Asmodeus

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GM James R

Asmodeus

Domains	Knowledge, Trickery, War
Plane	The Ten Hells
Worshipping Races	Devils, Mortals

Asmodeus is the creator and ruler of the Ten Hells. He formerly resided on the ninth layer, Nessus, but now resides on the tenth layer, Hellmar. The power he wields with his Ruby Rod grants him the status of a Lesser God. His domains are knowledge, trickery, and war.

History

Origins (Prehistory)

The history and origins of Asmodeus are mired in rumor, legend, and mystery, with only the most powerful of gods and most ancient of evils knowing his true past. Some believe he is a fragment of a malicious elder evil from the Far Realms, while others believe he was one a Primordial from the Plane of Fire, while some also believe he may have once been a mortal man. While few know for certain, many stories and accounts attribute his origins to Mt. Celestia as being a former Archangel with his descent into the Hells being tied to the first Pact Primeval.

The Account of Asmodeus

Long ago the realm was made of pure chaos, and out of the chaos emerged Demons. Rising to oppose the Demons were beings of Law, the gods. To combat the demons, the gods created angels to serve as their soldiers. The greatest, strongest, and fiercest of these angels was Asmodeus. But the more Demons Asmodeus and his soldiers killed, the more terrifying they became as their bodies were mutated with demonic ichor. fearing Asmodeus, some of the gods demanded he be banished, and so Asmodeus was put on trial before the dwarven god Moradin. Asmodeus successfully defended himself, claiming he was only fulfilling the purpose of his creation. As the fighting continued, Asmodeus and his soldiers grew even more monstrous, growing claws, horns, and fangs. Some of the gods sought to hide away from Asmodeus, building grand citadels to shelter themselves. But Asmodeus was able to sue for access anyway, claiming that he had a right as to anyone to all of heavens splendors.

Eventually the gods created mortals, and placed them in the newly created realm of Quelmar for them to inhabit. To protect this world from demons, the gods created vast mountain ranges and deep seas to separate the realms of chaos from Quelmar. But mortals, beings of curiosity, would cross these thresholds and inadvertently allow demons back into the realms again and again. The gods were confused why the mortals did not heed their warnings or laws, and Asmodeus proposed that it was because their laws came without punishments.

With the gods help Asmodeus created a system where wicked souls would be punished by him and his soldiers. But not wanting these actions to be taken into the Celestial realms, the gods sent Asmodeus to the empty realm of Baator. But in return, Asmodeus made a deal with the gods that he and his kin could draw power and magic from the damned souls they tortured. This deal became known as the First pact Primeval, as was sealed using the artifact, the Ruby Rod.

But after the signing of the Pact, the gods learned that Asmodeus had begun to tempt souls into evil to expand his own power. Shame on them for not reading the fine print.

The Account of Mephistopheles

This account of the origins of Asmodeus and the Ten Hells was told by the archdevil Mephistopheles to the planeswalking adventurers known as the Hellraisers during the chaos of the Infernal Insurrection.

After defeating the elemental primordials and tempering the primordial chaos, the Gods went about shaping the chaos into the realm of Quelmar which they populated with their mortal creations. To guide these mortals and to protect their creation, the gods created twelve archangels, stewards of Quelmar each created to embody one of the commandments the gods set forth for mortals. Asmodeus was the Archangel of Patience, and aided his archangel siblings in creating the race of angels and protecting Quelmar from the encroachment of Demons from the Abyss. By his side were his lieutenants, the angels Mephistopheles and Mammon.

But even with the angels protecting them, many mortals would perish under the claws and fangs of demons, and the gods despaired at the destruction of their creations. To solve the problem of demons and to save the Gods from their weeping, Asmodeus proposed a solution, the creation of souls: indelible and eternal spirits born with mortals that would join the gods in the afterlife after a mortals passing, preserving their creation. But for those souls that violated the divine laws of the gods, Asmodeus proposed using them as soldiers on the front line against the demon invasions.

But to create souls, Asmodeus would need the life force of a god. With a heavy heart, the gods, wanting to protect their creations, would sacrifice one of their own. Othea was the goddess of giants, the elements, and calamity. She had been a great ally to the Gods in the days when they fought the primordials, yet in the days of peace to come, the gods saw no more use for her. She inhabited the realm of Thalmyr, a beautiful and tumultuous plane inhabited by her and the giants she created. With an army of angels and the blessing of the Creator Gods, Asmodeus invaded Thalmyr and slew Othea before carving out her heart. He would break her heart into two pieces. The first he would transform into the cycle of souls. The second he would transform into a rob of pure ruby that gave him ultimate control over the realm of Thalmyr and elevated him to godhood. The horrific transgression of killing Othea forever altered Asmodeus and his angelic armies, transforming them into cruel and terrifying fiends.

To cover up the murder of Othea and the part played in her death by the Gods, Asmodeus struck her name from the realm and destroyed all records of her existence. He took the surviving Celestial Giants and swore them to secrecy and made them kneel before him. He elevated them to godhood using the rod and established them as the "true creators of giants."

Using the Ruby Rod, Asmodeus transformed the ruined face of Thalmyr, christening it Baator, and established himself as its lord and ruler. After the next millennia, he would expand his realm, using loopholes in divine law to subsume new realms into Baator and transforming them into new layers of the Hells, reaching Nine layers before the end of Prehistory.

About

Responsibilities

Per the Pact Primeval, it is Asmodeus' duty to protect Quelmar and every other plane from the intrusion of demons, who attempt to escape and intrude upon the realm from The Abyss.

Ruby Rod

Asmodeus' Ruby Rod is the source of his divine power. With it, he can challenge the gods themselves, but without it his is not more than a powerful devil. The Ruby Rod was created from the divine heart of the Shattered Mountain. It gives Asmodeus complete control over the Ten Hells and is used to empower his archdevils.

Talents

Asmodeus can play the following instruments, and when performing, typically plays between 3 and 4 of them at the same time.

• Triangle
• Kazoo
• Recorder
• Accordion
• Bagpipes
• Vibraslap
• Otamatone

Forms

Asmodeus typically takes on a medium humanoid form wearing a regal outfit, but has been known to take other forms on occasion.

Devil Dragon

Asmodeus' most intimidating and physically powerful form is that over a massive wyrm-sized dragon. Over fifty feet tall, when Asmodeus takes the form of the realms' most dangerous serpent, he can swallow small villages in one bite. However, Asmodeus is not able to sustain this form for more than a few seconds when outside of the Ten Hells. When on his native layer, Asmodeus can stay in the form indefinitely, providing the ultimate challenge for anyone who attempts to attack Asmodeus on his home turf.

Pets

Cerberus is Asmodeus' pet and most loyal guard dog, residing as the last form of defense before accessing Asmodeus' throne chambers. When not in guarding formation, Cerberus can take the form of a medium sized hell hound and travel along Asmodeus' side.