Buy me a coffeeDevils and Cosmic Entities
The Realms Beyond constitute what are the known so-called outer planes. While the Elemental Realities or -inner planes- represent the physical Ideals of matter and substance, the Realms Beyond are the manifestation of Ideals associated with the spirit and concepts. All things that can be believed and thought about are represented in shape, form, and often some kind of sentience in the Realms Beyond. It is within this collection of realities that gods can be found.
The Gates of Hell (Dice Freaks) Grimoire of Cosmic Entities Volume One By Eli Atkinson, William Church and Serge W. Desir, Jr.
Original Concept by Serge W. Desir, Jr.
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The nature of a god is a complex consideration that requires a great deal more space that this treatise is de-signed to provide. There are dozens of different theories as to what gods are, but for the purpose of The Gates of Hell, there are two that are the most likely given based upon our research regarding devils. One theory posits that gods are the manifestation of Ideals and concepts represented by mortals in the Mortal Coil (also known as the material plane). According to this position, gods cannot exist but with the existence and, more importantly, the veneration of mortals. A god, while wielding power as far beyond the greatest human as a human wields compared to a normal ant, still depends on humanity’s attention (through adoration or fear).
The second theory, and one that has recently suffered set backs due to the popularity of the previous theory, suggests that gods are eternal entities that exist and give shape to the Ideals in which mortals believe. This position does not require as much attention from mortals; indeed, mortal creatures serve and/or worship gods because they must, ensuring that mortal decent into the afterworld upon death is well received.
It is likely that both of these theories possess a degree of truth. It has become increasingly obvious that gods need mortal veneration in order to survive, but there are numerous worlds in which gods predate mortal worshippers. In fact, there are quite a few worlds in which the gods were not created by mortal thought, but by even greater divine powers typically referred to as “over gods”. In any event, what is important to note is that both theories associate the gods with Ideals in which mortals believe.
Gods are indeed the manifestation of ideals. However, gods are very specific representatives of specific ideals for select groups of mortals often limited to a continent in one world. Thus, in one part of a planet, a god of War may be psychotic deity associated with hatred and flames while in another part of the same world, a god of War is associated with the randomness of violence and the perception that violence is part of everyday life. The distinctions between gods are often more drastic once one studies different gods within different pantheons from different worlds. In essence, most gods are limited in scope and accessibility. The natural question is if gods are not the ultimate Ideals, but rather specific and decentralized representatives serving as aspects of Ideals, are there beings out there that represent Ideals?
Many myths and legends passed down through numerous mortal generations relate the battles gods faced as they rose to power. Quite a few of these legends tell of divine conflicts between the gods, but just as many tell of how the gods overthrew older creatures who, while not divine, wielded tremendous power capable of threatening the gods. Whether called Titans or appearing as eternal dragons, these beings served as great foes to the gods. In almost all mortal coils, the gods overcame these adversaries and cast them beyond the world, allowing the gods to rule in peace. Although these tales are somewhat fanciful, they hold a bit of truth. There are indeed beings in the Cosmos that can challenge gods although they are not gods. These are cosmic entities.
Cosmic entities are immortal beings that represent Ideals. They are constant, singular beings that exist because a concept or thought exists. They serve only the perpetuation of the concept. Unlike gods, cosmic entities can transcend the limitations of one world, which allows them to enforce their Ideal across all Creation. Cosmic entities are generally older than the gods, having existed before anything else. The oldest and greatest cosmic entities set the foundation for the Ideals that continue to influence every aspect of existence. Indeed, some have claimed that over gods are not gods at all, but supremely powerful cosmic entities.
Some cosmic entities are frequently referred to as planar lords for it is in the Realities Beyond that cosmic entities continue to hold considerable power. From the heights of Heaven’s highest mountain into the eternal spirally madness of Limbo, from the powerful demon princes that rage in madness and evil in The Abyss, to the cerebral Axioms of Law that organize Nirvana, cosmic entities rule the outer planes. Indeed, the so-called Elemental Gods are also cosmic entities and it is rumored that concepts like Death and Life are represented by semi-sentient personas that could classified as cosmic entities.
Cosmic entities differ from gods in a number of ways. For and most importantly, cosmic entities do not require the veneration or worship of mortals to exist. So long as anything, god or mortal, believes, promotes, or supports (and in some cases, opposes) an Ideal, the appropriate cosmic entities will exist. Next, cosmic entities are almost universally barred from direct interaction with the Mortal Coil; although aspects of their being may influence events in therein (like fire that seeps into the material plane), cosmic entities cannot enter the Mortal Coil of their own volition. Third, cosmic entities are all but impossible to destroy. While a god, due to lack of worship, may suffer fluctuations in power and status and eventually “die”, such is not the case with a cosmic entity. Only direct conflict with another similarly ranked or greater cosmic or divine being or an extremely powerful artifact can destroy a cosmic entity. Even then, most cosmic entities must be destroyed in their plane and/or layer of origin/power.
In spite of these differences, cosmic entities do have many traits similar to those of gods. While they do not require worship, cosmic entities do benefit from the ado-ration of lesser creatures. A being that dies serving a cosmic entity may find its soul used as sustenance, bolstering the power of the entity in question. Cosmic entities also can be ranked in a manner similar to that of gods. While powerful mortals can easily harm the weakest cosmic entities, not even such puissant mortals offer much of a threat against the strongest cosmic entities who rival divine pantheon heads in their might. Cosmic entities also exhibit abilities and powers far beyond those of the greatest mortals.
So, where do devils fit into this cosmic scheme and are all devils cosmic entities? The answer to the latter question is, no. Most devils, from the pathetic lemure to the horrific pit fiend, are spirits. Spirits are souls given form and shape, their protoplasmic form condensed into something resembling matter. They are similar to undead in that they are not alive, at least not in the sense that mortal creatures are alive. They do not need to breathe, eat, sleep, or procreate. Spirits exist as proxies to the Ideals they represent. Thus, angels are spirits dedicated to righteousness, sacrifice, and truth. Devils are spirits enslaved to tyranny, malice, and cruelty. Devils that assume the status of Duke of Hell and higher are cosmic entities because at this point such devil’s are truly unique individuals.
The relationship between gods and cosmic entities is a strained one. While the gods lay legal claim to the Mortal Coil, many cosmic entities, particularly the evil variety, seek to overwhelm all of the Cosmos that they view as their own. More than any other group of cosmic entities, Devils are the most deadly and dedicated to this goal of achieving dominion over all Creation.