Shedim

Icon of Sin

The **Shedim** refers to the sins of the soul that taint it as Evil in the natural order of Life and Death. These sins are considered to be the roots of all Evil in the world of Urz. The Thirteen Gates of Ashtar are the binding segments of the Astral Sea that hold the planar representations of these thirteen sins. The rulers of these places are individually called Demon Princes and known as the Shedim when considered as a whole.

## Sphere of Desire

These three sins focus on a hedonistic desire that consumes the soul as the goal is simply the release involved with the practice of the sin. It is understood these desires in moderation are expected, but in excess are damning.

### Gluttony

The goal of a glutton is to consume food and drink beyond the point of what is considered necessary or healthy. It is one of the sins in the sphere of desire because when exhibited in excess it can lead to a number of net negatives, such as lack of resource for the needy or waste of quality for the squandering too quickly of something. This sin is separate from greed as it focuses primarily on the self-serving consumption and not so much the withholding from the needy. It is commonly seen simply as overeating to the detriment of yourself and those around you. Gluttony's Gate is Elkos. It's current Demon Prince is Humbaba. In old Vazriel humorism, gluttony is a result of the vapour called Igneus.

### Lust

Lustful creatures desire pleasures of the flesh. The more intense, the more it is desired. This sin is primarily about the obsession with lust, release, and sensation in the sinner and doesn't focus on things such as sexual assault which can be crimes of Wrath or Oppression (see below). That said, a creature that desires sexual activity and does or says anything to attain it is expressing a deep consumption by the sin of Lust. It is in its most basic sense desire and want of pleasures of the flesh in the most self-serving of ways. Lust's Gate is Abaddom. It's current Demon Prince is Jai Mahknos. In old Vazriel humorism, lust was a result of an overabundance of the humor Sanguis.

### Sloth

A creature too lazy to concern itself with the most basic functions of mortality or one that does nothing to better itself or the conditions of those around it is considered slothful. In its most horrifying sense, creatures of sloth are so uncaring and lethargic that they cannot be bothered to even rise from bed. This sin can tie with the Sin of Despair, as sometimes the reason one does not act is due to cowardice and fear. But more precisely, this sin is when one desires nothing more than sleep, rest, and relaxation without expending much if any effort or strength. Lethargy to the detriment of yourself and to those around you is the common understanding of the sin of sloth. Sloth's Gate is Thayaven. It's current demon prince is Morbazanrhot. In Vazriel humorism, the vapour scobis is the cause of sloth.

## Sphere of Action

These next six sins deal with sins that directly effect elements outside of the sinner or are brought forward by a relationship with those elements.

### Betrayal

The sin of betrayal is a very specific sin of breaking a trust that was formed in earnest. It doesn't deal entirely with a deception in building up a false trust, but more so being willing to toss aside loyalty, oaths, convictions, promises, and bonds for a self-serving end. Because of this, this sin more than others is difficult for a sinner to really be consumed by on its own, unless the ends of these betrayals is the goal on its own.

### Deception

The sin of deception is intentionally misleading another with the intent of changing their goals or actions to the sinners benefit. A common mentality for sinners who focus on deception is to misrepresent themselves as something they are not. Also, sometimes the greatest deception can be a truth that elicits a desired response from the deceiver.

### Envy

The sin of wanting what others have and never truly being satisfied with what is had by the sinner. This can be envy of just about anything, be it physical attributes, relationships, objects, whathaveyou. An envious sinner desires everything else others have, but unlike the sins in the sphere of desire, envy is not a sin that can be sated by a particular task. It is an endless want of what others have, the endless desire for the action of taking what isn't yours.

### Greed

Greed is like envy, except that it isn't specifically what others have. It's a want of everything. It's that simple. Greed is desire at its most blatant, but it's also a sin that focuses more on the actual acquisition of the things and the having of them as well as the act of taking them. Greed is also a sin that deals with the having things that others would want, that others would envy, and most purely that others would need.

