Zariel

"Keep wasting my time with your pointless words and die, or join my war band and live. Choose swiftly. I have a plane to conquer."

- Zariel to emissaries from Dis

Zariel was an archdevil of the Nine Hells and the ruler of Avernus.

Personality
Zariel lived to fight and judged people on their combat skills and willingness to use those skills. She prized zeal as much as training, and left many a structure in ruin.

She spurned the political machinations of the other Lords.

Abilities
Zariel had the ability to cast at will fireball, alter self, invisibility, wall of fire and detect evil and good. Three times a day she was able to cast finger of death, blade barrier and dispel evil and good.

Possessions
Zariel lived in a massive fortress in Avernus. It was made of basalt and was 5 square mile (13 sq. km) in area. Those who displeased Zariel were chained to the outer walls. The fortress was defended by a variety of devils.

Activities
Zariel managed access to and from the entire layer of Avernus. She had complete authority over who could pass through the layer.

Cult
The Cult of Zariel attracted those who had the desire to find glory in battle but lacked the necessary experience. The cult provided military training to new acolytes. Most of the new acolytes were experienced warriors from martial organizations such as fighters' guilds and mercenary companies. Zariel's cultist were often lead into battle by cambions.

History
Zariel was originally an impetuous angel of Celestia, who was tasked with tracking the progress of the Blood War on Avernus. Continued exposure to the plane led her to grow obsessed with the war and developed a growing taste for battle, which eventually led her to believe that an assault from the hosts of Celestia could wipe out both sides of the Blood War in one stroke and free the multiverse of those fiends. Frustrated by her superiors' refusal to engage in the war, Zariel decided to act on her own and led a host of mortal allies into Avernus. Following her defeat, Zariel was brought to Asmodeus, who then named her lord of the layer and named Zariel his champion.

Zariel later sided against Asmodeus in the Reckoning of Hell. Following the conflict, she retained her position as Archduchess of Avernus, but the pit fiend Bel was promoted to commander of the layer's armies. He used this position to stage a coup and overthrow Zariel, establishing himself as Lord of the First in her stead. Hoping to reduce Zariel into an empty soul shell, Bel kept her locked in a prison in the Bronze Citadel while siphoning her powers to augment his own abilities. Zariel was constantly tortured by abishai servants of Bel, who continuously carved off bits of her flesh to feed their master.

Some time later, Bel fell out of favor with Asmodeus due to his inability to successfully repel a demonic invasion of Avernus. Zariel reclaimed her title as Lord of Avernus following Bel's demotion. He was forced to serve as Zariel's advisor and remained one of her chief lieutenants, waiting for her reckless tactics to lead to a mistake, so he could claim his title back.

Invasion of Waterdeep
On a Founder's Day in the late 15 century, Zariel was summoned onto Waterdeep's Field of Triumph. She, in turn, summoned a host of devils and bid them spread chaos in the city. Waterdeep briefly became a battlefield in the Blood War, as demons were attracted by the sudden presence of devils. Zariel hoped that strong adventurers would appear to defeat the fiendish invasion, and that she could lure or blackmail them into her service. A group of adventurers, commanded by Blackstaff Vajra Safahr to restore order to the city, was able to defeat Zariel and banish her back to the Nine Hells.

Appearances

 * Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms