Mephistopheles (Dungeons & Dragons)

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In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Mephistopheles is an Arch-Devil of Hell (Baator in later editions of the game), also known as the "Lord of No Mercy" and the "Cold Lord."

Mephistopheles (or Mephisto for short) is the lord of Cania, the eighth plane of Hell. He was the main opponent of Baalzebul during the Reckoning of Hell, and still holds a claim to his own layer. He seeks to take Baalzebul's layer away from him, that he may gain enough power to one day challenge Asmodeus for rulership of all the Nine Hells.

1 Description
2 Vassals
3 Creative origins
4 Mephistopheles in other media
5 References

[edit] Description

In the AD&D sourcebook Monster Manual II, Mephistopheles is a nine foot tall, blue-black humanoid with handsome, yet diabolical features. He has huge muscles that befit his great strength, and his speech is whispering wind. His wings, horns, and talons are deep blue and his scales are sooty black. His eyes are pale blue with red irises and pupils. In the 3E supplement Book of Vile Darkness, he is nine feet tall, with red skin, white eyes, horns, bat wings, and straight black hair. He wears flowing black capes and wields a three-pronged ranseur.

[edit] Vassals

The following beings are among the most notable subjects of Mephistopheles. The forces at their disposal are listed, where appropriate:

Adonides - Steward (DR76)
Baalphegor - Consort to Mephistopheles (DR76)
Barbas - Chamberlain of Mephistar (DR76)
Bele - Justicar (DR76)
Bifrons - 26 companies of gelugons (DR76)
Hutijin - 2 companies of pit fiends (MM2)

[edit] Creative origins

Mephistopheles is named for the Mephistopheles of Christian mythology.

[edit] Mephistopheles in other media

Mephistopheles appeared as himself, Lord of Cania, in the computer role-playing game Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark, where he planned to invade the city of Waterdeep and lay claim to Faerun and later Toril. The player is supposed to defeat Mephistopheles in to finish the game.

Mephistopheles is also the patron deity of characters Komiyan and Gort in the Keenspot webcomic Darken. He lays the quest upon Gort that drives the main plot of the comic forward.