Asmodeus

Asmodeus, the Lord of the Nine Hells is the devil god residing in the Nine Hells and an archdevil of the ninth layer the Hells. He is the god of tyranny and domination, and a skilled manipulator.

Appearance
Asmodeus is typically depicted as handsome humanoid with dark red skin, long black hair, and two curling horns rising from his brow. This is true to how he appears to Zerxus Ilerez, although Asmodeus has the ability to appear in the form of whomever the viewer finds most beautiful.

The Founding
Asmodeus is a fallen celestial. During the Schism of the Founding, a rift between the Betrayer Gods and Prime Deities, they desputed the fate of the Primordials. Asmodeus sided with the Betrayers, preferring Primordials roam the world and bring chaos, destroying their creations, so they could start again elsewhere. During the conflict, Asmodeus corrupted celestial armies of the Prime Deities into the first devils.

The Prime Deities, with the help of their mortal champions, ultimately destroyed the Primordials and banished the Betrayer Gods from the Material Plane, behind the Divine Gate. They did it so thoroughly that Betrayers could not grant their divine magic to their followers throughout all of the Age of Arcanum.

Vespin's ascension
Closer to the end of the Age of Arcanum, on the eve of the Calamity, Archmage Vespin Chloras, inspired by the ascension of the Raven Queen, attempted to repeat her ascension ritual. But rather than trying to replace a Prime Deity as the Raven Queen did with the previous god of death, he instead planned to replace one of the Betrayer Gods, Asmodeus, believing that in doing so he could remove or reform the Lord of the Hells' divine portfolio. However during his ritual, he released the Betrayer Gods from their planar prisons, and Asmodeus bound Vespin as his thrall, turning him into a k'nauth. The released Betrayers were caught in the spell cast by the Tree of Names, and imprisoned within its branches, but not before they were able to set a plan in motion to have the Tree destroyed.

Tree of Names
About that time, Zerxus Ilerez had recurring dreams of Asmodeus falling to Pelor and begging Zerxus for mercy as he sin the streets of Avalir. While at the Hall of Oracles, Zerxus noticed Asmodeus in a mirror and had a vision in which Asmodeus, gravely injured, told him that he and the other Betrayer Gods had recently been released. Asmodeus expressed grief over the Primordials and his and the other Betrayers' rejection by the Prime Deities and by mortals. Zerxus showed him sympathy and began to cast Ceremony on him, but Asmodeus interrupted him and cast Protection from Evil and Good on him and told Zerxus he would not forget him.

After Laerryn Coramar-Seelie destroyed the Tree of Names, Asmodeus stepped out. Zerxus helped pull him through into the world. Asmodeus then healed him, and Zerxus began to cast the atonement Ceremony again but Asmodeus became angry and told him he'd done nothing wrong. While repeatedly killing and resurrecting Zerxus in anger, Asmodeus explained that prior to the mortals, the Prime Deities and Betrayer Gods were as siblings, but the Prime Deities choosing to side with the mortals destroyed that relationship. Zerxus expressed pity towards Asmodeus and his mindset of hate, and Asmodeus killed him a final time and created the Mace of the Black Crown from Xartaza, an erinyes, and offered a deal to Zerxus. Zerxus ultimately took it, though Vespin Chloras rewrote the contract to give him until sunrise before it took effect. After the Ring of Brass thwarted his plan to ally with the Primordials, releasing two of them, Ka'Mort the Empress of Earth and Rau'shan the Emperor of Fire, from their their prison beneath Mount Ygora, and destroy all of Exandria, Asmodeus said he would "shatter [the] teeth" of Domunas.

Ghor Dranas and assault on Vasselheim
Fulfilling his plans in Avalir and stating that the "business takes him to Vasselheim tonight", Asmodeus opened a gate to Ghor Dranas, newly raised capital of the Betrayers' influence, where he was greeted by Gruumsh. Ghor Dranas, according to one theory on the origin of tieflings, is the place of their creation, as a result of some of the city's inhabitants tying their bloodlines to Asmodeus in exchange for magical knowledge.

In the following evening, the Betrayer Gods attacked Vasselheim, starting a battle that lasted twenty days and nights. Ultimately, the Betrayer Gods were forced to retreat, but the attack started the centuries-long war known as The Calamity.

The Calamity
During a brief period of unified interests, Asmodeus and Lolth exalted an immortal assassin, Jourrael, the Inevitable End, who could not be completely destroyed as long as their contract remained intact; as of 836 PD, Jourrael remained immortal.

During the Calamity, Asmodeus deceived and betrayed Sarenrae, and killed most or all of her worshipers, in one stroke. In the end, Asmodeus was defeated by Avandra who trickes his armies into attacking one another.

Relationships
Asmodeus has many enemies even among the Betrayer Gods, many of whom only follow him out of fear. His archenemy, however, is Avandra, the Changebringer, who defeated him during the Calamity by tricking his armies into attacking each other.

Vespin Chloras
The archmage Vespin Chloras released the Betrayer Gods from their planar prisons in the hopes of gaining power. Instead, they immediately enthralled him. Post-Divergence, Vespin is said to be a devil serving at the left hand of Asmodeus.

Desirat
Desirat was the companion and mount of Asmodeus during the Calamity. She was captured and imprisoned beneath Mount Mentiri by the original pre-Divergence Cerberus Assembly and remains there as of 836 PD.

Zerxus Ilerez
Zerxus Ilerez first dreamed of Asmodeus, and then had a vision in which he saw the gravely wounded god shortly after Asmodeus had been released. He healed him and listened to Asmodeus's story, and in exchange for his sympathy Asmodeus cast Protection from Evil and Good on him.

Known worshipers
Mynarc Furdahl, an undead warlock of Asmodeus living in the island of Kaltsel, on Eiselcross.

Appearances and mentions

 * Campaign 1
 * Campaign 2
 * Exandria Unlimited: Calamity
 * Campaign 2
 * Exandria Unlimited: Calamity
 * Exandria Unlimited: Calamity
 * Exandria Unlimited: Calamity
 * Exandria Unlimited: Calamity
 * Exandria Unlimited: Calamity
 * Exandria Unlimited: Calamity
 * Exandria Unlimited: Calamity

Trivia

 * One of the oldest objects in Grog Strongjaw's Bag of Holding was a signet ring with the symbol of Asmodeus, recovered from a "big demon" who had body-slammed him onto a spike. It was used to assert belonging to the cult of Asmodeus. This demon may have been Juurezel, a glabrezu demon who posed as a "devil prince".
 * The adventure hook Twilight Phoenix in the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount involves archmages who worship Asmodeus attempting to free his mount Desirat from her prison.