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Post by catmage on Sept 25, 2008 17:56:29 GMT -5
Bel The Lord of the First, Warlord of Avernus, The Pretender Crimson scales cover this large fiend, from its bestial head to its clawed toes. From its back spread great batlike wings. Foul green venom drips from its teeth, sending up streams of smoke whereever it falls. Cinched around its waist is a belt of a dozen shreiking angel heads, their necks severed by the massive flaming sword he creature holds in his clawed handsServants, Enemies and GoalsCunning, cruel, and perhaps one of the greatest tactical minds of the Nine Hells, Bel is a rising star. Bel deals in treachery, double-cross, and ambush, using his keen mind to anticipate the treachery of his rivals. Bel has yet to stabilize his domain. All efforts to establish an alliance with other Lords have come to nothing. Neither Mephistopheles nor Baalzebul trusts him, since he so readily betrayed his own mistress. Of course, any of the Lords of the Nine would have gladly dethroned Zariel themselves, and many had agents in place to do just this, but the coup wiped out most of their operatives. Though they have refused Bel's efforts at peace, so far none of them have moved against him, because they value his role as a buffer against the demons, as well as his alliance with the Dark Eight. Bel fears reprisals, but he has little opportunity to protect his flank since invading armies of demons constantly push against his defenses. He spends most of his time waging the war against the Abyss, taking a personal hand in overseeing the construction of fortifications and devising strategies to fight the endless hordes. He surrounds himself with cornugon warlords and pit fiends, though he suspects their loyalties lie elsewhere. Bel has recently made inroads into forging an alliance with Tiamat, who maintains a domain on his layer. The two have reached an accord and abishai now swell the ranks of his armies. Of all his allies and minions, Zariel herself offers him the greatest aid. Imprisoned in the bowels of the Bronze Citadel, Zariel languishes under the cruel knives of abaishai torturers that carve off bits of her flesh to feed to their master. Source: The Fiendish Codex II - Tyrants of the Nine Hells Bel is one of the newer lords of the Nine Hells, currently the ruler of Avernus, the first layer. He is the only archdevil who spends more of his time worrying about the Blood War than hell’s own politics. Although he rose through the ranks based on his own skill and power (and victories over the demons), the former pit fiend enjoys the support of none of the other lords of hell. Bel is, however, held in high favor among the Dark Eight, and that is not a bit of influence to be overlooked. It is thought that Zariel, the former ruler of Avernus, is still kept within Bel’s Bronze Citadel, where Bel draws off her power to extend his own. Bel resembles a pit fiend with vast bat wings. His fangs drip with green liquid, and red scales cover his hulking body. His sword blade has a jagged edge and glows with heat. The symbol of Bel is a fanged mouth biting down on a sword’s blade. The Goals of BelAmong the archdevils of hell, Bel is often called the Pretender. It is thought that Asmodeus allowed his coup only because it meant one less scheming lord. Bel would be so busy fighting the demons, the rumor says, that he could not scheme against his betters, and most important, his patron. Bel simply wants to secure his position. He has made overtures to ally himself with Baalzebul and Mephistopheles, but they have rebuffed him. His acts of treachery against the old lord of Avernus, Zariel, are too fresh in their minds. Source: The Book of Vile Darkness Source: Manual of the Planes
Source: Guide to Hell 2nd Edition Source: Planescape - Faces of Evil: The Fiends Source: Monster Manual II 1st Edition
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Post by catmage on Sept 25, 2008 18:09:58 GMT -5
Dispater Lord of the Second, The Iron Duke, Lord of the Iron City of Dis This dark haired figure stands just over seven feet tall. He could pass for human if it weren't for the small horns protruding from his brow and his glowing red eyes. Dressed in regal finery, he carries a long rod capped with a mace-like head.Servants, Enemies and GoalsDispater is the very definition of caution. He is vigilant beyond compare, weaving a web of impenetrable defenses around himself and his holdings. His plans are far reaching, taking generations to come to fruition. Yet he is not a craven, frightened fiend who grasps at power out of fear of losing it. He is calm, composed, and charming. He is the perfect gentleman, not given to emotional outbursts or acts of passion. He knows the political games of the Nine