D&D Planescape: The Blood War – The Baatezu
SYNOPSIS
In one of those "you got chocolate in my peanut-butter" moments, I’ve been tinkering away at creating a series of mods that adds a number of Dungeons and Dragons-themed factions into Dominions 6 – specifically focusing on the eternal "Blood War" from the Planescape setting, in which Demons and Devils fight a genocidal war across the Lower Planes in order to determine, with dreadful finality, which fiendish race proves to be the most Supreme Evil.
My vision is mostly influenced by my collection of AD&D 2nd Edition splatbooks (Planescape supplements, natch) sprinkled with some touches from 3.5 edition, 5th edition, and Pathfinder. Over the years, the lore of the Blood War was expanded and refined and of course, I’ve added in some of my own interpretation. (Toning down some of the…er, sillier elements that were present in the 80’s and 90’s reference materials.)
Note that these nations are balanced for the Late Era of Dominions 6, but you’re welcome to alter the .dm file to integrate them into any era you wish! 🙂
WHAT THEY ARE
The Baatezu of the Nine Hells represent the crushing, tyrannical boot of Law, devoid of Justice. Baator ("The Nine Hells") is a realm of cold, calculating evil; the Arch-Devils and Dark Powers that reside therein delight in enslaving and oppressing those weaker than them. The fiends are rigidly ordered in caste and role, and led by the Infernal Dukes and Duchesses; heartless, cunning, and wholly willing to sacrifice countless numbers of faceless foot-soldiers if it meant they gained a small sliver of power. Their orders are carried out without question or hesitation, but all devils scheme in secret, hoping for an opportunity to betray and usurp their superiors.
Since the dawn of time, the Baatezu have been locked in a war of total genocide against chaotic Tanar’ri, hating the fiends of the Abyss for their unpredictable rage as much as the latter hates them for their soulless rigidity.
As with all fiends, the Baatezu rely on the souls of the wicked to fill their ranks, and to that end, they infiltrate the mortal realms, encouraging and counseling corrupt politicians, cruel emperors and sadistic despots. They seduce with promises of power and wealth, and draw up eloquent and treacherous contracts for any mortal willing to sign away their immortal soul. It’s said no one breaks a deal with a devil.
The mortal demogogues who court the favor of the Baatezu rule their citizens with an iron fist. Public executions for the smallest infractions are common, and any hint of rebellion is snuffed out with brutal force. The societies controlled by the Baatezu fiends may be peaceful and orderly, but free thought and individual liberty are rare in those lands.
HOW THEY PLAY
Recruits
Mortal men – many of whom enlisted solely for the opportunity to bully those weaker than they – make up the "Hellsworn" military order, divided into Custodes (city-watch), Lawgivers and Orderbringers. As a general rule, they are well-armed and armored and enforce peace with an iron fist in the provinces under Baatorian rule.
Hobgoblins of Acheron are especially well-ordered and can be recruited from their Iron Garrison in the Capitol. Deep-Dwarves, or "Duergar", dwell in the caves below the earth, and fiend-blooded tiefling mercenaries have established small camps in the less-civilized regions and can be bought and manipulated for the right price.
Summons
The Baatezu fiends themselves are summoned in elaborate rituals that require the use of expensive gems. They are highly resistant to Fire, Poison, and Cold, and their otherworldly nature grants them some Invulnerablility from mundane weapons. However, they are vulnerable to Banishment from opposing priests as well as spells which specifically target demons.
Religion
The Baatezu ‘philosophy’ states that all gods are weak when compared to the might of the Archdevils, which has attracted the service of some of the more…morally deficient heretics of the "Athar" planar faction, which preaches that the gods are charlatans. Cult-Priests of the Archdevils lead the people in worship of one chosen patron or another, but often plot the downfall or "disappearance" amongst the leaders of rival patrons. More powerful Baatezu can be considered potent priests in their own right, as they enforce the will of Baator on all who dare resist.
Magic
Primarily Fire, Air, and Earth, with some access to Death and Water. Many of the more powerful Baatezu possess innate spell-casting abilities as well.
