Zariel is an archdevil who once ruled Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells of Baator

Baator

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Baator, also known as the Nine Hells of Baator or the Nine Hells, is a lawful evil-aligned plane of existence...

, in the Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

fantasy

Fantasy

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...

 role-playing game

Role-playing game

A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

.

Publication history

Zariel was first mentioned in the second edition book Guide to Hell (1999).

Zariel was mentioned in third edition in in Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells

Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells

Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Contents:...

(2006).

Relationships

When Zariel ruled Avernus, her chief warlord was a pit fiend called Bel

Bel (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Bel the pit fiend, is the Arch-Devil currently in charge of Avernus, the First Layer of the Nine Hells of Baator...

. She was also served by Amduscias

Amduscias (Dungeons & Dragons)

Amduscias is a powerful unique baatezu in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.Amduscias is a duke in the service of Tiamat, and leads 29 companies of abishai. He lives on Avernus, the first layer of Baator. He is famous for his long memory, and almost as well known for his cunning strategies...

 and Malphas

Malphas (Dungeons & Dragons)

Malphas is a Duke of Hell in the service of Tiamat, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:Malphas first appears in Ed Greenwood's article "The Nine Hells Part I" in Dragon #75 ....

. Zariel was allied with Baalzebul

Baalzebul (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Baalzebul is a fictional character, described as an Arch-Devil of Hell , also called the "Lord of the Flies."Baalzebul is lord of Maladomini, the Seventh Plane of Hell...

, Belial

Belial (Dungeons & Dragons)

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Belial is an Arch-Devil of Hell , lord of the Fourth Hell, Phlegethos. He retained his rule after the Reckoning of Hell, though he now shares this responsibility with his daughter Fierna who serves as his mouthpiece...

, and Moloch

Moloch (Dungeons & Dragons)

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Moloch is an arch-devil of Hell , and once served as the viceroy of Baalzebul.-Creative origins:...

 during the Reckoning of Hell

Reckoning of Hell

In the cosmology of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the Reckoning of Hell was a civil war that shaped the political landscape of the Nine Hells into its current form...

.

Realm

Zariel was ruler of Avernus until a few thousand years ago, when she was deposed by Bel.

The fireballs of Avernus are said to be manifestations of Zariel's helpless rage.

History

The Reckoning of Hell began on Avernus: Zariel had prepared a great army, supposedly to lead an assault on the tanar'ri in the Blood War. At the last minute, she diverted her army to Dis and laid siege on the Iron Citadel of Dispater. Her allies continued the assault, although the faction of Mephistopheles

Mephistopheles (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Mephistopheles is an Arch-Devil of Hell , also known as the "Lord of No Mercy" and the "Cold Lord"....

 organized a counter-offensive which turned the tide, and Zariel retreated to her home layer of Avernus.

When he deposed Zariel, Bel imprisoned her beneath his new palace and is slowly draining her of her power. Bel actually gets his power from removing and consuming pieces of flesh from Zariel herself who is currently imprisoned and continually tortured in the basement of the Bronze Citadel where the Lord of the First has his headquarters. Now he is the Lord of the First in all but name.

Additional reading

• Jeff Grubb
  Jeff Grubb
  Jeff Grubb is an author and game designer. He has worked on a number of computer and role-playing games and has written a number of successful novels, short stories and comics...
  
  , David Noonan
  David Noonan (game designer)
  David Noonan is an author of several products and articles for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from Wizards of the Coast.-Role-playing games:...
  
  , and Bruce R. Cordell (September 2001). Manual of the Planes
  Manual of the Planes
  The Manual of the Planes is a manual for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe....
  
  . Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.