Il Demonio

A god first introduced in the Lilliend Gazetteer in Quoth the Raven Issue 25. Il Demonio is worshipped in the Wartorn Cluster as the god of Evil. Il Demonio is known as the son of Brightwell. In Lilliend, he is also the son of Thunder-Father and the father of his nemesis, Ashar.

Alignment

Neutral Evil

Cleric alignments

Chaotic Evil, Lawful Evil, Neutral Evil, True Neutral

Portfolio

Evil, corruption, cruelty, depravity, madness, murder, pestilence, poison, rape, selfishness, treachery; destruction of the social contract and good will among mortals.

Symbol

A black sun, rising from the Mists

Spell Domains

Charm, Darkness, Death, Evil, Trickery

Spell Subdomains

Deception, Loss, Lust, Murder, Night, Thievery, Undead

Favoured weapon

Dagger

Mythos

In Lilliend, il Demonio was born because Thunder-Father forced himself upon the sleeping Brightwell, and violated her in turn as soon as he was born. Brightwell kicked him away, allowing their daughter Ashar to be born and attack him in turn. Il Demonio fled alongside Thunder-Father and tricked him into leaving the crack in the blue orb of sky open, allowing Brightwell's dreams of magic and nightmares become monsters to enter the material world. He further tricked Thunder-Father into killing his wife, Haurau, then went forth into the new world to sow his wickedness into the hearts of men and women alike.

In Conquista, il Demonio's father is unknown. It is speculated that he was sired by a mortal man when Brightwell was herself mortal, but there are also stories that he was sired by a Loa, or that Brightwell caused his birth by experimenting on her own body. Regardless, it was il Demonio who persuaded the people of the dying world to worship his mother, allowing her to merge the dying world with a living one. He rode his mother's coattails to divinity and fought Taiia at her side, but went forth to poison the hearts and minds of mortalkind afterward.

Worship

Evil deeds are what il Demonio wants of his followers, the debasement and corruption of all souls is what he desires, and this is fully reflected in the rites his followers hold to honour him. Even the True Neutral sect, which at least pretends not to be openly malicious, encourages evil on the basis that sometimes cruel acts are supposedly "necessary". The Chaotic Evil sect worships him through acts of slaughter and cannibalism, for instance through the actions of the Conquistan Goatsmen.

Relations

Il Demonio demonstrates a twisted and sickening 'love' for his mother, Brightwell, that would more rightfully be called a vile obsession. His church has standing orders to create positive connections with the Church of Brightwell, but such overtures are not reciprocated; it is far more common for the faithful of Brightwell to react with hostility if they encounter the followers of il Demonio.

The deity feigns affection for the rest of his family, including his father and daughter, but this is a lie; apart from his mother, il Demonio wants to tear down all other gods and enthrone himself upon their carcasses. What he wishes to do with his beloved mother does not bear repeating.

Inspiration

Il Demonio's twisted history with Brightwell and Ashar is inspired by John Milton's Paradise Lost, to be specific the scene where Lucifer births Sin from his head, and then conceives Death with her, who proceeds to conceive a brood of horrid creatures with Sin.