Devil
Devils, hailing from the fiery depths of the Nine Hells, are the embodiment of lawful evil. While capable of unprovoked violence, their true nature lies in their cunning and ambition.
Devils, though often summoned by mortal spellcasters, are not above serving and negotiating. However, their loyalty is a twisted one. They will always seek to manipulate any agreement to serve the ultimate agenda of Hell. Even the weakest imp familiar, bound to a mortal master, subtly pushes the boundaries of its servitude, nudging its "master" towards the dark embrace of the infernal Pit.
Abilities
Devils come in a vast array of shapes and sizes, with equally diverse abilities. However, some common traits bind them all: Telepathy, Infernal Might and Diabolical Magic. Devils are quick to assess a situation. They deploy their summoning abilities early, placing reinforcements in strategically advantageous positions. They also utilize noise and intimidation tactics, such as constant screaming, to draw allies to the battle and unnerve their enemies. Furthermore, devils are ruthless strategists, willing to send expendable underlings to deplete enemy resources before committing their more powerful forces.Basic Information
Biological Traits
Devils come in a vast array of forms, but they all share a unique organ: the ovatorium. This fleshy, white sac contains miniature versions of different devil forms. When a devil earns a promotion, the corresponding sac within the ovatorium grows until it bursts forth, transforming the devil into its new, more powerful form.
Death
A devil slain on Baator is truly dead. However, when a devil dies outside Baator, it transforms within minutes into a slimy, mildly poisonous substance (not lethal if someone were foolish enough to ingest it). On Baator itself, a slain devil reforms completely in its original form, though it takes ninety-nine years to regain its full health.
During this recovery period, demotion is a common fate, especially for lower-ranking devils. Devils possess eternal life and youth. Any devil appearing unhealthy is likely under a curse, a supernatural illness, or deprived of sufficient infernal energy. Interestingly, one way to kill a devil is through suffocation, as they still require a small amount of oxygen to survive.
Genetics and Reproduction
They are formed from the tormented souls of the damned, their individuality stripped away through centuries of suffering. These broken souls are reduced to mindless lemures, the lowest rung of the infernal ladder. Ascension through the ranks comes with proving one's worth through service and inflicting unimaginable pain on others. Devils can be promoted to more powerful castes, such as an erinyes transforming into an osyluth, but raw power isn't the sole determinant. Highly skilled lesser devils can outrank less experienced superiors.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Devils don't require food or drink to survive. However, they can still indulge for various reasons. Fine dining and drink can be a leisurely pursuit, while consuming an enemy is a display of dominance.
Most devils originate as deceased mortals transformed into lemures, the lowest caste. Sexual reproduction is difficult for devils as females are generally infertile, with the exceptions of brachinas and erinyes. Males can, however, father half-fiends with mortals. Unique devils are another exception, where both genders can reproduce, creating offspring as powerful as themselves. However, this is rare as such powerful offspring pose a threat if they turn against their parents, and infernal society doesn't encourage stable parent-child relationships. A third group of devils spontaneously springs into existence from the essence of Baator itself. Finally, erinyes are a special case, being fallen Angels.
Sexuality is generally a recreational activity for devils, more commonly enjoyed by the powerful than the weak.
Behaviour
Devils are driven by an insatiable hunger for advancement. Their hierarchy is strict, and every devil constantly seeks ways to climb the ladder. This drive stems from a desire to manipulate the infernal order in their favor.
While devils are not emotionless, their anger typically serves a purpose. Vindictiveness runs deep within them, but unlike some fiends, they never forget their ultimate goals. Even intense provocation rarely drives them to reckless behavior that would jeopardize their ambitions. However, a devil scorned remains a fearsome enemy, harboring grudges for generations and seeking vengeance at the most opportune moment.
Vengeance
Torture and Deals
Despite their thirst for vengeance, devils prioritize their goals. A minor setback might not trigger retribution, but a major disruption to their plans could ignite a ruthless pursuit of revenge. However, this vengeance is calculated. If the operation becomes detrimental to their larger goals, devils are pragmatic enough to cut their losses.
When vengeance is pursued, it's often a public spectacle. Devils dispatch minions to slay their targets in a visible manner, sending a chilling message of deterrence. Stealth is often employed, with targets assassinated or killed in their sleep. This not only minimizes risk for the devils, but also amplifies the fear factor. Furthermore, devils show no mercy to bystanders. These massacres are intended to instill widespread terror in the community, and may be repeated until the target is eliminated or forced into hiding.
Should a devil capture a foe, their fate is rarely pleasant. Most are handed over to Kytons or excruciarchs, specialists in the art of soul-crushing torture. These devils often hone their skills on mortals, extracting valuable information such as local devilish operations, power structures, and potential targets for infiltration or blackmail. This includes mundane details like fortress layouts, weapon stores, and chains of command, but most coveted are scandals that could compromise influential figures.
