Personalities of Hell: The Dark Powers
Being a selection of fictional and mythical gods of evil, presented here in On Hallowed Ground format for the delectation of players and DMs alike. I have included references for the sources I have used in researching these powers. This is a companion piece to Personalities of Heaven and Personalities of Hell. More powers may appear here in time...
Lesser Power, "King of Hinnom"
AoC: Control, the need to make sacrifices, rogue baatezu.
AL: LE
WAL: Any evil
Symbol: A ring of fire
Home P/L/R: Gehenna/Khalas/Topheth of Hinnom
Known Proxies: None
Moloch is the former Lord of the Sixth Hell (Monster Manual II). Quite why he left Baator for Gehenna is uncertain. Some say he was expelled in a coup d'etat. Others say he actually became too powerful for his job, which is unlikely. A particularly sinister, but not unlikely, rumour, says that he is duping rogue baatezu into working for him, while he still reports to the Dark Lord in Nessus. Moloch is a cruel and strict power, and he is claiming overlordship of all Gehenna. Many say he must be a yugoloth spy, or the 'loths would have kicked him out long ago. His followers number human cultists who make foul sacrifices to him, just because he says so, rogue baatezu looking to found a new kingdom, and according to rumour, two baatoran nobles. His realm is in the heart of Khalas, far from most of the warzones, and it is called Topheth after one of Moloch's favoured Prime sites. 'Hinnom' has meaning similar to 'Gehenna', as in the Outlands town of Gehennom.
Source: Paradise Lost, with PS alterations. 'Topheth' is from 2 Kings 23:10.
Greater Power, "The Spirit of Darkness"
AoC: The end of the world, especially Ragnarok
AL: CE
WAL: Any evil, also some CN. Especially xvart (MC14)
Symbol: Grey wolf, or a fanged skull with a red eight-armed chaos symbol on the forehead
Home P/L/R: Abyss/4/Abyss of Ragnarok
Known Proxies: Some mara (MC11), and the Morthbrood, a universe-wide cult of evil magic-users.
Nastrond is an evil power who is dedicated to hastening the advent of Ragnarok. He spans both the Celtic and Norse pantheons, and is also a principal power of the xvart, who also follow the Morrighan and an Acherian power called Raxivart. Nastrond has in the past mainfested as a huge wolf spirit, but has never sent a real avatar to the Prime. Instead, he often works alongside the Morrighan, who would surely benefit from a huge war, which is exactly what Ragnarok is. To this end, she sometimes sends an avatar to lead the Morthbrood. Nastrond's realm is a place of utter blackness, where even the tanar'ri fear to tread. It is rumoured to contain many mara. As a note, observe that Nastrond is not identical with Fenris Wolf, but rather draws on the imagery evoked by such a potent planar evil.
A note may be added concerning the xvart. The name 'xvart' is a contraction of svart-alfar, a word identical in meaning to 'drow'. It may therefore be suggested that both have similar origins. Weight is added to this idea by the fact that both xvart and good drow worship Celtic/Norse cross-pantheon powers. (that's Wayland, not Eilistraee.)
Source: The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner. I have no idea whether or not Garner invented Nastrond, but I was amused by the separate appearance of both svarts and mara in Monstrous Compendiums. Nastrond is also the name of Hel's hall in Niflheim.
Nastrond, the Spirit of Darkness is probably copyright Alan Garner, and the information provided here is a summary for reference purposes and not intended as a challenge to that copyright.
Intermediate Power, "Demon King"
AoC: Rakshasas, evil spirits
AL: LE
WAL: LE, NE
Symbol: Tiger's mask
Home P/L/R: Acheron/Avalas/Vault of the Waters
Known Proxies: None
Ravana is the king of the rakshasas, the fiendish race from Acheron who are the implacable enemies of the other Vedic gods. He can change his shape at will, assuming any form he chooses. His favourite form is said to be that of a rakshasa like a sabre-toothed tiger with 10 heads and 20 arms. Ravana is also said to be immune to the weapons of his enemy, Vishnu. Not all rakshasas serve him - some are loyal to Kali, or act independently, but there are thousands who worship Ravana. In the beginning, Ravana was given the guardianship, along with the rest of the rakshasas, of the first waters of the universe. These they hoarded, and their abuse of their responsibility has made them infamous. Ravana is a cruel and jealous god, and seeks to extend his power in Acheron.
Source: Indian mythology. My specific source is Dr Jan Knappert's Indian Mythology, part of the Encyclopedia of Myth and Legend series.
Lesser Power, "Dark Angel of Captivity"
AoC: Carceri
AL: N(C)E
WAL: CE, NE, Jailbreakers, the Disposessed
Symbol: Set of black manacles
Home P/L/R: Carceri/Agathys/Divine Justice (or 'Cold Day in Hell')
Known Proxies: None
Tartarachus may once have been a celestial ruler, a Faerie Power or a Crown Archon as Triel once was. But for as long as anyone can remember, he has been in Carceri. His transgression in the Heavens is unknown, but for it he was imprisoned in Carceri, or Tartarus as it was then known. He, far more than Her Serenity the Lady of Pain, is the image of gaoler and gaoled, torturer and tortured, captive and captor. None has ever escaped his realm, so none can testify to his appearance, but wild human tribes in Carceri and other eccentric worshippers of his say that he is like a great solar, but with skin like jet, bound in iron fetters and breathing fire. He has been a long-time rival of Apomps, and some tales say that the two came to Agathys together, or at least at the same time. Perhaps the disagreements amongst the eldest yugoloths sparked an unwanted debate on the celestial mountain? Tartarachus' worshippers kill gehreleths on sight, if they can.
From early Christian writings. Tartarachus is usually depicted as being Satan, but I think he makes a suitable character separately from the Dark Lord of Nessus, usually identified with Asmadai and Satan.