Hells, and he's one of the best players. Dispater has a finger in everything. He has agents scattered throughout the layers, all working toward some convoluted scheme. Most of Dispater's goals lurk behind countless lies and deceptions, but his hatred of Baalzebul is the wors kept secret in the Nine Hells. The two fight a war of secret betrayals and assassinations, each winnowing away at the other's defenses. The Lord of the Second has forged an alliance with Mephistopheles, who shares Dispater's hate of the Lord of Lies. But even with help, the plots against Baalzebul consume almost all of Dispater's time, distracting him from expanding his influence elsewhere- or so the baatezu believe. Dispater favors erinyes, since they are not only beautiful, but also competent and unswervingly loyal. Protecting his fortress are scores of Iron Golems and other constructs that follow his every command. Source: The Fiendish Codex II - Tyrants of the Nine Hells
Dispater is the Iron Duke—the lord of the Iron City of Dis. His home is the Iron Tower, an impregnable fortress made to protect a paranoid archdevil. Dispater is the picture of caution and careful thought. He never acts rashly, never leaves his tower (unless commanded to do so by Asmodeus), and always has at least nine different backup plans and escape routes at any given moment. No matter the situation, however, Dispater keeps a veneer of calm, gentlemanly manners. He never shows anger or contempt, making him all the more charming—and dangerous. Dispater stands approximately 7 feet tall.He has dark hair and small horns. His skin is cold to the touch and feels like metal; it resists blows like metal as well. Dispater is always dressed in regal finery and carries his rod as a badge of office as well as a terrible, macelike weapon. He often sports a magic iron shield as well. Dispater’s symbol is a black iron tower on a red field. The Goals of DispaterDispater is ancient even by archdevil standards and has learned much over his millennia of rulership and control. He is cautious and slow to act. Throughout much of his time as a Lord of the Nine, he has allied himself with Mephistopheles. Like his ally, Dispater despises Baalzebul and works against him at every turn. Dispater’s main objective for now and the foreseeable future is the downfall of his enemy, Baalzebul. All his schemes and actions center around that goal. Likewise, Baalzebul works against Dispater, so the Iron Duke frequently devotes his time and attention to defenses against his foe’s machinations. Source: The Book of Vile Darkness
Source: Manual of the Planes Source: Guide to Hell 2nd Edition Source: Planescape - The Faces of Evil: The Fiends Source: Monster Manual 1st Edition
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Post by catmage on Sept 25, 2008 18:24:18 GMT -5
Mammon Viscount Mammon of Minauros, Lord of the Third This massive fiend has the lower body of a brown-spotted serpent and the upper body of a muscular humanoid with two large arms. The creature's bestial head is terrifically monstrous, wih a black lipped maw filled with poined teeth and a pair of serpent's fangs. His eyes are pale white, without irises or pupils, yet he seems to see perfectly.Servants, Enemies, and GoalsDespised by his peers, no one trusts Mammon hanks to his record for duplicity. Condemned to his stinking mire, he dreams of one day throwing off Asmodeus's cure and attaining his rightful place, with Glasya at his feet. Fully aware that he has exhausted any hopes of gaining allies from the other Lords, he has abandoned the political maneuverings in Hell to focus on subverting mortals to his cause. He invites those who prove themselves loyal to attend him in his court. The service is disgusting, and one must suffer Mammon's vile attentions, but the riches and power to be gained are beyond imagination. Mammon's cults on the Material Plane are widespread and wealthy. Having gained heir station from dirty deals, extortion, and coercion, they are invested in the highest ranks of society. Mammon is also popular among nonhumanoids. Among his servants ne includes beholders and mind flayers, but none are as beloved as the evil dragons he subverts - something Tiamat most keenly resents. Source: The Fiendish Codex II - Tyrants of the Nine Hells Mammon, the lord of hell’s third layer, has long been a power hungry schemer. He is the epitome of selfishness, greed, and lust. The archdevil lives in a golden, jewel-encrusted palace that some have claimed looks more like a tomb than a home. Mammon’s palace is within the city of Minauros, forever sinking into an endless, fetid swamp. Mammon’s natural form was once that of a bloated pit fiend. Although he can still adopt that form, Asmodeus has altered him so that his natural form is now