4,529
edits
Changes
m
no edit summary
===Demogorgon's Worshipers===
==Belphegor==
=== Information About Bel ===
'''Alternative Names and Titles:''' Emperor of Blood, Guardian of the Styx, Supreme Commander of the Hells
'''Symbol:''' The black gates of Hell, wreathed in fire.
'''Portfolio:''' Discipline, loyalty, strategy, and war.
'''Domains Granted:''' [[Diabolic (3.5e Cleric Domain)|Diabolic]], [[Evil (3.5e Cleric Domain)|Evil]], [[Law (3.5e Cleric Domain)|Law]], [[Solidarity (3.5e Cleric Domain)|Solidarity]], [[Strength, Liber Demonica (3.5e Cleric Domain)|Strength]]
'''Favoured Weapon:''' [[SRD:Falchion|Falchion]]
{{quote|''War is Hell.''}}
Bel is the first and perhaps the weakest of the archdevils, although it is often speculated that his lack of a more original form is more due to obedience to Asmodeus (who has not explicitly commanded him to assume such a shape and perhaps more fortunately not transformed him by force) than an inability to do so. Regardless, Bel is content to retain a shape reasonably similar to a pit fiend, since it occasionally serves to lull foes who don’t suspect his status as an archdevil into a false sense of security.
Bel is the Supreme Commander of all the baatezu forces in the Blood War. He is the only devil to have achieved this position without ever having been a member of the Dark Eight, the council of pit fiend generals that represent the eight archdevils of Hell while the Supreme Commander represents and reports directly to Asmodeus. It is a position he earned through sheer combat ability as well as exposing the failures of his predecessor, a pit fiend named Zariel to whom Bel served as a lieutenant in the form of a cornugon warlord. Zariel was famous for overstepping the boundaries of her authority and attempting to push deep into the Abyss and claim it in the name of Baator. This was never amongst the aims of her superiors, who want nothing to do with the chaotic and anarchical realm from which their eternal foes spawn. This tactic, which came at the cost of many baatezu warriors and resources, resulted in the ever-pragmatic Bel’s decision to relieve his commander of her position by force. Bel challenged Zariel in mid-skirmish after having sent word of the act to the Dark Eight of Zariel‘s and his respective actions.
These two dark powers colliding rent the 32nd layer of the Abyss asunder, causing demons and devils alike to flee for their lives. At the end of it all, Bel had miraculously defeated Zariel; whispers amongst the well-informed suggest he had the subtle assistance of the demon prince Pazuzu, who was ridding Asmodeus of a rebellious underling as a favor. Having forcibly relieved Zariel of command, Bel took control of her forces and ordered a retreat, minimizing the losses they had sustained despite the temporary loss of leadership during the mutiny.
Bel personally dragged Zariel back to Baator and imprisoned her inside her own fortress, subjecting her to the horrific pain of eternal torture under the knives of baatezu torturers. Even now, the deposed pit fiend continues to provide Bel information under extreme duress. Her former servant and successor, meanwhile, became the new Lord of the First charged with defending the Hells from the constant onslaught of the demonic hordes and whatever other threats it may face.
Bel believes strongly in military hierarchy and protocol, and will accept orders from any of the other Lords of the Nine (with varying degrees of reluctance) provided he has not received orders from a higher archdevil. This allows him to feel secure in his position (with his liege Asmodeus at the top of the pecking order) while avoiding the enmity of other devil lords, whose forces Bel relies on to wage war. That said, the way in which Bel opportunistically deposed his former mistress has taught other devils to be wary of him, even though he truly has few designs towards ascension through the ranks of the archdukes. He is too secure in his current position, too in his element as a simple soldier, to want to deal with the machinations of his superiors. Other devil lords are thankful for this, since if Bel so desired he could likely conquer the planes of other devil lords with his armies and entreat Asmodeus for higher status.
=== Bel's Statistics Block ===
{{3.5e Monster Classic
|monster=Bel, Lord of the First
|size=Huge |type=Outsider |typelink=Variant Outsider (3.5e Type) |subtypes=Baatezu, Evil, Extraplanar, Lawful
|hd=22d8+ |hp=
|init=+
|speed=60 ft., fly 100ft (perfect)
|ac=50 |touch=32 |flat=40 (-1 size, +10 Dexterity, +16 armour, +10 natural, +6 deflection)
|bab=+24 |grapple=+49
|at=
|full_at=
|space=15 ft. |reach=20 ft.