### Oppression

The sin of oppression is the sin of subjugating another so their will is altered to serve your very desire. This sin is about the breaking of agency of another and the formation of servitude in that creature. Its the demand that you are more important than another and that the other must do as you will it. In magic, the over-reliance on spells of the Enchantment school can be seen as a pure representation of this sin. Slavery is banned in all countries in E'yané because this sin is seen as a destructive force because it fosters despair and wrath in the subjugated and allows oppressors to fall into the sins of desire (see above).

### Wrath

The sin of anger and rage. Blinding, unadulterated hatred that is allowed to take over the sinner and direct their action. The most direct result of the sin of wrath is usually seen as the crime of murder. A healthy amount of anger is fine in most, but allowing the anger to drive your action is problematic. Many barbarian paths focus on harnessing this sin and utilizing it as a weapon, instead of allowing it to consume them and them to become a harm to any around them that might spark them to violence.

## Sphere of the Self

The final four sins are sins that deal with a way of thinking or an internalized ideal that causes one to act based on the mindset.

### Corruption

The sin of corruption deals with the willingness of an individual to change paradigms by dealing with known evil elements, such as embracing the idea of reveling in sin, consorting with fiends, or twisting understanding so that mentalities shift on what is right and wrong to a point where what was wrong is now seen as right. Corruption is about the upsetting of the balance of good and evil. Corruption is the name for the sin that relates to justifying sin as fine and usually sits on a simple realization of a sin and pushing it as far as it goes in a sinner.

### Despair

The sin of cowards and the craven. Despair is the sin of someone refusing action because of a wrong-headed understanding of the possible consequences or a primal fear of some form of reprisal. The state of despair can leave someone to states of slothful living, but is a different matter entirely as one is hiding away rather than seeking the pleasure of doing nothing.

### Pride

Pride is the sin of being so satisfied with ones own achievements or the organizations one is a part of that they see them as beyond reproach. Pride can lead to horrifying action when the sinner perceives those that stand opposed to the greatness of the sinner or the sinner's groups that they deserve no quarter and to be treated as sinful themselves.

### Vanity

Vanity is simply an obsession of a creature with the creature itself. They are perfection, the center of attention, the main character of the story of life. Vanity is a selfishness without measure, a willingness to do anything to preserve the self, and a lack of empathy in others simply because they are not you.

## Powers

The Demon Princes that make up the Shedim and rule with their gates are granted their divine power by the seat of power of their individual Gate. If the Prince is usurped or their seat taken up by another creature, that creature gains the powers of the Gate and dominion over the plane therein. It is not impossible though it is insanely difficult for one creature to hold two or more seats at a time (Kardiff).

***Anaslain.*** The Tyrant of the Gate of Yo. The Master of Fear, Creator of Cowards, the Matron of Cutting Despair. Anaslain is an ancient marilith who has come to rule as the Demon Prince of Despair. She is worshipped by cultists who wish to terrorize goodly folk and gain power through corrupt rites to do just that. Those who form pacts with her are used to sow fear among the enemies of Anaslain. *Most Common Pact: The Blade*.

***Ashmadia.*** Sovereign of the Gate of Nerakon. In the War of Sword and Serpent, this great red wyrm's heart was lanced out by the Ayaten hero named Iveriu who went on to sainthood and godhood with his great sacrifice and victory. In death, the dragon bound the demon prince of greed Veskavnu to her physical body, replacing her heart with the demon prince. She now rules in her hell behind her gate. Those who form a pact with her are greedy for power and don't realize she claims all for herself. *Most Common Pact: The Tome*.

***Balberith.*** War Duke of Lucrino. Lord Backbiter. The Turncoat King. Betrayer and Defiler. Balberith is a fallen angel that rules as Demon Prince of Betrayal. His pacts are made with backstabbers and selfish vengeance-seekers who do not care what they have to do to gain power. *Most Common Pact: The Blade*.

***Daisthai.*** Keeper and Guardian of the Thirteen Gates. The Daisthai is the mediator between Lucifaerul the Archfiend and the Demon Princes of the Thirteen Gates. The Daisthai is also the ruler over daemons. Those who form a pact with Daisthai simple wish to focus self-serving power for themselves. *Most Common Pact: The Tome*.