The torture often ends with a Faustian bargain . The devil offers the captive freedom in exchange for a pact, emphasizing that a soul surrendered under duress doesn't truly belong to Hell. Refusal leads to escalating "incentives". Another tactic involves contacting the captive's loved ones, offering a soul-for-soul exchange. The desired outcome? The captive giving up their soul for freedom, and their loved one following suit to secure their release. These contracts often come with additional strings attached, like clauses ensuring the captive never again opposes the devils, potentially enforced through maiming, madness, or magical soul-binding to Baator.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Devils are shrewd leaders, readily delegating tasks to lesser beings. This isn't laziness, but a calculated strategy. They leverage their cunning to manipulate others while focusing their efforts on securing power and exploiting opportunities. Contracts are their weapons, meticulously crafted agreements that often trap mortals into a nightmarish eternity in exchange for fleeting power or wealth.
Despite their rigid hierarchy and contractual dealings, a devil's heart can harbor hidden desires and grudges. These emotions can occasionally cloud their judgment, leading them to take actions that jeopardize their long-term plans. However, such instances are rare. Devils are masters of deception, adept at concealing their true motives behind a veneer of order and cold logic.
Ranks of Hell
Record Keepers of Hell
Material Possessions
The Soulful Transacations
Promotion within the Hierarchy of Hell
Demotion within the Hierarchy of Hell
Lateral Demotion
Diabolical Aspirations
Diabolical society is divided into distinct tiers reflecting a devil's standing in Hell. These tiers are based on both caste and rank, with power and influence increasing as one ascends the infernal hierarchy:
- Least Devils: Nupperibos, lemures, and imps – The bottom rung, mindless fiends formed from damned souls.
- Lesser Devils: A diverse group including gaavs, zebubs, erinyes, osyluths, and more. These devils possess a wider range of abilities and cunning.
- Greater Devils: Ashmedes, gylous, cornugons, and pit fiends – Formidable leaders and commanders within the infernal legions.
- Lords of Hell: Malebranche, infernal dukes, Queens of the Night, and archdevils – Powerful entities who rule specific regions of Hell.
- Archdevils: Each of the nine infernal circles has its own unique and near-godlike archdevil ruler. The most prominent is Ashmedai, a true deity who reigns over the Nessus and have other archdevils bow to his might. Worship of these lesser archdevils is uncommon outside of the diabolical nation of Vales of Ameros, where even their cults are overshadowed by the Church of Ashmedai. Those who do revere these entities typically practice their faith in secret.
Devils, regardless of rank, are meticulous record keepers. They document their actions and achievements to showcase their competence to their superiors, even while operating on the Material Plane. These detailed accounts outline their plans and strategies, making them valuable targets for enemy factions. Devils go to great lengths to protect these records, employing various methods to prevent capture or destruction. If faced with an invasion, a devil's first priority might be to secure or destroy these documents before engaging the enemy.
For devils, material wealth pales in significance compared to the acquisition of souls. They are willing to abandon even vast riches to avoid capture or ensure their survival. However, devils who serve Mammon, the archdevil of greed, are an exception. They value material wealth and will take significant risks to protect their treasures.
While souls are the lifeblood of their economy, devils are not above using traditional currency, precious metals, and other goods for trade. However, these hold no intrinsic value for them. Their worth lies solely in their potential to acquire souls.
For example, devils utilize currency to finance their operations on the Material Plane. This includes funding cults, bribing officials, paying for assassinations, and acquiring goods – particularly the souls of desperate mortals willing to trade them for money, information, magic, or other services. Devils also offer their services in exchange for souls. All the money they acquire eventually makes its way back to Baator, either distributed to others or used for personal projects. Success in these endeavors translates into credits, furthering their climb up the infernal hierarchy.
A devil's promotion hinges on corrupting mortals. Upon a mortal's death, their soul bears a mark identifying the corrupting devil, who then receives credit for the act. These credits form the primary basis for promotion. Supplying Baator with material goods can also garner credit, though it's a less prestigious path.
Promotion, meaning a physical transformation into a more powerful devil form, requires approval from a superior. This superior's superior, however, can overturn that decision. Promotions within the least devil ranks rarely face intervention, as they're considered too insignificant. For lesser devils, advancement requires the approval of a greater devil superior. Greater devils, on the other hand, need the assent of their archdevil lord. If a devil is unsure of their archdevil, Ashmedai is the default recipient of their reports. Becoming a unique devil requires archdevil approval, while normal dukes are pit fiends by default. The ultimate promotion – to archdevil – demands the blessing of Ashmedai himself.
The key factors in a devil's promotion are loyalty to their superiors and performance in their assigned duties. However, loyalty holds a higher weight. Devils value competence, but not at the expense of a threat to their own position. Therefore, high-ranking devils maintain a smaller circle of subordinates, fearing a larger number might breed treachery. Combined with the power expenditure required for promotion, this creates a relatively stable upper echelon. Promotions typically occur when vacancies arise due to death or demotion. Some devils, though at great risk of death, attempt to expedite this process by eliminating rivals. More patient devils wait for demotions or simply excel in their roles, sometimes even creating new management positions to be filled.
