​# Synopsis >I literally sit beneath eight tiers of scheming, ambitious entities that represent primal law suffused with evil. The path from this realm leads to an infinite pit of chaos and evil. Now, tell me again how you and your ilk are the victims in this eternal struggle. > - [[Asmodeus]] addresses the celestial jury, > - from The Trial of [[Asmodeus]] The Trial of [[Asmodeus]] is a play based on purportedly true events as researched by the Aasimar bard, [[Anodius]]. A synopsis of the play is provided below: In ancient times, as [[the Blood War]] raged, the angels of law and good that dwell on Mount [[Celestia]] issued a decree accusing [[Asmodeus]] of terrible crimes. Outraged by such claims, the Lord of the Nine Hells petitioned for the right to answer the charges before his accusers. The angels, although shocked at his impudence, accepted his petition and agreed to hear the bargain he proposed. Both sides, he suggested, would present their case to [[Primus]], leader of the modrons. As a creature of absolute law, [[Primus]] could be trusted to issue a fair and impartial verdict. [[Asmodeus]] drafted a contract to seal the deal, and the angels — after carefully scrutinizing the terms — agreed to the trial. gels — after carefully scrutinizing the terms — agreed to the trial. When he testified before [[Primus]], [[Asmodeus]] attributed his actions to the dictates of law and the survival of the cosmos. He admitted that he swayed mortals to evil, but he and his minions never breached a contract and explained the terms clearly. Had they not obeyed the rule of law in doing so? Was it not mortal ambition, rather than infernal deception, that led so many souls astray? [[Asmodeus]] also pointed out that the souls harvested from the Material Plane went on to serve in the infernal legions that repel the endless tide of the Abyss. Were not such souls put to good use against the demonic hordes, a power that if unchecked would scour the universe of all lawfulness and goodness? He further asserted that he was bound to the rules and traditions of the Nine Hells, compelled to adhere to law and to maintain the devils’ trafficking in souls. If he violated those laws, he would be no better than the demons he fought. Mortals who refused a devil’s offer were left alone, in accordance with the law. Those who struck deals with his followers and then somehow turned the contracts against the devils were freed from their debts. A contract is the law, and the law is a contract. [[Primus]] weighed [[Asmodeus]]’s words and listened patiently as angel after angel testified to his crimes. Hours turned to days and days into weeks as more and more of his sins entered the court record. Even [[Primus]]’s patience has its limits, and in time, the remaining angels who were eager to testify were told that only a few more would be allowed to speak. A brawl broke out when one angel, [[Zariel]], pushed her way to the front and demanded to be heard. As the scuffle turned into a battle, [[Asmodeus]] looked on with a smirk. In the end, [[Primus]] declined to issue a definitive judgment. He rebuked the angels for their descent into infighting, but didn’t punish [[Asmodeus]] for his evil ways. He did, however, order [[Asmodeus]] to forever carry a mighty artifact, the [[Ruby Rod]], that would guarantee his adherence to law. The artifact, which has remained at [[Asmodeus]]’s side ever since, grants him and his underlings the right to enter into contracts with mortals for their souls but unleashes an inescapable punishment upon any devil that breaches such a contract. [[Tiamat]] helped to craft the [[Ruby Rod]]. --- <div class="top-nav"> <a href="/mydndgame/publish/pages/Home">Home</a> <a href="/mydndgame/publish/pages/Character Main Page">Characters</a> <a href="/mydndgame/publish/pages/Factions Index">Factions</a> <a href="/mydndgame/publish/pages/Locations Index">Locations</a> <a href="/mydndgame/publish/pages/World Lore">Lore</a> <a href="/mydndgame/publish/pages/Map">Map</a> </div> ### **Key Entities**: - **[[Asmodeus]]**: The Lord of the Nine Hells, on trial for his actions in corrupting mortals and trafficking souls. - **[[Primus]]**: The leader of the modrons and the arbiter of the trial, a being of absolute law. - **[[Zariel]]**: An angel who became a central figure in the trial, pushing her way to testify against [[Asmodeus]] and sparking a brawl among the angels. - **[[Ruby Rod]]**: The artifact granted to [[Asmodeus]] after the trial, symbolizing his adherence to law and ensuring that any breach of a contract by a devil would result in severe