Asmodeus
The Perfect One, King of the Universe, the Great, the Dark Lord, Fire’s Father
Asmodeus is the lawful evil god of lies, power, and fire. Rarely seen, descriptions of him are generally fanciful. Some say stands 10,000 leagues tall, with a tail of fire and horns as black as midnight. Others say he is a small figure, robed in red and deepest blue, wielding a scepter of might, with two small horns on his forehead. None but the mightiest powers of evil know what Asmodeus looks like since he was cast into the pit of Hell, and his worshipers do not make statues in his likeness, for they believe it would anger the King of the Universe if mere mortal hands sought to cast his form.
Asmodeus is the master of Hell, but unlike the other lords of Hell, he has a purpose that goes far beyond power in that foul place. He is the god of fire, of those wrongly usurped, of power for power’s sake, of lies and revenge. He believes himself to be the King of the Universe, the rightful heir of the Creator, the Nameless One. All that is good is his enemy, for it has no right to exist without his blessing. The Lords of Good occupy his palace because they betrayed him; his hate for them is limitless. He would topple the heavens, destroy all established orders of goodness, and rule the Great Sphere. He is a ready sponsor for all who do evil in the name of power, or anyone seeking revenge for betrayal, usurpation, or other wrongs, perceived or real.
Asmodeus is the father of deceit and is the greatest liar in the universe, capable of deceiving even other gods, save for Morwyn, Naryne, Maal, and Naran: the wisest among them.
Asmodeus charges his mightiest followers and most trusted worshipers with one goal: the conquest of the plane of fire in his name. All powerful worshipers of Asmodeus are directed toward this goal. Because of the Compact, Asmodeus can only gain real and meaningful control of the pillar if mortals give it to him.
The faithful of Asmodeus represent their church with the symbol of a burning tree. The tree is usually made to look like Eliwyn, the Tree of Life. All people, good and evil, know it as the fearful brand of the Asmodean cults. His followers do not wear it openly, lest they be hunted down. Most Asmodean cults have local, secret symbols that reveal themselves to each other and no one else—for instance, one group might wear what looks like a military medal, and easily explained as such to the unsuspecting, but which clearly broadcasts their affiliation to other members of that organization.
One universal Asmodean symbol exists: Any Asmodean worshiper in distress can strip a holly branch (or similar branch in lands without holly) of all its bark and carry it in his left hand. Recognizing this symbol, another Asmodean is to say to the person bearing the branch, “Are you in distress?” to which the branch-wielder says, “I have lost that which is mine.” This is a rarely used and highly secret way for an Asmodean in a foreign culture to find like-minded followers when in dire trouble.
God of Lies, Power, and Fire
Children
Related Myths
