I think yugoloths are by definition the worst of the fiends, as unlike devils who want to rule all tyrannically or demons who want to destroy anything, yugoloths just want everyone (including themselves) to suffer as much as possible, forever.
I would argue they aren't and my argument is thus: Demons are the only faction who you could not rise up against and resist after their victory. If the devils "won" and ruled everything, you could conceive of a potential, possible resistance movement. If the yugoloths "won" and ruled everything, you could conceive of a potential, possible resistance movement. If the demons "won" and ruled everything, they'd kill and destroy it all and there would be nothing left. So basically, demons are the only ones who essentially end all hope, and therefor that is the most evil, IMO.
@@yotamz.r.6948 Thank you. I certainly can see your point though, I might choose death over living under the Yugoloths too lol. Just because there is hope doesn't mean it's feasible, after all.
Thank you so much for your hopeful and uplifting epilogue Esper. I know how easy it is to fall for the trappings of cynicism and nihilism, so your words are extremely welcomed. Again, thank you. ❤
people frequently misrepresent nihilism, its not "nothing has meaning so give up" its "nothing has INHERENT meaning, life is your canvas to paint your own meaning onto"
"Back on the first level of Avernus, we find Bael. His role is a powerful Duke of Hell, he commands legions in the Blood War." That might just be the most faithful adaptation of a devil in the entirety of D&D, relatively speaking. He's not as far off from the Goetic Bael as the other archdevils seen here are from their respective sources.
@@ShadowedBattlegroundsCre-tk9md When I say "Goetic", I refer specifically to the _Ars_ Goetia. As Abaddon isn't mentioned in the Ars Goetia, he's not Goetic.
Got a job offer today & Esper the Bard drops a video early enough to enjoy with my morning coffee?! Today is going great! Edit: Woah! And the video is 41 mins long! This’ll hold me over for my coffee & while I do some dishes!
Fun fact "Dis" means chaos. "Pater" means father. "Dispater" translates to father of chaos. And the father of chaos rules the city of chaos. And he is lawful evil Edit: dis doesn’t translate to chaos but to both wealth and god. This makes this fun fact way less funny
The older descriptions in the Planescape setting describe Dis as a city that is effectively impossible to maneuver due to the layout changing whenever you turn your back, according to rules no one knows. So you could argue that the Chaos is something that visitors of his city are inflicted upon. (And of course it all comes from a time when fact-checking through the internet was not an option :P)
Dis is not chaos, it's a version of the afterlife. Not heaven or hell, just a neutral afterlife. So like, "The Father in the Afterlife/Father of Death"
@@Pilgrim98 looked it up and we’re both wrong. Dis is most likely derived from both “dives” meaning “wealth” and dius meaning “god” or “god-like”. He was originally associated with agriculture and wealth (minerals to be specific) and was synchronized with hades by the romans later on because he had associations with the underground. I Should’ve looked up wikipedia before commenting, though I’m not sure where i first heard that dis meant chaos.
@@lechevalier-ns2pt probably because in Dante, the city of Dite is an actual fortified city inside of Hell. I know at least that's where I got confused.
So Dispater was was an alternate name for Pluto. as the ruler of the underworld he was a dark reflection of Jupiter the sky father. As Jupiter was the leader of the celestial gods Pluto was the leader of the cthonic or earthly gods
I would not call it redeeming value, though something of a mitigating factor. He's not devoting 100% of his time to corrupting mortals and spreading despair because he also spends so much time administrating, politicking, and overseeing the Blood War against the demons.
Ah... The fun part is, Asmodeus is not even who he appears to be. He is greater than any of these simple devils, and his devilish form is entirely a facade. He is The Serpent, twin to another holy serpentine creature who both were part of the creation of the cosmos. His true form is there, at the bottom of hell where the river ends. Slowly consuming souls to regain his strength from his fall.