that of a Huge serpent with a muscular humanoid torso, sporting two large arms and a massive humanoid head. His mouth has pointed teeth and two large snake fangs. Mammon’s symbol is a pair of red scaled hands open and looming over a diamond-shaped, black gem. The Goals of MammonMammon lusts for power—he craves a station and position above the one he currently holds, for he has no affection for Minauros, the layer he currently rules.Once the ally of Dispater and Mephistopheles, he was quick to betray them both at the end of the Reckoning, and thus no archdevil trusts him. To hang onto his current position, it is said that Mammon had to embarrassingly throw himself at Asmodeus’s feet. Asmodeus changed Mammon’s form, either to punish him or as a sign that Mammon had changed his ways and would not betray Asmodeus again. Currently,Mammon seeks support in the form of cultists, servants, and allies. Although most of the major players in the Nine Hells will not listen to his entreaties, some of the second-tier beings of influence, such as the witch-queen Zbavra, have entered into Mammon’s court. Source: The Book of Vile Darkness Source: Manual of the Planes Source: Guide to Hell 2nd Edition Source: Planescape - Faces of Evil: The Fiends
Source: Monster Manual II 1st Edition
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Jan 25, 2009 22:33:55 GMT -5
Belial and Fierna Great Belial, The Lord of Pain and Suffering, Lord of the Fourth Lady Fierna, Lord of the Fourth These two humanlike figures are tall, dark, and sensual. They each have a pair of small horns jutting from their brows. Their red eyes smolder with the promise of physical pleasure, and the fine clothing that clings to their bodies completes the debauched image.Servants, Enemies, and GoalsIn name, Fierna rules Phlegethos, commanding the fiery layer from her palace of rock and magma. In truth, her father, Belial, is the power behind the throne. Sequestered away in the central Hall of One Thousand Sighs and Screams, he advises his daughter in the arts of love and pain, taking a personal hand in ensuring she learns all there is to know. Up until now, the situation suited Fierna just fine. But thanks to her flowering relationship with Glasya, she has become more interested in taking Phlegethos in more than just name. No longer is she content to sit idly by and let her father make the decisions. She has even cultivated a few cults on the Material Plane. Fierna’s newfound ambition concerns Belial, but he has other worries. He had been assembling armies to invade the fifth and sixth layers, confident his forces could overcome those of Levistus and the Hag Countess. But Glasya’s surprising coup stalled his plans, and now he can’t move at all, since doing do so would invoke the full force of Asmodeus’s ire. For now, Belial is content to watch and see what develops with this new player in Hell’s vicious political game. Belial and Fierna surround themselves with a variety of devils, including several legions of barbazu and hamatulas, but they are most famed for their kennels. These breeding pits produce powerful hellish beasts that rival even the Nessian warhounds (MM 152) Asmodeus uses to protect his halls. Source: The Fiendish Codex II - Tyrants of the Nine Hells Technically, the Lady Fierna rules the fourth layer of the Pit, known as Phlegethos. Most devils know, however, that Belial, her father and the former ruler of the layer, actually runs things from behind the scenes. Fierna has gained a reputation as an insatiable consumer of males with little care or discrimination. Her father is really no better, quenching his dark needs often with captives, slaves, or other devils. Some say that Fierna and Belial’s relationship has been consummated in incestuous ways. Fierna dwells in a flaming palace of rough rock, deep caverns, and pools of magma. At its heart lie elegant halls of marble and a bejeweled decor. No one except Fierna and her closest companions are allowed here, for this is where her father spends all his time. Both Fierna and her father are tall, dark humanoids with small horns on their forehead. Both are quite handsome and sexual, with smoldering red eyes. They dress in regal finery. Belial always carries his ranseur, but Fierna never wields a weapon, relying on her flame blade attack. The symbol that both often use is a pair of red glowing eyes over a horizontally positioned ranseur, with the whole thing circled by a red tail ending in a wicked barb. The Goals of Belial/FiernaFierna has no interest in ruling, gaining power, or taking part in the complicated politics of hell. Instead, she is much more interested in taking advantage of her position and wealth to live an existence of comfort and pleasure. Thus, she is not at all resentful that her father actually