Balrog (Art by Steves3511)
| “ | INFIDELS!!! You dare raise your puny swords against the unconquerable fires of Hell!? Now...Now you will NEVER AGAIN SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY!!! | „ |
| ~ A Balrog to Integra, Walter, Ivan, Natalia, Professor Broom, and Abigail |
Balrogs, also known as Valaraukar, are hideous fallen angels that joined Lucifer's rebellion against God and Heaven. They make up the remaining majority of the fallen angels that were appointed as the foot soldiers and hunters of Hell.
Description[]
Balrogs are described as tall, menacing beings roughly humanoid in shape, though seeming to consist of or be surrounded by shadow and flame. They use both a flaming sword and a fiery whip and are constantly burning, with weapons that appear molten. Gothmog, the Prince of Balrogs, used a black axe as well. As is typical of fallen angels, they possess massive black smoldering wings.
Balrogs are often regarded as the textbook example of a fallen angel. Aside from Lucifer and Satan, they are the fallen that truly embodying the imagery of an angel that has been transformed into a horrific demon after its fall from grace. Essentially, Balrogs are the dark shadow of the majesty that angels radiate, encapsulating the raw power and terror that came from the corrupting fall.
Balrogs are able to shapeshift, with some being able to change their size considerably to either better hunt their prey or project immense fear and dread towards their opponents. As demonic beings, they are able to rapidly evolve to their environment, though despite whatever form they take, they are always cursed to remain as hideous on the outside as they are on the inside.
Overview[]
Balrogs are made up of the fallen angels that joined Lucifer's cause in rebelling against Heaven, specifically ones that were not elevated to a royal status and remained as foot soldiers in the depths of Hell. The Balrogs were given purpose after Hell's hierarchy and power structure was established, and entrusted to preserve the laws of the Inferno set in place by the Satanic Triumvirate. As a result, the Balrogs were made to enforce these laws upon demons, and should any demon be so foolish enough to break said laws they would be inevitably hunted down by the Balrogs.
In this way, Balrogs could be described as Hell's "bounty hunters", or a sort of "law enforcement" exclusive to Hell. Laws were placed in Hell by the Seven Emperors and it is the Balrog's duty to ensure that they are followed through to the letter. Usually when a demon breaks a law, they are punished accordingly by the Pyramid Heads or the Malebranche depending on the severity of the law breaking, but should they dare to run to avoid punishment, Hell's nobles will send the Balrogs to capture and detain them. Additionally, Balrogs are also sent to recapture souls or demons that somehow escaped from Hell, due to their ability to adapt to a myriad of different environments across the realms.
Balrogs can often be seen accompanied by Hellhounds, whom act as their hunting companions in certain circumstances. When these two demons are paired together for a hunt, their reputation and power makes them amongst the most feared demonic beings in Hell.
Powers and Abilities[]
As they are fallen angels, Balrogs were incredibly powerful creatures. Their power and status makes them out to be quite feared even among the denizens of Hell. It is said that only three Balrogs were required to subdue Dagan who was a high-ranking Prince of Hell and five were even said to have briefly pushed Sparda in battle, further showcasing their terrible might. They are said to exude auras of fear and dread with their presence alone, going so far as to even envelop the environment around them in a blazing inferno.
During the siege of New York where Lucifer unleashes the forces of Hell to find the Woman of the Apocalypse, a single Balrog encountered the escorts of the president comprised of Integra, Walter, Abigail, Ivan, Natalia, and Professor Broom, to which immediately all of them were ridden with fear and apprehension; while minor it is still a feat as these are the same individuals who have faced down some of the most terrible supernatural creatures in their lifetimes. Immanuel, who is a powerful angel in his own right, stated upon sensing the coming of the Balrog that it was "beyond any of you" and told them to flee. Even Klaus had a very difficult time trying to repel the Balrog away from his allies until Immanuel personally fought it one on one.