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This is part of a series! Go here to see the other entries.

This is the last post covering the “Demons” entry in the Monster Manual 2, and it features a lone demon: the Yochlol, who has been in the game since at least AD&D 1st Edition.

The Lore

Yochlols are the handmaidens of Lolth, being some of her most favored servants. This a fact which those not initiated in Her mysteries will find baffling because yochlols don’t resemble spiders in any way. In their natural form these demons look like pillars of snot with a baleful red eye embedded near the top. They can also take the shape of beautiful drow women.

Yochlols might be assigned by their mistress to assist mortal priests that have also earned her favor, but they mainly works as spies. They’re so good at passing for mortal drow that they can remain undetected for years at a time and attain positions of great power in their society. I’ll write more about the implications of this in the Impressions section.

The existence of yochlols is one more point in favor of my pet theory that Lolth is actually a demon lord.

The Numbers

We get a single stat block here, named Yochlol Tempter, which I guess is representative of most of them.

Yochlols are Medium Elemental Humanoids with the Demon and Shapechanger keywords. They’re Level 17 Controllers with 158 HP. Despite being demons, they lack Variable Resistance and have Resist 10 Poison instead. They have darkvision, a ground speed of 6, and a climb speed of 8 with Spider Climb.

Yochlols have two sets of attack powers, one for when they’re in demon form, the other for when they’re in drow form. They can switch forms with a minor action, but I guess an infiltrated yochlol will stick to drow form to avoid blowing its cover. Once that happens, though, it will change shape as often as it needs to assemble the best combos it can.

In demon form, the Tempter fights with its Reach 2 Tentacles. A basic tentacle attack is quite weak, but the demon can make four of them with its Amorphous Flurry. If two or more flurry attacks hit the same target, that target takes a -4 penalty to Will (save ends).

At range, it can project a Maddening Web (area burst 2 within 10 vs. Reflex). It does no immediate damage, but immobilizes and deals 5 ongoing damage (save ends). It recharges on a 4-6, but only while the yochlol is bloodied. So it’s less of a web and more of flung ball of runny snot.

In drow form, this demon’s attacks are all what you would expect out of a priestess of Lolth: a spider touch in melee that also deals ongoing 10 poison damage (save ends); a venom bolt (ranged 10 vs. Reflex) that deals physical and ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends); and a minor-action Seductive Glare which despite the horrible name is a slow-acting mind control spell (ranged 10 vs. Will). On a hit the target is dazed (save ends); the first failed save worsens that to Stunned, and the second to Dominated. In all cases a successful save ends the effect.

Sample Encounters

The sample encounter is level 16 and as you would expect involves a lot of drow: 2 arachnomancers, 1 blademaster and a priest, accompanied by 2 yochlol tempters. Your call as to whether the drow know about the demons or not.

Final Impressions

Mechanically, I find yochlols quite interesting with their two forms that have complimentary powers. A lone yochlol can set up some interesting combos by itself, by using Amorphous Flurry to weaken someone’s Will and then the mind control attack in the next round. If you have two of them, they can do that a lot faster.

I remember seeing complains in Let’s Reads for older editions about how these demons don’t seem to have much to do with Lolth thematically speaking. After all, spiders are officially Her Thing and yochlols are not spiders. And despite them being described as the ultimate shape-shifting spies, they can only turn into drow, so they can’t be used to spy on the drow’s enemies.

The bits of lore here help make sense of all that. Lolth is also the goddess of lies, and treachery is among her commandments. How much do you think such a deity would trust their followers? No, Yochlols aren’t made to spy on the enemies of the drow. They’re made to spy on the drow. Their un-spider-like nature gives Lolth some plausible deniability. It is, perhaps, a hint that these demons are the product of another side of Lolth’s personality, one rarely known to her worshippers. Because despite all the dedication the drow people lavishes on her, Lolth doesn’t trust them.

That’s kinda tragic, for both the Drow and for Lolth.