does all the “work” and she simply says what he wants her to. Belial was the enemy of Geryon and Moloch, both of whom were deposed in the Reckoning. He also hates Mammon. However, he currently has his sights set on the fifth and sixth layers of hell. He feels that if he can overcome Levistus, the Hag Countess will be easily defeated soon after. Belial has been an ally of Baalzebul over the centuries and even through the Reckoning. They keep their relationship more of a secret nowadays, but Belial would come to Baalzebul’s side if he needed him. Should this ever happen, however, Mephistopheles would probably attempt to use Fierna against her father—either as an ally or, if that is impossible, a hostage. Source: The Book of Vile Darkness Source: Manual of the Planes Source: Guide to Hell 2nd Edition Source: Planescape - Faces of Evil: The Fiends Source: Monster Manual II 1st Edition
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Jan 25, 2009 22:45:45 GMT -5
Levistus The Lord of the Fifth, Prince Levistus, The Rogue Archdevil, Prince of Stygia This tall creature has pale skin, dark hair, and a goatee. He seems human except for his coal-black eyes and pointed teeth. His fine silk clothes are sodden with water and bits of ice.Levistus is the Lord of the Fifth and Prince of Stygia. Though his true form lies imprisoned in a massive chunk of ice, his aspect is very active on other planes. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsA mountain of dark ice towers over the frozen sea of Stygia. It is old, ancient by even baatezu standards. At its center, a quarter-mile deep, rests Prince Levistus, the Lord of the Fifth. Levistus is very much aware of his prison and desperately fights to break free. All efforts have failed, and it seems the berg is resistant to magic, thwarting even wish and miracle spells. He must be broken free to escape, so he has commanded his devils to chip away at the ice, even though for every inch they gain, two more build from the sleet and snow that perpetually blows across the barren land. Hate consumes him. He despises all the other archdevils, but reserves special spite for Asmodeus. The feeling is mutual, since the Lords of the Nine know that if Prince Levistus escaped his prison, he would work against them all, betraying the Nine Hells to the very forces they oppose. As a result, all are happy to leave Levistus where he lies. Despite his predicament, Levistus has some influence in the Nine Hells and beyond. His aspect works on his behalf, recruiting new followers and setting in motion a thousand different plots. He makes secret deals with yugoloths, ambitious pit fiends, and anyone else he can in order to set the stage for what he feels is his inevitable release. Levistus has a smattering of small cults on the Material Plane. The bladeravers, as they are known, look nothing like priests, preferring flamboyant garb and rapiers to heavy armor and simple weaponry. Attracting thugs and thieves, his cultists don’t work well together and, as often as not, outright betray each other. This disloyalty does not permit them to establish permanent temples, so most worship on the move, paying homage to their imprisoned master in their own special ways. Source: The Fiendish Codex II - Tyrants of the Nine Hells
Prince Levistus (as he calls himself) is an ancient being. He ruled the fifth layer of hell, Stygia, for eons. He was known throughout many planes as a swordsman of great prowess. He ended many conflicts with a personal duel, always resulting in the death of his opponent. Levistus was a schemer and betrayer as well—the rogue archdevil, as he was sometimes called, had no allies. Yet still his power was great. In the dim recesses of the past, Levistus attempted to turn the consort of Asmodeus, a devil named Bensozia, against her lover.When she refused, Levistus slew her. Not surprisingly, when Asmodeus discovered what Levistus had done, he was enraged. He imprisoned Levistus in the ice of Stygia. Most thought that they would never see the prince again. A devil named Geryon took his place in Stygia and ruled there for centuries. Eventually, Geryon was deposed during the Reckoning and Asmodeus put Levistus back in control of Stygia.He did not, however, free Levistus from his icy prison. Now Levistus rules from within the ice, held motionless, an ironic end for one who prided himself on his dexterity and grace. Though he is not visible beneath the massive glacier that imprisons him, Levistus appears as a 6-foot-tall humanoid with extremely pale skin, dark hair, and a goatee. He could almost pass for a human except for his all-black eyes and pointed teeth. Back in his day, Levistus wore loose, silky finery and carried a glistening rapier. Though it was different once, today Levistus’s