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The sixth plane of the Nine Hells is
ruled by Baalzebul through his viceroy
Moloch (Baalzebul?s own abode is not on
this plane). Moloch is continually
ordered about by his lord and watched by
the tribune Bileth, for Baalzebul fears that
to allow the Grand Duke to rest undisturbed
here for long would enable him to
somehow wrest control of Malbolge from
the Lord of the Flies.
An outsider might well wonder why
Moloch would want to rule such a place,
for nothing grows in Malbolge. It is a
plane of craggy, tumbled black stone and
ash, filled with stinking vapors, smokes,
fire pits, and huge caves and caverns.
The air is always hot and choking, and
intruders will find that anything flammable
remaining in contact with the
ground for more than 4 rounds (such as
dry wood, paper, hair, dry cloth, and the
like) must save versus (normal) fire or
burst into flames. Any such substances
that are almost continually in contact
with the ground (e.g., the soles of boots)
must save at the end of every 4-round
period.
Malbolge is a noisy place, populated by
tormented lemures, malebranche, and
occasional spined and styx devils, all of
whom suffer at the hands of the cruel
Baalzebul (who delights in torture), upon
his visits, and the almost equally cruel
Moloch. Both delight in the torture and
disfigurement of devils, so many (at least
50%) of the lesser devils found on this
plane will hate them to the point of
agreeing to active rebellion (if such an
effort seems likely to succeed), and such
devils are likely (80%) to be missing an
arm or leg, or be suffering a similar sort
of infirmity, as a result of the amusements
of the Grand Duke and his master.
Malbolge is continually patrolled by
pairs of malebranche who report to their
commander, the pit fiend Bethage; to the
legate Tartach; or to Moloch himself (or
to Baalzebul, if the Lord of the Flies is
present). Intruders are always brought
alive to the horned devils? commander for
torment and questioning (or the malebranche
patrol themselves will suffer in
the intruders? place). Few intruders
escape, and fewer still are allowed to live
for any length of time, for Baalzebul jealously
grasps and guards all power and
knowledge that he can, seeking to keep it
from other archdevils (particularly
Mephistopheles and Asmodeus), so as to
eventually gain the power to rule all of
the hells.
Moloch moves with his consort Lilith
from fortress to fortress of the malebranche
upon Baalzebul?s orders (usually
brought by the herald Neabaz). Tartach is
Moloch?s deputy and ambassador to the
vassal dukes and to visitors, and Bileth is
the tribune installed by Baalzebul as a
watchdog upon Moloch and others who
would take control of the plane. Baalzebul
finds it a continual struggle to
retain two planes under his own sway, in
a diabolic society where all are ambitious
and there are not enough planes to go
around. All of the vassals and assistants
to Moloch, including Lilith, are regarded
as loyal to Baalzebul, although Tartach
and Lilith (who feel largely powerless in
the current regime) might support a
strong bid to seize Malbolge by another
arch-devil.
The defensive forces of Malbolge consist
of nine companies of malebranche
under the command of the pit fiend
Bethage, and sixteen companies of bone
devils led by the pit fiend Herobaal.
| Lilith (Princess of Hell) | - | Tartach (Duke of Hell) | - | Bileth (Duke of Hell) |
| Malbolge | - | - | - | Hell |
-
FREQUENCY: Unique (Very rare)
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: ?2
MOVE: 12?
HIT DICE: 114 hit points
% IN LAIR: 75%
TREASURE TYPE: C, I, P
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: By weapon type +7
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 70%
INTELLIGENCE: Exceptional
ALIGNMENT: Lawful evil
SIZE: L (10? tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: 212
Attack/Defense Modes: All/all
Tartach serves Baalzebul
as legate to
Moloch, the viceroy of Malbolge. His
loyalty to Baalzebul is outwardly strong,
but Tartach feels relegated to a position
of minor importance, when elsewhere in
the hells many of lesser strength have
higher standing. If an arch-devil made a
bid to gain control of Malbolge that
seemed likely to succeed ? or if Moloch
were menaced in some way ? Tartach
might aid the attempt, or at least not
move to block it. Tartach has a dark,
cruel sense of humor, and enjoys tormenting
weaker creatures. He fights with a
flame tongue sword and a rope of
entanglement.
Tartach can employ the following
spell-like powers at will, one at a time
and once per round: pyrotechnics, produce
flame, fireball (3d6 damage), dispel
magic, detect invisibility, know alignment,
hold monster, wall of fire, teleport,
and (fulfill another?s limited) wish. Once
per day he can use a symbol of stunning,
and once per day he can feeblemind
another creature. Tartach causes fear by
eye contact (save vs. spell at ?3 to avoid
effects) on any creatures (one target per
round) within a 4? radius. He can summon
1-2 malebranche (with a 70% chance
of success). Tartach regenerates 2 hit
points per round.
Description: Tartach appears as a
human of giant stature wearing a beard
and mustache and with stubby, hooked
horns on his forehead. He has no tail, but
his feet have the pads and fur (but not the
claws) of a lion, and his skin is of a fiery
orange hue. He wears robes of black or
purple silk, and walks with cold dignity.
FREQUENCY: Unique (Very rare)
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: ?3
MOVE: 14?/21?
HIT DICE: 121 hit points
% IN LAIR: 75%
TREASURE TYPE: C, P
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-12, 2-12
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 70%
INTELLIGENCE: Genius
ALIGNMENT: Lawful evil
SIZE: L (9½? tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: 224
Attack/Defense Modes: All/all
Bileth serves Baalzebul as tribune
on
Malbolge, acting as a watchdog and a
check on the actions of Moloch. Bileth
speaks with the authority of Baalzebul,
but stands apart from the regime run by
Moloch, serving as a justiciar independent
of the viceroy. Moloch can do nothing
against Bileth, and must submit to his
commands, but has tried to undermine
the tribune?s effectiveness in Malbolge by
spreading the word among the malebranche
that Bileth is insane.
Bileth can use the following spell-like
powers at will, one at a time and once per
round: pyrotechnics, produce flame, wall
of fire, anti-magic shell, dispel magic,
detect invisibility, know alignment,
charm person, suggestion, ESP, tongues,
detect lie, repulsion, teleport, and (fulfill
another?s limited) wish. Once per day he
can use a death spell, and twice per day
he can cause a flame strike. Bileth causes
fear by touch (save vs. spell at ?2 to avoid)
and can summon 1-2 malebranche (75%
chance of success) or Baalzebul himself
(5% chance of success). Bileth regenerates
2 hit points per round.
Description: Bileth appears as a large
man clad in gilded coat-of-plate. He uses
weapons only in a pinch, preferring to
fight with his fists (2-12 damage each),
backed up by his massive strength. He is
bearded, crimson-skinned, and has horns
and hooves. He is tailless, but has large
black bat-like leathery wings. Once per
day he can breathe fire (in a cone 25? long
and 10? wide at its end, doing 3-18 damage;
save vs. breath weapon for 2-12), but
he will do this only if angered or
hard-pressed.
