Mulciber

"... I was sicked of it. Imagine having to build the same thing again and again and again for millennia and not even allowed to make the slightest of changes or even have a choice in the matter. I am an artist. I want to create art. And this, this city right here is my magnum opus."

- Mulciber.

Mulciber is a demonic architect that serves in the legions of Mammon, specifically the Architects of Mammon.

Overview
He is one of the fallen angels-turned-demons, who serves under the demon lord Mammon. Before his fall, Mulciber was an Angel in Heaven who served as the chief architect of heaven, designing the countless palaces in the celestial plane so that he may honor God.

Personality
Mulciber didn't like Heaven’s authoritarian ways, as he wanted more freedom when working or making designs, and just didn’t like the way God ruled things.

Fall from Grace
Mulciber was the grand architect of Heaven, the angel known for having designed the many stunningly beautiful palaces for God. He mostly found solace in his work and not wanting to have anything to do with the other angels. He did, however, have a healthy working relationship with Jophiel at the time with it even resembling something of a teacher/student relationship.

As more of the compounds of Heaven were being constructed the more there were rules being enforced to establish the hierarchy. Mulciber was one of the angels who resented the rules being made in Heaven as they would limit his working capabilities.

His first act of rebellion was when he was approached by Lucifer, coaxing the angelic builder into using the Secret Fire as the spark to his coal forge, building something that exceeds the splendor of the Heavenly palaces and cities. Mulciber would come to aid Lucifer in creating something out of the Secret Fire, creations akin to what God had in store in the future. But they were found out and were prohibited from ever again using the Secret Fire.

During the War in Heaven he decided to side with Lucifer, and assisted him by navigating his troops through the heavenly cities, bringing his side much success as they strategically routed and overwhelmed the forces of light. Mulciber was ultimately defeated at the hands of Michael, deposed of his position and cast into Hell along with the rest of the fallen as the demonic army descended into a disorganized final frenzy.

Architect of Hell
In Hell, he continued being an architect and led the construction of Pandemonium, the new capital of Hell, which was built within one hour, but is greater than any known human structure in scope. This period of time shortly after the fall is when Mulciber is believed to have been the most active.

Mulciber was commissioned by Mundus to build seven gates so that the legions of Hell may pass through in a bid to conquer the mortal world. While it was no easy task, as the material required to properly sustain the dimensional energies emitted by the Convergence had Mulciber search even beyond the borders of Hell, Mulciber nonetheless succeeded. He set the Seven Gates in place to act as conduits for the Convergence, using the event's energies to form temporal windows for the demons to pass through unharmed.

Aiding Azazel
At some point in later, Mulciber and Mammon aided Azazel in the construction of the Right Hand of Doom and grafted it onto the right arm of Hellboy, his newborn son. However, some of the monarchs of Hell discovered their plans and invoked feral demons on their side to destroy them. Mulciber survived the ordeal but was punished by Beelzebub and was planed to be thrown into Treachery. However, Mammon was able to free his servant by saying that Azazel was using his servant for his own purposes without informing the architect that Azazel was planning to go against infernal empire.

Unbeknownst to Beelzebub and other nobles, however, Mulciber would continue his work under Azazel's instructions, creating the fabled Abyssal Army using the fires of Hell to mold the damned souls of Treachery into an infernal legionnaire. He has been doing this tirelessly until the promised End of Days.

Myths and Legends
Mulciber's character is based on a Greek mythological figure known for being a poor architect, but in Milton’s poem, he is one of the most productive and skilled devils in Hell.

As the god of fire, Vulcan has a deep historical association to the fire which emerges out from under the earth. But, more aptly, this mythological figure has been most often depicted with a blacksmith’s hammer, as it was one and the same Mulciber who introduced Cain to the secrets of metallurgy needed to construct the first city.

Quotes

 * "Let my story be a lesson, when you love doing something so much, it can lead you to a path that can be regrettable. I'm not saying I hate my role as a Architect of Hell, it's just I don't want anyone to step in my path." - Mulciber.


 * "I care little for the events that occur outside of the confines of my fortress and across the realms of Hell, Heaven, and Man. Crafting and smithing is where I find comfort and to drown out the incessant noises of bickering between my siblings. Nonetheless, I cannot ignore the calls of my masters, for their requests always require delightfully destructive pieces of craftsmanship from me." - Mulciber.

Trivia

 * He has sometimes been compared to the Roman god Vulcan and the Cretan god Velchanos, a god in the netherworld of the dead.

Image Sources

 * (MULCIBER.jpg) MULCIBER by thief6
 * (Demon spawn by chriscold d70btbz-fullview.jpg) Demon Spawn by ChrisCold
 * (Legendary blacksmith.jpg) Legendary blacksmith by ThemeFinland