symbol is a thin sword thrust into a block of ice. The Goals of LevistusLevistus wants more than anything else to be free of his frozen prison. The mountain of ice that he is trapped within is almost a half-mile across. From the outside, he is simply a black spot within the ice. The ice trapping Levistus cannot be affected by a wish or miracle. Levistus cannot teleport or be summoned out of the ice in any way. The ice must be destroyed, either by physically chipping and smashing at it or by melting it with fire (including magical fire). Levistus hates all the other lords of hell, and they hate him. Were he ever to gain his freedom, Levistus would most likely work toward some scheme that would be detrimental to all—particularly Asmodeus. Levistus is not particularly grateful to Asmodeus for giving him back control of Stygia. He cannot see beyond his need for revenge over being imprisoned. Source: The Book of Vile Darkness Source: Manual of the Planes
Source: Guide to Hell 2nd Edition Source: Planescape - Faces of Evil: The Fiends
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Jan 25, 2009 23:00:56 GMT -5
Glasya Lord of the Sixth, The Dark Prodigy, Princess of Hell Adorned in priceless jewelry, silks, and other finery, this humanlike creature is the vision of beauty—except for her copper skin, wings, forked tail, and horns that betray her true nature.Glasya is the newest Lord of the Nine. She wrested control of the Sixth from the Hag Countess and now rules Malbolge with an iron fist, harvesting new devils from the flesh of her predecessor. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsUp until very recently, Malbolge was a layer tilted, a place of sliding scree and tumbling rock, its eternal slope nearly impossible to navigate. The pitch suited the unlikely Lord, the Hag Countess, since she was unlike any other, not being baatezu, nor even a devil for that matter. But her time has passed and now Glasya, daughter of Asmodeus, reigns as Duchess of the Sixth. And to decorate her new home, she used the best materials at hand: the Hag Countess herself. Now that Glasya has risen to the rank of archdevil, she has incredible power and influence. The other Lords fear her, suspecting the move as a bid to consolidate Asmodeus’s control over the Nine Hells. But Glasya has plots and plans of her own. She detests Levistus and wants revenge for her mother’s death. Glasya employs paeliryons to monitor her nemesis’s actions and gather some proof to gain her father’s approval to destroy the archdevil for good. Before ascending to become the new Lord of the Sixth, Glasya traveled to the Material Plane to establish several cults. Most of her followers are inexperienced, young, and very naive. Glasya recruits young adults, full of life and vigor, curious and willing to experiment. For now, it is their duty to recruit new members, but they suspect something new is imminent and wait with bated breath to receive their next instructions. Source: The Fiendish Codex II - Tyrants of the Nine Hells Source: Guide to Hell 2nd Edition Source: Monster Manual II 1st Edition
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Jan 25, 2009 23:12:13 GMT -5
Baalzebul Lord of the Seventh, The Lord of Lies, Lord of the Flies, The Fallen One, Triel the Fallen, The Slug Archduke This thing looks like a massive slug with tiny, malformed arms and a grotesque, twisted face perched atop a bloated, glistening body.Baalzebul, the Lord of Lies, rules the seventh level of Hell. The Fallen One, also called the Slug Archduke, fell from the Upper Planes when his arrogance and ambition led him astray. Ironically, it was these same flaws that led him to his current wretched state. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsBaalzebul’s greatest failing is ambition. Even with the power and prestige he attained, he was never satisfied. As the politics of the Nine Hells drew him deeper into plots and conspiracies, he found himself at greater and greater odds with Asmodeus until the two came into conflict during the Reckoning. Like others, Baalzebul suffered for opposing the Lord of the Ninth, and for his disloyalty, he was transformed into the hideous creature he is today. Baalzebul still counts Belial as an ally, but he is uncertain of Fierna, whom he sees as a threat to their alliance thanks to her flowering relationship with the new Lord of the Sixth. The Slug Archduke blames everyone but himself for his predicament, especially Mephistopheles. However, Baalzebul reserves a special hatred for Asmodeus. His curse is more than just an obstacle; it is humiliating. Baalzebul will avenge himself and regain his true form. It is just a matter of time. Baalzebul retains a sizable following on the Material Plane. Mortals seem helplessly drawn to his doctrine