Devils
Devils, sometimes called Infernals, or Hellions, are a group of species from the Infernalia ancestry and originate from the Plane of the Hells. Devils are intimately tied to the Hells and can be recognised by the horns that extend from their foreheads, their unnatural coloured skin, and their fiery eyes.
Almost all Devil species are immortals, ranging from Lesser Idols to Quasi-Deities. They are also all innately bound to the Plane of the Hells, as well as it's laws and strict caste system. Devils are usually ambitious creatures, cunning schemers, and masterful liars, but they are also incredibly lawful creatures, bound to follow a set of complex laws and protocols. Tieflings are the only Mortal species of Devil, and are therefore exempt from a majority of the Devils shared characteristics.
Devils are sometimes compared to Demons, and there is much debate on whether the two ancestries are actually related, with Devils having a more humanoid appearance in comparison to the monstrous and bestial looking Demons. The term "Fiends", sometimes used as a collective term for both Devils and Demons. While the two ancestries are potentially related, there is no comradery between the two, with both ancestries involved in an never ending conflict, known as the Immensus War. Devils are also known to despise Demons more than anything else in Creation, with both parties known to attack each other on sight, with no compromise. There is no greater insult to a Devil than to be called a Demon, an insult that will often get you killed.
Table of Contents
Shared Characteristics
Appearance
Devils come in many shapes and sizes, but they tend to be humanoid in appearance, bipedal, with one or more of the following traits: Goat-like horns that extend from their foreheads, long spiked tails, hooves instead of feet, or leathery bat-like wings.
Ears. Devils have long, hooded ears, that somewhat resemble that of bats.
Fiery Eyes. Devil eyes tend to be pupilless and fiery, glowing and flickering like living flame. While Devil eyes are usually shades of molten red, orange or yellow, some have eyes of a blood red, blue, purple or green colour.
Skin. Devils skin is usually leathery and covered in raised ridges, spines and spikes. Their skin is also usually a shade of red, but it can come in be a wide range of hues that are usually associated with one of the Circles of the Hells. Pink skin is associated with the Circle of Luxuria, Green with Gula, Yellow with Avaricia, Purple with Invidia, Orange with Ira, Blue with Acedia, and Grey with Superbia.
Biology
Ageless. Devils do not age and are born fully formed, but they can be killed, their bodies usually melting into a pool of sulphurous black ichor.
Devil Sight. Devils have enhanced vision that allows them to see clearly in darkness, including magical darkness. The more powerful Devils are also able to see invisible creatures and even see through illusions.
Infernal Resilience. Devils are all resistant to the cold and are immune to the effects of fire and poisons.
Infernal Restoration. If a Devil is ever killed within the Hells, they will almost immediately begin to reform within an egg-like sack, located in specialised locations across the Nine Circles of Hell. After a long and tortuous process, the Devil returns to their full strength, with all their memories intact. Devils only die permanently if they are killed outside of the Hells, or they are killed during their reformation process. Many powerful Devils bind themselves to Infernal Anchors, which allows the Devil to reform beside their Anchor, which is usually hidden, as well as allowing them to reform if they are ever killed outside of the Hells.
Magic Resistance. Most Devils are naturally resistance to Magic, with Spells and similar Magical effects having difficulty effecting them.
Reproduction. Most Devils are incapable of reproduction. Only Succubi, Incubi, Legates and Praetores are capable of reproducing, but only with Mortals. Offspring of these unions almost always produce a Mortal Tiefling.
Sex & Gender. Devils are sexless creatures, with no notion of gender within their society. Many Devils are also capable of changing their appearance at will, fluidly shifting between masculine, feminine or androgynous forms, though some will stick to a a favoured presentation.
Unchanging. Devils are unchanging beings, they do not posses Souls or Free Will, and are incapable of acting out of character or reinventing themselves.
Unnatural Nature. Devils don't need to eat, drink, or breathe. They also require less rest than Mortal creatures.
Infernal Contracts
Devils are famed for their Infernal Contracts, and are known to approach desperate and vulnerable Mortals in order to offer them one of their lifechanging Infernal Contracts. These contracts are Divinely binding and are capable of offering almost anything a Mortal can desire, from wealth to power. While the exact specifics of these contacts are unknown outside of the Hells, the basics of their design are as follows.
