Baalphegor
| Baalphegor | |
| Title: | Arch-Duchess of Cania, Consort to Mephistopheles |
|---|---|
| Alias(es): | Belphegor, Belle Fagor |
| Home plane: | Nine Hells |
| Power level: | Archdevil |
| Gender: | Female |
| Alignment: | Lawful evil |
| Portfolio: | Inventions |
| Superior: | Mephistopheles, Asmodeus |
Baalphegor is the consort of Mephistopheles, the archdevil currently ruling Cania, the Eighth layer of the Nine Hells of Baator.
Description
Baalphegor is a dignified she-devil with cinnamon-colored skin, red eyes and hair, as well as bat wings. She appears young and carefree but when angered, her eyes glow with flames and her usually musical voice becomes very harsh. She is only five and a half feet in height.
Relationships
One of the most artful and beautiful of she-devils, Baalphegor is the consort of Mephistopheles and a close ally of Asmodeus. A famed diplomat, she has many allies among the pit fiends as well.
History
Baalphegor is said to have been around since the creation of Baator itself. She's a very skilled diplomat and tactician, and an unmatched sorceress. She has created many artifacts and techniques used throughout the Nine Hells. In addition to her status, this fact granted her a deep respect from almost everyone in Baator, even from Asmodeus, who appreciates her to the point of letting her live with her ever-scheming consort.
Knowing all too well her master's position, Baalphegor keeps her goals to herself, acting with a minimal degree of loyalty to the Lord of the Eighth. Mephistopheles tolerates this due to the protection given by his consort's presence. Asmodeus never wished to have her as his consort (although the canny she-devil is clearly trying to get more of his attention), as he prefers having a powerful underling at his disposal rather than a shrewd witch at his side.
Along with Lilis, Baalphegor is the consort who has retained her position the longest without any real trouble.
More recently, Baalphegor amused herself by taking the form of a cute, blonde-haired human girl of the apparent age of 10 and living as an orphan in the small town of Caermor. Using the alias of Belle Fagor, she secretly tested the mettle of a cult of diabolists dwelling in the area.
Dungeon #135 suggests that Baalphegor has disappeared, and her personal guard, the Blessed Angels, now begrudgingly serve others instead.
Artifacts
A vial-shaped artifact called Baalphegor's Grace was created by Mephistopheles over 600 years ago to hold the blood and tears of his consort for loan to his favored cultists on the Material Plane. However, recent events in Hell have consumed Mephistopheles's attention for the last several decades, and he has lost track of where Baalphegor's Grace is. A decade ago it came into the possession of the undead dragon Lashonna.
Any who drink from Baalphegor's Grace will find their minds turning to evil or die. Those who drink successfully become linked to a flock of 15 erinyes known, with dark irony, as the Blessed Angels. These erinyes were once Baalphegor's personal guard before she apparently disappeared from Mephistopheles's court.
Creative origins
Baalphegor is named for a male demon of Christian mythology named Belphegor, who is also concerned with artful inventions and often takes the form of a woman. Ultimately, Baalphegor is derived from the Moabite god Baal-Peor, mentioned in Numbers 25.
Publishing history
Baalphegor, as Belphegor, was mentioned in passing in Dragon #28 as one of the archdevils who sided with Baalzebul in his coup against the previous master of Hell. As Baalphegor, she appeared in the roster of diabolic nobles in the first edition Monster Manual II. She was given a detailed treatment in Dragon #76. She appeared as the ultimate villain of "Caermor" in Dungeon #2, which was reprinted in the Dungeons of Despair anthology (1999). Baalphegor has been mentioned briefly on occasion since then in her role as Mephistopheles' consort. The Kobold Quarterly article offers a very different take on Baalphegor at odds with D&D canon.
See also
Bibliography
- Connors, Tim and Eileen. "Baalphegor, the Prince of Laziness." Kobold Quarterly #2. Kirkland, WA: Open Design, Fall 2007.
- Cook, Monte. Book of Vile Darkness. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
- Findley, Nigel D. "Caermor." Dungeon #2. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1986.
- Greenwood, Ed. "The Nine Hells Part II." Dragon #76. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Laws, Robin D., and Robert J. Schwalb. Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2006.
- Leati, Tito. "Dawn of a New Age." Dungeon #135. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
- McComb, Colin. Faces of Evil : The Fiends. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1997.
- Perkins, Christopher, ed. Dungeons of Despair. Renton, WA: TSR, 1999.
- Von Thorn, Alexander. "The Politics of Hell." Dragon #28. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1979.
External links
Disclaimer:Any lore presented through the following links does not necessarily adhere to established officially published content, and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki.
- A PDF link to Baalphegor's stats.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baalphegor (Princess of Hell) | Non-player character | Female, Devil, | Dragon magazine #075 | 8 |
| Baalphegor (Princess of Hell) | Non-player character | Female, Devil, | Dragon magazine #076 | 26, 28, 29 |
| Baalphegor (Princess of Hell) | Non-player character | Female, Devil, | Monster Manual 2, AD&D 1e | 44 |
| Baalphegor (Princess of Hell) | Non-player character | Female, Devil, | Manual of the Planes, AD&D 1e | 65 |