of lies, his charm, and the power he offers. The most numerous of his followers are bugbears, who personify Baalzebul’s dualistic nature by being both strong and cunning. Source: The Fiendish Codex II - Tyrants of the Nine Hells One of the mightiest of the archdevils, Baalzebul is known as the Lord of the Flies, Lord of Lies, the Fallen One, and, more recently, the Slug Archduke. Originally an archon named Triel who dwelt in the good-aligned planes, Baalzebul succumbed to temptation, craving more power and authority than Heaven would grant him. His quest for perfection took him too far, and he was blinded by ambition. Soon he found himself in hell in a new form: a tall, powerful, dark-skinned humanoid with the compound eyes of a fly. Baalzebul, as he started to call himself, quickly gathered a great deal of support and power, as well as the blessing of Asmodeus. He set himself up as an archdevil and ruled Maladomini, the seventh layer. He quickly became a rival of Mephistopheles, and thus Dispater as well. He also gained some allies, notably Belial. After the Reckoning, Baalzebul fell from Asmodeus’s favor and was cursed with a different form—that of a giant slug with tiny, malformed arms, flies buzzing and crawling around him continuously. The stench around Baalzebul is infamous; the curse causes stinking piles of rotting garbage and feces to accumulate wherever he spends time. So now the Slug Archduke lives in his Palace of Filth under the blue-black skies ofMaladomini, plotting revenge. Baalzebul has many symbols, including a fly’s head, a web with flies caught in it, and a black slug sitting atop a throne. Source: The Book of Vile Darkness Source: Manual of the Planes Source: The Guide to Hell 2nd Edition
Source: Planescape - Faces of Evil: The Fiends Source: Monster Manual 1st Edition
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Jan 25, 2009 23:27:23 GMT -5
Mephistopheles Lord of the Eighth, Archduke of Cania, Molikroth the Baron of Cania, Lord of No Mercy, Cold Lord This diabolical fiend has crimson skin, massive red leathery wings, curling horns, white eyes, and long, straight black hair. Swathed in a flowing black cape, he is the vision of evil.Mephistopheles is the Lord of the Eighth. Next to Asmodeus, he is the most politically powerful fiend in the Nine Hells. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsMephistopheles is something of a walking contradiction. Unstable and thoroughly wicked, he presents multiple faces to those he meets. On the one hand, he can be charming, erudite, and civil. But beneath the veneer of respectability is a vicious temper and unchecked ambition. He is patient and cunning, yet when alone, he flies into a fury, screaming and shrieking, tearing at his skin and destroying everything around him in a thunderous explosion of hellfire and devastating magic. He has one goal, one reason for existence: He covets Asmodeus’s throne. It is, in his mind, his destiny to rule the Nine Hells. So confident is he that he has told this to Asmodeus himself. One would think that such arrogance would be reason enough for the Lord of the Ninth to bring this archdevil to heel, but curiously, Asmodeus hasn’t. It seems he’s content to let Mephistopheles have his delusions. Mephistopheles’s naked ambition and haughtiness does not sit well with his peers. Some are drawn to his power, such as Dispater, but most despise him, seeing him as an unstable and unpredictable element in the Hells’ convoluted politics. Among his enemies, Baalzebul is his greatest. The Lord of Lies has long opposed his every effort. So long as Baalzebul lives, Mephistopheles spends his time hatching plots to eliminate his ancient rival, leaving Asmodeus secure in his position as the Lord of the Nine Hells. Despite his distractions, Mephistopheles still poses a grave threat. He commands legions of ice devils as well as the pit fiends, barbazu, and cornugons that have flocked to his banner. In addition, it falls to him to protect the only gate into Nessus, so he nominally commands the army whose sole duty it is to safeguard Asmodeus’s realm. To make matters worse, he has mastered the essence of Hell, channeling it into a foul destructive energy called hellfire. With such tools at his disposal, it seems Mephistopheles will one day make good on his promise to rule in Asmodeus’s stead. Thankfully, Mephistopheles does not exert the same influence on the Material Plane. Many mortals confuse him and Asmodeus, believing they are one in the same. This frustrates Mephistopheles to no end; above all, he wants to be worshiped as a god. Still, he has a number of small cults that revere him as the god of hellfire. He also attracts disaffected devil worshipers, stealing individuals from other archdevils. His temples are strange