The cost for an Infernal Contract is almost exclusively the signer's Mortal Soul, which the Devil then claims upon the signer's death. But Devils have also been known to make deals for a wide array of things, from promises of service, to wealth and gold. The Archdevil Lucretia, and her Avarician servants, are the most notorious for offering gold based Infernal Contracts, which are rumoured to be ludicrously expensive.
An Infernal Contract is instantly made void if the signer or Devil is incapable of fulfilling their side of the agreement, such as if the request is beyond the capabilities of the Devils, or the Mortal does not have authority over their Soul in order to offer it.
Infernal Contracts are usually made on behalf of one of the Archdevils, who are responsible for arbitrating the contracts of their underlings. Infernal Contracts are usually fulfilled instantly, as specified in the contract itself, either by the Devil who provided the contract, or by one of their associates, with the more complicated contracts fulfilled by an Archdevil. Devils prefer to fulfil contracts themselves so they can claim the full credit, but that isn't always possible.
While Devils are known for their cunning trickery, and masterful lies, once an Infernal Contract is signed, it becomes Divinely binding and it's wording can not be changed, with both members of the deal bound to fulfil the contract to the letter, even in death. Because of this Devils are very cautious with what they agree too, as even verbal agreements can be binding.
Devils are also discouraged from using threats or trickery to force a creature into signing a contract, as that may invalidate the contract, allowing the signee to legally challenge the contract and potentially have it made void. Devils found guilty of issuing invalid contracts face severe punishment and demotion.
While this may make Devils sound trustworthy, Infernal Contracts don't need the signee to fully understand the contract their signing, with the infernal language, and therefore their contracts, filled with complex language or secret appendices, which the Devils will happily exploit to their benefit. You can never trust a Devil to do anything but act in their own self interest.
The Infernal Archives of Praetorium, located within the City of Dis, is said to contain the records of every Infernal and Divine law, contract, oath and pact ever made. All impeccably maintained and catalogued by the Archivarii Devils, the specialist servants of Adversarius.
Infernal Tribunal
The only way to terminate a signed contract is to have it adjudicated and terminated by Infernal tribunal.
When a legal challenge is invoked, an Infernal tribunal is called, with the signee summoned to Praetorium to plead their case. The signee is given an Infernal advocate to represent them, who is Divinely bound to represent the signee fairly, but the signee could appoint anyone to represent them, including themselves. During the tribunal the advocate would be opposed by the Devil who offered the contract, with the tribunal are presided over by either one of the Arbitri of the Infernal Archives, or by the Lord of the Hells, Adversarius.
Evidence suggests that Infernal tribunals are fair and lawful, with their results honoured by Divine decree, and Devils who are found guilty facing severe punishment and demotion. Despite this, the only recorded successful legal challenges involved the signee being forced to sign a contract while under some form of duress, like threat or torture, or if the Devil's end of the bargain was not met. A challenge must also be invoked by the signee, and must be issued before the signee's death, with all right to challenge wavered upon death, which is clarified in all Infernal Contracts.
Souls
Souls are the primary currency of the Hells, they are an extremely valuable and coveted resource, and are almost exclusively acquired through Infernal Contracts made with Mortals.
Souls have two major uses within the Hells. Firstly, they are a source of immense power which Devils can draw upon to empower themselves, consuming the Soul in the process. The most powerful Devils often have many Souls in their possession.
Secondly, Souls are used to create more Devils. As Devils are generally incapable of reproduction, the primary way more Devils are born is through the mutation of Mortal Souls. The process for this transformation is largely unknown, and is suspected to involve a mix of torture and dark, Infernal Magics. Either way, the results strips the Soul of their mortality, transforming it into a new Devil, bereft of their memories in life and moulded ready to serve the Hells, usually upon the front lines of the Immensus War.
While a Devil could horde Souls in order to empower themselves, that would put a target on their back from other Devils, forcing Devils must be careful with how many Souls they keep for themselves, and how many they offer back to the Hells in order to bolster the ranks of the Infernal Legions.
Ancient Origin
The Devils were created, alongside the God Adversarius, during the early years of Creation, to aid the Gods in combating the threat of the "Lords of Chaos", Apophis and Tartaros, and the infinite horde of Demons that surged from the Abyss. Both Adversarius, and the Devil species, are believed to have been created by Khronos, using Demons as a "blueprint", which explains the similarities between the two fiendish species. While Adversarius and the Devils aided the Gods in defeating the "Lords of Chaos", they betrayed the Gods soon after, the Devils revealing their true, fiendish natures as Adversarius claimed dominion over the Hells. Khronos is said to have created the Angels soon afterwards to replace them.
