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Beelzebub
"Where there are humans,
You'll find flies,
And Buddhas.”
—Kobayashi IssaIn the days when humanity was still a baby of a species, first gathering in the cribs they made for themselves, Beelzebub was just a fly. A small thing, a tiny thing, a fragile thing who just happened to spot the shade of the King of Shepherd and Field, an early superhuman also known as 𒌉𒍣𒉺𒇻 (Dumuzid), crouching on the edge of the steppe. Just as 𒌉𒍣𒉺𒇻's wife 𒀭𒈹 (Inanna) was telling his sister Geshtinanna that her grief could not be balmed for she had no idea where 𒌉𒍣𒉺𒇻 was, Beelzebub flew by and bartered this information for a set of three blessings from the Queen of Many Powers, who said:
"I will let you frequent the beer-houses and taverns.
I will let you dwell among the talk of the wise ones.
I will let you dwell among the songs of the minstrels. "
There are beer-houses in the Zebul, the Heavenly Place where the gods live, and for thousands of years, Beelzebub lived a blessed life among the wise ones and the minstrels there. He was called its Ba'al, the Lord of the Zebul, because no other had such unfettered access to its secrets and to the thoughts that guided its direction. When Beelzebub pulled his buzzing wings from this glory, he slipped through all the tiny cracks in all the many worlds, building a spy network of, well, of flies on the wall. His influence spread through every where and every way a soul could be.
"You never walk alone. Even the devil is the lord of flies."
--Gilles Deleuze
Flies may be icky to most, but they are scavengers, beings who need not harm or kill to survive, the great recyclers whose work keeps the cycle of waste and food flowing. Beelzebub's influence was always concerned with preventing stagnation and a buildup of waste until it became pollution. Jesus chose to ignore all that when he used Beelzebub to exorcise demons. He metaphysically hurled the Lord Fly into the horde, embedding him inextricably among their number. Presumably, he did so for the good of the world (being who he was, after all), but the lack of possibility of escape had the predictable effect of drawing Beelzebub's interests and those of Hell closer. One day Beelzebub simply chose to be one of them. They do say he works in mysterious ways . . . .
Beelzebub's vast network of influence began to bend away from the maintenance of the cosmos and towards causing destruction by supporting tyrants, exciting ascetics (and later priests) to lust, causing jealousies among cities, inspiring murders, and bringing war; his favorite tool was possession. He became one of Lucifer's three greatest lieutenants, alongside Astaroth and Leviathan (who was once defeated by Beelzebub's old friend Ba'al Hadad). The work excited the Lord of Flies for a time, soothing his anger in universal vengeance for his disgrace. And when that faded, he dedicated himself to mentoring the demons that had come into his orbit, forging his memories of gluttonously ascetic devotions into the twisted monastic rule governing the Order of the Fly.
"Birds are the eyes of heaven, and flies are the spies of hell.”
The Order of the Fly proved merely a delaying tactic for Beelzebub, a way to satisfy the demands of his grief without recognizing them. The thing with delaying tactics is, they end. Sometime in the 13th century, a dissatisfied Beelzebub led his demonic knights in a rebellion against Lucifer, seeking freedom and a return to the Zebul. It's hard to say that he failed, exactly, having survived with his life and existence intact among the shards of his once-mighty power. He has wandered the worlds for the last eight centuries, the shards of hope rotting in his heart.
"Birds are the eyes of heaven, and flies are the spies of hell.”
― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem
The Order of the Fly proved merely a delaying tactic for Beelzebub, a way to satisfy the demands of his grief without recognizing them. The thing with delaying tactics is, they end. Sometime in the 13th century, a dissatisfied Beelzebub led his demonic knights in a rebellion against Lucifer, seeking freedom and a return to the Zebul. It's hard to say that he failed, exactly, having survived with his life and existence intact among the shards of his once-mighty power. He has wandered the worlds for the last eight centuries, the shards of hope rotting in his heart.
But Beelzebub is the power of rot, and so his heart holds a spiritual arc reactor, rendering him immune to the finality of defeat. At times, he has been the villain of the story, at others, well, he's never really the hero but he fights the villain sometimes. And in many stories, he has been the source of power, the teacher of unpleasant truths, and so many more things.
"To whom shall I run for help in my trouble, to whom shall I complain of the ravaging flies that rob me of my breath, and like enemies press hard on me! They run acrossc my eyes and brows, and whisper love songs in my ears. I want to eat my meal alone, but they, like wolves, share it with me, and drink from my cup of wine as if they were invited guests or kin. (...) But I hope the winter will destroy them with its cold wind and snow, and rain, else I would despise life on their account.”
