Asmodeus
| Asmodeus | |
|---|---|
| Titles and aliases | Overlord of the Nine Hells King of the Hells Lord of Nessus Lord of Malsheem Nessus Malsheem Lord of the Ninth Lord of the Nine Ashema The Lord of Lust |
| Alignment | Lawful Evil |
| Type | Fiend |
The Lord of Lust is always willing to make a deal.
—Abn-Azer
Asmodeus (AZ-moh-DAY-iss) is the Overlord of the Nine Hells of Baator, the Lord of Nessus, and the Lord of Malsheem. Variously described as a devil, a god, and a dark angel, all agree he is one of the greatest forces of evil in the multiverse.
Names
Asmodeus is known as Ashema to the Phoenics.
Asmodeus is often referred to by the metonyms Malsheem and Nessus by devils, out of fear of saying his name. A common superstition in Baator is that saying his name invites his attention. Legends speak of Asmodeus's darker, truer, secret names, which invite not merely his attention but his wrath.
Phoenic mythology
In Phoenic mythology, Asmodeus (called Ashema) is one of the black gods, the darkest and cruelest deities, who were imprisoned in Lashanti since the dawn of time. When mankind betrayed the gods in the Zamora Heresy, Ashema and his kin were freed.
Ashema is actually one of the milder of the black gods. He is associated with lust. As such, Phoenic commoners typically do not fear him as much as they probably should—they fear the likes of Sephet, Jigzaba, and Rengal far more.
Worship
In Phoena, Ashema (i.e., Asmodeus) receives little worship publicly. He is appeased on the winter solstice, as all the darkest Phoenic gods are, but he has few devotees. He is sometimes appeased when a person seeks protection against STDs/STIs.
Unbeknownst to many, however, there are in fact Asmodean cultists operating in Phoena. They were deployed in 494 against the balor known as the Kingslayer.
Relationships
Asmodeus opposes Casir.
Asmodeus has a complicated relationship with Nyssa (i.e., Tiamat). Nyssa is in Avernus, which would technically put her under Asmodeus's jurisdiction. However, she seems to operate with total impunity, unrestrained by the infernal hierarchy and Hell's laws—much to the anger, confusion, and outrage of many devils. It is unknown why Asmodeus permits this. What is known, however, is that Asmodeus has directly deployed no fewer than three archdevils[1] (and, indirectly, an additional two[2]) to combat the Red Terror, in which she plays a central role. He has directly ordered her to disband her armies in Marillia, to which she has given no response.