places, hidden and out of the way. Decorated with fire pits, they are unbearably hot and the pits are rigged so that they flare up during ceremonies at the most dramatic moments. The cultists meet to perform sacrifices, binding their living victim on a blackened altar and immolating him alive. His screams add the chorus to their silent prayers. Source: The Fiendish Codex II - Tyrants of the Nine Hells Mephistopheles is an archdevil who has long held a great deal of power in hell. He is allied with Dispater and a bitter rival of Baalzebul. Mephistopheles rules over the frozen wastes of Cania, the eighth layer of hell. As such, he has become immune to cold by ruthlessly exposing himself to the most frigid temperatures on Cania. Mephistopheles displays a facade of charm, civility, and understated wit. Secretly, he has a terrible temper and flies into frequent rages while in his palace in Cania—a citadel called Mephistar, built on a massive glacier on the frigid layer. From there Mephistopheles commands legions of gelugons, including the vast army that does nothing but guard the entrance to Nessus, the bottom of the pit where Asmodeus dwells. Of late, Mephistar has become a place of scorching flame at the heart of the icy plain, however, and the gelugons have slowly relocated elsewhere, replaced by pit fiends, cornugons, and barbazu. Mephistopheles has developed an extremely hot, corrupt type of energy known as hellfire, tapped from the substance of the plane itself. Its use has spread through many of the archdevils and their servants. None are as adept with hellfire as Mephistopheles, however. To further his mastery of fire, he has taken up the study of wizardry, specifically evocation. Mephistopheles is quickly gaining a reputation as an archdevil of contradictions. Nine feet tall, with hell-red skin, bat wings, white eyes, horns jutting from his forehead, and straight, black hair,Mephistopheles plays up his appearance to be as consummately diabolical as possible. He swathes himself in flowing black capes and wields a three-pronged ranseur. Mephistopheles constantly adopts new symbols. His current one is a red hand with black fingernails shrouded in dark flames. The Goals of MephistophelesMephistopheles wants now what he has always wanted: to rule the Nine Hells. Of all the schemers in hell—and there are many—he is the most open about his goals. Mephistopheles has said to Asmodeus’s face that he will one day rule in his stead. Because he is more openly antagonistic toward Baalzebul, Asmodeus has usually tolerated Mephistopheles’s obvious coveting of his dark throne. Mephistopheles’s schemes are always extreme and dramatic, rather than subtle and sly like those of some of the other archdevils. For example, before the Reckoning, he created a new persona for himself, Molikroth, then “deposed” Mephistopheles and ruled in Molikroth’s name. Many speculated that the reason for the deception was to ferret out traitors in his midst. Those that helped “Molikroth” overthrow Mephistopheles have all been eliminated now. Mephistopheles adores being worshiped as a god and at the moment is striving to increase his base of cultists on the Material Plane. Source: The Book of Vile Darkness The Lord of Cania absorbed 1/3 of the divine essence of the first chosen of Mask, Kesson Rel, when Erevis Cale sacrificed himself in return for the soul of one of his close friends, Magadon, the son of Mephistopheles. This small portion of divine power makes him some sort of minor demi-power or quazi-deity. The recipients of the other two portions of the divine power were Drasek Riven, and Prince Rivalen of Shade Enclave. The divine power was originally stolen from Mask, the Shadowlord. Source: Shadowrealm Source: Manual of the Planes Source: The Guide to Hell 2nd Edition Source: Planescape - Faces of Evil: The Fiends Source: Monster Manual II 1st Edition
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Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Jan 25, 2009 23:41:29 GMT -5
Asmodeus The Lord of the Ninth, Overlord of the Nine Hells, The Archfiend, Ruler of Nessus, Ahriman, King of the Nine Hells, The Lord of Lies This diabolical creature stands thirteen feet tall. He has lustrous dark skin and black hair. Handsome and dangerous, his red eyes shine with infernal power. A pair of small sharp horns crowns his head. He wears fine red and black robes studded with black diamonds and fiery rubies, and he carries a rod seemingly made of a single carved ruby that shines with the power of Hell.Asmodeus is the Lord of the Ninth, ruler of Nessus, and overlord of all the Nine Hells. Servants, Enemies, and GoalsAsmodeus is the undisputed master of the Nine Hells, commanding fear and respect from all those who occupy his realm. Even the gods who