Baal

The Baal are gods that were previously part of the 9 ascended who served under the Overgod, however after being unseated from their postions weren't able to return to the mortal plain and are banished to the Black domain to remain there. Each of them gaining plains that sizes scaled to their following.

Hierarchy
Each of the Baal have a unique appearance as well as a unique set of powers and abilites each of them rule over a plane in the Black Domain these planes scale based on their following, some of these planes are larger than others and can sometimes collide with the territory of other Baal. This allows Baal to contest for followers and steal the souls of people who follow other Baal.

Baal have limited influence on the mortal plane, compared to the 9 ascended they normally spread their influence by making appealing bargins to mortals, offering them promises of riches, power and knowledge. However this varies from Baal to Baal some Baal will attempt to take advantage of their power and privilage while others try to be kinder and nicer to mortals.

History
When the Overgod created the first world and first cycle the world was left for 10,000 years with unlimited access to anything they required to make life work as they dreamed it. However after 10,000 years a war broke out causing the world to almost be entirely destroyed the Overgod realised that the world couldn't be left to its own devices and appointed the 9 strongest suvivors of that world as the first 9 ascended and began the great game and cycles of the world.

The game was created each of the 9 ascended would elect a champion and that champion would stand for that ascended's moral and values and will in the a cycle. However issues began to arise when in the first cycle the champions began to declare war on each other and fight for control of the mortal plane. The overgod continued to watch as the 9 ascended began to bicker and fight forcing their champions to gain more followers so they could increase in power.