Dark Eight

Template:Greyhawk Organization The Dark Eight are eight pit fiend ministers who determine Hell's actions in the Blood War. They have also been described as a guild of sorts that mediates between the whims of the Dukes of Hell and the needs of common devils (Faces of Evil, page 29).

Structure

As the leaders of Hell's eight ministries, these eight pit fiends hold immense power, but they are subordinate to the Lords of the Nine Hells, and ultimately they answer to Asmodeus. Their prestige and influence are comparable to that of the Dukes of Hell, although the Dukes possess greater physical power and greater proximity to the plane's true masters. The Dark Eight holds council every sixty-six days.

The relationship between the Dark Eight and Bel, Lord of the First, is somewhat complex and ambiguous, as it is Bel's main responsibility to lead Hell's armies against the demon hordes, which places the Eight under his nominal control. However, Bel owes responsibilities to the Dark Eight (particularly Dagos, the Marshall of the Pits) that he was not allowed to back out of when he ascended to his current position (Dragon #223, page 14). According to Hellbound: The Blood War, Bel is only one of the nine generals under Dagos's command.

Members

The pit fiends of the Dark Eight, and their respective responsibilities, are:

• Baalzephon - Supply
• Corin - Espionage
• Dagos - Strategy
• Furcas - Mortal Relations
• Pearza - Research and Implementation
• Zapan - Immortal Relations
• Zaebos - Promotions and Demotions
• Zimimar - Morale

Although they existed in secret for some time, the group first emerged dramatically during the Reckoning of Hell, when they led the nine armies of the plane against the rebellious lords who dared to march against Asmodeus. After the Reckoning the hierarchy of the Hells was restructured to give power over the majority of Hell's legions to the Dark Eight instead of the rebellious lords. The group was originally called the Dark Nine (reflecting the plane's nine layers, as well as of course the group's nine members). The ninth member to this illustrious gathering was the pit fiend Cantrum, who was acknowledged by the rest as their leader. Cantrum was murdered by a paladin (or, some say, a disgruntled underling), and instead of trying to replace their irreplaceable leader, the rest re-organized and called themselves the Dark Eight.

Each of the Dark Eight is responsible for a single aspect of the Blood War, and they are each given the freedom to execute their duties as they see fit. The entire body has the ability to veto decisions made by an individual member of the Eight, but often they pursue their own agendas. Despite the inevitable intrigues, the Dark Eight work well as a team.

Headquarters

Each of the Dark Eight rules a legion from each of the layers of Hell, except for Nessus, where Asmodeus holds his forces for a greater conflict yet to come. They rule the devils beneath them and meet in the fortress of Malsheem in the ninth layer of Nessus. Other than planning the next Blood War offensive, they also have the power to determine which devils get promoted.

When they are not leading their armies (which is a rare occasion indeed, in the case of Dagos), they reside in Nessus. When away on some errand of hellish nature, they often appear in malefic human guise.

Bibliography

• Cook, Monte. Book of Vile Darkness. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002. ISBN 0-7869-2650-3
• -----. A Paladin in Hell. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998. ISBN 0-7869-1210-3

• 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.
• -----. "The Lords of the Nine." Dragon #223. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.

• McComb, Colin, and Wolfgang Baur. Planes of Law. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995.

• 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. ISBN 0-7869-1431-9

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