#dantalion

Image © Fenix Entertainment S.P.A., by José Muñoz. Accessed at his deviantArt here

[Monster 2000! This has been a long time in the works. Monster 1000 was Saurafer, so I knew I wanted to do some sort of big name fiend for Monster 2000 as well. The Pandaemonic Parliament project has been bubbling in my head for years, and so the first monster explicitly for it was my plan for Monster 2000 for a while. But the Goetia has 72 demons in it, and so which one to choose?

My inspiration came from @tyrantisterror and the interactive web novel they wrote last fall, We Go Bump In The Night. In WGBITN, Dantalion is a fiend dreaming of redemption, and is trying (with mixed success) to get a castle full of misfits to love themselves. And one of the major characters, Lord Dredgore, realizes that she's a trans woman and embraces her femininity over the course of the story. This is not TT's version of Dantalion, but is definitely inspired by her. And also inspired by my admiration for Pathfinder telling trans stories, and my desire to tell my own.

For everyone who's been with me for the last 2000 monsters, and to anyone who's just coming in now. Thank you.

I'm counting Dantalion as Monster 2000 without the bonus Patreon exclusive monsters. If you want to see them, or just want to pitch in a little to help out, check out the Creature Codex Patreon here!]

Devil, Dantalion CR 21 LE Outsider (extraplanar) This humanoid fiend stands twice the height of a human, with a body like a flayed corpse clad in golden armor. She has four faces, each equidistant around her head, and a crown of horns growing above them. Her wings are membranous and wide, her claws sharp, and her feet have a built in high heel. A hideous book, bound in human skin, orbits around her.

Dantalion did everything he was supposed to do, but could not account for her own desire to be happy. Dantalion was a brilliant gelugon in the service of Hell for millennia, using a network of spies and informants to keep tabs on Hell’s enemies. He was instrumental in weakening Chelish moral defenses, and his reward for the rise of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune was promotion to a pit fiend. In this form, Dantalion continued to perfect himself, using his ability to shape devils on his own body, granting himself extra heads so he could literally see all around him. As Dantalion learned more and more of the secrets of magic, he gained the ability to assume the form of any mortal man or woman on Golarion. But then he realized; despite all of his accomplishments and accolades, the first time “he” truly felt joy was when “he” assumed the form of a woman. And being a trans woman in Hell is a very dangerous thing.

Dantalion is currently threading a very tricky needle. She used polymorph any object spells to shape her body to her liking, and uses a combination of guile and magic to keep her minions and superiors alike thinking that her feminine form is an occasional affectation instead of who she sees as her true self. She knows she can’t fool Asmodeus forever, and in fact isn’t sure if she’s fooling him now. Her appointment to the Pandaemonic Parliament was at Asmodeus’ suggestion, because her gifts for appearing as anyone and eliciting love between the loveless are useful tools in Hell’s arsenal to win souls. Dantalion is afraid that this position is a setup for a very public exposure and fall from favor. She is considering appealing to the Queens of the Night for aid, but is afraid to; they publicly support Hadriel, Duchess of Domination, who hates divergences from “traditional” femininity, and hates trans women most of all. And deep in the back of her mind, Dantalion looks across the board to demon-kind, and how one of their greatest, Nocticula, rose from evil to become The Redeemer Queen. And Dantalion allows herself a glimmer of hope.

As a noble pit fiend, Dantalion rarely finds herself in direct combat these days. Still, getting to rend flesh with claws and spells is a welcome distraction from bureaucracy, and a chance for her to put her magical studies to work. Dantalion lacks the tail and venomous fangs of most pit fiends, but she is by no means a pushover in combat. All four of her faces still inflict sharp bites laden with devil chills, but now they can strip magical protections from a target as well. She is a flexible and experimental combatant, using her natural weapons and diverse spell-like abilities in conjunction with each other. Dantalion carries a brace of scrolls and wands with her so she can use spells otherwise unavailable to her, and if she knows ahead of time who she is fighting, will tailor her equipment to their tactics. Dantalion has not gotten as far as she has by being reckless, and flees from any combat she thinks she will lose.

If I had a nickel for every time a teenaged Victorian nobleman and his supernatural butler were accosted by a fanged man with neck tattoos claiming to have had a prior relationship and being unreasonably upset when the party doesn't recognize him.....

Grand Duke Dantalion is a powerful demon in the Goetia, often associated with gaining knowledge and insight into the thoughts, emotions, and desires of others, particularly esoteric wisdom. He is known to be a master of secrets and hidden knowledge, making him an ideal entity to call upon for guidance and understanding of complex or esoteric truths. Here is a ritual designed to receive esoteric knowledge from Dantalion through a dream.

Needed:

• A black or deep blue cloth

• A purple or white candle

• Incense (frankincense, sandalwood, or myrrh)

• Dandelion flowers

• Dantalion's sigil (you can draw his sigil on a piece of paper or use an image. You may also inscribe it on the candle)

• A dream journal and a pen.

Instructions:

Preparation- The ritual should ideally be performed on a Thursday, as Thursday is associated with Jupiter, the planet of wisdom, knowledge, and expansion. It can also be done on the night of a Full Moon, as this phase enhances clarity, power, and manifestation.

Take a cleansing bath or shower beforehand, using herbs like sage, lavender, or rose petals to clear negative energy and prepare your mind for the ritual. Now, choose a quiet, private space where you will not be disturbed. Set up an altar or small ritual space, spreading out the cloth and placing the candle in the center. Place Dantalion's sigil in front of the candle. Place the dandelions in an offering dish or sprinkle them around the altar space.

