Baalzebul (Dungeons & Dragons)

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caption=
bgcolor=#000
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name= Baalzebul
title= Lord of the Seventh, Lord of Lies, the Fallen One, the Slug Archduke
home=Nine Hells
power=Archdevil
alignment=Lawful Evil
portfolio=
domains=
alias= Triel, The Slug Lord
super=Asmodeus

In the "Dungeons & Dragons" roleplaying game, Baalzebul is a fictional character, described as the Arch-Devil of Hell (Baator in later editions of the game), also called the "Lord of the Flies."

Baalzebul is lord of Maladomini, the Seventh Plane of Hell. His symbols include a fly's head, a web with flies dangling from it, and an enthroned slug.

Description

Prior to the Reckoning of Hell, Baalzebul took on the appearance of a tall, dark-skinned humanoid with compound eyes resembling a fly. However, as a result of his role in the Reckoning, Asmodeus transformed Baalzebul, who now appears as a giant slug-like creature which trails feces and garbage wherever he goes. Flies crawl over his body at all times, and his arms are tiny and malformed.cite book | last = Laws | first = Robin D. | authorlink = | last2 = Schwalb | first2 = Robert J. | author2-link = | title = Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells | publisher = Wizards of the Coast | date = December 2006 | location = | pages = 160 | url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/953877200 | doi = | id = 953877200 | isbn = 0-7869-3940-0]

Relationships

Baalzebul is the sworn enemy of both Mephistopheles and Dispater and would do anything to oppose them. He also has a tentative alliance with Belial, whose aid he would probably come to if he could discover some advantage in doing so. It is worth noting that although he openly plots against Mephistopheles he also secretly nurses a hate for Asmodeus for cursing him with his current appearance. Baalzebul's consorts are Baftis and Lilith.

History

Baalzebul was originally an archon named Triel who succumbed to the temptation of power and ambition and consequentially fell into Hell. He was recruited into the ranks of the devils by Asmodeus and quickly climbed through the ranks of the fiends, assuming control of the seventh layer to become one of the most powerful devils in Baator .

Before the Reckoning of Hell, he and Mephistopheles both had three arch devils under their influence. Baalzebul controlled Zariel, former lord of the first, Belial, lord of the fourth and Moloch, Baalzebul's former viceroy of the sixth plane. Baalzebul attacked Mephistopheles's forces and gained a quick advantage which was lost once Mephistopheles's armies regained footing. Soon Baalzebul's armies were pushed back to Maladomini, the home city of the Lord of the Flies. There, Asmodeus convinced the armies to turn on their masters. In the aftermath, Baalzebul lost the honor of having a viceroy when Moloch was replaced by the Hag Countess (who has herself since been replaced by Glasya).

4th edition

The 4th edition "Monster Manual" mentions that Baalzebul is still the lord of Maladomini.

Vassals

The following beings are among the most notable subjects of Baalzebul. The forces at their disposal are listed, where appropriate:

*Abigor - 60 companies of cornugons (DR76).
*Baftis - First Consort to Baalzebul (DR76).
*Barbatos - Marshall (DR76).
*Lilith - Second Consort to Baalzebul, former consort to Moloch (DR76).
*Neabaz - Herald (DR76).
*The Nyashk Cadre - A powerful unit of 16 half-devil female bugbear fighters/sorceresses who are Lord Baalzebul's most formidable warriors.
*Tartach - Former Legate (DR 76) left the court to serve Glasya.
*Vashaak Ratoth Bruu - Male medusa monk preseted to Lord Baalzebul as a gift from Malagarde. He serves as his master's personal servant and entertains him with his wit and charisma.
*Zepar - 28 companies of cornugons (DR76).

Dogma

Baalzebul teaches the use of lies and charm backed with deadly force to achieve one's desire. He wishes to regain his original form, but even more than that he desires to avenge himself against Asmodeus.

Worshippers

Baalzebul attracts to his service nonconformists, revolutionaries, and plotters of coups. His cults are as much conspiracies as religious orders, much better at bringing down governments than ruling them. They typically undermine good or neutral governments with a combination of charm, lies, and the judicious use of assassinations.

Many of Baalzebul's worshippers are bugbears, who appreciate the combination of guile and violence that Baalzebul espouses.

Clergy

Clerics of Baalzebul customarily shave their heads and wear robes of blue and black, along with gold jewelry and piercings. Their favored weapon is the morningstar. Disciples of Baalzebul are liars, cheats, and thieves.

Temples

After Baalzebul's cultists successfully undermine a government, priests of Asmodeus will sometimes take it over to oversee the "establishment" phase of diabolism in the land, while Baalzebul's faithful will occupy a hidden shrine of Asmodeus in another land to begin the process again.

Baalzebul's shrines are usually filled with an overabundance of statuary and feature a heavy insect motif. Incense made from unpleasant and unsanitary materials (sometimes just offal) is burnt in their lord's honor.

Creative origins

Baalzebul is based on the Beelzebub of mythology and demonology. [cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/rgfdfaq/sources.html |title=Literary Sources of D&D |accessdate=2007-02-23 |last=DeVarque |first=Aardy]

Footnotes

References

*Cook, Monte. "Book of Vile Darkness" (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).
*Gygax, Gary. "Monster Manual" (TSR, 1977).
*Greenwood, Ed. "The Nine Hells Part II." "Dragon #76 (TSR, 1983).
*Larme, John. "Dangerous Games? Censorship and "Child Protection" [http://www.members.tripod.com/anthonylarme/gc/gamesthesis.pdf] (2000).
*Laws, Robin D, and Robert J Schwalb. "" (Wizards of the Coast, 2006).
*McComb, Colin. "". Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1997.
*McComb, Colin. "The Lords of the Nine." "Dragon" #223. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR 1995.
*Pramas, Chris. "Guide to Hell" (TSR, 1999).