Belial

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Belial
Belial.
(Deity)

Titles
The Pale Kiss
Thorned Caress
Father of Whores
Duke of Many Forms
Lord of the Fourth
Realm
Alignment
Areas of Concern
Adultery
Deception
Desire
Worshipers
Cravers of forbidden pleasures who hide behind masks of respectability
Edicts
Indulge your basest desires, create deadly weapons
Anathema
Impede an act of high hedonism, become too attached to a lover or project
Cleric Alignments (1E)
Domains (1E)
Charm, Destruction, Evil, Law
Subdomains (1E)
Catastrophe, Devil, Lust, Rage
Cleric Alignments (2E)
Domains (2E)
Change, passion, trickery, zeal
Favored Weapon
Symbol
Two-toned devil mask
Sacred Animal
Sacred Colors
Red, white
Source: Book of the Damned, pg(s). 34–35 (1E)
Gods & Magic, pg(s). 74, 124–125 (2E)
Belial
(Creature)

Type
Outsider
(devil, evil, extraplanar, lawful, shapechanger)
CR
28
Environment
Any (Hell)
Alignment
Source: Bestiary 6, pg(s). 20–21

The archdevil Belial (pronounced bee-LIE-uhl)1, also sometimes going by the aliases Belhor, Jouvart, and Mechembuchus,2 rules over their3 layer of Hell: the burning forges of Phlegethon.4 Their5 unholy symbol is a horned, red-and-white-split mask of comedy and tragedy.6 Their areas of interest include adultery and desire.7

Appearance

Asmodeus granted Belial an unlimited malleability of form, their true natural form unknown to all but Asmodeus. They freely shift form, species, and gender when engaging with mortal and immortal lovers across the universe, enabling them to become whatever and whomever might be most alluring to their lovers, leaving innumerable half-fiends of every description in their wake.5

Among the other archdevils, Belial typically appears as a delicately built humanoid between five and six feet tall with pale skin and hair but burning eyes, with one half of their body shining and angelic and the other as scarred, misshapen, and grotesque as the most hideous malebranche.5

History

Before the Exodus, Asmodeus desired to create the most beautiful and perfect being in existence. Knowing that no individual could be everything to all creatures, he gave his creation complete malleability of form and a body that shifted in response to the deepest desires of anyone who looked upon it. The result was horrifying and insane, a monstrous thing of heaving flesh, golden hair, and luminous eruptions, which Asmodeus has kept locked away ever since. He tried again, and instead of subjective transformation, he gave his creation control over its own shape. Asmodeus also bestowed upon it eloquent and persuasive speech, so that his creation might garner what those around it found most appealing and then become what they desired most. Asmodeus was content with this iteration and bestowed upon it the name Belial.2

Religion

Scorned lovers, the forlorn, and both the unattractive and the alluring worship Belial. The disfigured beseech them for the comforts of the flesh, while aging beauties offer the youth of others to restore or maintain their own. The Pale Kiss is greatly pleased with offerings given during carnal acts and of bodily fluid stolen from unwilling lovers.2

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

  1. Erik Mona, et al. “Appendices” in Campaign Setting, 246. Paizo Inc., 2008
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 F. Wesley Schneider. Hell and the Archdevils” in Princes of Darkness, Book of the Damned Volume 1, 13. Paizo Inc., 2009
  3. Belial was originally referred to as male, but this has been changed to gender neutral
  4. Amber Stewart. “The Outer Sphere” in The Great Beyond, A Guide to the Multiverse, 43. Paizo Inc., 2009
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Paizo Inc., et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary 6, 21. Paizo Inc., 2017
  6. F. Wesley Schneider. Princes of Darkness, Book of the Damned Volume 1, inside front cover. Paizo Inc., 2009
  7. James Jacobs, et al. The Inner Sea World Guide, 231. Paizo Inc., 2011

External links