Gothmog (Art by Diana Franco)
Gothmog was the Prince of the Balrogs and the mightiest of them all. He was said to have been Lucifer's front-line lieutenant during the War in Heaven.
Description[]
Gothmog was similar to his subordinates in that he resembled a gargantuan humanoid beast wreathed in shadow and flame but was said to have sported more noticeable bestial features compared to his underlings and was much larger in order to display his position of power. In addition, whereas the Balrogs carried fiery whips or swords, Gothmog held a massive black axe that is said to "cleave through the earth" with a single strike.
History[]
Fall from Grace[]
Gothmog was among the uncountable number of angels that joined Lucifer's crusade against God and Heaven. During the War in Heaven, Gothmog was Lucifer's front-line lieutenant, supposedly under Beelzebub himself who was Lucifer's second in command. After his fall from grace, Gothmog assumed a more demonic appearance to compensate for the loss of his former majestic power and image.
Prince of the Balrogs[]
Prior to the establishment and founding of Hell as a kingdom and the hierarchy of its denizens, Gothmog was the High Captain of Hell's law enforcement and given titles such as "Chief of the Balrogs" or "Prince of the Balrogs". It is believed that Lucifer approached Gothmog with the offer of being given a high seat among the nobles of Hell but Gothmog respectfully declined the Morningstar's offer, instead preferring his current position and to be Lucifer's greatest soldier to which Lucifer accepted.
Death[]
During the Dark Reign, when Mundus unleashed the darkness and fires of Hell unto the human world, Gothmog was appointed as regent of Lothric shortly after he and his forces besieged the city. The twin princes of Lothric pleaded for Gothmog to spare their city in exchange for their servitude. Gothmog brought them before one of the lords of Hell who accepted their pledge of allegiance and turned them into Apostles.
Much later, when Sparda rebelled against Hell and his former masters, Gothmog confronted the Legendary Dark Knight and engaged in a ferocious battle against him. After a long battle, Sparda rammed his blade into Gothmog's chest as the two fell off the tower and into the lake which quenched Gothmog's flames, effectively killing him from the fatal wound.
Trivia[]
- It is hinted that Gothmog had a relationship of sorts with Tisiphone, one of the Erinyes, as she was particularly enraged upon hearing of Gothmog's demise. This is further supported when she attacked Vergil while screaming, "Your father will pay with your blood for taking Gothmog's life!"
- As Balrogs are considered Hell's own law enforcement, then Gothmog would be something like a chief of police.