dwell in the Nine Hells give Asmodeus his proper due. Though the archdevils might work to usurp him, few have the courage to act in the open. Asmodeus’s machinations are long in the making, and they might take centuries, if not millennia, to see resolution. He works on a grand scale, carefully constructing insidious and inexplicable intrigues, maneuvering the forces of wickedness like chess pieces on a board that encompasses all the planes. His core concerns are simple. First, he wants the power structure currently in place to remain exactly as it stands now, with him in charge. He has spies on every layer, plants in every court. No fiend knows for sure which of its minions actually serve Asmodeus, so the climate is one of justified paranoia. Asmodeus also expands evil. He directly opposes celestials and good-aligned deities. His minions combat the agents of the Upper Planes, murdering them whenever and wherever they can. Finally, Asmodeus wages war against the demons. He sees the untold legions as a direct threat to his supremacy. Until he can wipe them out, he will never achieve that which he most desperately covets: godhood. Asmodeus is aware of every plot hatched against him. Older than the oldest archdevil, he has watched the rise and fall of other archdevils far craftier than any of Asmodeus’s contemporaries. He keeps to himself, letting his minions stew in fear of what he will do next. Of course, few have forgotten that Asmodeus emerged unscathed in the Reckoning, proving to all that he is their better. On the Material Plane, Asmodeus has more cultists than all the other archdevils combined. Mortals who worship devils actually draw power from Asmodeus. He influences all levels of society and has followers of nearly every race, even within the strongest bastions for good. His path is the way to great and unattainable power, so his clerics are mighty men and women with influence and personal magnetism that makes them natural leaders among their kind. The Ruby Rod Source: The Fiendish Codex II - Tyrants of the Nine Hells
Asmodeus the Archfiend, the overlord of all the dukes of hell, commands all devilkind and reigns as the undisputed master of the Nine Hells. Even the deities that call that plane home pay Asmodeus a great deal of respect. Asmodeus is certainly older than any devil in hell, although some say that he was not the plane’s first ruler. On the other hand, some reports claim that he is indeed the original, primal force of evil in the multiverse. The actions of Asmodeus are often mysterious to outside observers, but that is due to the short-sighted and dim-witted view most beings have. Asmodeus’s manipulations are labyrinthine and insidious. They work on a grand scale, although when it suits his needs he is willing to focus his attention even on the status of a lowly mortal soul. During the Reckoning, Asmodeus showed that he could take on virtually all the other archdevils in hell and arise triumphant when the smoke clears. His will alone dictates who rules the various layers of hell. Once a year, he gathers the archdevils together in his home in Nessus, a fortress called Malsheem. None has ever refused this call. Even Levistus is briefly freed from his imprisonment to attend (and sulk through) this gathering. Asmodeus stands just over 13 feet tall, with lustrous dark skin and dark hair. He is handsome in the same way that a thunderstorm is beautiful. His red eyes shine with the power of hell, and his head is crowned with a pair of small, dark red horns.He dresses in finery of red and black; a single garment of his might cost what an entire nation spends in a year. Of course, he is never without his Ruby Rod, an ornate piece of unparalleled jeweled finery and vast magical power. The Goals of AsmodeusFirst and foremost, Asmodeus is interested in preserving the status quo in which he is the supreme ruler of hell. Beyond that, he focuses most of his attention on the general spread of evil in the multiverse. He opposes the actions of powerful celestials and good-aligned deities. He also loathes and opposes the demonic forces of the Abyss—their existence is a challenge to his mastery of evil. Source: The Book of Vile Darkness Source: Manual of the Planes Source: The Guide to Hell 2nd Edition Source: Planescape - Faces of Evil: The Fiends 2nd Edition
Source: Monster Manual 1st Edition This thread was compiled referencing the following sources: Special thanks to catmage for starting this thread
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2012 15:09:37 GMT -5
*bump* added a couple of small updates to the Mephistopheles entry, since some of the key dates for his timeline have passed in the FRC timeline (1374 DR). The current year in FRC is 1376 DR.
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