I was just sitting down to write a campaign in which the party is contracted by devils to hunt demons on the prime material plane... this video is the perfect background for my writing process
Thank you for this video. That intro you wrote to lay the groundwork for the video helped me figure out something that's been bothering me for a long time.
Personally, I think it makes more sense for all the lofty devil rulers and generals to be human like in appearance, with only subtly monstrous features, unlike the humongous pit fiend, the insectoid Beelzebub, the half serpentine Mammon, or the Typhon wannabe, Geryon. That would help cement their thematic differences with the overtly monstrous demons of the abyss, who get more gruesomely inhuman the more powerful they are.
I like this, especially if we have devils that grow MORE humanlike, and lest bestial, the more powerful they are. Humanity's evil twins. The more vile, and nasty, and terrible they are, they more they look just like you. Because let's be honest - we could all become that horrible monster. It's just a moment's decision away. Give in to rage, or temptation, or pride, or greed for just a second and there you are.
I agree. I generally present devils as basically looking like tieflings with black wings or bat wings or something. Generally though, I just combined devils and demons in custom settings and based on their 'sin' they're more monstrous in a particular way. So gluttony and envy are usually particularly disgusting, while pride and lust are always beautiful to behold.
That speech at the end was quite beautiful and unexpected. I think devils may be the most interesting creatures in D&D, like the complex politics and conflicts thats going on between them while theyre fighting a much greater battle at the same time
That last bit deserved a sub. I work in ems, been on 3 suicide calls and countless attempts. I'd like to share what you said with the survivors, because it cones from a different pov than what I say.
Wow, your voice, narration and the very words you say are amazing. Keep up the good work. Btw, I was always intrigued by the lords of the nine hells...especially the reckoning.
According to what I had read in the lore Levistus was frozen in ice because he plotted and achieved to murder the consort of Asmodeus and mother of Glasya, therefore getting to be punished in that block of ice forever, every time he is inches away from being free again he gets transported back to the center of it.
I think an argument can be made for both Asmodeus and Levistus based on what rendition of Satan you look at. Asmodeus better fits the original Judaic interpretation of him simple being "Ha Satan" aka "The Adversary" the one and only trusted by God to arguably the most important job of tempting mortals against his plan, to test mortals. It's evil to us, and he may take joy in it, but he serves a greater purpose and greater being Whereas Levistus is more close to the Christian interpretation of an absolute evil for the sake of it, tearing mortals away from God bc he likes it, delighting in their misery. And like the Devil in Dante's Comedy he has been eternally punished for it, imprisoned in ice deep in Hell, immobile, but not harmless, he still does evil bc evil must exist for good to. That's my take anyway
I honestly don’t think Belial is a particularly applicable devil to co-opt into a devil of masculine sexuality. IIRC, in Judeo-Christian lore he directly leads an army of demons, and his name directly translates to “the worthless one”.
Can't wait for your 50th Bardstream. Also I feel that Asmodeus is based on Lucifer because I believe he is a fallen angel himself, and is the true ruler of the Nine Hells.
Another way to look upon temptation is the desire to get what is good or useful or desirable, in a way that isn't proper. Lust is wrong, bot because we shouldn't go forth and multiply, but because it goes and multiplies without making a foundation to raise tgose children optimally or it harms another in the attempt. Wrath is wrong not because there aren't proper times and things to destroy in anger, but because the act either went too far, or was upon the wrong target. Just as a couple of examples of that way of seeing the sins. After all, one of the translations from the roman word used for sin, is to have error in one's aim.
An understated aspect of the satanic figure, is that in his opposition to the Divine he is ultimately pathetic. Asmodeus is the ruler of his realm, Mephistopheles is Chief amongst schemers, and Baalzebul at least can roam. Levistus for all his want, has nothing.
