The Fall of Zariel
On the plane of Mount Celestia, the angel Zariel chastised her peers for not getting involved in the Blood War. She felt that it was the responsibility of the angelic host to destroy evil in the multiverse, rather than stand back and watch demons and devils annihilate one another, destroying vast swaths of the multiverse in the process. In defiance of her superiors, Zariel left Mount Celestia and went to Elturel, where she rallied an army of warriors and trained them to fight in the Blood War. She promised them that when they were ready, she would lead them into battle against infernal and abyssal forces alike.
In 1354 DR, opportunity presented itself in the town of Idyllglen. Ages ago, the town had been threatened by gnoll tribes. As the gnolls raided the town, Solndor Brightstar, a cleric of Lathander, led the people in prayer to his god for aid. Lathander was moved by the people’s bravery and sent Zariel to defeat the gnolls. After driving off the gnolls, the people erected a statue of Zariel to honor her. In 1354 DR, the gnolls returned to Idyllglen, this time with demons in their ranks and Yeenoghu himself leading the war band. Zariel led her army out of Elturel amid a throng of cheering well-wishers and proud citizens. Zariel and her warriors came to Idyllglen’s aid, but not before the town was mostly destroyed.
Zariel and her army destroyed the invading force and routed the demons. Yeenoghu fled back through the portal his forces had invaded through. In an epic charge known as the Ride, Zariel’s army entered the portal. Rather than The Abyss, the army found itself in Avernus, face to face with the archdevil Bel and his infernal legions, who had been pursuing Yeenoghu's demons. Many of Zariel’s warriors fought bravely, but for others, the horrors of the Nine Hells proved too great. They fled back through the portal, sealing it behind them and never revealing their shameful retreat and betrayal. The Hellriders, as they were called, would wear this badge of shame to the grave.
Zariel lost more than her army on Avernus. She also lost a hand, which was severed in battle, dropping her sword to the ground. As Bel loomed over the angel, Asmodeus himself appeared and welcomed Zariel with open arms. The Lord of the Nine commended Zariel for her battle prowess and the strength of her convictions. He offered her rulership of Avernus, much to Bel’s chagrin. By swearing fealty to Asmodeus and the Nine Hells, Zariel could bring her rage to bear against the demons and continue to fight in the Blood War, with legions of devils under her command. Zariel accepted Asmodeus’s terms, completing her fall from grace.
Zariel's general Haruman stood by Zariel's side and joined her in swearing fealty to Asmodeus. Another general, Olanthius, fell on his own sword rather than serve in the Hells. Yael, Zariel's most devoted general, grabbed Zariel's sword and fled, along with Zariel’s faithful hollyphant companion, Lulu.
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