Asmodeus

Characteristics

Physical features

Once an archangel, Asmodeus is depicted in many tomes and murals as a handsome humanoid of deep, red skin and long, black hair with two curling horns rising from his brow.  

Mental traits

Asmodeus wants to rule the cosmos. Under his watch, he believes, the universe would take on a pristine, perfect state, with every living creature assigned a place in the infernal hierarchy. Wars would end, and every creature would have a purpose to fulfill. The universe would be a utopia, at least as Asmodeus views such a thing.   Of course, as he sees it, Asmodeus is the only being with the charisma, strength, and insight necessary to shepherd in this ideal future. His rivals are inferiors who, if left to their own devices, will turn the cosmos into a demon-infested maelstrom. The powers of good are sentimental fools, too delicate and soft to do what must be done. In his mind, Asmodeus has been chosen by the universe to protect it from annihilation.   If Asmodeus were any less capable, his arrogance would have led to his undoing long ago. Yet still he sits atop his throne, having thwarted every conspiracy mounted against him. He once walked into the lair of one of his enemies in Mount Celestia and survived using nothing more than his words and his wits. Even his most ardent enemies must grudgingly admit that his skill and competence are unparalleled.  

Lair

Asmodeus resides in Superbia, the bottommost layer of the Seven Hells. By design, the place is devoid of activity, since Asmodeus values his privacy and safety. The environment is a rocky wasteland, crisscrossed by deep fissures and lacking roads, bridges, and other means of passage. Asmodeus dwells in a great fortress somewhere in the wasteland, at the bottom of its deepest pit. Only his most trusted followers and most important advisors know the route to it. He remains inside, relying on messengers and Magic to convey his dictates.  

History

Prelude of War

The world, brimming with primal energy and chaos, was discovered by formless gods. They saw this untamed realm as an opportunity to define themselves through creation. Driven by this vision, they shaped the first races. Asmodeus, at this Time, was an archangel in the service of one of these formless gods, and Freya's lover, as well as Zariel's friend.   The gods created the first species in their own image, granting them immortality. However, these beings, though eternal, lived lives rife with violence, betrayal, and endless conflict. Asmodeus, as an archangel, and alongside Freya and Zariel were tasked with cleaning up the chaos wrought by these creations. The freedom granted to these immortal beings led to constant battles and pointless bloodshed. Though Asmodeus cared deeply for mortals, he believed the gods' methods were flawed, and their creations inherently imperfect. Many gods and angels came to share Asmodeus’s convictions, aligning themselves with his vision.   Freya did not share Asmodeus's perspective on the flaws and imperfections of mortal creations. She believed these imperfections were not signs of failure but marks of beauty—a reflection of resilience and the unique struggle of beings lacking divine power. In her eyes, it was this struggle that made their accomplishments shine brighter.   Their conflicting views on this matter began to drive a wedge between them. The two lovers, once deeply connected, grew increasingly distant. Their opposing philosophies became the source of countless arguments, each passionate yet unresolved, straining the bond they once shared.   In 7201 BD the unchecked actions of the gods and their creations eventually disturbed the balance of the world, awakening the wrath of Primordial forces, colossal primordial emerged, seeking to obliterate the gods' creations and restore balance through destruction. This cataclysmic conflict divided the gods:  

• The Ancient Gods sought to protect their creations and bring balance to the world. To counter the immortality of the first races, they introduced mortal species—short-lived beings—to fight alongside their predecessors.
• The Despairing Gods, overcome with grief, believed their actions in this world to be irredeemably flawed. They joined the primordials in their quest to annihilate their creations, hoping to start anew elsewhere.

 

He Who Was

Asmodeus rallied an army of angels, divines, and the primordials to challenge the Ancient Gods, gaining support from those who believed in his cause. His rebellion led to a confrontation with his former master, a god whose name was erased from existence after his Death. This Deity is now remembered only as He Who Was.   Freya, opposed him. She believed that turning against the Ancient Gods and their creations was a mistake and repeatedly tried to dissuade Asmodeus from his path. Their disagreement culminated in a desperate battle. Freya overpowered Asmodeus but could not bring herself to kill him, still seeing the man she loved. Taking advantage of her hesitation, Asmodeus stabbed her and fled, leaving her gravely wounded.   Determined to fulfill his vision, Asmodeus returned with his forces to confront He Who Was. After a ferocious battle, Asmodeus succeeded in slaying the god. However, with his dying breath, He Who Was cursed Asmodeus, transforming him and his army into the first devils.   Despite this victory, the rebellion was far from over. With the primordial defeated by the Ancient Gods, Asmodeus and his forces were cast into a prison plane, thus forming the first of the Outer Planes.   The Ancient Gods retreated to the Outer Planes they had created, where they could observe and influence the world from a distance. The Dawn War gave way to a prolonged series of skirmishes and battles, eventually evolving into what is now called the Celestial War. Angels and devils clashed ceaselessly, their conflict marking a new era of strife. The most powerful devils became archdevils, granted dominion over layers of the Seven Hells by Asmodeus himself.   Asmodeus harbors deep resentment toward the Ancient Gods. In his eyes, they betrayed the world they sought to shape and squandered its potential for greater creations.  

I have protected the first creations of the gods. I have borne witness to their stupidity. I paid the price for their insolence. And because I stood against those who created such flawed creatures, I was deemed a betrayer and cast into the deepest pit of the lower planes.

