Ragathiel Creative Origins (and Homebrew Consideration)

[W E Ray]

As far as I'm aware, Ragathiel is a 100% invention of Paizo's. And I'm curious why Dispater was selected as his Devilish sire rather than, for example, Asmodeus (for Authority), Moloch (for fire & war), Belial (for sexual violence against the Fire Elemenatal princess), or whatever. Was Dispater just Wes Schneider's (or whomever's) closet favorite Devil? Did the team pick Dispater because there's so little on that particular Devil and they wanted something to stand out? Perhaps Paizo was first just shoe-horning in Asmodeus until someone said, 'Hey, it's always Asmod, Asmod, Asmod; let's do something different!'

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The reason I ask is that I have a Player running a Paladin of Ragathiel in my campaign and she's often under the false impression that her fiery-angelic god is the son of Asmodeus. Even more experienced players at my table have to be reminded, actually, Ragathiel is the son of one of the other Devils and not Asmodeus. And then I think to myself, 'Yeah, it makes absolutely Zero sense that it's Dispater.'

But I don't want to arbitrarily change it for my own game without first knowing if there's some reason -- some logic -- some Backstory on Ragathiel's creative origins that convinces me, 'Yeah, I'll keep it as canon instead of change it to Asmodeus (or maybe Belial).'

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Thanks in advance for any anecdotes! It is always SOOO great to read Designer / Developer / Editor thoughts, opinions, and memories!

[Arkat]

Dispater, from what I can remember, has had multiple wives/partners/whatever over his existence.

As far as I'm concerned, Feronia became enamored of him for a bit and the feelings for her on Dispater's part was mutual.

Makes perfect sense to me for Dispater to be Ragathiel's dad.

[James Jacobs]

F. Wesley Schneider was, I believe, the mastermind behind Ragathiel, and he was certainly the expert on all things diabolic. He'd be the one to ask for the specific details of why he made these choices, but he's not worked at Paizo for many years, and while I was involved in some of this stuff (particularly in expanding things in the hardcover Book of the Damned), I'm afraid the type of thoughts/opinions/memories you're looking for are no longer a part of Paizo, alas.

Spoiler:

I AM gonna be hanging out with Wes this weekend unless the Pacific Northwest gets snowed in, so I can ask him if I remember this thread. No promises though, since that involves me:

1) me remembering on Saturday
2) him remembering and/or wanting to answer
3) me remembering to come back here and report

None of those things are guaranteed!

[rimestocke]

If I had to hazard a guess, it's because of his name and his proximity with the Hades and Persephone myth.