Sit in a comfortable position and ensure you will not be interrupted during your sleep. Focus on your breath, taking slow, deep breaths to ground yourself in the present moment. Visualize your body becoming heavy and relaxed, connecting with the earth beneath you.

Invocation- Light the candle and gaze at its flame. While focusing on the flame, chant the following words to invite Grand Duke Dantalion into your space:

“Grand Duke Dantalion, I call upon you in this sacred space,

Grant me the wisdom of the hidden realms,

Reveal to me the knowledge I seek,

Guide me through the veil of dreams.

With respect and reverence, I ask for your aid,

To bestow upon me your secret insights.”

Place the sigil of Dantalion in front of you, or in your hand, and focus on it. As you meditate on the sigil, think of your request. Be specific about the type of esoteric knowledge you wish to receive. Whether it's hidden truths, spiritual guidance, or insights into a particular aspect of the occult, clearly envision your question or intention. Close your eyes, and imagine Dantalion’s presence filling the room—imagine him as a figure of dark wisdom, a being of great intelligence, bathed in shadow and mystery. Ask him to help you access the knowledge you seek.

Lie down comfortably, making sure you are in a relaxed position. As you close your eyes, begin to focus on your breathing again—deep and rhythmic. Visualize a dark void or an open sky of stars, representing the realm of hidden knowledge. Imagine Dantalion stepping forward from this void, his presence gentle but powerful. Picture him offering you a book of esoteric wisdom, or imagine him whispering ancient secrets directly into your mind. Stay open and receptive to whatever comes to you—don’t force any images or thoughts. As you drift into sleep, continue to focus on your intention. Tell yourself, "I will receive the knowledge I seek through my dreams," and affirm that Dantalion will help you interpret and understand what you encounter in the dream realm. You can also try placing a piece of quartz crystal or amethyst near your pillow to aid in dream clarity and strengthen your psychic connection.

Closing- Upon waking, immediately write down anything you remember from your dreams. Even if it seems fragmented or unclear, try to capture every detail. Sometimes, messages from Dantalion come in symbolic or abstract forms, so allow yourself to interpret the dream with an open mind. Reflect on the symbols, emotions, or insights that came through.Thank Dantalion for his assistance, whether you feel he has answered your request or not. Offer gratitude for his presence and for any insights you have gained. Journal your insights and reflect on how they may apply to your current spiritual path. You may also want to meditate further on your dreams to gain deeper understanding.

The knowledge may not always come immediately or in a clear-cut manner. Sometimes, it takes time to understand the lessons or insights received in the dream. If the dream did not occur on the first night, repeat the ritual with the same focused intent. Your connection with Dantalion may strengthen over time. If you have the space and time, you can conduct the ritual with a more elaborate setup, such as incorporating specific symbols, gemstones (like lapis lazuli or sapphire for wisdom), or magical herbs or oils that align with your intention.

Dantalion is a kind, patient spirit who loves to share his knowledge with those he deems worthy. This ritual, performed with sincerity and focus, can open pathways to deep esoteric wisdom and insight through your dreams, making it a powerful tool in your witchcraft and spiritual practices.

A double dose of characters references that I drew last April, to have something presentable in time for Artfight 2025 (and for their profiles).

My demon retainer and half-angel guard, Sytri and Dantalion \o/ I introduced Dante some time ago, along with their dynamic together here!

Including a little bonus that I spruced up from Sytri's previous reference, and older art of Dante for comparison. In short, Dante's not the only one with a "multiple eyes" gimmick; Sytri did it first.

Sytri -- colacanvas.com/portfolio/sytri

Dantalion -- colacanvas.com/dantalion

Sharing my Tomodachi Life designs because I'm spending so much time with them. And this is my secondary island btw! (the first one was dedicated exclusively to Yakuza while this one has my faves from games and manga/anime)

Characters:

Volo (Pokémon Legends Arceus) Akane (Akane-banashi) Feng (Undead Unluck) Dantalion (Sword of Convallaria)

Robin Bars eagerly dashes through the halls after his last class of the day. He was so excited! He makes it to the teachers' dorms and starts to pack.

"Woah, where are you going in such a rush, rookie?" Dali-San asked as he picked up the energetic imp by the collar of his uniform. "You're not trying to run out on us, are ya greenie?" Orias-San teases.

"No way!" He says, automatically waving his arms around. "I'm just going home for the weekend." The tiny demon flashes a bright grin.

"Why? Some kind of family meeting?" Dali-San sets him down and lets him continue to pack. "Nope!" "Some kind of hunt?"Questioned Marbas. "No."

"Why are you going then, Rookie?" Ifrit asks. "My wife is coming back from a mission today! I want to spend as much time with her as possible!" He proudly puffed his chest out a bit.

"How sweet yis!" Suzy-San cooed. (Wait for it) ... "WHHHHAAAATTT?!?!?!" It had taken a moment for the staff to realize what the green imp had said.

"Wife?" "You're married?!?!" "You traitor, I thought you were single like the rest of us!!!" "You're pulling our tails, right?" "How did the rookie get married before me!!!"

Pure chaos erupted as Robin finished packing. He's stopped once more by his seniors. "Where do you think you're going after dropping a bomb like that greenie?"

"Yeah, why didn't you tell us you were married?!?!" Both Orias and Marbas shake him. "You never asked..." "You little-"

"Robbie, what's taking so long?" A voice calls out softly, interrupting the improved interrogation. There, in the doorway, was a demon staring curiously at the scene in front of her.

"Hiya, Honey!" Robin slips out of the other's grasp and zooms over. He picks her up happily and spins her around. "I missed you!"

She giggles happily as he does so. "Did you really?" "Yes! I can't wait to spoil you again!" She shook her head as the green demon carried her and his bags off of the school property.