Baal is an ancient demon of Irkalla, a powerful spell-caster, and the long-standing companion of King Behmor. He is also the elder half-brother of Allyra, sharing the same mother, Reftha. Unlike Allyra, however, Baal was born long before many of the events that would come to define the modern Deep. His father remains unknown, and Baal himself rarely discusses his origins. By the time Nicolas’s son arrived in Irkalla to begin his education, Baal was already an established and respected figure within the infernal administration.

Long before Behmor inherited the throne, Baal worked within the bureaucratic machinery of Irkalla. He developed a reputation for competence, intelligence, and an unusually practical approach to governance. While many demons pursued power through intimidation or ambition, Baal excelled through reliability. Contracts were processed correctly, disputes were resolved efficiently, and the endless systems that sustained Hell continued functioning largely because individuals like Baal ensured they did.

Their relationship began through duty rather than romance.

As Nicolas’s son, Behmor was always destined to become King of Irkalla. To prepare him for this role, he underwent extensive training in administration, law, governance, and contractual systems. Baal became one of his instructors and mentors during this period. Unlike many who sought to curry favour with the future king, Baal treated Behmor as a student first and a prince second. He expected competence, challenged mistakes, and refused to indulge arrogance.

Behmor responded well to this approach.

Over time, respect developed into friendship, and friendship eventually evolved into something deeper. The transition was gradual enough that neither could easily identify when it occurred. What began as a professional relationship slowly transformed into genuine companionship. By the time Behmor inherited the throne, Baal had become one of the most important figures in his life.

The change in status never altered the foundations of their relationship. Although Behmor became King of Irkalla, Baal remained one of the very few people capable of speaking to him as an equal. Centuries of familiarity created a level of trust that no title could erase. Even now, Behmor occasionally finds himself receiving advice from the man who once helped train him.

Despite this trust, Behmor frequently attempts to shield Baal from the more exhausting aspects of governance. He deliberately excludes him from many sensitive matters, not because Baal lacks the ability to contribute, but because he wishes to spare him from the endless complications generated by Nicolas and the wider DeSilva family.

Baal has absolutely no interest in being spared.

Curious by nature and hopelessly invested in the lives of those he cares about, he possesses a notorious habit of listening at office doors, peering through keyholes, and inserting himself into conversations from which he has supposedly been excluded. Political scandals, legal disputes, family arguments, and rumours all attract his attention. Behmor is entirely aware of this behaviour and rarely bothers to stop him. More often than not, he simply opens the door and invites Baal inside, recognising that resistance is futile.

As a result, Baal frequently becomes involved in matters he was never intended to hear about. He researches obscure historical records, investigates legal precedents, assists with contractual disputes, and performs whatever tasks are required. His usefulness ensures that even when Behmor is irritated by his involvement, he is rarely willing to send him away.

Baal’s greatest strength and greatest weakness is his romantic nature.

Where Behmor approaches relationships through trust, practicality, and long-term commitment, Baal believes in devotion, sacrifice, and grand gestures. He wants love to feel important. He wants it to matter. This outlook frequently colours his interpretation of the relationships around him.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in his view of Nicolas and Allyra.

Where Behmor sees manipulation, obsession, coercion, and dysfunction, Baal often sees devotion. He is fascinated by the lengths Nicolas is willing to go for Allyra and repeatedly mistakes possessiveness for commitment. To Baal, there is something strangely romantic about someone willing to move heaven, hell, and reality itself for the person they love.

Behmor considers this viewpoint alarming.

The resulting arguments have become a regular feature of their relationship. Behmor patiently explains why Nicolas’s behaviour should not be viewed as aspirational. Baal listens, nods thoughtfully, and remains entirely unconvinced.

Part of this fascination stems from his own relationship. Although he loves Behmor deeply, he occasionally wishes his partner displayed some of the dramatic intensity that Nicolas directs towards Allyra. Behmor, who considers Nicolas’s behaviour a cautionary tale, finds this bewildering.

Baal’s connection to Allyra is more personal than most realise. As her elder half-brother, he feels a natural affection towards her, even if neither of them always frames the relationship in those terms. He frequently assists her, worries about her circumstances, and becomes increasingly involved in the family structure forming around her. While Behmor initially views Allyra as a problem likely to end badly, Baal is often quicker to embrace her presence.

His relationship with Nicolas is equally complicated. Nicolas takes enormous pleasure in pretending not to understand that Behmor and Baal are a couple. Despite overwhelming evidence, he routinely acts as though their relationship remains an unsolved mystery. The performance is entirely deliberate and exists solely to irritate them both. Nicolas understands perfectly well what their relationship is. He simply enjoys watching them react.

One of Baal’s more significant interventions concerns Tanis. After Nicolas quietly plants the idea in his head, Baal becomes convinced that Behmor and Tanis should merge. Once he adopts this belief, he pursues it with relentless enthusiasm. Behmor resists, Tanis embraces the proposal, and Baal repeatedly inserts himself into the discussion until the merger eventually takes place. Though Behmor never entirely forgives the interference, the outcome ultimately proves beneficial.

For all his curiosity, romanticism, and occasional meddling, Baal remains one of the more balanced figures within the Deep. He is compassionate without being naïve, intelligent without becoming cynical, and loyal without becoming blind. Where Behmor often sees systems, contracts, and responsibilities, Baal sees people. He notices what they fear, what they desire, and what they need.

Perhaps that is why he remains so important to the King of Irkalla. Long before Behmor became a ruler, Baal helped teach him how Irkalla functioned. Long after Behmor inherited the throne, he continued reminding him that Hell is populated by individuals rather than paperwork.

In many ways, that lesson remains Baal’s greatest contribution.