I chose Chernobog to start the “bad” guys series because I think his motivations and the motivations of the devils are the easiest to understand. Chernobog is the iconic fiendish character. He is the ultimate ruler of what used to be the 9 Hells. (More to follow on that)
Chernobog usually takes the form of an average looking human with a pot-belly. His height is around 5′ 10″. This is typically his most common form though he can shift his visage to whatever suits him in the moment. Chernobog is notorious for mimicking mortal culture. His domain is the first layer of hell, supposedly closer to the Prime Material Plane. At first glance both Chernobog and his layer of hell, appear almost non-threatening. His layer of hell is a never-ending market rife with life and mortal culture. Do not be fooled though. This is most definitely by design. He allows Primelings, as they are called in the Hells, to travel throughout this layer and actually conduct business. Chernobog rules the Hells as a slave driver. Both figuratively and literally. While he can admire the Prime Material Plane, and the mortals that helped shape it, nothing Chernobog does is for anyone but himself.
During the Calamity, Chernobog created a strict pact with a group of mortal hunters known as the Faruth. This pact detailed the rules that devils were to abide by while on the Prime Material Plane. Being that Chernobog was so fond of Primelings and their culture, he vowed that as long as he reigned over the 9 Hells any devil walking the Prime Material would not harm a mortal or their creations. There is something to be said for Chernobog’s word. The devils that walk the Prime Material even today do not dare harm a living soul.
This is by design of course. Beyond Chernobog’s obvious love for culture and life, the easiest way to a mortal’s soul is through something they care about. His pact was to engage the mortals, to gain their trust. When the Calamity was at its peek, Chernobog sent his devils to protect the mortals from the hordes of demons from the Abyss. In exchange for this protection he extorted the souls of the Primelings. Again he was not overt in his planning. He proclaimed that while the planes were in this collapsed state, their souls would have nowhere to ascend to. He offered to protect their souls until the end of this cataclysm. Before the end of the Calamity he had garnered several hundred thousand souls. Whats more is a following cropped up. His followers would devote their entire lives to his service convincing other Primelings to join his dominion of protection.
Today his cultists worship in private. While the worship of Chernobog is not outlawed in Fenwrath, there are many that frown upon this reverence to the devil lord and even hunt and kill the cultists under his protection. Usually you can spot a cultist of Chernobog reveling in life. They do not wear matching robes or carry a holy symbol. They just live.
While the Calamity was a very fortuitous time for Chernobog and most of his other devil lords, it also ended with one of the worst betrayals in Fenwrathian history. When the plan arose to right the planes of existence and send the demons back into the Abyss, Chernobog made another deal. This time the deal was made with the celestials. Specifically Aegis and his righteous servicemen and women. This deal was to aid in the destruction of the demons and Abbagore who were plaguing the Prime. He was to provide a portion of his essence to power an artifact that would correct the planes. Although this artifact proved successful, Chernobog and his other devil lords were severely wounded in the scuffle. Celeste and Rune saw this as an opportunity and turned their armies on the devils, forcing them into the Hells and even slaying a few of the lords in the process.
Angered by this betrayal, Chernobog has never been the same. He consolidated two the the nine layers of hell into his dominion in the first layer. This created the 7 Hells of the Lower Planes. All souls that would go to the two consolidated planes would be routed to him. This again bolstered his own power and though they will not admit it, agitated the other devil lords of the Hells. Chernobog has taken this agitation as an opportunity. Before a rebellion could spark he called a meeting of the other lords. When everyone was in attendance, he made yet another deal. As long as the lords of the 7 Hells remained loyal to him, they could corrupt and manipulate mortals as much as they preferred. He also proclaimed that any mortal soul that vowed servitude to one of the other lords of the Hells would be granted a portion of their power. Again his only stipulation was that they could not outwardly kill a Primeling or anything they had created.
Seemingly appeased the devils began to walk the Prime Material, demoralizing mortals, and frolicking in debauchery. With each mortal they forced into their servitude a portion of that devils power was was granted to the individual. Unfortunately for the devils, they failed to understand Chernobog’s meaning. While they frolicked they were slowly being drained of their power. Eventually becoming too weak to fight Chernobog, the other lords succumbed to his will, in exchange they would be slowly granted a bit of their power back each time a soul under their servitude entered the gates of hell.
With the devil rebellion halted for the moment, Chernobog began his plan to get revenge on the celestials that betrayed him. Unfortunately it is impossible to figure out what his ultimate goal is.
The tenants of his worship are to live in the moment, tempt those around you, and ultimately remain the most powerful. Most of his followers are persuaded to corrupt places of celestial worship. Notoriously the temples of Celeste and Rune.
And that is where Chernobog remains, emperor of the 7 Hells, constantly plotting his revenge and bolstering his power.
Thank you for taking the time to read about Chernobog, the Emperor. If you enjoyed this post feel free to share it with your friends. As always thank you for wasting your time here. 🙂
Fenwrath and Ebriom Homebrew 
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