I really needed to hear this, dude. 😊 I have a close friend, his favorite quote, from Warhammer: "Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment." I understand his viewpoint, but I just can't agree entirely. Hope is the first step on the road, yes; and roads go many places. Some hopes lead to disappointment, but others lead to joy. Warhammer has a god of hope as well, Tzeench; also the god of magic and change. While his hopes aren't always good - they do directly oppose Nurgle, the God of death and comfortable stagnation. I think it is always better to get on the road; no matter where it leads - after all, the destination isn't the story; the story is the journey. Thank you, for reminding me of that!
I'm glad my words resounded with you. Best wishes to your friend. Perhaps tell him to look around at everything in the world-the buildings, the cars, the art, the music, the games like Warhammer, the computers, the energy grid, and countless systems that operate in order to sustain life and provide us endless innovations and expressions of culture-every single thing began as just an idea in somebody's head, and those people only acted because they had hope that the idea could come to fruition and provide something valuable. If it weren't for hope, we'd all just be wallowing in the mud, stabbing each other with sticks.
buuuh zariel, bel is our man! and i think you forgot one of the exiled archdevils gargoth, who is said to rival asmodeus "If, however, Gargauth decided he wanted the Overlord's throne rather than to forge his own path, Asmodeus's days could very well be numbered. Gargauth was once a power in Hell second only to Asmodeus, and with his support, Mephistopheles, Baalzebul, or even one of the less powerful archdukes had some chance of ousting the King of Hell" plus the dude is very devil-ish looking
I think that the official justification is that he is so foul and disgusting that attracts swarms of flies and other insects. Still a weak explanation, but an explanation nonetheless
@@samfleming4527 Kobolds from Germanic mythology were little faerie people that hung around your house and often appeared as small children, but could also take the shape of animals or a candle. They were generally cool until you annoy them, then they'd play all manner of mean tricks on you, like most fey types. The whole "kobolds are little dragon people" thing is 100% a D&D thing. One that I appreciate, I love the little yappy lizards, but it's far removed from real world mythology. But even then, we didn't get to the lizard form until 3rd edition iirc. 1st Edition D&D they were little goblinoid-type people, and 2nd edition they were fuzzy dog-like critters. Wasn't until 3rd Ed. that we got the lizard form. One thing I never figured out is WHY that happened. And I wonder what other D&D critters have evolved like that over time.
@@esperthebardWell yes, but all of those had external reasons if I’m not mistaken. I’m curious what the external reason for making Beelzebub a slug was.
Sire the troops have been fighting for months for this victory but are burdened with much weariness and sorrow. What can we do for these men? Not to worry I have sent for entertainment for the troops, the great Bard Roberto Esperanza! He is bringing Ann Margert and Rachel Welsh!
Great message at the end, and a completely true one! To anyone who needs to hear this: even though the world isn’t perfect, it’s better with you in it ❤️
In older scriptures the term satan is more a role than a specific devil. Asmo is prolly closest to lucifer, if we knew his true origin story... but the guy makes up a lot of stuff so who knows.
My most insidious devil cult in a campaign, was a cult made up mostly of very noble people, believing they are fighting the right cause against the demons and want to still fight after they die in the Blood War. Asmodeus himself was even assigning more honest and honorable (still evil) devils to be summoned by them or working with them. Because those were good mostly good and neutral people in that cult, they were drawing in a lot more of good and neutral souls, which are worth much more.
Personally I’m fascinated by Gargauth the lord of the tenth circle of hell because I think he personally is the closest to Satan because his entire existence is to corrupt all good and he takes joy in the moral destruction of powerful people. There are theories as to why he was cast out of hell and one of them is that he was so evil and twisted that Asmodeus feared him
When looking at the Abrahamic Satan, and trying to figure out what fantasy archdevil is closest. I find I have to figure out which satan I am trying to figure out. The name translates to 'adversary', but there are more then one in the old testament, and while only one in the new testament, they are more akin to a prosecuting attorney, that uses entrapment to then convict. Many episodes of the tv series cops showed this happening. For me Asmodeus fits that well. This was fascinating, and I like the Archdevil Levistus, so yeah he could be one that fit's the title. But in my head cannon I see him as an avatar of another being, and before I found the other being in the books for the game, used him as a stand in.
