Devils

Devils are a type of fiend which are native to Infernus, they are typically described as a race of fiendish warriors whose existence is centred around the destruction of chaos and the establishment of unflinching order. And while they are traditionally depicted as wholly evil beings, with many drawing false comparisons to demons, their goals and motivations are diametrically opposed to those of the Abyss' denizens.

Many Greater Devils claim a direct celestial heritage, with some having once been angels which were overwhelmed by negative emotions and had forsaken their holy duty. These angels suffered the Unmaking, turning them into fiendish reflections of their past selves, who while still seeking to fulfil their divine duty also suffer from intense sorrow and sadness at the light that they have lost.

## History

Historically, the first mention of devils directly interacting with Penastria occurred in the wake of the Pyrean collapse during the Age of Strife. During this time, humanoid creatures began to manifest within the Pyrean Easterlands possessing fiendish qualities. These humanoids came to be known as Tieflings, and were considered as plane-touched due to what was recognized as infernal heritage.

Their connection to the hells gave tieflings an innate talent for the arcane which allowed them to establish themselves as a dominant power within the Easterlands during this turbulent time. A feat that was also established thanks to the guidance of those infernal denizens, their dominance would be solidified with the establishment of the Ta' Venter Imperium in the region. It is believed that the denizens of the hells had a direct hand during the early years of the Imperium and many archdevils established embassies throughout the Imperium, allowing them to have quick and easy methods of communications with their mortal descendants. They also levied a soul tax throughout the Imperium, which was mostly taken from the Imperium's slaves and from the souls of enemies killed in battle. The Hells' dominance within the Easterlands would not be diminished after Imperium collapse, and it is widely accepted that the Lords of Infernus still control much of what happens in the modern day Eastern Alliance.

While the establishment of their own mortal nation has been their most profound impact on Penastria's history, one can in fact find various subtler methods through which the hells have begun infiltrating Penastria. Devils are well known to tempt mortals with various deals in exchange for their soul, or an action which will draw them closer to the hells. This is in fact the most common depiction of devils outside the Easterlands, with many righteous religions warning against the fall to such temptations and the eventual suffering with the Hells, even if the devils themselves believe that this is for the greater good.

The Blood War has also led to the establishment of the Desolate Order, an order of mortals loyal to the hells (dubbed as Hellknights) who seek to spread the tenets of their infernal masters throughout Penastria, in the hopes of eventually eradicating the servants of chaos and draw more souls towards Infernus.

## Properties

Devils are beings of pure order who believe that they alone are tasked with maintaining this order throughout the realms. Many of them believe that it is their divine duty to punish those that disrupt the balance and ensuring that evil does not spread. They don’t seek destruction without reason, instead preferring to rule and usher in a society where order reigns. It is against their very nature to allow chaos to exist, in any form which brings in an inherent conflict with the idea of freedom. In the eyes of the archdevils, all mortals are just sheep that require guidance towards what they believe to be a perfect existence.

However, unlike demons their numbers are not endless; and most devils cannot be resurrected therefore death is a constant fear in their eyes. Devils require souls to bolster their legions. Devils collect souls through various ways; from gathering the wayward souls of those that have led an evil life, or by enticing mortals into selling their souls through infernal contracts. These methods are what have led to the common depiction of devils tempting mortals throughout their lives, that being said however, it is important to note that a devil can’t lie in a contract, nor can they force someone to sign an infernal contract. The signature must be informed, and both parties must consent. When it comes to infernal contracts, the limits of what a devil can offer are determined by its status in the infernal hierarchy, but they most commonly tempt mortals with treasure and magic items.

There are different types of devils, each holding a specific place within the hierarchy of Infernus. At the lowest level of the infernal hierarchy lie the lemures and nupperibos, in fact one might easily say that they are not even part of the hierarchy at all, as they are not even considered to be devils. These are the souls of vile sinners who are still undergoing the process of reforging, the souls broken down and given a physical form that represents the ugliness within. Their only use within the hells is that of labourers and slaves, until such a time when they can be reforged into actual devils. The following table outlines the infernal hierarchy from lowest to highest, providing the role of each devil: