I know when it comes to the fiends like demons,the numbers are assumed to be neverending witu infinite balors and succubi and the likes,but what about pit fiends of the nine hells?
Some lore suggets there are only about 400 or so, some lore suggests way more, and what of dukes of hell (not to be confused with archdukes of hell,like the great 9), how many of them are there?
Also,are there any more dukes of hell in avernus? Besides zariel and bel?
This question is bugging me to no end, and i would love an answer
I don't think there IS (or could be) a definitive answer. The Chairman of the Board can promote as many pit fiends as he wants. There are articles in the old Dragon magazine going back to the '70's on infernal politics though. So it might be out there somewhere, although I'd file it as being just a different DMs take, rather than "canon" or "lore" or anything.
There are Dukes and Generals of the various Archdukes that command companies of pit fiends, so while the number is not set, it surely is many, many thousands throughout the nine layers of Baator and possibly elsewhere.
Asmodeus has the ability to make pit fiends from a single drop of his blood. He has the Dark Eight that function as his eyes and ears in the nine hells. Others can go through torchers trials by bathing in hellfire for over a year burning away any individuality from the Pit Fiends leaving them with only the drive to defeat the demon hordes. According to the second and fourth editions, no Archdevil has more than 12 Pit Fiends under their command. Asmodeus of course can have more but tends to limit his Pit Fiends to the Dark Eight.
So the question is who else gets Pit Fiends? In the forgotten realms, this would be dukes, duchesses, and archdevils of Hell. There are currently 51 such individuals. So if 12 is the max per individual the max is 612 plus 8 for the Dark Eight giving us 610. If we go with 8 as an average that puts us at 416 putting us close to the 400 that Layomayo pointed to in folklore.
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Discord: MasterWitch#2965
My World Anvil account if you're interested. Work in progress.
I know when it comes to the fiends like demons,the numbers are assumed to be neverending witu infinite balors and succubi and the likes,but what about pit fiends of the nine hells?
Some lore suggets there are only about 400 or so, some lore suggests way more, and what of dukes of hell (not to be confused with archdukes of hell,like the great 9), how many of them are there?
Also,are there any more dukes of hell in avernus? Besides zariel and bel?
This question is bugging me to no end, and i would love an answer
Bel is the leader of a group of pit fiends called the Circle of Eight.
Sorry, that’s all I know.
I don't think there IS (or could be) a definitive answer. The Chairman of the Board can promote as many pit fiends as he wants. There are articles in the old Dragon magazine going back to the '70's on infernal politics though. So it might be out there somewhere, although I'd file it as being just a different DMs take, rather than "canon" or "lore" or anything.
Avernus has only Bel and Zariel. Tiamat also resides there, but she's never had any apparent interest in trying to take control of it.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
There are Dukes and Generals of the various Archdukes that command companies of pit fiends, so while the number is not set, it surely is many, many thousands throughout the nine layers of Baator and possibly elsewhere.
As many as the DM needs
I don't believe that there is a finite number, but I'm pretty sure that more could be made as needed.
Asmodeus has the ability to make pit fiends from a single drop of his blood. He has the Dark Eight that function as his eyes and ears in the nine hells. Others can go through torchers trials by bathing in hellfire for over a year burning away any individuality from the Pit Fiends leaving them with only the drive to defeat the demon hordes. According to the second and fourth editions, no Archdevil has more than 12 Pit Fiends under their command. Asmodeus of course can have more but tends to limit his Pit Fiends to the Dark Eight.
So the question is who else gets Pit Fiends? In the forgotten realms, this would be dukes, duchesses, and archdevils of Hell. There are currently 51 such individuals. So if 12 is the max per individual the max is 612 plus 8 for the Dark Eight giving us 610. If we go with 8 as an average that puts us at 416 putting us close to the 400 that Layomayo pointed to in folklore.
Discord: MasterWitch#2965
My World Anvil account if you're interested. Work in progress.
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/land-of-the-fallen-7Blandfall7D-masterwitch