— Asmodeus

 

The Trial of Asmodeus

With the titans defeated, mortal species flourished, and countless other races emerged—some as deliberate creations of the gods, others as spontaneous adaptations in the evolving world. The Celestial War between angels and devils raged on, with neither side willing to concede.   Many sought to end the conflict, yet a truce seemed impossible. Freya, now leading legions of angels, descended into the Hells alongside her ally, Sol, to fight Asmodeus's corrupted followers. Zariel, another archangel and a former friend of both Asmodeus and Freya before his betrayal, sought a different path. Hoping to end the bloodshed, Zariel proposed a trial, a chance for Asmodeus to defend himself before the gods and perhaps redeem his actions.   Asmodeus, an unmatched strategist and orator, accepted the challenge. The Ancient Gods also agreed, hoping to resolve the growing tensions. Bahamut, the god of justice, offered to oversee the trial as a neutral arbiter. A contract was drawn to ensure the trial’s fairness, binding all participants to its terms. Asmodeus, unable to leave his infernal domain, sent a puppet crafted in his image to the Prime Material Plane to face the judgment of the celestial beings in a neutral territory.   Accused of corrupting mortal souls to strengthen his infernal army, Asmodeus defended his actions by appealing to the principles of law and cosmic necessity. He admitted to swaying mortals toward evil but insisted that he and his devils had never violated a contract. Every deal was presented with clear terms, and mortals entered into them willingly.  

Have we not followed the dictates of law? Is it not mortal ambition, not infernal deception, that leads so many souls astray?

— Asmodeus

  Asmodeus further claimed that mortals who rejected devilish offers were left unmolested, in accordance with the law. Those who managed to outwit their infernal contracts were even freed from their debts.  

A contract is law, and the law is a contract

— Asmodeus

  Bahamut weighed Asmodeus’s words carefully, listening as angel after angel testified against the Lord of the Nine Hells. Days turned to weeks as an overwhelming number of witnesses recounted his crimes. Eventually, Bahamut declared that the testimonies had gone on long enough and limited further accusations to only a few more voices.   Chaos erupted in the court as angels argued over who should be heard next. Amid the turmoil, Zariel pushed her way to the front, demanding to speak, but her claim wasn't heard. The heated debate escalated into a skirmish, with angels turning on one another. Asmodeus, watching the scene unfold, could not hide his smirk.   In the end, Bahamut declined to issue a definitive judgment. Instead, he rebuked the angels for their descent into infighting but stopped short of punishing Asmodeus. However, he did impose a condition upon him: Asmodeus would carry a mighty artifact, the Ruby Rod, as a guarantee of his adherence to law.   The Ruby Rod, which has remained with Asmodeus ever since, grants him and his followers the right to enter contracts with mortals for their souls. However, it also enforces inescapable punishment upon any devil that breaches such a contract.   Unlike the other Lords of the Nine Hells, Asmodeus has no soul quota to meet. Any soul recruited by any denizen of the Hells is pledged to him by default. Likewise, cults dedicated to other devils are also, indirectly, devoted to Asmodeus. This freedom allows him to focus on manipulating powerful beings rather than courting mortals. Occasionally, he draws such individuals into contracts, transforming them into unique devils who strengthen the ranks of the Hells.  

Celestial war

After the trial, Zariel, frustrated that her voice was dismissed, withdrew her forces. She had grown disillusioned, believing the conflict to be increasingly futile. However, Freya, unsatisfied with the trial's outcome, refused to relent. Determined to end the infernal threat once and for all, Freya led her legions deeper into the Seven Hells. Her crusade pushed forward until they reached the Fifth Layer, Ira, where Zariel confronted her.   Zariel questioned Freya's obsession, noting how her actions were becoming darker and more vengeful than those of Asmodeus himself. Freya’s pursuit of vengeance seemed to overshadow her divine purpose. But Freya refused to listen, consumed by her desire to destroy Asmodeus and his forces. Their argument ended in a bitter split, with Freya abandoning Zariel, who was left behind in Ira.  

Zariel's Fall

While attempting to regroup, Zariel and her remaining troops were ambushed by a squadron of ice devils. Outnumbered and overwhelmed, Zariel was captured and brought before Asmodeus.   When she awoke in his presence, Zariel pleaded with him to end the war, to surrender, and confessed her love for the Lord of the Seven Hells. Asmodeus listened, and offered her a deal.   He promised Zariel great power and a position as his general. Together, with her unmatched prowess in battle and his scheming intellect, they would halt Freya’s crusade and protect the integrity of the Seven Hells. In return, Zariel would gain the power to seduce any man—a reflection of the love she craved yet never received.   Blinded by her desperation and emotions, Zariel agreed to the terms. With the contract sealed, she was transformed into the first succubus. Zariel then gave in to her carnal desire for Asmodeus, finally acting on her long-hidden feelings. But once the deed was done, she was left hollow.   Asmodeus was no man, but a devil, unswayed by Zariel's beauty. He had indulged her not out of passion but out of pity. Zariel, now cursed by her transformation, realized the price of her choice: she had gained the power to seduce any mortal, but no love she found would ever be genuine. Like all succubi who followed her path—eternally yearning for a love she would never feel.   Bound to her contract, Zariel became Asmodeus’s first Archdevil. Commanding her own infernal legion, she was tasked with stopping Freya and her forces. Zariel drove them back to the First Layer, Luxuria, a domain she claimed as her own.