- For other Baatezu (Devils), see Baatezu.
Baalzebul used to be a favorite of Asmodeus. A former archon on Mount Celestia, Baalzebul was thrown down from those lofty heights because of his selfishness and his relentless pursuit of perfection. Asmodeus, all too familiar with the long fall into Baator, took the battered ex-archon and made him a baatezu noble. In short order, Baalzebul mastered the art of infernal politics and overthrew the previous Lord of the Seventh, whose name and deeds are now forgotten. It was at this time that Baalzebul earned his sobriquet "the Lord of the Flies." By the time he took over the seventh layer, his net of intrigue was said to be woven so tightly that even a fly could not escape his clutches.
Baalzebul's greatest flaw has always been not knowing when to stop. His need for complete perfection in all his endeavors drives him to acts of extremity. His crowning folly is without a doubt the Reckoning. Had he contented himself with striving to defeat Mephistopheles, Baalzebul may well have succeeded. However, his desire to overthrow Asmodeus colored his decision-making and offended the Dark Lord. While Asmodeus had no problem with the idea of one lord controlling two layers, he would not countenance a lord with an eye on his throne.
After the defeat of the rebellious lords, Baalzebul was offered his position back by the Dark Lord. However, Asmodeus destroyed the handsome features of the vain rebel, making him assume a horrid, sluglike form. Now known as the Slug Archduke, Baalzebul dreams of taking his vengeance on the Dark Lord who humiliated him. He must deal with practical matters as well, most notably his continuing struggle with Mephistopheles. Both he and the Lord of the Eighth believe that the key to reversing the Reckoning is to defeat the other, so skirmishes and outright battles are common between the armies of the two lords.
Baalzebul, or Triel the Fallen as he is sometimes known, takes out his frustrations on his hapless subjects. As mentioned in Chapter 4 (in Guide to Hell), Baalzebul builds city after city for himself in Maladomini, but none of them are ever good enough. He can see his perfect city in his mind, but cannot make a reality. The same can be said of his political aspirations.
Combat[]
Baalzebul cannot wield weapons in his slug form, so he must attack with his stunted arms. These inflict 1d10+7 damage and have the same aging and withering effects as a staff of withering. Ageless creatures, such as devils and demons, are not affected by these special abilities.
Once per round Baalzebul can use the following spell-like powers, in addition to those normally available to baatezu: beguile, detect invisibility, geas, light, polymorph self, produce flame, pyrotechnics, raise dead, read languages, read magic, restoration, rulership (as per a rod of rulership), and wall of fire. Once per day Baalzebul can create a symbol of pain or insanity, utter an unholy word, and fulfill a wish. His gaze causes fear. Three times per day he can summon 1d4 erinyes, 1d3 barbazu, or 1 cornugon with a 90% chance of success.