Zaebos

Greyhawk Character

Zaebos
General info
Home:	Baator
Alignment:	Lawful evil
Gender:	Male
Species:	Pit fiend
Class:	n/a
Dates
Age:	Unknown (more than 300 years)

The pit fiend Zaebos is the Minister of Promotions and Demotions in the Dark Eight, which means he is the infernal bureaucrat in charge of determining what devil throughout the Nine Hells rises to what rank, and how fast, and what devils are reduced to lowlier forms or are consigned into the forms of nupperibos or bezekira.

Zaebos's authority extends over all devils of lesser rank (which means every devil of pit fiend rank or lower who doesn't serve one of the Lords of the Nine directly), except for those in the Blood War armies. Dagos determines military promotions and demotions, and his ministry is independent of Zaebos's.

Description

Zaebos is described as slow, careful, and meticulous. He is one of the most hated fiends in the planes, since his administration has cost so many devils their desired promotions. He must constantly be on guard against those who would express their displeasure by tearing out his throat.

Zaebos has access to all the records of the baatezu, and of all the ministries, his is the most closely watched. It wouldn't do at all for an unworthy devil to rise high in the ranks, after all.

Relationships

Each member of the Dark Eight is given authority over one aspect of the Blood War. They separately pursue their own agendas, but the entire council has final say over their decisions. Despite their rivalries and intrigues, though, the Dark Eight works well as a team, and Hell's bureaucracy moves efficiently.

Zaebos works closely with Zimimar; as Zimimar observes the baatezu closely to ensure their morale stays high and their insubordination stays low, Zaebos takes advantage of her observations to help determine who is fit for promotion or demotion.

History

The Dark Eight was founded prior to the Reckoning of Hell as a secret order of pit fiends. Under the leadership of the pit fiend Cantrum, they wormed their way to the leadership of Baator's nine armies. During the Reckoning, they revealed the true control they had been hiding even from the archdevils they purportedly served; they turned their armies against the rebellious Lords of the Nine, making it clear that Asmodeus's cleverness could not be matched and his power could not be questioned.

The first recorded public intervention of the Dark Eight following Cantrum's death was the Rebellion of the Inferiors, in which balor spies secretly inspired a revolt among lesser devils in one infernal settlement. The Dark Eight arrived to personally deal with the situation; the balors were revealed, and they were torn apart by their enraged dupes.

The pit fiend presently known as Zaebos is not the original one, who had once served as Belial's lieutenant. When a member of the Dark Eight dies, the event is swiftly covered up and a new pit fiend is appointed in the old one's place, given the name of the predecessor in order to maintain the illusion of continuity. Zaebos's station in particular has the highest turnover rate, because his station is so hated by vengeful devils seeking retribution over the power that's been denied them. The present Zaebos has held his station for only three centuries, making him a relative novice in his council (second only to Pearza). As he has already learned not to cross the other members, though, he may well serve for considerably longer.

Publishing history

Zaebos was first mentioned in Dragon #75 (1983) and appeared in the first edition Monster Manual II. Although initially he was portrayed as one of Belial's minions, he was reinterpreted as one of the Dark Eight in the Monstrous Compendium Outer Planes Appendix (1991). In Hellbound: The Blood War (1996), it was revealed that the present Zaebos was not the original one who had served Belial.

Creative origins

Zaebos is the name of a demon in the 19th century work on demonology, the Dictionnaire Infernal, in which he is described as "the Grand Count of the infernal realms," appearing as "a handsome soldier mounted on a crocodile."

Bibliography

• Cook, Monte. A Paladin in Hell. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998. ISBN 0-7869-1210-3

• Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.

• Greenwood, Ed. "The Nine Hells, Part I." Dragon #75. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.

• LaFountain, J. Paul. Monstrous Compendium Outer Planes Appendix. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991.

• Laws, Robin D., and Robert J. Schwalb. Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2006.

• McComb, Colin. Faces of Evil: The Fiends. Renton, WA: TSR, 1997.

• McComb, Colin, and Monte Cook. Hellbound: The Blood War. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.

• Pramas, Chris. Guide to Hell. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1999.

• Varney, Allen, ed. Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1994.

  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
Zaebos (Duke of Hell)	Non-player character	Devil, Pit fiend,	Dragon magazine #075	9, 26, 27
Zaebos (Duke of Hell)	Non-player character	Devil, Pit fiend,	Monster Manual 2, AD&D 1e	44
Zaebos (Duke of Hell)	Non-player character	Devil, Pit fiend,	Manual of the Planes, AD&D 1e	65