Unoriginal
2017-07-05, 07:52 AM
Since his first appearance, each edition of D&D portrays Asmodeus in a somewhat different way, despite a lot of the different versions' traits and history matching up with each others
So, what do we know about the 5e version?
He is an archdevil, a lesser god of tyranny (who favors the Trickery domain), and a patron for Warlocks, which more or less places him in the middle ground of his various incarnations (more than just a powerful archdevil, but not an entity that can casually kick gods and whole planes around).
His rule on the Nine Hells is absolute and, despite the many devils plotting against him, basically uncontested. Even Mephistopheles, who is more or less the most second most powerful devil, is well-aware he has no chance of beating Asmodeus unless the Archduke of Nessus somehow messes up spectacularly. Furthermore, Asmodeus has basically absolute power over every single devil. He can destroy them or promote/demote them to any ranks he wishes by a snap of his fingers, and he is the *only* one who can promote anyone to the rank of archdevil, making him the gatekeeper for any real power in Baator. And even the smallest contract made by the most mediocre of devils is still enforced by Asmodeus's will.
Interestingly enough, it does not seem like he always had that kind of power. He apparently stole the first layer of Hell, Avernus, from Tiamat the dragon goddess, a feat for which she despises him, leaving her to sweep the streets she used to own, prisoner of her former realm. However, a contract exists between the two gods, and Tiamat still has dominion over some parts of Avernus.
Despite, or maybe because, his level of control over his plane, Asmodeus doesn't actually appears very interested in administrating it on a day-to-day basis, as he designates powerful devils and the other Dukes for this function, while he himself seems to focus on extraplanar affairs, increasing his power, corrupting all that he can and scheming to conquer the entire cosmos. This include pretending to be a different deity to dupe worshippers, making pacts, ransoming whole kingdoms worth in exchange of souls he owns, and more exotic schemes such as infusing a whole bloodline with his essence to create the Tieflings or commissioning a group of hags to make him an army worthy of Baator.
While the Archduke of Nessus seems to value loyalty, he is somewhat inconsistent with how he reward it or punish betrayal. He encased Levistus in ice, yet allowed him to rule his layer, even removing the seemingly loyal Geryon from Stygia's throne to let Levistus regain the position. Baalzebub was cursed and his form twisted into the one of a slug for his repeated attempts at usurpation, yet Asmodeus occasionally favors his old adversary in a very puzzling way, and maybe even respect him. It is possible that this curious dance of unearned favors and undeserved punishments is all part of a plan by the greatest mastermind of Hell, due to information the public is not privy too, or simply that he enjoys torturing people by making them guess the why and the how of his actions, making finding his real plan that more difficult, as well as making his subordinates suffer for the Hell of it.
His default appearance is one of an handsome bearded man with small horns and red eyes wearing robes and holding his ruby rod. Personality-wise, as one could guess, he is noted to love schemes and to be cruel, as well as the most cunning and the most well-mannered of all the devils, and he usually only appears to be the pure evil he is if he wishes so.
Yet, for all his power and competence, the ruler of Baator is not without weak points. He fears being killed in the Nine Hells, just like any other rank-and-file devil. His plans are also not fool-proof, as the Yugoloth escaping his control are the proof of. But more interestingly, the 5e's version of Asmodeus exhibits a trait I don't remember seeing in the other incarnations of this character: wrath.
While the Asmodeus of other editions could certainly be angry, he always seemed to be portrayed as in perfect control of himself. In 3.X and 4e, even the murder of his wife (although in very different contexts) was not enough to make him forget to plan his next move carefully and scheme a revenge (even if for different reasons depending of the edition). In 5e, it is told that Asmodeus destroyed the Hag Countess who ruled Malbolge in a fit of anger, and that he sometime flies into rages so intense he forgets himself and reveal the ultimate evil his usual sophistication hides.
So, what do you think of this version?
So, what do we know about the 5e version?
He is an archdevil, a lesser god of tyranny (who favors the Trickery domain), and a patron for Warlocks, which more or less places him in the middle ground of his various incarnations (more than just a powerful archdevil, but not an entity that can casually kick gods and whole planes around).
His rule on the Nine Hells is absolute and, despite the many devils plotting against him, basically uncontested. Even Mephistopheles, who is more or less the most second most powerful devil, is well-aware he has no chance of beating Asmodeus unless the Archduke of Nessus somehow messes up spectacularly. Furthermore, Asmodeus has basically absolute power over every single devil. He can destroy them or promote/demote them to any ranks he wishes by a snap of his fingers, and he is the *only* one who can promote anyone to the rank of archdevil, making him the gatekeeper for any real power in Baator. And even the smallest contract made by the most mediocre of devils is still enforced by Asmodeus's will.
Interestingly enough, it does not seem like he always had that kind of power. He apparently stole the first layer of Hell, Avernus, from Tiamat the dragon goddess, a feat for which she despises him, leaving her to sweep the streets she used to own, prisoner of her former realm. However, a contract exists between the two gods, and Tiamat still has dominion over some parts of Avernus.
Despite, or maybe because, his level of control over his plane, Asmodeus doesn't actually appears very interested in administrating it on a day-to-day basis, as he designates powerful devils and the other Dukes for this function, while he himself seems to focus on extraplanar affairs, increasing his power, corrupting all that he can and scheming to conquer the entire cosmos. This include pretending to be a different deity to dupe worshippers, making pacts, ransoming whole kingdoms worth in exchange of souls he owns, and more exotic schemes such as infusing a whole bloodline with his essence to create the Tieflings or commissioning a group of hags to make him an army worthy of Baator.
While the Archduke of Nessus seems to value loyalty, he is somewhat inconsistent with how he reward it or punish betrayal. He encased Levistus in ice, yet allowed him to rule his layer, even removing the seemingly loyal Geryon from Stygia's throne to let Levistus regain the position. Baalzebub was cursed and his form twisted into the one of a slug for his repeated attempts at usurpation, yet Asmodeus occasionally favors his old adversary in a very puzzling way, and maybe even respect him. It is possible that this curious dance of unearned favors and undeserved punishments is all part of a plan by the greatest mastermind of Hell, due to information the public is not privy too, or simply that he enjoys torturing people by making them guess the why and the how of his actions, making finding his real plan that more difficult, as well as making his subordinates suffer for the Hell of it.
His default appearance is one of an handsome bearded man with small horns and red eyes wearing robes and holding his ruby rod. Personality-wise, as one could guess, he is noted to love schemes and to be cruel, as well as the most cunning and the most well-mannered of all the devils, and he usually only appears to be the pure evil he is if he wishes so.
Yet, for all his power and competence, the ruler of Baator is not without weak points. He fears being killed in the Nine Hells, just like any other rank-and-file devil. His plans are also not fool-proof, as the Yugoloth escaping his control are the proof of. But more interestingly, the 5e's version of Asmodeus exhibits a trait I don't remember seeing in the other incarnations of this character: wrath.
While the Asmodeus of other editions could certainly be angry, he always seemed to be portrayed as in perfect control of himself. In 3.X and 4e, even the murder of his wife (although in very different contexts) was not enough to make him forget to plan his next move carefully and scheme a revenge (even if for different reasons depending of the edition). In 5e, it is told that Asmodeus destroyed the Hag Countess who ruled Malbolge in a fit of anger, and that he sometime flies into rages so intense he forgets himself and reveal the ultimate evil his usual sophistication hides.
So, what do you think of this version?