Miska the Wolf-Spider
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
roleplaying game, Miska the Wolf-Spider is a demon lord
, and former holder of the title "Prince of Demons
."
(1989) under the description for the Rod of Seven Parts artifact. Miska was mentioned again in the description for the Rod of Seven Parts in the Book of Artifacts
(1993). Miska was further described in Skip Williams
's article in Dragon
#224, "A History of the Rod of Seven Parts." Miska first debuted in the second edition adventure The Rod of Seven Parts, where the players went on an extended quest to recover and restore the fabled Rod and eventually confront Miska in his extraplanar prison. Miska's ultimate fate depends on the outcome of the adventure.
Although Miska has not been officially updated for the game's third edition, he and the Queen of Chaos
have been mentioned in Dungeon
during the Age of Worms
adventure path. Miska's history was recalled in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
(2006).
demon lord called The Queen of Chaos
launched a war against the forces of Law. By brute force and threats of death and punishment, she rallied her fellow obyriths into a united front. To gain cooperation from the then-servitor race the tanar'ri, the Queen took as her lover and head general Miska the Wolf-Spider. The Queen went as far as to murder the then-Prince of Demons Obox-ob
and bestow the title to her new consort.
Under Miska's command, the forces of Chaos were triumphant, taking over world after world, driving back the forces of Law, which were led by the Vaati
, known as the Wind Dukes. The Wind Dukes eventually fashioned an artifact to use against Miska known as the Rod of Law. On the battlefield of Pesh on the world of Oerth
, the Wind Dukes defeated Miska, imprisoning him in Pandemonium
and shattering the Rod into seven parts
, effectively bringing the war to a stalemate. The Queen, to this day, looks for a way to free Miska to restart the war.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
roleplaying game, Miska the Wolf-Spider is a demon lord
Demon lord (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, demon lords are demons who have gained great power and established a position of preeminence among demonkind. Each demon lord has a unique appearance and set of abilities. Most control at least one layer of the Abyss...
, and former holder of the title "Prince of Demons
Prince of Demons
Prince of Demons is a title contested by the greatest demon lords of the Abyss, in the Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying game.-The current Prince of Demons:...
."
Publishing history
Miska the Wolf-Spider was first mentioned briefly in the second edition Dungeon Master's GuideDungeon Master's Guide
The Dungeon Master's Guide is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
(1989) under the description for the Rod of Seven Parts artifact. Miska was mentioned again in the description for the Rod of Seven Parts in the Book of Artifacts
Book of Artifacts
The Book of Artifacts is a supplemental sourcebook to the core rules of the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. This book, published by TSR, Inc. in 1993, details 50 different artifacts, special magic items found within the game at the Dungeon Master's...
(1993). Miska was further described in Skip Williams
Skip Williams
Ralph Williams, almost always referred to as Skip Williams, is an American game designer. He is married to Penny Williams, who is also involved with the games industry...
's article in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#224, "A History of the Rod of Seven Parts." Miska first debuted in the second edition adventure The Rod of Seven Parts, where the players went on an extended quest to recover and restore the fabled Rod and eventually confront Miska in his extraplanar prison. Miska's ultimate fate depends on the outcome of the adventure.
Although Miska has not been officially updated for the game's third edition, he and the Queen of Chaos
Queen of Chaos
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Queen of Chaos is a demon lord of obyrith origins.- Publishing history :The Queen of Chaos was first mentioned briefly in the second edition Dungeon Master's Guide under the description for the Rod of Seven Parts artifact...
have been mentioned in Dungeon
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
during the Age of Worms
Age of Worms
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Age of Worms is an age of darkness and despair heard of only in ancient prophecies...
adventure path. Miska's history was recalled in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Chapter 1: Demonic Lore:...
(2006).
Description
Miska the Wolf-Spider appears as a large armored spider with a four-armed human male torso. His human head is flanked on either side with the head of a snarling wolf. Miska is regarded by the spyder-fiends, a subrace of the tanar'ri who takes the form of wolf-headed spiders, as their god and patron.History
In the early days of the multiverse, in the so-called Age Before Ages, the obyrithObyrith
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, an obyrith is a member of an ancient race of demons that predate the tanar'ri. All obyriths have monstrous forms which can drive mad anyone who dares look at them.-Publication history:...
demon lord called The Queen of Chaos
Queen of Chaos
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Queen of Chaos is a demon lord of obyrith origins.- Publishing history :The Queen of Chaos was first mentioned briefly in the second edition Dungeon Master's Guide under the description for the Rod of Seven Parts artifact...
launched a war against the forces of Law. By brute force and threats of death and punishment, she rallied her fellow obyriths into a united front. To gain cooperation from the then-servitor race the tanar'ri, the Queen took as her lover and head general Miska the Wolf-Spider. The Queen went as far as to murder the then-Prince of Demons Obox-ob
Obox-ob
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Obox-ob is a demon lord, also called the Prince of Vermin...
and bestow the title to her new consort.
Under Miska's command, the forces of Chaos were triumphant, taking over world after world, driving back the forces of Law, which were led by the Vaati
Wind Dukes of Aaqa
The Wind Dukes of Aaqa, also known as the Vaati, are fictional characters of legend in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. They were powerful lords of the elemental plane of air.-Ecology:...
, known as the Wind Dukes. The Wind Dukes eventually fashioned an artifact to use against Miska known as the Rod of Law. On the battlefield of Pesh on the world of Oerth
Oerth
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Oerth, pronounced as "Orth" or "oyth", is the name of the fictional planet on which one of the earliest campaign settings, the World of Greyhawk, is located...
, the Wind Dukes defeated Miska, imprisoning him in Pandemonium
Pandemonium (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the standard cosmology of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Pandemonium is the Outer plane where Chaotic Evil and Chaotic Neutral petitioners are sent after death. Pandemonium is a large, complex cavern that never ends. Compounding this problem, howling winds drive most of its...
and shattering the Rod into seven parts
Rod of Seven Parts
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game the Rod of Seven Parts, formerly known as the Rod of Law, is a powerful artifact.-Description:The Rod of Seven Parts, when whole, is a 5-foot-long pole...
, effectively bringing the war to a stalemate. The Queen, to this day, looks for a way to free Miska to restart the war.
Additional reading
- Baur, WolfgangWolfgang BaurWolfgang Baur is an American game designer, best known for his work with Dragon magazine. He designs role-playing games and also is known for his work at Wizards of the Coast.-Biography:...
. "A Gathering of Winds." Dungeon #129 (Paizo Publishing, 2005).
- Mona, ErikErik Mona-Career:Erik Mona served as the editor-in-chief of Dragon magazine since 2004 and Dungeon magazine from 2004 to 2006; at the time, both magazines were published by Paizo Publishing, until the license through Wizards of the Coast expired in September 2007...
. Age of Worms Overload (Paizo Publishing, 2005).http://paizo.com/dungeon/news/v5748eaic9jzc - Mona, Erik. "The Whispering Cairn." DungeonDungeon (magazine)Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
#124 (Paizo PublishingPaizo PublishingPaizo Publishing is an American publishing company in Redmond, Washington that specializes in game aids and adventures for "the world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game" and its flagship spin-off game and setting, Pathfinder...
, 2005).