So if I'm reading this right, if someone who wanted to drown those that had wronged them in hellfire went looking for a devil that could grant them that power Zariel or Geryon would be the most likely to respond?
I was gonna comment this when this dropped, so I'm probably late on this. Speaking of hope, wouldn't the continuous scheming to climb to the top mean that even though they are devils, fiends, creatures of evil, they would have hope that it was even possible?
How does Levistus tempt mortals while frozen in Ice? Can he mentally communicate with mortals from hell, or create an avatar on the material plane or something?
The official D&D books unfortunately do a very poor job of explaining or developing the cosmology of things (something I am working to correct in my own setting of Ichoros). But yes, the general idea is that archdevils, demon lords, great old ones, gods, and other beings of great power cannot readily just teleport into the Material Plane, and therefore interact with people by way of telepathic communication, dreams, visions, signs, avatars, and of course their assorted mortal followers.
I can't help but notice Glasya layer is so short. But you should really explain why it has its name. It was ruled over by a supremely powerful Hag for I believe most of 2nd editions DnD. Then she was cursed by Asmodeous himself into becoming the lair for his daughter. He litterally made her expand and explode replacing that level of Hell with herself. Then he made her daughter in charge of it. There is ALOT to say about this philisophically
Despair... Would purposely continuing a war you could win count as causing despair? Continuing the soul trade to empower himself is pretty insidious. Think of the despair Asmodeus causes casually. Mephi has nothing on the despair Asmo causes without a single care. Asmo causes despair amongst his own devils. Asmo could win the Blood War at any time. That is without question. Asmo has progrogated a war of attrition for his own reasons, reasons that are counter to his own stated goals in order to empower himself at the expense of everyone. Asmo promises hope, and delivers despair. If he won the war, a great deal of suffering caused by his generals schemes and bargains would disappear. The soul trade would end. The devils would no longer have a reason to bargain with mortals for their souls. The devils would be out of work. The conflict would end. To continue a war that has the costs of the Blood War for petson reasons, when victory is achievable, is causing despair of the highest order. None of the other devils could cause despair without that one single decision. Asmo is the root of despair, while promising hope. He is the father of temptation by continuing a system that creates profit from despair. And he dies it from pride. He wants to be at the top. He creates despair because its his only path to the power he desires. That is the conditions the video set forth as "satan".
I haven't watched the video yet. But I'm excited to see what you have to say, because most people. Get to meaning of the word (Satanic) wrong. The word (Satanic) means (Characteristic of or befitting Satan.) And the word (Satan) is a (Title.) That means (Accuser or Adversary.) So technically evan a hero who opposes. A devil is still (Satanic.) And simultaneously holds the (Title) of (Satan.)
I know that ive asked this a lot, but i still want the abominations to be ranked. The abominations are such an interesting and tragic monster type, and one that i feel some degree of sympathy for.
You've fallen for Asmodeus' greatest lie. That he's "not that bad, just look at who he's keeping in check, you can totally trust him more than these other bozos." He's the Lord of the Nine Hells, King of Lies, and God of Sin for a reason. 😉
Not sure how you got that impression. I literally laid in detail how he's just barely less satanic than Levistus, then said that you could make a solid argument that he's actually the most evil.
@@esperthebard That was intended to be sort of tongue-in-cheek. Akin to the old saying "the greatest lie the devil ever told was that he wasn't real". Basically, I think everything every archdevil does is outshined by how spread out Asmodeus' attention is, yet he is still able to maintain complete dominion over the Nine Hells. He does everything they all do, and still sits at the very top of the hierarchy. He's also a greater deity. Every temptation and all despair across the entire plane is an extension of his will and power. That's the sort of thing that makes him the most satanic, in my opinion.