***Dhuron Balcard.*** High Senator of the Gate of Viru'nogh. Dhuron is the Demon Prince of Corruption, but lived a life before ascending (or descending) into this position. He was one of most renowned politicians of the Marydian peoples, a society built entirely on the very nature of undeath and the disregard of the Law of Death having power over the living. Those who form pacts with Dhuron wish to have mastery over death. *Most Common Pact: The Tome*.

***Emernian***.

***Grum’nar.*** The Baron of the Gate of Jehonim. Grum'nar is the Demon Prince of Wrath and was pushed into this position by Dhuron Balcard in life. Grum'nar was a wild beast forged of magical depravity, fusing aspects of demon, dragon, minotaur, and man. His heart was filled with corruption and lies which brewed the greatest rage that has ever been known. Those who form pacts with Grum'nar wish to harness this rage, though they don't grasp it is not something that can be tamed. *Most Common Pact: The Blade*.

***Gusion.*** The Heirophant of the Gate of Avici. The Golden Emperor. Prideheart. Gusion is the Demon Prince of Pride and is the most prideful being in all of the Unending Spiral. Those who form pacts with Gusion sometimes do so unwillingly when their own unwarranted pride envelops them. *Most Common Pact: The Tome.*

***Humbaba.*** The Sultan of the Gate of Elkos. Gluttony, hunger, consumption, the desire to devour everything is what Humbaba has always been. Those who form a pact with Humbaba cannot be sated and seek to be fulfilled. *Most Common Pact: The Blade*.

***Jai Mahknos.*** The Count of the Gate of Abaddom, Lord of Lust, Will-Breaker, King of Desire. Alachia is seen as the most desirable creature in all of the Spiral and those who worship her on the Material Plane of Urz are also filled with the same lust. Her worshipers are hedonists to the highest degree, unconcerned with decency or the well-being of others when they seek to sate their lust. Those who form pacts with her are little more than worms on hooks she uses for greater gain. *Most Common Pact: The Chain*.

***Lucifaerul.*** Archdevil/Archangel of Selfishness. Lucifaerul stands opposed to the seven Archangels of the forces of good as the sole representative of the forces of evil. Beneath him is the Keeper and Guardian of the Thirteen Gates and the Demon Princes of the Shedim. They represent all that is evil in its purest and most calculating sense. Those who form a pact with Lucifaerul wish to gain his favor in the afterlife by serving in life. *Most Common Pact: The Tome*.

***Morbazanrhot.*** The Despot of the Gate of Thayaven. Morbazanrhot is the Demon Prince of Sloth. Not many form a pact with this demon prince. *Most Common Pact: The Chain*.

***Naberius.*** The Overlord of the Gate of Kuzimu. Naberius is the Demon Prince of Oppression. Those who seek Naberius's power wish to exert their will over others. Naberius is bound to an axe known as The Great Red One that exists both in Kuzimu and on the Material Plane. Naberius also serves as an option for a Hexblade Otherworldly Patron. *Most Common Pact: The Chain*.

***Sod Daerlethoth.*** The Usurper of the Gate of Amduat. Sod Daerlethoth came to power by usurping the last Demon Prince of Envy because of their envy of that position. Sod Daerlethoth promises to give those with great envy the subject of their desires, but simply wishes for those bound to them to have eternal envy of others. Sod Daerlethoth also serves as an option for a Great Old One Otherworldly Patron. *Most Common Pact: The Tome*.

***Tefington.*** Dynast of the Gate of Ulfren. Tefington is the Demon Prince of Vanity. Those that wish to serve Tefington are made into vassals that serve at their pleasure and for the greatness and glory of Tefington. *Most Common Pact: The Chain*.

***Vyz'des Teshnan.*** The Emperor of the Gate of Omegadon. The Deceiver. Master of Lies. Falsehood Prince. Those who wish to Vyz do so with the false promise of power and are given nothing more that lies. *Most Common Pact: The Chain*.