Astaroth (Barlowe's Hell)

“	I do not believe that the Fly ever really wanted him as a vassal. He has never had much use for Astaroth and regards him more as an antiquated curiosity than as a noble ally. His interest in Astaroth has always been nominal... You, old proctor, are going to cause me a great deal of trouble.	„
	~ Sargatanas regarding Astaroth

Summary

Astaroth was a Demon Major and feudal lord of Hell following the descent of the demons from the Above in the aftermath of the War in Heaven. Previously a mighty seraphim (and even mentor to many other Demons Major, such as Sargatanas and likely Valefar), his time in the Abyss was spent in his kingdom ignoring the collapsing infrastructure of his realm. Situated directly bordering his former pupil, Astaroth relied on assistance from both Sargatanas and The Regent of Hell time and time again, incapable of supporting his own realm sufficiently.

Shortly before Sargatanas' rebellion against the throne, Astaroth declared war on his student in the interests in claiming some of his wealthy territories for himself. Reduced to a fool and shade of his former glory, Astaroth's campaign against Sargatanas lasted only a single battle, after which he was executed against orders by Faraii, a relative newcomer to Sargatanas' court and leader of several of his legions.

Powers and Stats

Tier: 8-B

Name: Lord Astaroth

Origin: Barlowe's Hell

Gender: Male

Age: Untold millennia, as all demons have been alive since before the arrival of humans on Earth

Classification: Demon Major

Powers and Abilities: Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Large Size (Type 0, Demons stand about 10-12 feet tall on average; Demons Major vary but are typically larger), Magic (All Demons Minor and Major can manipulate glyphs as a form of magic), Immortality (Types 1 and 2, demons and souls alike do not age, and view the passage of millennia as merely a beginning; Demons can survive without major bodily organs, most notably their hearts), Fire Manipulation (All demons can manipulate flame to create glyphs, a type of magic all of them may make use of), Soul Manipulation (Demons can change the shape of released souls into other forms- bricks, weapons, or beasts; Demons may obliterate souls by targeting the Burden whenever they wish), Telekinesis (Demons may move objects via telekinesis- in this instance, it is used to rapidly build up a wall), Power Nullification (Demons can nullify glyphs of other demons, though generally to do so in-combat they need to be specifically prepared or outright stronger than the opponent demon), Pain Manipulation (Demons can create staggering pain in the very soul by targeting their "Burden"- a coalescence of all that soul's sins that forms tangibly as a black mucus-like orb stuck to their body after they die), Information Analysis, Psychometry (Demons can use glyphs to discern the true nature of a Soul; this generally includes things like what they did in their lives and who they were, as these facts determine whether souls are fit to become certain higher elevations of transmutation, such as warbeasts), Homing Attack (Sigils and glyphs track down those whose glyphs are integrated into it- this is most often used as a means of calling certain demons or delivering commands), Energy Projection (Demons can form projectiles from glyphs to attack enemies), Absorption, Power Absorption (Demons Minor and Major can absorb other demons' discs once they perish, gaining their powers and skills subconsciously in the process), Berserk Mode (Demons experience a battle-frenzy known as The Passion by Eligor- while in this state, their ability to feel pain is significantly dampened), Adhesive Manipulation (Demons can attach armor to themselves via common Glyphs, ensuring it cannot be removed), Weapon Mastery, Shapeshifting (Demons Major can change their shape at-will; applications include growing armor or wings; All Demons Major rapidly change shape when enraged or anxious, typically to terrifying effects), Sealing (Demons Major can generate seals to protect their land and prevent passage without permission), Biological Manipulation (Demons Major can alter the shape of other creatures, including demons), Self-Sustenance (Types 2 and 3, Demons Major do not require food or sleep in any capacity), Mind Manipulation (Demons Major can twist the minds of other creatures- examples include Beelzebub changing who the Sag-hrim targeted with their bizarre works), Summoning (Sargatanas and other Demon Lords can summon forth massive legions of legionary demons, barely-sentient constructs of basaltic stone, to do his bidding- though the number summoned depends on the quality of the summoning location, ideally using lava), Aura, Statistics Reduction (Other beings physically buckle in the presence of a Demon Major, due to an aura they possess that weakens other creatures in proximity; the effect grows the closer you are; Demons Major can turn this effect on and off), Purification (Demon Lords appear capable of removing the Burden from a soul), Sense Manipulation (Demons Major can split their own awareness as much as they need to, allowing them to pay ample attention to all aspects of the battlefield), Power Bestowal (Demon Lords can enact a ritual to uplift a Demon Minor to Demon Major- though it seems that doing so is only done under special circumstances), possibly Statistics Amplification (Sargatanas, at the very least, was capable of vastly improving his strength by combining the glyphs of all Demons Major who made up his army- allowing him to even become comparable to one so mighty as Beelzebub)

Attack Potency: City Block level (Although he was considered far weaker than his prime, Astaroth is still a Demon Major and can pose some threat to others of his stature, all of whom endured the incredible speeds of descent from the Above)

Speed: Superhuman (Demons are significantly taller than humans, standing about twice their full height, and as such should be approximately this fast), at least Subsonic+ flight speed and combat speed (Superior to Eligor, who made the weeks-long journey from Adamantinarx to Dis in two days)

Lifting Strength: Likely Class K (Even as a particularly weak Demon Major, he should be somewhat comparable to Moloch, who was capable of tearing a legionary in half with his bear hands; even being so weak in comparison should land him here)

Striking Strength: City Block level (Can physically contend with other Demons Major, although he is considered particularly weak for one of his stature)

Durability: City Block level (Withstood many attacks from exceptional Demons Minor and their legions before succumbing; Survived the meteoric descent into Hell from the Above)

Stamina: Superhuman, even Demons Minor could make the weeks-long trip between Askad and Dis severely wounded with no rest

Range: Extended Melee Range, at least Thousands of Meters with Glyphs (Glyphs are used on a battlefield scale, delivering commands and sniping long-distance targets)

Standard Equipment: None notable

Intelligence: Above Average, although he is regarded as fallen from his former lofty heights of intellectualism, Astaroth is still a semi-competent political figure capable of managing wide ranges of territory, albeit poorly, and engages in fairly deep-seeded espionage against other Demon Lords; the simple fact that he was in power for thousands upon thousands of years reveals some level of competence as a political adversary in the Abyss

Weaknesses: Astaroth is overconfident and underprepared for the consequences, and in desperation is prone to lashing out in view of short term benefits far below long term gains

Notable Matchups

Victories:

Losses:

Inconclusive:

Discussions

Discussion threads involving Astaroth (Barlowe's Hell)