Within the infernal hierarchy, demotions can be initiated by various superiors, depending on the target's rank:
- Ashmedai
Ashmedai can demote any devil at will. - Archdevils
Archdevils hold dominion over their own legions, demoting any devil within their chain of command. - Greater/Lesser Devils
These mid-ranking devils can only demote their direct subordinates.
A unique wrinkle in the infernal social fabric is lateral demotion. Certain high-ranking positions, despite their technical prestige, are highly undesirable. These roles emphasize brute strength over cunning intellect, hindering further advancement. Devils, by and large, value mental prowess over physical dominance. Being shifted into such a role is considered a lateral demotion.
There are two reasons for Lateral Demotion: and [tooltip:A superior might use this tactic to temporarily sideline a troublesome subordinate, particularly one suspected of treachery. This allows for investigation without outright punishment. If suspicions are confirmed, the demoted devil can be eliminated. Conversely, if no evidence is found, the superior can reverse the demotion, claiming they simply made a mistake. This maintains an illusion of fairness, albeit a grudgingly accepted one.]Neutralizing Trouble makers.
Diabolical society revolves around two core activities: soul harvesting for energy and perpetual warfare in The Blood War.
Civilization and Culture
Average Technological Level
The Soul Engine
The infernal economy revolves around souls, the energy source powering Baator. Devils corrupt mortals while they are alive, ensuring their souls are destined for Baator upon death. These souls are then collected and subjected to agonizing torture. This process extracts their magical essence, leaving behind a husk that is reborn as a lowly lemure, the bottom rung of the infernal social ladder. Therefore, the Devils' primary objective is to steer mortals towards a lawful evil outlook. When such a corrupted soul dies, it is destined for Baator, and the influencing devil receives credit for its acquisition. Devils often attempt to expedite this process by orchestrating the mortal's demise. This ensures immediate credit and eliminates the risk of the mortal's moral compass shifting, potentially sending their soul elsewhere. While devils benefit from a steady stream of mortal souls, they also acknowledge the need for a living mortal population. Mortals serve a dual purpose: influencing the ethical alignment of their peers and carrying out infernal agendas on the Prime Material Plane. However, obtaining permission to kill a mortal and claim their soul for Baator is a mandatory process, requiring approval for each individual.Allure of Evil Power
Devil worship is another path to a soul's arrival in Baator. Most often, these cults focus their devotion on a specific archdevil, though some revere greater devils. These cults serve a dual purpose: providing a dedicated following for the devil and furthering their agendas on the Material Plane.Negotiation on City of Judgement
The City of Judgement of The Raven Queen serves as a temporary waypoint for most souls after death. Due to a pact with [tooltip:In the times of Baravor, it was not ordainedThe Raven Queen[/tooltip], devils are allowed to negotiate with newly arrived souls before they are claimed by their deities' servants. These negotiations involve an offer to redirect the soul's destination to Baator. Some souls, fearing the fate awaiting them within their own afterlife, agree to this deal. They are then subjected to Baator's torturous processing, eventually being reborn as lowly lemures. However, ambitious souls may be able to negotiate additional benefits, such as a deal to provide for the deceased's loved ones, or a faster promotion from their lemure status.Culture and Cultural Heritage
While fiercely loyal to their infernal cause, devils are not mindless fanatics. When fighting on the Material Plane, they understand that death isn't permanent, but can still result in a loss of rank or power. Therefore, they have no qualms about retreating from a losing battle to fight another day.
Leisure
As with any society, devils engage in recreational activities. Some indulge in fine food and drink, while others explore their sensual desires. However, unlike mortals, they cannot experience true intoxication or mental alteration from substances. In spite of this, there are magical substitutes. Infernal wine, crafted from fire grapes in Phlegethos, replicates the effects of wine, and Screecher dulls the senses of lower-ranking devils. While mind-altering substances are generally frowned upon and even forbidden in some cases, the aforementioned options are occasionally doled out as rewards or used in rituals. High-ranking devils, however, have the privilege of indulging in these substances more regularly. This creates a hypocritical situation, as the very devils who forbid their subordinates from such indulgences partake themselves.Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Despite their cunning, devils face a stark numerical disadvantage in The Blood War, their eternal conflict with the chaotic Demons. However, they compensate for their lack of numbers through superior tactics, organization, and equipment. This allows them to maintain a roughly 50% win rate against their demonic foes.
While Baator occasionally sees clashes between infernal forces and the followers of evil deities, these conflicts pale in comparison to the Blood War. Both devils and these deities recognize a greater threat in the forces of good. Their unspoken truce serves the purpose of eliminating all good before turning their full attention to each other. Ultimately, devils view deities, even lawful evil ones, not as worthy of respect, but as future targets – just not a top priority at this time.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Genetic Descendants
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