Selm

Archfiend

Selm
Title:	Prince of Possessors
Alias(es):	None
Home plane:	Baator
Power level:	Duke of Hell
Gender:	Male
Class:	n/a
Alignment:	Lawful evil
Portfolio:	Possessor devils
Domains:	n/a
Superior:	Asmodeus

Selm, a Duke of Hell whose title is Prince of Possessors, is the nominal ruler of those devils with the ability to possess the bodies of mortals.

Description

Selm stands seven feet in height, his heavily armored hide seeming to be formed of colorful leaves of dangerously alluring beauty. His eyes can petrify at will, and massive spikes protrude from his arms. A small disk embedded in his chest prevents any fiends of possession from harming him.

Relationships

Selm reports directly to Asmodeus, Overlord of the Nine Hells.

Vassals

Selm nominally commands the six Lords of the Possessors, six possessor devils of greatest power.

• Thyle
• Cykes
• Tyd
• Nausyyd
• Dyclex
• Hyrkovan

History

At one time there stood beneath Selm a council of six lesser nobles—Thyle, Cykes, Tyd, Nausyyd, Dyclex, and Hyrkovan—but since an ancient rebellion in Baator (in the original article, this was Baalzebul's rebellion as described in Dragon #28; however, this event is no longer considered canon, and the only other major rebellion was the Reckoning of Hell), his six inferiors have allied with one another, gradually assuming much of Selm's power. Selm's place is now a merely nominal one, though officially he is still the chief, and only he receives orders from Asmodeus. This is a potentially explosive situation, so both sides remain on their guard.

Publishing history

Possessor devils were originally detailed in Dragon #42 (1980), which is also the only source that mentions Selm. Other variations on the idea of possessor devils include the mezzikim from Guide to Hell (1999) and the Fiend of Possession prestige class in Fiend Folio (2003).

Bibliography

• Cagle, Eric, Jesse Decker, James Jacobs, Erik Mona, Matt Sernett, Chris Thomasson, and James Wyatt. Fiend Folio. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003. Pages 204-206 -- "Fiend of Possession"

• Parker, Arn Ashleigh. "The Possessors." Dragon #42. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.

• Pramas, Chris. Guide to Hell. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1999. Pages 63-64 -- "Mezzikim"

• Von Thorn, Alexander. "The Politics of Hell." Dragon #28. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1979.

  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
Anselm	Non-player character	Male, Human, Pre-gen [Clr6],	I2 Tomb of the Lizard King	31, 32
Selmo	Non-player character	[C2],	Dungeon magazine #071	11, 12, 13, 14, 20, 22, 24, 28
Selmo	Non-player character	[C2],	L1 The Secret of Bone Hill	23
Selmund Rogerssen	Non-player character		The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions	60
Selmund Rogerssen	Non-player character		The Adventure Begins	85