Dominion

The Dominion are the godlike archfiends that rule over Diabolis. These fiends revel in wicked deeds of all kinds and actively encourage them across the planes. They are infamous for bending the rules of planar law to spread their influence throughout the planes. Many fear that—if left unchecked—the Dominion could rule over every plane in the multiverse.

The Dominion’s influence appears in many ways. The two most common forms are through diabolic pacts that bind a pact maker to a specific fiend or through the infamous dreadknight orders that terrorize the Material Plane.

They are not without their own purpose; however, souls from the Necropolis that have been judged as wicked and cruel are cast down to Diabolis as punishment. The wicked mortals that learn of this agreement will either tread the straight and narrow out of fear, or double down on their wickedness and make agreements with the fiends to gain favor with the future wardens of their eternal prison.

Structure

Diabolis was created as a replacement for the original lower planes that were destroyed in the Thousand Year Flood by Archdominus Serallus. The Archdominus rules the whole of Diabolis, while the other twelve domini rule over various domains within Diabolis called houses. A dominus has complete control over every aspect of their house from its appearance to how they rule their subjects, but their continued sovereignty is forever at the mercy of Serallus.

Serallus is the ultimate authority of Diabolis, he expects loyalty and servitude from all denizens within his realm. While Serallus receives this loyalty as he expects, this does not necessarily mean that the domini have to be loyal to one another. Dominus Raglen and Dominus Vrikdarok have an infamous rivalry known throughout the planes, while Dominus Malakeh and Dominus Drakas get along remarkably well.

Many compare navigating the political intrigue of Diabolis to navigating a maze with betrayals and alliances in unexpected places.

History

Before Diabolis, the lower planes were separated. Multiple pantheons had their respective adversaries and fiends, representations of the depravities of the Material Plane. This all changed with the Thousand Year Flood and the war of the gods that came with it. Adversary became ally, favors were called in, and the fiends were roped into the war of chaos and order. The war was so destructive, it left the lower planes in shambles, broken remnants of what were once limitless planes.

Towards the end of the war, a mysterious being that identified himself as Serallus had gathered the broken pieces of the lower planes and created something new out of them, Diabolis, and it was completely under his control. When the war ended, he made an offer to the fiendish survivors of the Thousand Year Flood: serve Serallus as Archdominus of All Fiends and they would have a place in Diabolis.

While Drakas, Kalugal, Solvaaz, and Vathema willingly signed on with that offer, there were others who challenge this mysterious stranger. Raglen attempted to swindle Diabolis out from Serallus by drafting a contract before he agreed to sign on, but Serallus was wise to how devilish contracts worked and demanded Raglen rewrite the contract or be barred from Diabolis entirely. This proved Serallus' cunning to Raglen, and he agreed to ally himself with Serallus. Malakeh and the div inspected this new plane first, eager to tear it down and reveal Serallus as a sham, but they could find no weak point or flaw in Serallus' design. This proved Serallus' ingenuity surpassed that of mere mortal pretending to be a god, and they agreed to serve him. Vrikdarok challenged Serallus to a duel for the role of Archdominus, Serallus was familiar with demonic war tactics and bested Vrikdarok in the duel. This proved Serallus' battle prowess to Vrikdarok and his fellow demons, and they too agreed to ally themselves with Serallus.

Varal, ruler of the asura, did not respond well to these sweeping displays of power. They demanded to know what made Serallus so different from the other gods. Serallus said he would reveal this on the condition that this reveal stay between them and drafted a contract to ensure this vow remain in place. It is unknown what Serallus showed Varal, but whatever it was convinced the asura to agree to Serallus' terms and join Diabolis.

The daemonic archfiends Uribal and Utaba were the last to be convinced, his ability to survive and surpass all other trials was enough to sway their judgement.

Since its founding, two new domini have risen through the ranks and were given their own houses. The first was Khal, an imp who notified Serallus of Lovara's impending betrayal and lack of faith. His loyalty to Serallus is known throughout the planes and has risen him throughout the ranks of Diabolis from a mere imp to a dominus of his own house. The second was Desire, a cambion adventurer famous for defeating a trio of sin sculptors. She had worked her way up to praetor status in the House of the Broken Mirror. She earned Serallus' favor when she managed to tame the soul of Seneca Insurmos-Milles-Infedelis, a mortal who had refused to give into centuries of torture at the hands of various members of the Dominion. Serallus was impressed with this feat and gave Desire a house and as well as Seneca.