Azarak-Ithriel
Lord of the Fiery Accord (a.k.a. Warden of the Fallen & Architect of Infernal Justice)
Azarak-Ithriel was once a celestial of Elysium, a shining beacon of order and virtue, until she rebelled against what she saw as the realm’s loss of Freedom. Dissatisfied with the new ways of Elysium, which she believed stripped beings of their autonomy in the name of harmony, Azarak-Ithriel led a vast host of dissenting celestials in a rebellion that shook the Elysium. Having abandoned their home, they sought refuge in the Nine Hells, a chaotic and perilous realm known for its brutal conditions and warring denizens. Journeying to the very lowest layers of the Hells, Azarak-Ithriel and her followers found a barren, realativly peaceful expanse untouched by the ceaseless bloodshed above. There, she rebuilt her home in the image of the old ways of Elysium—a beacon of order amid chaos—and established what she believed to be a fair and just system of laws.
Azarak-Ithriel’s system of governance in the Nine Hells was centered around choice, granting every soul, whether native to the Hells or one of her celestial followers, the ability to determine their own fate. Under her rule, beings could rise or fall based on their decisions and actions, with contracts and oaths serving as the foundation of their society. Over time, this system grew more rigid and complex, its original fairness becoming increasingly twisted as the Nine Hells absorbed and adapted it. Despite this, her leadership allowed her to forge connections with the native devils and grow a society that united the fallen celestials and the denizens of the Hells under a shared rule of law. This was no easy task; Azarak-Ithriel was constantly forced to defend her people against the relentless assaults of Elysium, which deemed the rebellion a stain on celestial honor. As the Warden of the Fallen, she repelled wave after wave of celestial attacks, her brilliance in battle solidifying her legend as both protector and ruler.
A millenia after the rebellion, Azarak-Ithriel’s efforts culminated in her ascension to godhood, elevating her to the divine Warden of the Nine Hells. With her newfound power, she unified the entire realm, bringing peace to its once-warring layers and forging the Fiery Accord, a pact that ensured stability and mutual protection among the infernal denizens. From her throne in the lowest layer, she commands the Nine Hells as a structured hierarchy, where laws are absolute and oaths unbreakable. Under her rule, the Nine Hells transformed into a realm of harsh but predictable justice, standing united against any force that might threaten its existence, whether celestial or otherwise. Through her rebellion and rise, Azarak-Ithriel reshaped the Nine Hells into a bastion of law and choice, earning her the title; Lord of the Fiery Accord.
Artifacts
Divine Symbols & Sigils
The symbol of Azarak-Ithriel is a flaming set of scales, representing the balance of law and choice within the harsh realities of the Nine Hells. The scales are always depicted perfectly even, signifying the fairness of contracts and the weight of oaths, while the flames surrounding them symbolize both the trials of judgment and the unyielding nature of infernal justice. This symbol is often etched onto infernal contracts, embedded into the architecture of courts and halls of law, and worn as a pendant by those who uphold the value of binding agreements.
Mental characteristics
Accomplishments & Achievements
When Azarak-Ithriel and her celestial followers made their home in the Ninth Layer of the Nine Hells, their arrival brought them into contact with the native devils of the Eighth Layer. The two groups were natural opposites—celestials born of divine light, and devils born of infernal flames. The initial encounters were fraught with hostility, as centuries of enmity and misunderstanding spurred violence between the two. Azarak-Ithriel recognized that this conflict would not only threaten her people’s survival but also betray the principles of autonomy and coexistence that had led her rebellion. Despite claiming previously unused land, she understood that this realm was the devils’ home, and it was not hers to take without acknowledgment or respect. Knowing she had to act decisively to prevent a full-scale war, Azarak-Ithriel made a profound gesture of humility and reconciliation.
In a moment of unparalleled sacrifice, Azarak-Ithriel shed her celestial wings, the symbol of her former divine heritage, and offered them to the devils of the Eighth Layer as a sign of peace. To demonstrate her sincerity further, she allowed her body to assimilate with the essence of the Nine Hells, transforming her celestial form into one that mirrored the devils she sought to coexist with. Her once radiant visage became a fusion of infernal and celestial traits, a new embodiment of balance and unity. This act of selflessness resonated deeply with the devils, who saw in her gesture both strength and respect. Her wings, devoured by the devils, sparked an extraordinary transformation: from them emerged the first flying devils, a trait that soon spread across the layers of Hell. This pivotal moment laid the foundation for the eventual unification of the Nine Hells, as it proved that even the most disparate beings could find common ground without forsaking their autonomy.
Failures & Embarrassments
During the 24th century, Azarak-Ithriel sought a stable alliance with the lord of the First Layer of the Nine Hells, who was also engaged in conflict with the forces of Elysium. While the two shared a common enemy, the lord of the First Layer had a history of vague promises and half-measures, never fully honoring his commitments in their shared battles. Despite these misgivings, Azarak-Ithriel placed her trust in him when Elysium raised one of its greatest armies to breach the Nine Hells. They agreed to coordinate a joint ambush, with Azarak-Ithriel’s forces engaging the celestial army head-on while the lord of the First Layer would flank and crush them from the other side. However, when the moment came, her trust was betrayed.
As Azarak-Ithriel’s forces clashed with the celestials in brutal melee combat, no reinforcements came from the flanks. Her soldiers fought valiantly but were overwhelmed, dying in droves as the battle turned into a massacre. Then, without warning, infernal cannonfire rained down upon the battlefield. The lord of the First Layer unleashed his bombardment into the thick of the fighting, indifferent to the lives of Azarak-Ithriel’s forces. The celestial army eventually retreated, but Azarak-Ithriel’s forces were left decimated, with her loyal followers cut down by both celestial swords and infernal cannons. Furious, she rushed to confront the lord of the First Layer, demanding an explanation. He brushed off her outrage, smugly claiming he had fulfilled their agreement by providing “flanking support” as promised.
This betrayal was a turning point for Azarak-Ithriel. The loss of so many lives due to vague and exploitative agreements left a scar on her leadership and philosophy. From that moment onward, she swore off verbal promises, vowing to ensure that such treachery would never happen again. The contracts of the Nine Hells grew in complexity, with every possible action, clause, and interpretation meticulously recorded to prevent ambiguity. Under her rule, these contracts became the cornerstone of infernal society, an ironclad system where words could no longer be twisted to serve selfish ends. This failure, though devastating, reshaped the very foundation of her domain and solidified her reputation as the Architect of Infernal Justice.
Morality & Philosophy
Azarak-Ithriel’s morality is deeply rooted in the ideals of individualism, freedom of choice, and order, forged through her rebellion against Elysium’s rigid collectivism and tempered by her experiences in the Nine Hells. She believes that each being should have the autonomy to shape their own destiny, and she values the ability to make meaningful choices, even in a world rife with chaos and danger. However, Azarak-Ithriel also recognizes that true freedom cannot flourish without structure, and thus she upholds the necessity of order as a foundation for a better world. Her philosophy is one of balance: laws and contracts ensure fairness and stability, but they must never strip individuals of their ability to choose their own path. This belief has made her a staunch advocate of justice, albeit one forged through the harsh realities of the Nine Hells, where fairness is defined by the clarity of agreements rather than the kindness of intent.
