Asmodeus

''' Asmodeus '''

''Lord of the Damned, Prince of Hell, The Fallen Angel ''

 Symbol:  An upside down pentagram Portfolio: Tyranny, Slavery, Pride, Contracts''' Worshipers: '''Slavers, Bureaucrats, Tyrants Cleric Alignments: LE, NE Domains:  Devil, Fire, Law, Deception, Magic Favored Weapon: Ruby Rod-Heavy Mace

 History/Relationships:  Asmodeus is the first prince of hell, believed to be the only devil to have achieved divinity. His age is unknown, with some speculating that he originated with the birth of the universe. While Asmodeus was not originally born a deity, he gained sufficient power sometime in the last six hundred years, likely during the War of Gods, to start granting spells. Many other deities still contend that he is not an actual deity, though this distinction has never meant much to his followers. There are likely as many stories about his origin as there are nations, ranging from the scribe who penned the laws of reality, a fallen angel or other divine entity of good, to a creature formed by raw malicious intent. Asmodeus himself is certainly not answer. He generally appears as a large, red skinned man with cloven hooves either pointed or rams horns, always carrying a ruby scepter. He is known to regularly change his form.

 Dogma:  Rise above your foe through might or subversion and trickery. Remember who wronged you and ensure that they do not repeat their mistakes, even if it takes years to gain your retribution. Seek power over others. Exploit kindness, it is thinly veiled weakness, as is compassion. Avoid violating the local laws, be covert and avoid drawing attention to yourself. Always know the letter of the law, and manipulate it as needed.  Clergy and Temples:  The Clergy of Asmodeus often finds a small presence in most large areas. They regularly speak in a type of cant, using double meanings to speak openly in public. Often they preach self-improvement, of providing motivation to success and ridding one’s self of weakness or similar themes to attract followers. They are a deeply secretive group, hiding their rituals and practices from prying eyes, and always working to stay within the letter of the law. It is not unheard of to find Asmodeans infiltrating orders of paladins, knights and other lawful and frequently good orders, using their subversive skills to rise to the top.