Hierarchy
All the Infernal denizens of the Hells are organised into a strict caste system with a very rigid chain of command. All of the denizens of the Hells serve under, and answer to Adversarius, whom the call "Dominus", but while they are forced to obey Adversarius' commands and laws, they aren't entirely loyal to their monarch. Most, if not all, Devils, desire to claim Adversarius' position as Lord of the Hells, with the Praetores, the most powerful of Devils, and the leaders of the many circles of the Hells, the closest to achieving that goal.
Devils can be promoted or demoted up and down the caste system, promotions are rewards for success, and demotions are a punishment for failure or disobedience. Because of this Devils have a distinct hatred of defeat and humiliation, and they will often develop a vengeful grudge at those who wronged them. Devils can also not be promoted until another Devil is demoted, meaning that Devil's relish in the failure of their peers, leading to the Hells being filled with intrigue and backstabbing.
The Infernal hierarchy system is exceptionally complicated, with many levels and clauses. It can be simplified to the following:
1. Miles
A majority of Devils hold the rank of Miles, with all new Devils starting their lives at this rank. All Imps are also at the Miles rank. Milites are the basic infantry of the Hells and are often given the worst jobs.
Milites tend to be quite weak Lesser Idols and are unable to offer Infernal Contracts. 10 Milites serve a Decanus.
2. Decanus
Decani are leaders of a group of ten Milites.
Decani are Lesser Idols and are unable to offer Infernal Contracts. 10 Decani serve a Centurion.
3. Centurionatus
Centurions are leaders of a Centuria, a group of 100 Devils. Unless given orders by a higher ranking Devil, Centurions commanded the day-to-day life of the Devils beneath them and issued commands in the field.
Centurions are quite powerful Lesser Idols and are unable to offer Infernal Contracts. 6 Centurions serve a Tribune.
4. Tribunus
Tribunes are the leaders of a Cohors, a group of 600 Devils. Unless fighting in the Immensus War, Tribunes are usually serving their Legate or Praetor, searching for targets to offer Infernal Contracts too.
Tribunes are weaker Greater Idols and are are able to offer Infernal Contracts, usually on behalf of their Legate and Praetor. 6 Tribunes serve a Legate.
5. Legatus
Legates are group of 27 powerful Devils that command one of the Infernal Legions, a group of 3,600 Devils. Unless fighting in the Immensus War, Legates are either serving or scheming against their Praetor.
Legates are powerful Greater Idols and are are able to offer Infernal Contracts and even form Warlock Pacts, sometimes on behalf of their Praetor. Three Legates serve a Praetor.
6. Praetor
The Praetores are 8 of the most powerful of Devils, a vicious and backbiting group that each lead one of the Nine Circles of Hell, with Adversarius themselves ruling the ninth circle of Praetorium. The Praetores are usually working to amass more power or scheming against both Adversarius and each other.
Praetores are powerful Quasi-Deities, classed as Archdevils, and are are able to offer Infernal Contracts and even form Warlock Pacts. All Praetores serve the Dominus, the Lord of the Hells, Adversarius.
Seven of the eight Praetores represent one of the seven infernal sins: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Envy, Wrath, Sloth and Pride. A direct reflection of the seven Archangels of the Heavens. The eight Praetor was added later, and is known as the Archdevil of War. The current Praetores are the following:
- Hava, the Archdevil of War, and the Praetor of Eremus, the first circle.
- Pulcheria, the Archdevil of Lust, and the Praetor of Luxuria, the second circle.
- Trophimus, the Archdevil of Gluttony, and the Praetor of Gula, the third circle.
- Lucretia, the Archdevil of Greed, and the Praetor of Avaricia, the fourth circle.
- Livius, the Archdevil of Envy, and the Praetor of Invidia, the fifth circle.
- Bellonius, the Archdevil of Wrath, and the Praetor of Ira, the sixth circle.
- Narkissia, the Archdevil of Sloth, and the Praetor of Acedia, the seventh circle.
- Vanorum, the Archdevil of Pride, and the Praetor of Superbia, the eighth circle.
7. Dominus
The Dominus is the Lord of the Hells and the King of Devils. All of the denizens of the Hells serve under, and answer to the Dominus. The current Dominus is the God Adversarius.
Patron Deity
Adversarius - Lord of the Hells
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