Home Base: Las Vegas.
Gender: Demimale
Sexuality: Sadistic pansexual Dominant
Romantic Identity: No-strings aromantic
"Everything was giant-sized, as if I were looking through binoculars. "I" was walking up giant stalks. At first I didn't know what they were or what I was, for that matter. The stalks were tall as redwood trees, and suddenly "I" realized that I was an insect of some kind. This was a grass blade. I thought I was a fly in a gigantic forest -- a giant fly, because everything was so large and super-real, and I;m used to thinking of flies as small. But I was an ordinary fly. I realized, and this was what the world looked like! Oddly enough, this made me feel better, I didn't care what I was; as long as I was something. So I felt myself go up the grass blade. It's impossible to verbalize the sensations I had, but I remember being aware of the weight of my wings. They seemed very sturdy and reassuring."
― Jane Roberts, Psychic Politics: An Aspect Psychology Book, p. 62.
― Abraham Ibn Ezra
Home Base: Las Vegas.
Gender: Demimale
Sexuality: Sadistic pansexual Dominant
Romantic Identity: No-strings aromantic
"Everything was giant-sized, as if I were looking through binoculars. "I" was walking up giant stalks. At first I didn't know what they were or what I was, for that matter. The stalks were tall as redwood trees, and suddenly "I" realized that I was an insect of some kind. This was a grass blade. I thought I was a fly in a gigantic forest -- a giant fly, because everything was so large and super-real, and I;m used to thinking of flies as small. But I was an ordinary fly. I realized, and this was what the world looked like! Oddly enough, this made me feel better, I didn't care what I was; as long as I was something. So I felt myself go up the grass blade. It's impossible to verbalize the sensations I had, but I remember being aware of the weight of my wings. They seemed very sturdy and reassuring."
― Jane Roberts, Psychic Politics: An Aspect Psychology Book, p. 62.
Recurrent Foes:
"Seropusly, why do flies line up in the sky every time someone lies? Hovering over they long to take the shit out from where It belongs so They compete to eat it alive.”
Physical Appearance: I can't draw, so I really like providing a few reference pictures and trusting in your imagination to build a good image of Beelzebub.
"Flies purify the air, and plays--the morals.”
- Ζευς Μυιαγρος: In the ancient days of Ὀλυμπία, where the famous mountain once grew to stretch the home of the gods within its cloudy hair, an ancient emnity was founded. In those days, Beelzebub was still enjoying the blessings 𒀭𒈹 had given him for knowing where her husband's ghost was hidden. Life in the Zebul was sweet, with hearty beer flowing like the two rivers in its holy beer-houses, and (if you ask Beelzebub) this brought a jealous green to the eyes of other gods. One such was Ζευς, who built himself a cult at the base of the holy peak with the aid of his half-human bastard Ἑρακλης. The Lightning Philanderer budded off a new epithet of himself, Μυιαγρος ("Fly-Chaser"). Μυιαγρος would kill the mobs of flies that attended animal sacrifices whenever he was invoked, an indignity that Beelzebub has never forgiven. To be fair, Ζευς Μυιαγρος hasn't let up his side of the vendetta yet, either.
- Notable Powers: Shapechanging, Emotion Control, Lightning Throwing, Luck Control, Enhanced Traits (source: Offerings), superhuman Abilities, Damage (limited to flies), Warded From Flies. Olympian template from Book of Magic. (PL 20)
- Rack Angel: Beelzebub has made a habit following the rumors of fallen angels he collects in his wanderings or harvests from his everpresent network of spiritual spies. The Lord of Flies plans to use their liminality as a springboard to leap back into the Zebul, or at least to recruit them to his service. So far, all have realized that they cannot trust this buzzing being who owes allegiance to none but his own disgrace. It remains to be seen if that is true of Rack Angel. (PL 14)
- Aceria Scacchia: In 2001, Cox Communication and UNLV partnered to build a new indoor arena for the university. Beginning to build a focus on sustainability, the university encouraged the contractors who won the right to build the flooring of the building's centerpiece (the basketball court) to find sources of wood that did not require new logging. A woodlot dating back to Bugsy Siegel's time. Unbeknownst to them, the pile of wood they purchased contained planks milled from an ancient fig tree, whose resident dryad had only barely managed to keep together over the decades and the many miles. The shop steward of the crew forged an agreement between her and the university to get her to stop causing problems with the construction. For the last 19 years, Aceria Scacchia has attended classes in any number of departments, particularly favoring the biological sciences. She merges into the coldly inert floorboards of the basketball court every night, longing for the dynamic (if slow) growth of a living fig tree. The time-lost and tiny knight Tom Thumb has foiled her maniacal schemes in search of a home before, as has the science hero known as Uranium Joe. She would do anything to convince Beelzebub to help her, now that he has set up shop in Vegas.
