Gods and their Archdevil Aspects

The formation of the Nine Hells

The Nine Hells were created as a prison for the gods that stood under the banner of Bane during the Godswar. Their construction remains incomprehensible to even the most ardent scholars of planar formation, deliberately so, as the creators of the hells- Third-Sung Mystra and the Secretkeeper- did not want the cleverer among the wicked gods to be able to escape. A death sentence for these gods was ill-advised, as the death of a god causes great catastrophe to the material plane, as evidenced by the death of Teratheion and the genesis of the Abyssal Rift.

The foundational material for the hells was the mortal souls that served the Secretkeeper Caethes, granted to him by the Maiden Death. It is important to establish that, in the context of the Godswar, most of the mortal following that Lord Caethes had to their name were simultaneously followers of the Dread Lord Bane, as for much of the war Caethes was imprisoned in Avalas. Though now we recognize nine separate layers of the hells, each under one Archdevil, the Hells were created as one, and share the same fabric.

A soul is more than just the life force of a mortal, it is also a record of their personality, memories, magic, and beliefs. The core beliefs carried in these mortal souls formed the “laws” of the Hells. Some examples of how belief formed law are:

• The gods are always present in our lives-> The archdevils cannot leave the hells
• The gods are all-powerful within their domain-> the archdevils can alter their domains however they wish
• Lesser beings should serve the gods-> Lower devils and mortal souls are subservient to the Archdevils
• The gods keep their promises to those they find favor with-> Archdevils cannot break a promise that they have made to a mortal.

Thus, though Archdevils are incredibly powerful entities, they are not free to do whatever they wish. They are still kept bound by the powerful belief that the hells can hold them. This binding is reinforced by any unsuccessful attempts to break out, as that spreads the belief that the Hells can in fact hold these powerful beings, and these beliefs are also reinforced by the clergy of the good gods telling their followers that the gods imprisoned are truly trapped- belief is their weapon against evil, and while it may seem flimsy to the cynical, it is an incredibly potent force.

The Archdevils and their domains

Zariel

Aspect of: Tyr (Separate)

Infernal Realm: Avernus

Guiding Principle: Wrath

The archdevil Zariel is an aspect of the war god Tyr, representing wrath and destruction carried out by the gods of both sides during the Godswar. Though a devil, Zariel manifests most often in the appearance of an angel, clad in golden armor with a magical longsword at their side, Their angelic wings are tattered and stained red with blood, and a halo of dark fire crowns their head. 

Zariel acts as warden to the hells, and holds no particular love or loyalty for Asmodeus, though they are bound to follow any direct command issued by the Lord of the Hells. Zariel does not let souls or devils free from the hells, and refutes those who try to pass in, unless they have orders from Asmodeus directly. Those that try to enter or leave without permission must fight their way through Zariel’s forces and it is rare that Zariel’s army is ever beaten. Those that show promise even in defeat ,however, are offered the chance to bargain with the archdevil and pledge their service instead of being destroyed. Zariel also is commanded directly by Asmodeus to combat any corruption from the chaos of the Abyss, rooting out demons and chaotic magic that tempt to infiltrate the borders of the Hells. Zariel appoints a contingent of both mortals and devils to combat this known as the Vigilae of Avernus. 

Though no Archdevil is worshipped as their divine counterpart is, Zariel does find a cult following among mortals, especially dishonorable soldiers. While Tyr upholds a code of honor among those he takes in his afterlife, Zariel does not hold such moral standards, and frequently strikes bargains to take oathbreakers and dishonorable men into their army. Tyr also banishes those who only nominally worship him but do not have any honor in their hearts to Avernus where they serve at the lowest rank of the Vigilae to fight Abyssal corruption of the hells. It is rare, but not impossible, to redeem oneself through service and be recalled back to Tyr’s afterlife.

Zariel is regarded as little threat by the other archdevils in their scheming, as they are typically occupied with guarding the hells. In turn, Zariel does not pay the other archdevils much regard either. The few exceptions are the hatred they harbor for Glasya, who sees no issue with drawing upon the Abyss in order to grow her power.  

Dispater

Aspect of: Ioun (Separate)

Infernal Realm: Dis

Guiding Principle: Indifference

Dispater is an aspect of the goddess Ioun representing her detachment from the mortal world during the Godswar and times of crisis. They rule over the layer of Dis, which resembles an ancient, worn-down city of labyrinthine streets, cloaked in a layer of ashen darkness. Dispater rarely manifests in physical form, preferring to appear only as red eyes in shadow, watching but never intervening.

Mammon

Aspect of: Tymora (Separate)

Infernal Realm: Minauros

Guiding Principle: Greed

Belial

Aspect of: Loviatar (Integrated)

Infernal Realm: Phlegethos

Guiding Principle: Cruelty

Levistus

Aspect of: Auril (Integrated)

Infernal Realm: Stygia

Guiding Principle: Disloyalty

Glasya

Aspect of: Lolth (Integrated)

Infernal Realm: Malbolge

Guiding Principle: Envy

Mephistopheles

Aspect of: Caethes (Separate)

Infernal Realm: Maladomini

Guiding Principle: Heresy

Geryon

Aspect of: Malar (Integrated)

Infernal Realm: Cania

Guiding Principle: Gluttony

Asmodeus

Aspect of: Bane Asmodaeus (Integrated)

Infernal Realm: Nessus

Guiding Principle: Pride

This is a sample from the research writings of a late Aetatis Deorum scholar and demonologist who wrote under the name Lemniselenis. While little is known of this scholar, what historical record exists points to them potentially being a follower of the god Caethes, and residing somewhere on the Ikrian continent.