Asmodeus

Asmodeus
Titles and aliases	Overlord of the Nine Hells Lord of Nessus Lord of Malsheem Malsheem Nessus Lord of the Ninth Lord of the Nine Lord of All the Nine Ashema
Alignment	Lawful Evil

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 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.