- Notable Powers: Senses (low-light vision), Protection, Immunity (aging). Feature (identify plants, out-of-season fruits+flowers, cure plant disease), Phytotoxin, Photosynthesis, Regrowth, Woodskin, Pass Through Plants, Root Digging, Root Transport, Woods Walk, Animate Plants, Green Memory, Green Network, Speak with Plants, Warp Wood, Rooting, Earth Meld (substitute "trees" for "earth"), Tanglevines, Sleep, Mind Control (limited to speaking to them, limited to a sentence or two) from Power Profiles. (PL 14)
- The Hag: She has built an extended life out of running cosmic scams and selling her soul since her punk rock days in the 70s. What makes you think the pathetic, lost god Beelzebub wasn't one of those she has milked for the power to fight crime and corruption? The two have lived a patchwork of respectful detente, vengeance, and teaming up ever since.
- Notable Powers: Artificer, Connected, Contacts, Ritualist, Well-Informed. Just. So. Many. Spells. Seriously, I'm imagining something ridiculously cheesy like 15-30 points of Alternate Effects, all within an Easily Removable Device or two. (PL 12)
- Vincenzo Sangiovanni: Vampires, generally speaking, don't rot. Not if they put in a little nutritional effort, anyway. Few around know that Vincenzo stole his vampirism from another, opening his wrist and abu Lazar's neck. He locked his mouth on the latter and swallowed until the vampire's blood had replaced his and his tongue tasted of ancient corpse-ashes. Beelzebub knows, because it was he who held the older vampire down to let this happen, it was he who gave the magic dagger to Vincenzo that it might happen. Vincenzo was to do what abu Lazar wouldn't and serve the Lord of Flies as his chief lieutenant in the rebellion against Lucifer, and he did repay the debt in the currency asked. Of course, the very same dagger he'd used to take control of his fate whispered betrayal in the ears behind his ears the entire length of the war. The whispers manifested when Vincenzo struck a terrible blow against the fallen god in the very moment of his seeming victory. Vincenzo became his own vampire in that moment, eternity truly in his own two hands, ever haunted by Beelzeub's anger.
- Notable Powers: (PL 12) Metrosexual Vampire from Supernatural Handbook. Command the Undead, Grasping Graves, Death Sight, Death Vision, Necromancy (with a number of spells as Alternate Effects), Speak with the Dead, Mind Control from Powers Profile. Death-activated equivalent of Scrying Stone of Sirrion and large installation from Gadgets Guide. Benefit (wealth 5)
- New Covenant Revelator: When Beelzebub began his investigations into Elyktiel's fall, Beelzebub came to the rather-hasty conclusion that they had merged with Gabriella. After all, what human could refuse an angel's dying request? The Lord of the Flies approached the pastor's daughter accordingly, and she had about the reaction one might expect. Ever since, hearing of some plot or another from the ancient being is one of the few things that can interrupt Gabriella's obsessive quest to restore her father's flock.
- Notable Powers: Battlesuit. Inspire, Contacts, Connected, Leadership, Luck. Startle, Trance, Defensive Attack, Evasion, Improved Aim, Improved Defense, Improved Disarm, Move-By Attack, Power Attack, Precise Attack, Takedown, Uncanny Dodge, Weapon Bind, Fearless, Interpose, Second Chance, Inventor, Create (Limited to Food), Healing. Feature (flashlight, personal spotlight, light show, data-storage drive, remote), Blinding Aura, Dazzling Burst, Laser Weapon, Light Absorption, Photonic Shield, Lightflight, Healing Light, Illuminate, Solar Sustenance, Vision Enhancement, Strength Enhancement, Life Support System, Mind Shield, Sensory Shield, Communication System from Power Profiles. (PL 10)
- Judith Winstead: FBI agent Matthew Winstead came to Appalachia investigating the alleged murders of his friends John Hobbes and Gretta Milano and meeting a young Judith in the process. Instantly smitten, the two became caught up together in a conflict between Beelzebub and the Potsherd People. The Lord of the Flies enlisted the aid of a mute, disfigured being Matthew dubbed Quilt-Flesh before Judith finally recognized the monster as her father Greg. With his typically cavalier attitude about others' needs, Beelzebub allowed the conflict to lay waste to Judith's family home. She agreed to leave with Matt, travelling with him across the country as he investigated cases of the strange and unusual. Before long, the two were married. After many harrowing incidents with one another, the marriage between Judith and Matt began to fall apart. She began slowly developing feelings she knew she shouldn't harbor for the Lord of the Flies,whom they'd encountered a handful more times in their adventures. Matt meanwhile became the victim of Judith's dead uncle Anton. After his ghost attempted to possess Matt's body, the FBI agent lapsed into a coma and eventually died. Distraught, Judith found a cold comfort in the arms of Beelzebub. She has been calling herself the Fly-Bride ever since and followed him wherever he went, insisting the whole time that Hell had not purged his heart from him. He just doesn't want to admit he loves her back, she says.
