Malcanthet is the current holder of the title of Succubus Queen; other demon lords aspiring to the position include Lady Lynkhab, the currently imprisoned Shami-Amourae, and the exiled Xinivrae. Other rivals exist elsewhere in the Abyss, but they ultimately pose little or no threat to Malcanthet. A possible rival outside of the Abyss is another matter however. Malcanthet was among the first of the succubi to come into being in the Abyss. She obtained her current title after years of waging wars and committing savage betrayals upon her fellow "sister" succubi and former paramours. As a result of her ruthless climb to the top, she has cultivated a long list of enemies, which includes Graz'zt, Yeenoghu, and Baphomet. Her few allies include the Prince of Demons Demogorgon, with whom she birthed the monstrous Arendagrost; Pazuzu, from whom she mothered the succubus Red Shroud; her current consort Mastiphal the Hunting Sovereign; and Socothbenoth, a demon lord concerned with sexual taboos and perversions. Realm The Succubus Queen's realm is the 570th layer of the Abyss, and is known as Shendilavri. Once a disgusting layer of heaving and "shuddering flesh", Malcanthet has transformed it into a verdant paradise. But ultimately, it is a paradise for only Malcanthet herself. Cult of Malcanthet The cult of the Succubus Queen is a widespread but disorganized lot. Each cult sees another not as an ally but as competition, and most are little more than simple brothels. Most of Malcanthet's followers are female; those few male cultists are viewed either as lowly servants or convenient muscle power. The Thralls of Malcanthet are exclusively female, and as they rise in power, they gain more and more powers similar to those of succubi until they too, can (temporarily) assume succubi forms. The Upstart At any given time Malcanthet can summon any succubus to her and place them in a paralyzing and very painful binding spell. The binding spell is used to protect both the queen from any wild attacks that might, perchance, cause her slight injury, as well as to protect the summoned succubus from doing something so foolish as to require Xhurdon, her Blackguard, to execute them on the spot. But in recent years there have been stories that have reached even Shendilavri. Rumors abound of a human girl, transformed into a succubus, going about battling evil. The stories also say this new she-demon, this Anabelle, is bound to a powerful human sorcerer and therefore immune to the summonings of Hellion powers. The queen tried and failed to summon Anabelle. In a fit of frustration mixed with a touch of paranoia Malcanthet sends her royal Executioner, Xhurdon the Blackguard (a Blackguard is a fallen Paladin or an old term would be, Anti-Paladin), to hunt down this renegade succubus, capture her alive and set her bound in chains on her knees before her throne. (to be continued)