So, interesting video, but I have a semantic nitpick- this isn't about the most *satanic* archdevil, it's about which archdevil is the most like Satan. Satanic, as an adjective, generally is used to mean "relating to Satanism, as a religion." Which means, that the most Satan-like archdevil is, obviously, Asmodeus, because he is literally Satan with the serial numbers filed off for D&D. But that's just my two cents *as a satanist* and literal advocate for the devil who, as the video ends, suddenly feels very out of place here.
so true. from my point of view the problem in modern dnd is desacrelisation of evil and detachment of the aspect of evel from the virtue. Making it its own thing. Theres no drama, no moral chalenge in this modern approach.
Not in my world, alignment is done differently. There isn't even "cleric" or "Paladins " my world is more morally gray and brutal. "Clerics" and "Paladins " is more closer to mages then anything Divine. In my world a cleric can just kill who ever they want and say God told me to and most likely the NPCs will believe or risk getting run threw with a blade themselves. Who needs evil when people are doing just fine. Can you play an actually morally good character yes. Just keep in mind the campaign I run you will have to make hard decisions that is morally gray. And I will make you at some point ask yourself "are you really good? Or are you the bad guy?" To kill or not to kill that is the question. And in my world actions have consequences. Had one player go murder hobo. A serial killer that was in the city though it was a challenge and killed him. Even the "good" aligned creature aren't exactly "good" I have something called evil light. Where they protry themselves as good and does good things when everyone is looking but does evil or selfish things when they're not. And I have the darklight where they seem evil but it's more for the greater good. More like Anti-hero.
Great fun, err maybe not the best choice of words, entertaining video. Interested to know more DnD lore. Since WotC owns Forgotten Realms as well do they have the same 9 layers?
Forgotten Realms is just a DnD setting. The planes are pretty consistent across the different settings. You have a few where the outer planes aren't accessible for various reasons, Ravenloft and Darksun for instance, but they still exist. So yeah, the nine layers exist across all official settings, although their significance varies wildly.
In judeo-christian theology it is. Starting in 2e they tweaked the pronunciation as part of their attempt to separate DND's tanari (sp?) and Bazatue from "real world" demonology in response to the Satanic Panic.
I don't see why so many people insist that pride is the worst of sins. Lust is much more pervasive, more insidious, more damaging, and more difficult to fight. It has become so ingrained in society that it can not be avoided or ignored. There are plenty of people who never really struggle with pride, but lust is biologically wired into everyone.
@@esperthebard It isn't though. Addiction can lead someone to commit horrific crimes so they can get their fix, whether it be a physical substance they take or a mental/emotional addiction. I know people who got dragged so far into evil through addiction that they attempted suicide over it. They couldn't see any other way to escape the things they were doing and the person they had become. They didn't have pride driving them to intentionally defy morality. They tried something they really shouldn't have for one reason or another, then they couldn't ever find a way to make themselves stop.
All humans are born with Lust then that lust is turn to greed, greed turn to pride, once pride is broken it turn to wrath,pride or greed can become sloth,pride or lust can lead to gluttony. But the truth these so call sins have a upside as much as they have a downside.
Satan: Gets a new pseudonym D&D designers: "Let's attach this to some lore and a statblock" D&D players: Find a way to defeat this new version of Satan, often quite easily and anticlimactically, until he becomes a joke
I will raise argument that Asmodeus does far more sowing despair than you give him credit BECAUSE he's fighting the Demons. There are at least two instances of Asmodeus dealing tremendouls blow to forces of good by convincing an angel that war of heaves against the Abyss cannot be won and only by joining HIM they can defeat the demons - one is Zariel, who was on her way to become Celestial Paragon and other was an angel who helped Asmodeus defeat and defile an entire heavenly fortress in 4e. Levistus may win on despair font with quantity, but Asmodeus has him beaten in quality..
