Kenny, Kenny, Kenny...
Remember this is AD&D(and not 2nd or 3rd edition but first) we speak of. I personally had a few characters that would give most demons a run for their money(just about all of the lower level demons in 1rst edition were between 4 and 8 hit dice...very killable).
Also the demons weren't really godlike. They were a just a powerful race of beings that happen to live in the Abyss. They appear otherworldly to regular mortals, but in the Abyss they are common place, as are their abilities and powers. The powers that are in Monster Manual 2(showing my age now) have little effect on other demons and are rarely used. They depend on their weapons and items when handling their own kind.
This whole last book is about the largest war ever fought in the Abyss. Gord was basically wheeling and dealing with the other sides to get the Theoparts. He didn't just hack is way to victory. He couldnt. The demons were too many. He basically played them against each other,and used their own chaotic natures and fears against them.
He even made several alliances to help various factions (which is why the forces of good wouldn't help out). The passage about him laying low countless demons was when he first entered on the uppermost layer. The demons he killed were the lower level ones (cannon fodder).
You keep going on about how powerful demons are, but its actually relative(hell, Im godlike when compared to an ant). I stated that Gord was no longer a mortal being. He had basically achieved at least demi-god status (it was actually possible in 2nd edition and there where steps to follow to achieve it).
BTW here is another spoiler for you. It should calm your nerves a bit.
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He doesn't defeat Tharizdun, he proves to be way too powerful. Gord is slain.
Doh, also forgot. Tharizdun does take over all existence. The story is written by Gary Gygax, co founder of D&D and Ad&d (after he left his company TSR). In this series he basically kills off his own created world, Greyhawk (Forgotten Realms soon became the realm of choice, and most Greyhawk content forgotten). The ending was lame, but the series was actually pretty good. Back when he was just plain "Gord the Rogue" was good also (which is what he was thru all of the books except the last one). He got into some really neat situations.
[ 04-10-2003, 11:43 PM: Message edited by: Sneeki Two ]
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