|sa=[[#Aameul's Gaze|Aameul's Gaze]], [[#Alter Reality|Alter reality]], [[#Gaze of the Princes|Gaze of the Princes]], [[#Hethrediah's Gaze|Hethrediah's Gaze]], [[#Ravage Form|ravage form]], [[#Spell-Like Abilities|spell-like abilities]]
|sq=[[SRD:Darkvision|Darkvision]] 60ft, ''cloak of chaos'' (see [[SRD:Cloak of Chaos|spell description]]), [[#Godlike|godlike]], immune to acid, cold, electricity, petrification and poison, [[#Lord of the Abyss|lord of the Abyss]], [[SRD:Low-Light Vision|low-light vision]], [[#Protective Aura|protective aura]], resistance to fire 25, spell resistance 36, telepathy 1000ft, [[#Tongues|tongues]], ''unholy aura'' (see [[SRD:Unholy Aura|spell description]]),
|fort=+36 |ref=+32 |will=+33
|str=44 |dex=32 |con=40 |int=36 |wis=34 |cha=36
|skills=Appraise +37, Bluff +38, Concentration +36, Decipher Script +37, Gather Information +38, Intimidate +38, Knowledge (arcana) +37, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +37, Knowledge (geography) +37, Knowledge (history) +37, Knowledge (nature) +37, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +37, Knowledge (religion) +37, Knowledge (the planes) +37, Listen +38, Sense Motive +38, Spellcraft +37, Spot +38, Use Magic Device +38
|feats=[[Combat Expertise, MS Variant (3.5e Feat)|Combat Expertise]]<sup>VB</sup>, [[SRD:Combat Reflexes|Combat Reflexes]], [[SRD:Craft Magic Arms and Armor|Craft Magic Arms and Armour]], [[SRD:Craft Wondrous Item|Craft Wondrous Item]], [[SRD:Forge Ring|Forge Ring]], [[SRD:Great Cleave|Great Cleave]] <sup>B</sup>, [[SRD:Improved Initiative|Improved Initiative]], [[SRD:Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting|Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting]] <sup>B</sup>, [[SRD:Power Attack|Power Attack]]<sup>VB</sup>, [[SRD:Whirlwind Attack|Whirlwind Attack]] <sup>B</sup>
|env=The Abyss
|org=Solitary
|cr=22
|treas=Any treasure the GM deems acceptable
|align=Lawful evil
|adv=-
|la=-
}}
''This pit fiend, his skin and armor charred black by infernal flame, fixes upon you a glare even haughtier than those of his brethren. It is clear from his demeanor and those of the fiends around him that even amongst the most powerful kind of devils in Baator, he reigns supreme. His gaze never leaving you, he unfurls his huge wings and brandishes a curved blade, gesturing the four massive cornugons as his flanks to go forth and wreak havoc.''
Bel is the leader of the armies of Hell, a masterful tactician leading armies of technologically superior super soldiers. Under his directive, devils fight with perfect, unflinching coordination and vitality. War is all he knows, and all he does.
===Combat===
As the leader of the Dark Eight and the leader of Hell’s forces on the battlefield, Bel’s powers are focused on increasing the powers of the devils around him as well as his own. His own personal strength is fearsome but inferior to most other Archdukes; it is with a host of devils at his back that he becomes perhaps the most dangerous devil around.
'''{{Anchor|Alter Reality}} ([[Sp]]):''' Bel has the ability to advance his portfolio. This is considered identical to the [[SRD:Wish|''wish'']] spell, but may only be used to produce effects appropriate to Bel‘s portfolio or goals. Bel may only use this ability once per minute.
'''{{Anchor|Godlike}}:''' Although Bel is not a true deity, he has many of the powers of such. He can grant spells to clerics, and gives access to the [[Diabolic (3.5e Cleric Domain)|Diabolic]], [[Evil (3.5e Cleric Domain)|Evil]], [[Law (3.5e Cleric Domain)|Law]], [[Solidarity (3.5e Cleric Domain)|Solidarity]], and [[Strength, Liber Demonica (3.5e Cleric Domain)|Strength]] domains. His favoured weapon is the falchion and his portfolio is discipline, loyalty, strategy, and war (the Blood War in particular).
Additionally, Bel is immune to any attack that changes his form, mind-affecting effects, ability damage, ability drain and energy drain, unless such an effect comes from a creature that has a caster level or character level (or CR, for monsters) over 20.
Lastly, Bel can burn off some of his essence to stop magic dead in its tracks. As a free action that can be used outside of his turn, Bel can lose '''XX''' hit points to counter any spell, supernatural ability or spell-like ability in Medium range, as if by [[SRD:Greater Dispel Magic|''greater dispel magic'']] (although it can counter supernatural and spell-like abilities as if they were spells). This ignores temporary hit points, and can be used any number of times. For any ability with an ongoing or permanent duration, this merely suppresses it for 6 rounds.
===Bel's Worshipers===
Worshipers of Bel on the Prime are few and far between. His strict military emphasis is not much of a dogma, and there are much more fitting and interested devil lords for prospective cults to be drawn to. On the rare occasion that someone does revere Bel, it is usually a military man who sees the Lord of the First as a symbol of effective strategy and tactics. By a similar token, martial adepts are also frequent givers of homage to Bel.
In Baator, however, where he is well-known, Bel is a paragon of self-made advancement through the military hierarchy. His popularity throughout the Hells is nearly unmatched by any other lord, as there are few devils particularly amongst those of lower rank who have not served under his illustrious command. Throughout his career, Bel has simply won battles, and everybody loves a winner.
===Bel's Equipment===
