Page 67 - D&D Bestiary

DEVfLS
Devils personify tyranny, with a totalitarian society
dedicated to the domination of mortal life. The shadow
of the Nine Hells of Baa tor extends far across the
multiverse, and Asmodeus, the dark lord of Ness us,
strives to subjugate the cosmos to satisfy his thirst for
power. To do so, he must continually expand his infernal
,armies, sending his servants to the mortal realm to
corrupt the souls from which new devils are spawned.
Lords of Tyranny. Devils live to conquer, enslave,
and oppress. They take perverse delight in exercising
authority over the weak, and any creature that defies the
authority of a devil faces swift and cruel punishment.
Every interaction is an opportunity for a devil to display
its power, and all devils have a keen understanding of
how to use and abuse their power.
Devils understand the failings that plague intelligent
mortals, and they use that knowledge to lead mortals
into temptation and darkness, turning creatures into
slaves to their own corruption. Devils on the Material
Plane use their influence to manipulate humanoid
rulers, whispering evil thoughts, fomenting paranoia,
and eventually driving them to tyrannical actions.
Obedience and Ambition. In accordance with their
lawful alignment, devils obey even when they envy or
dislike their superiors, knowing that their obedience
will be rewarded. The hierarchy of the Nine Hells
depends on this unswerving loyalty, without which that
fiendish plane would become as anarchic as the Abyss.
At the same time, it is in the nature of devils to
scheme, creating in some a desire to rule that eclipses
their contentment to be ruled. This singular ambition
is strongest among the archdevils whom Asmodeus
appoints to rule the nine layers of the Nine Hells. These
high-ranking fiends are the only devils to ever sample
true power, which they crave like the sweetest ambrosia.
Dark Dealers and Soul Mongers. Devils are confined
to the Lower Planes, but they can travel b_eyond those
planes by way of portals or powerful summoning magic.
They love to strike bargains with mortals seeking to
gain some benefit or prize, but a mortal making such
a bargain must be wary. Devils are crafty negotiators
and positively ruthless at enforcing the terms of an
agreement. Moreover, a contract with even the lowliest
devil is enforced by Asmodeus's will. Any mortal
creature that breaks such a contract instantly forfeits its
soul, which is spirited away to the Nine Hells.
To own a creature's soul is to have absolute control
over that creature, and most devils accept no other
currency in exchange for the fiendish power and boons
they can provide. A soul is usually forfeited when a
mortal dies naturally, for devils are immortal and can
wait years for a contract to play out. If a contract allows
a devil to claim a mortal's soul before death, it can
instantly return to the Nine Hells with the soul in its
possession. Only divine intervention can release a soul
after a devil has claimed it.