Asmodeus

Asmodeus has many names. The Shadow, Shadebringer, The Corrupter, The Enemy…he has as many names as there are peoples in Beren'Dor, but all know him for what he is, the corruption of all that is good, holy, and wholesome. He is everything Shaddai is not.

No one is entirely certain who Asmodeus is, or from whence he came. According to the Word of Shaddai, The People of the Sands' most sacred scripture, he was created by Shaddai before Beren'Dor was formed, and his purpose was to care for and nurture the creations of Shaddai. Asmodeus, however, grew ambitious, believing himself to be equal to Shaddai, even going so far as to try his own hand at creation, giving form to horrific, grotesque things born of a twisted mind.

Shaddai, angry at such perversions, removed them from existence, warning Asmodeus to refrain from that which he could not completely understand nor control. Asmodeus responded by attempting to overthrow Shaddai. His attempt was short-lived.

Exiled

Forcing Asmodeus into finite physical form, Shaddai cast him from the heavens, hurling him through the realms and into a realm created to punish Asmodeus for his rebellion. It is a plane that reflects the state of Asmodeus' mind. It was a plane of fire, agony, corruption, twisted perversions, and torment. There, Shaddai bound him with a curse that could only be lifted when Asmodeus' mind reflected all that was holy, pure, and right. If Asmodeus' heart ever changed, if he ever returned to that which was his purpose, he could be free.

A Fallen's Rage

Asmodeus instead responded with rage, hate, and vitriol. Retaining the abilities he was created with, he set to work, creating an army unbound by the curse to set forth into the other planes to recruit, corrupt, and conquer. If he could not supplant Shaddai, he would instead conquer all of Shaddai's creation. He works in whatever manner needed in each circumstance. In one plane, he uses brute force, in another, insidious whispers in the ears of those in power are is his most effective tool. Such is the power of The Corruptor. He has become hate incarnate, glories in death, and fosters rage.

The Forever War Begins

Yet Asmodeus' rage does not go unchecked. Though Shaddai refuses to strike down Asmodeus, and instead remains true to his word on the conditions of his freedom, he sends his Kadoshim to combat Asmodeus' hordes, to push back his corruptive influence, to stave off the power of his twisted mind, and to stem the evil tide. This is what is known as the Forever War. It rages still.