Zariel, Archdevil of Avernus
Titles: The Righteous Flame, The Hellish General, The Unyielding
Domains: War, Justice, The Fiend, The Hexblade.
Symbol: A flaming sword surrounded by an infernal halo
Overview
Zariel is one of the most feared and formidable of the Nine Archdevils that rule over the nine layers of Hel. As the ruler of Avernus, the first and most war-torn layer of Hel, Zariel commands the infernal legions in their ceaseless battles against the forces of mortal men. She is a figure of relentless discipline, fiery wrath, and unyielding justice, traits forged in the crucible of her tragic fall from grace.
Once an angel of great renown and a servant of Caudiel, the Sun Goddess, Zariel's story is one of ambition, betrayal, and a tragic fall into the infernal abyss. Her descent into Hell is a reminder of the dangers of overzealous righteousness, and her current position as an Archdevil reflects her transformation into a ruler of fire and war—no longer a servant of divine light, but a sovereign of unrelenting infernal justice.
Origins and Fall from Grace
Zariel's origins lie in the Celestial realms, where she was a powerful and virtuous angel under the patronage of Caudiel, the Sun Goddess. A warrior and champion of righteousness, Zariel was revered for her strength, discipline, and unwavering devotion to the ideals of justice. She was often sent on missions to protect the innocent, bring order to chaos, and uphold the divine will of the gods.
However, as the wars between the forces of good and evil continued, Zariel's perspective began to shift. The celestial realms, with their ideals of law and order, seemed too distant and detached from the gritty realities of war. In the heat of battle, Zariel’s once-pure vision of justice began to grow distorted. She came to believe that only through absolute force, conquest, and domination could peace be truly achieved. She began advocating for more aggressive methods to eliminate evil, seeing any form of mercy as weakness.
It was during a campaign in the War of Undying Winter, the eternal conflict between the forces of Hel and mortal men with their patron gods, that Zariel’s descent began in earnest. Her growing disillusionment with celestial ideals led her to ally with the fiends, believing that their militaristic approach to order was the only path to ultimate victory. When her superiors in the Celestial realms rejected her proposal for a more forceful approach to combat evil, Zariel turned her back on her divine patron, Caudiel, and made a fateful pact with Asmodeus, the ruler of Hell.
Betrayal and Rise to Power
Zariel’s fall was complete when she was betrayed by Asmodeus. The Archdevil, ever the manipulator, had promised Zariel power and dominion over her enemies, but he also ensured her damnation. Instead of granting her the authority she sought, Asmodeus cast her into Avernus, the first layer of Hell, trapping her within the infernal realm where she would be forced to serve as one of his generals for eternity.
Once a radiant and noble angel, Zariel's body was twisted by the fires of Avernus, her wings charred and her once-gleaming armor now a dark and twisted reflection of her former self. Her divine light was consumed by the flames of the Nine Hells, and she became a creature of wrath and vengeance, her soul forever bound to the infernal war. Her once-burning desire for justice turned into a cold, calculating lust for power and control over the battlefield.
Despite her fall, Zariel maintained her military prowess and discipline, eventually rising to the position of Archdevil and ruling over Avernus with an iron fist. She commands legions of devils and is renowned for her brutal tactics, leading infernal armies in their eternal war against the demons of the Abyss. Her domain is a vast wasteland of shattered landscapes, filled with the screams of the damned and the fires of eternal conflict.
Zariel as a Fiendish Patron
As an Archdevil, Zariel now offers her power to mortal warlocks, especially those who seek mastery over combat and the ability to harness the infernal flames of Hell. Her patrons are often warriors, mercenaries, and ambitious individuals who seek to gain control over their enemies through sheer force of will and military might.
Zariel grants her warlocks powers linked to combat and warfare, favoring those who are ruthless, disciplined, and unyielding in their pursuits. Her influence is often felt through the hexblade pact, where warlocks gain the power to channel their infernal patron’s strength into devastating strikes, summoning fiery blades imbued with the essence of Hell itself. These warlocks are often driven by an unshakable desire to bring justice, though it is a justice defined by Zariel’s own uncompromising vision—where victory can only be achieved through ruthless domination.
Personality and Leadership
Zariel is a being of unwavering conviction and ambition. She sees the world in terms of absolute justice—righteousness achieved through domination and conquest. Her idealism, twisted by her fall, drives her to seek control over all realms, believing that only through complete subjugation can true peace and order be attained. Zariel is not merciful, and she does not tolerate weakness. Those who fail her face her wrath, and even her own underlings must constantly prove their worth.
She is also a master tactician and strategist, able to command vast armies with precision and cold efficiency. Her leadership in Avernus is absolute, and she rules with a militaristic discipline that is both feared and respected. However, beneath her commanding exterior lies a deep bitterness and regret for her fall from grace, though she would never show such vulnerability to those around her.
Appearance and Iconography
Zariel is often depicted as a tall, imposing figure clad in dark, infernal armor that seems to shimmer with the heat of Hell’s fires. Her wings, once pure and angelic, are now tattered and charred, leaving behind only darkened stumps of what was once her greatest symbol of grace. Her face is fierce and proud, her eyes burning with the intensity of a thousand wars. In battle, she wields a massive flaming sword that blazes with infernal power, a symbol of her unyielding might and her command over the forces of Hell.
Her symbol is a sword surrounded by flames, a representation of her dual nature as both a warrior of justice and a ruler of hellish wrath. It is often used by those who swear oaths to her or seek to channel her power, and it is a reminder of the cost of seeking ultimate power.
Dogma of Zariel
- Victory through Strength: Only those who are strong and unyielding can bring true justice to the world. Weakness is a crime, and it must be eradicated.
- War is the Path to Peace: The eternal struggle between good and evil can only be resolved through domination. Only through war can ultimate peace be achieved.
- Punish the Unworthy: Those who fail to prove themselves are to be cast aside. Justice must be served, no matter the cost.
- Ambition Above All: Aspire to rise above all others. True power comes from the will to dominate and conquer.
Conclusion
Zariel, the Righteous Flame, remains one of the most powerful and influential figures in all of the Nine Hells. Her transformation from a celestial warrior to a ruthless fiend has shaped her into a being who commands both fear and respect. As the ruler of Avernus, she leads her infernal legions with unyielding discipline, all the while seeking to expand her influence beyond the confines of Hell. Her past may have been one of light, but her present is one of fire, fury, and the unrelenting pursuit of ultimate power.
Comments