Moloch

General of Hell

Moloch is an archdevil and ruler of the infernal layer of Malebolge. It is said that all who burn join the armies of Moloch. A being of seething wrath, the Lord of the Sixth embodies both absolute discipline and directed destructive force. General of Hell's armies, Moloch endlessly trains his infernal legions to be the greatest martial force in the multiverse, and ultimately defeat the hosts of Heaven and goodness throughout the Great Beyond. His unholy symbol is a yellow flame surrounded by the head of a bull.

Appearance

Whatever body Moloch might have once possessed was consumed in flame long ago. Now, the General of Hell is an embodiment of the most devastating, inhuman aspects of war, a creature of fearsome black metal and spiked armour encrusted with the blood of countless opponents. With his clawed gauntlets he exerts the strength of a titan to heft the blood-soaked sword Ramithaine and the horned battleaxe Goreletch. Even in his most tempered moods, flames leap from Moloch's eyes, flaring nostrils, and every other joint and chink of his scorched armour, this blaze growing wilder as the archfiend's ire rises. He never removes his armour, though on the rare occasions where it has become damaged in the heat of battle, nothing lies beneath but flames and the faint outline of withered, fire-charred bones.

Home

Moloch resides in Malebolge, the sixth layer of Hell. Those who have visited this forsaken place describe it as a great forest, onto which snow-like ash is constantly falling. It is within the indomitable pits and fortresses of this plane that the fiendish hunting beasts known as cerberi are bred and trained, along with all other elite forces of Hell.

History

Prior to the exodus of the devils from Heaven, the exscinder archon that would become Moloch tended the Heresy Ovens in the Great Library of Harmonious Scripture. For aeons, he served Heaven dutifully, never reading a word of the forbidden texts in the Heresy Ovens.
Just before the fall of Asmodeus, his lieutenant Baalzebul entered the Great Library and asked for a piece of the Great Library's flame. His request was granted, but since Baalzebul could not control the flames, he instead led the exscinder outside, carrying with him a single cinder. Knowing that no archon would deny him, Asmodeus drew him into his plots, armed him with the blasphemous flames and sent him into battle; it is unknown whether he followed Asmodeus out of obedience or corruption of the flames
The former exscinder led his forces from victory to victory, while the flames slowly fed off his own essence and became one and the same with him. Eventually, Asmodeus clad the burning archon in black plate armour and named him Moloch.

Relationships

Moloch serves Asmodeus with unquestionable loyalty, and in turn Asmodeus trusts him with command of nearly all devils. Moloch's other great ally in Hell is Dispater, a fellow veteran lieutenant of Asmodeus; Dispater constantly provides Moloch with conscripts or war machines, and can trust Moloch to defend Dis if the need arises. Moloch is also one of the few devils willing to deal with his former superior Baalzebul and his endless lies. Moloch is hated by Torag, who sees Moloch's portfolio as a corruption of his own. Moloch actively seeks to convert dwarves and considers Torag's priests his favourite sacrifices.

Worshipers

Moloch is known for being disciplined, severe, and merciless, but aside from commanding Hell's war machine, he is also very mercenary in his recruitment for his legions in that he is willing to provide services for those who honor him; if people sacrifice to him, he fixes their problems. Should one burn offerings to Moloch to stop a flood and save their village, he is probably more likely to step in and stop the flood than most deities. The caveat, of course, is that whether one worships him as part of a militaristic cult, as part of the traditions of one's people, or just because his standing offer of aid is tempting, serving him damns a soul to his fortress realm in Malebolge after death. But when faced with dying at the hands of a foe, infernal intervention for either benevolent or selfish reason might be worth the price of later damnation.

Divine Classification

Archdevil

Alignment

Lawful Evil

Current Location

The Nine Hells

Species

Devil

Honorary & Occupational Titles

• The Ashen Bull
• General of Hell
• God of Fires
• Lord of the Sixth

Eyes

Firey

Hair

Fire

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Fire

Height

15'

Weight

1200lbs

Holy Symbol

Pathfinder Statistics

Divine Domains

• Evil
• Fire
• Law
• War

Favored Weapon: Whip

D&D 5e Statistics

Suggested Domains

• War Domain