Alignment Chaotic Evil | Image Wizards.com image | |
Type Outsider (Chaotic, Extraplanar, Evil) Stats Open Game License stats First appearance Monster Manual, 1st Edition (1977) |
A marilith is a fictional creature in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A marilith is depicted as a powerful, six-armed female demon with the lower body of a snake.
Contents
- Publication history
- Dungeons Dragons 1974 1976
- Advanced Dungeons Dragons 1st edition 1977 1988
- Dungeons Dragons 1977 1999
- Advanced Dungeons Dragons 2nd edition 1989 1999
- Dungeons Dragons 30 edition 2000 2002
- Dungeons Dragons 35 edition 2003 2007
- Dungeons Dragons 4th edition 2008
- Environment
- Typical physical characteristics
- Society
- Known mariliths
- Other publishers
- DD mariliths in other media
- In other games
- References
Publication history
Mariliths are inspired by Hindu mythology, where gods and demons frequently have multiple heads and arms.
In their first appearance, as part of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, mariliths were known as type V demons, with marilith being a sample name. From second edition AD&D and onwards they are listed as mariliths.
Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The type V demon appeared under the demon entry in the Eldritch Wizardry supplement (1976).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The type V demon (marilith, etc.) appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977). A list of monster stats in the 1979 Dungeon Master Guide lists the names of type V demons as: Aishapra, Kevokulli, Marilith and Rehnaremme.
Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the type V demon, which is known as the hissing demon, first appearing in the Immortal Rules set, in the DM's Guide to Immortals (1986). The hissing lesser fiend appeared in the Wrath of the Immortals set, in "Book One: Codex of the Immortals" (1992).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
In this edition, demons became known as tanar'ri, and this creature officially became known as the marilith, a "true tanar'ri", appearing first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Outer Planes Appendix (1991), and then reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).
The marilith true tanar'ri also appeared for the Planescape campaign setting in the first Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The marilith (tanar'ri) appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000); in this edition, the name demon is resumed, and tanar'ri are now considered a sub-type of demon.
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The marilith appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
The marilith appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008), again under the demon entry.
Environment
Mariliths are native to the Abyss.
Typical physical characteristics
Mariliths have humanoid female upper bodies with six arms. Depending on the particular edition and illustrator, their head and torso may look almost human or be covered in reptilian scales. Their lower bodies are those of giant snakes, typically green or brown.
Mariliths are typically barely clothed, with little if any torso covering, though they may wear jewelry. They are almost always shown with a variety of swords and other melee weapons held in their six arms.
Society
Although they are strategists, mariliths eagerly join any melee combat given the chance. They attack with six weapons and a snapping tail which grabs, can cast illusionary and charm magics, and can gate in other tanar'ri.
Mariliths are the generals and coordinators of the Blood War (though given the chaotic nature of tanar'ri, it is not usually possible to coordinate their activities, mariliths are charged with it, nonetheless). In the hierarchy of tanar'ri, mariliths rank below balors.
Known mariliths
Other publishers
The marilith appeared under the "demon" heading in Paizo Publishing's book Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary (2009), on page 63.