- Notable Powers: Treatment skill, Deflect, Movement (safe fall). Empathy, Mental Communication, Mental Awareness, Mental Detection, Mind Reading, subtle Psychokinesis from Power Profiles. (PL 4)
"Seropusly, why do flies line up in the sky every time someone lies? Hovering over they long to take the shit out from where It belongs so They compete to eat it alive.”
― Ana Claudia Antunes, ACross Tic
Physical Appearance: I can't draw, so I really like providing a few reference pictures and trusting in your imagination to build a good image of Beelzebub.
Ursula looks like some combination of these three pictures:
"Flies purify the air, and plays--the morals.”
― Anton Chekhov
Beelzebub (PC PL/Minion 20, NPC PL 12, Sidekick 60)
STR 0 AGI 7 FGT 3 AWE 12
STR 0 AGI 7 FGT 3 AWE 12
STA 6 DEX 2 INT 7 PRE 11
Powers
Dwelling in My House: Accurate easy extended subtle 2 Teleport 6, portal, medium (beer-houses, taverns, wise talk, live music) • 38 points
Once I Was A God; Now I Am A Devil: Comprehend 10 (animals 2, languages 4, plants, spirits 2); Immunity 11 (aging, life support); Senses 4 (accurate acute radius divine mental awareness, dimensional) • 41 points
Slipping Through the Cracks of the World: Movement 3 (dimensional travel 3) • 6 points
Summon the Swarm: Summon Swarms of Flies 2, active, horde, mental link, multiple minions 4 (16 swarms), responsive, sacrifice, self-powered • 22 points
- Insect Swarm PL8 • MR3
STR —* STA 2 AGL 3 DEX 0 FGT 0 INT — AWE 0 PRE 0
Powers: Concentration burst area Affliction 3 (resisted and overcome by Fortitude; dazed, disabled, incapacitated); permanent innate Insubstantial 2 (swarm); Flight 3 (16 mph).
Offense: Init +3, Burst Area Affliction (Fortitude DC 13).
Defenses: Dodge 2 (+5), Parry 0 (0), Fortitude 2 (+4), Toughness 0, Will —.
Totals: Abilities 0 + Powers 26 + Advantages 0 + Skills 0 + Defenses 4 = Total 30 points.
