Erac's Cousin

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In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the man known as Erac's Cousin is a mysterious figure that has not revealed his real name. He was once a lawful good human magic-user. An unknown form of insanity overtook him, and he slew all of his friends to steal their possessions. He gave up being a spellcaster to become a fighter with a penchant for wielding a pair of vorpal swords.

Erac's Cousin is now thoroughly evil, and has made a pact with the archdevil Baalzebul. As a reward for the souls of those he slays, Baalzebul has agreed to make Erac's Cousin into a major devil upon his death. However, Erac's Cousin is greatly afraid of his own death and will use any means to prevent or delay it, including magic.

In one adventure, Erac's Cousin and his cleric companion Ayelerach are purported to have stumbled upon the stone prison of the demon prince Fraz-Urb'luu in the dungeons below Castle Greyhawk and were tricked into freeing him. The two hapless adventurers were then whisked away by Fraz-Urb'luu to his layer on the Abyss to become his slaves, where the vorpal swords were destroyed. The two were eventually able to return to the Material Plane, but describe the Abyssal realm they visited as depressing and sickening, due to its totally flat and featureless terrain, and ability to drain the magic out of any item.

There is speculation that Erac's Cousin may have helped form the Horned Society. Many of the Hierarchs were killed by Iuz's vengeance, but one was able to return. This being, known only as the "Unnameable Hierarch" was reborn as a greater devil thanks to a pact with the archfiend Baalzebul.

[edit] References

Blume, Brian, David Cook, and Jean Wells. The Rogues Gallery (TSR, 1980).

Gygax, Gary. "From the Sorcerer's Scroll: Greyhawk-the Shape of the World." Dragon #37 (TSR, 1980).
Gygax, Gary. "From the Sorcerer's Scroll: Protection Circles and the Like, Plus News of the North Central Flanaess." Dragon #56 (TSR, 1981).
Gygax, Gary. Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (TSR, 1982).
Gygax, Gary. "Up On a Soapbox." Dragon #320 (Paizo Publishing, 2004).