suggest a feminine figure, moving through the air without any visible means of support. She may remain silent while observing a visitor, responding only when some matter attracts her attention. Those who attempt to communicate with her cannot reliably anticipate the result, for she may permit them to depart, employ them in some inscrutable scheme, or condemn them to supernatural imprisonment through her Embrace. The greatest danger arises when an observer attempts to uncover her true form. Ordinary curiosity can become fatal, for the substance concealed beneath the shroud is so profoundly unnatural that those who perceive it may die immediately. Even successful resistance provides no useful knowledge, as the mind refuses to comprehend the sight and the veil reforms before the hidden appearance can be understood. Pale Night can also expose nearby creatures deliberately, making her presence dangerous even to those who possess no intention of interfering with her concealment. Within **Androlynne**, encounters with Pale Night's influence are more commonly associated with the conflict between her demonic armies and the celestial forces defending the imprisoned eladrin children. Travellers may encounter warriors from Melantonberg attempting to protect settlements against attacks from Golmendicoria, or discover the activities of Valastigor within the Fen of Ill Odor. The unusual beauty of the surrounding landscape can conceal the fact that the realm remains part of the Abyss, where the continued existence of innocent captives depends upon a war whose conclusion remains beyond the reach of those fighting it. Upon the Material Plane, direct manifestations of Pale Night are exceptionally rare. Her influence is more likely to be discovered through small gatherings of powerful spellcasters engaged in forbidden experimentation involving Abyssal corruption and the creation of half-fiend offspring. Such cultists may possess knowledge extending into ancient demonic history, although their understanding of Pale Night herself remains limited. Their activities are dangerous because they deliberately introduce supernatural chaos into living beings, potentially creating creatures whose abilities are unknown to the individuals responsible for their existence. An encounter with Pale Night therefore differs considerably from a confrontation with a conventional demon prince. Her greatest danger does not arise from the strength of armies or the immediate destruction of surrounding terrain, but from the extraordinary powers through which she can destroy the mind, remove creatures from ordinary existence, and conceal a true form whose revelation threatens death itself. --- ### Conclusion **Pale Night, the Mother of Demons**, is one of the most ancient and enigmatic powers of the **Abyss**, a surviving obyrith whose existence reaches into the age before the ascendancy of the tanar'ri. Her extraordinary antiquity, incorporeal nature, and concealment beneath a supernatural white shroud distinguish her from nearly every other demon lord. Although her title has encouraged numerous claims concerning the origins of demonkind, the truth of her ancestry remains uncertain, preserved only through conflicting traditions attributed to ancient scholars and demonologists. From the **Bone Castle** within the **Endless Maze**, Pale Night maintains a dominion that predates the arrival of **Baphomet**, whose respect for her territory has produced one of the most unusual enduring agreements among the demon princes. Her fortress rises from an immense plain of skeletal remains, guarded by ancient obyrith servants and animated bones whose existence demonstrates the supernatural power preserved within her isolated realm. Her greatest recorded act of cruelty was the deception of **Ascodel**, through which she condemned thousands of eladrin children to imprisonment within **Androlynne**. The resulting war has endured across countless ages, drawing celestial defenders from throughout the Upper Planes while the remaining children continue living beneath a pact whose power has never been fully overcome. Their survival has transformed the appearance of the realm, but has not ended the danger presented by the demonic armies operating in Pale Night's name. Her influence also extends into the creation of unnatural life, particularly through the **draudnus** formed from corrupted celestial remains and the terrible experiments undertaken by her rare mortal cultists. These activities contribute to her reputation as a progenitor of monstrous beings, although the full extent of her influence upon the origins of demonkind remains unknown. Pale Night embodies the alien antiquity of the Abyss and the survival of powers whose existence predates the familiar demonic hierarchy. Her true form remains concealed from mortal and immortal observers alike, while her motives are rarely revealed even to those who serve her. The Mother of Demons remains an ancient and terrible presence within the Lower Planes, her history preserved through the suffering of creatures whose lives have been transformed by a being whose true nature may never be comprehended. ---![[Pale Night.png]]