I want to talk about the Paeliryon, a devil in Dungeons & Dragons. More accurately, I want to talk about the insidious nature of transmisogyny, and the double standards queerness is held to in its depictions.

CW: Transmisogyny, fatphobia, queerphobia

1/?

First off, big credit to @laura_hirsb for this outstanding thread that helped me find this specific image. I'm gonna tag this whole thread with #Paeliryon, so you can avoid it if you don't want to see it.

2/? https://twitter.com/laura_hirsb/status/1278025088948985856?s=20

For this #Paeliryon thread I'm going to be citing two sources: Fiendish Folio II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells (3.5E) and Monster Manual 3 (4E). I won't be citing specific page numbers, but I'll be drawing all quotes from those two books.

3/?

While the books consistently use "it" to describe the #Paeliryon, I will be specifically using "she", as "it" is often used as a transphobic attack.

You can tell I was an Art History major by how I lay everything out before I start!

4/?

Here is a screencap of FF2's description of the #Paeliryon, accompanied by a depiction of the devil in question. This passage focuses on describing her weight and the way in which her makeup seems monstrous. "Like" a courtesan.

5/?

A #Paeliryon is a skilled manipulator and spymaster. She will lurk around other devils invisibly and collect their secrets. She is cruel with her words, coercing and blackmailing mortals into selling their souls.

6/?

When she isn't engaged in spying or tricking, the #Paeliryon enjoys reclining in excess and luxury. She is "decadent and disgusting", and covers herself in oils that smell horrific and disguise her true nature. "Although she appears female, she is actually genderless."

7/?

The MM3 goes even further - one of the greatest tools of the #Paeliryon (here called a Corruption Devil) are her corrupted followers. One of them is the Corrupted Lecher, a beautiful woman who men fall in love with at the expense of all else, unaware of her true nature.

8/?

Both agree that the #Paeliryon is physically strong and powerful, but also cowardly and weak, who hides behind the good people she has tricked into protecting her.

If you're cis, you might not understand why this description is a problem. If you're trans, you know why.

9/?

All of the things I have said about the #Paeliryon, direct quotes from the book, are transphobic stereotypes. From the lecherous fake girl, to the cowardly monster, to the overweight corrupter, these are all insults I've seen hurled at countless trans women in my life.

10/?

The moment I saw the picture of the #Paeliryon, I recognized the direct connection between her design and countless fatphobic transmisogynistic characters throughout Western media. This is a monstrous variation on an image I've grown up unlearning.

11/?

So, why am I upset about the #Paeliryon now? MM3 came out a decade ago! Well, there's a few reasons. The first is that Mike Mearls wrote MM3. He directly benefits from the work he did on this book, in a way that protects him from his complicity in Zak S's abuse.

12/?

Second, the art of the #Paeliryon is still available as part of a stock art pack available for creators working for @dms_guild. WotC still profits from this artwork, still cycles it through, still enables it despite what it directly represents.

13/?

Third, a recent book of gay monsters, written by a queer person, was taken off of @dms_guild because they felt the artwork contained within is inappropriate (despite the art being no more scandalous nudity-wise than the #Paeliryon)

14/? https://twitter.com/deathbybadger/status/1277722106214694912

Queer people are allowed to exist in Dungeons & Dragons when we are like the #Paeliryon - monsters to be shunned. However, when we make art depicting ourselves in a positive light, suddenly we're not family friendly.

15/?

Art like the #Paeliryon in D&D is what kept me in the closet for years. I was terrified to be like one of THOSE trans people. Somehow this is far more appropriate for kids than Oliver's work.

I'm done with it.

16/FIN

Postscript: Tweeting about D&D and social justice on this hell platform is a good way to get mobbed by alt-right weirdos. Any trolls in the comments will be blocked, and please don't argue with them.