* No effective Strength due to Insubstantial effect
Swarm Form: Flight 4 (30 mph) linked to precise reaction Insubstantial 2 (swarm) • 17 points
Advantages
Animal Empathy, Connected, Diehard, Eidetic Memory, Evasion, Fearless, Minion 52 (4 demons of the Order of the Fly), Move-By Action, Redirect, Ritualist, Taunt, Trance, Uncanny Dodge, Well-Informed
Animal Empathy, Connected, Diehard, Eidetic Memory, Evasion, Fearless, Minion 52 (4 demons of the Order of the Fly), Move-By Action, Redirect, Ritualist, Taunt, Trance, Uncanny Dodge, Well-Informed
- Demon of the Order of the Fly (a modified quick conversion of the chasme; MR 13/PL 9)
STR 2 STA 2 AGL 1 DEX 1 FGT 4 INT 1 AWE 1 PRE 1
Powers: Accurate easy extended standard action Teleport 4; claws for bleeding you (Strength-based multiattack Damage 3, secondary effect); concentration perception ranged Move Object 2, subtle 2; darkness (burst area partial visual Concealment 2 attack); disgust aura (progressive cloud area Affliction 3, limited degree, resisted and overcome by Will, impaired, stunned); drone (cumulative burst 2 area Affliction 3, requires a move action to activate, resisted and overcome by Will, fatigued, exhausted, asleep); Immunity 11 (electricity effects, poison); Immunity 30, limited to half effect (acid effects, cold effects, fire effects); Immunity 20, unreliable (magical effects); impervious Protection 5; mental Communication 1; Movement 2 (wall-crawling); perception ranged Nullify Magic 6, unreliable (Alternate Effect: burst area perception ranged Nullify Magic 6, unreliable); Protection 7; ranged Weaken Strength 4; Senses 2 (darkvision); Senses 2 (detect Heavenly influence 2), requires move action to activate; Senses 2 (vision counters invisibility), requires move action to activate; winged Flight 3 (16 mph)
Advantages: Languages 2 (Infernal native; English, Enochian); Move-by Action; Power Attack
Skills: Athletics 4, Deception 6, Insight 6, Intimidation 6, Perception 6, Stealth 6
Offense: Init +1; claws (+4, close, Damage 5 multiattack secondary effect); darkness (burst area, Concealment); disgust aura (cloud area, Will DC 13); drone (burst 2 area, Will DC 13); Weaken Strength (ranged, Fortitude DC 14)
Defense: Dodge 0 (+1), Parry 0 (+4), Fortitude 0 (+2), Toughness +14, 5 of which is impervious, Will 0 (+1)
Totals: Abilities 26 + Powers 138 + Advantages 4 + Skills 17 + Defenses 0 = 195 points
Skills
Expertise: History 6 (+13), Expertise: Magic 9 (+16), Expertise: Theology 9 (+16), Insight 3 (+15), Investigation 4 (+11), Perception 4 (+16), Stealth 4 (+11), Treatment 3 (+14)
Offense
Initiative +7
Unarmed +3: Close, Damage 0
Defense
Dodge 0 (+7)
Fortitude 0 (+6)
Parry 0 (+3)
Toughness +6
Will 0 (+12)
Size rank ‒2 (6'2"')
Ground speed rank 0 (2 mph)
Flight speed rank 4 (30 mph)
Complications
Motivation ~ Recognition: Beelzebub was honored once, praised once, blessed once. The Philistines knew him, King Ahaziah knew him in antique Israel. There was a time when the Zebul, the Heavenly Dwelling, knew his buzzing and every wise word spoken in the holy tavern landed upon his many ears. This has not been the way of things for 2000 years, ever since that Jesus fellow through him at some demons and compelled Beelzebub to be among their number. Ever since, the Lord of Flies has been trying to return to the lofty position he once held.
Zebel: No one in Heaven or Hell, except of course those members of the Order of the Fly who have remained loyal to him, likes Beelzebub. Despite the Lord of the Fly's desire to once more set up shop in the Zebul, he has made himself an enemy of both factions. Though Heaven and Hell rarely agree on anything, they worked together briefly to curse Beelzebub after his rebellion, who can no longer avoid inspiring disgust in everyone in all the cosmos. They can feel other things about him, of course, but they do not ever not feel disgust as well.
Power Point Totals: Abilities 96 + Powers 118 + Advantages 65 + Skills 21 + Defenses 0 = 300
Offense
Initiative +7
Unarmed +3: Close, Damage 0
Defense
Dodge 0 (+7)
Fortitude 0 (+6)
Parry 0 (+3)
Toughness +6
Will 0 (+12)
Size rank ‒2 (6'2"')
Ground speed rank 0 (2 mph)
Flight speed rank 4 (30 mph)
Complications
Motivation ~ Recognition: Beelzebub was honored once, praised once, blessed once. The Philistines knew him, King Ahaziah knew him in antique Israel. There was a time when the Zebul, the Heavenly Dwelling, knew his buzzing and every wise word spoken in the holy tavern landed upon his many ears. This has not been the way of things for 2000 years, ever since that Jesus fellow through him at some demons and compelled Beelzebub to be among their number. Ever since, the Lord of Flies has been trying to return to the lofty position he once held.
Zebel: No one in Heaven or Hell, except of course those members of the Order of the Fly who have remained loyal to him, likes Beelzebub. Despite the Lord of the Fly's desire to once more set up shop in the Zebul, he has made himself an enemy of both factions. Though Heaven and Hell rarely agree on anything, they worked together briefly to curse Beelzebub after his rebellion, who can no longer avoid inspiring disgust in everyone in all the cosmos. They can feel other things about him, of course, but they do not ever not feel disgust as well.
Power Point Totals: Abilities 96 + Powers 118 + Advantages 65 + Skills 21 + Defenses 0 = 300
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