Hells
The Infernal Hells, sometimes called the Nine Circles of Hell, or just the Hells, are one of the Divine Planes and the home of origin for the Devils. The Hells are called "Infernus" in the Infernal tongue, and "Koláseis" in Celestial language.
The Hells are a realm dedicated to law, order, and most of all, ambition. It is a cruel and deadly place, its denizens organised into a strict caste system with a very rigid chain of command.
The Hells are ruled by the Dark Deity Adversarius, the King of Devils, as well as eight Praetores, who each preside over one of the nine circles that make up the Plane; Eremus, Luxuria, Gula, Avaricia, Invidia, Ira, Acedia, Superbia and Praetorium.
Teleportation to the Hells will almost always send you to the first circle, Eremus, unless you were given access to another circle by one of the Praetores, or by Adversarius themselves.
The Hells are believed to have been created by Khronos during the early years of Creation to contain the infinite legions of Demons that swarmed out from the Abyss, where they were met by the Infernal legions upon the battlefield of the Immensus War. The Plane was later overtaken by Adversarius and their Devils, who betrayed the Gods and usurped control over the Hells.
Table of Contents
The Circles of Hell
The Hells are sectioned into nine distinct circles, each circle with it's own ruler, denizens and environment. Each circle is smaller than the one above it, with Eremus being the largest, and Praetorium being the smallest.
Eremus
Circle: 1st
Leader: Praetor Hava
Capital: Blackstone Citadel
Eremus is the first circle of the Hells, and is ruled by the Archdevil of War, Hava. Eremus is also home to the Zelotae Devils, the fallen holy warriors of Hava. (Eremus is Infernal for 'wasteland', with it's Celestial name, "Makhéomai", roughly translating to 'to do battle' or 'battleground'.)
Eremus is a almost desolate wasteland, a battlefield of the ever raging Immensus War between the Devils of the Hells and the Demons of the Abyss. The Demonic horde swarm out of the Maw of the Abyss, a gaping portal that leads out of the Abyss and onto the planes of Eremus, where they are met by the Infernal legions. The land echoing with the sounds of clashing armies, the ground littered with the debris and remains of countless battles.
Geography
Eremus is one of the most dangerous places in the Universe, if the environment doesn't kill you, the waring hordes of Devils and Demons will. Eremus is the largest of the circles of the Hells, a barren, blasted hellscape of rocky terrain, devoid of vegetation or water, populated by only mountains, fissures, volcanoes, and rivers and lakes of magma. Eremus is also incredibly hot, the toxic air filled with sulphurous fumes and volcanic ash.
Eremus is the only part of the Hells where you can the sunless and starless sky. There is no day or nigh here, the atmosphere taking on a constant reddish, orange hue, if it can ever be seen behind clouds of red and black choking smoke and streaking fire expelled by the constant volcanic activity.
Blackstone Citadel
The only surviving structure within Eremus is the Blackstone Citadel (Arx Ater), a massive fortress of black stone that is covered with catapults and ballistae. The Citadel houses many of the Infernal generals and strategists, including the Archdevil Hava, when they aren't out fighting. The Citadel also guards the main entrance into the next Circle of the Hells, Luxuria.
Luxuria
Circle: 2nd
Leader: Praetor Pulcheria
Capital: Tower of Carnality
Luxuria is the second circle of the Hells, and is ruled by the Archdevil of Lust Pulcheria. Luxuria is also home to the Succubi and Incubi Devils, the specialist servants of Pulcheria.
Luxuria is a vast subterranean cavern buffeted the never-ending winds of a violent, unceasing storm. It is a barbed and pointed land, with long, sharpened stalactites descending from the ceiling, and equally as long stalagmites rising from the cavern floor, the wind whistling between and them, sharpening them into jagged points. Cliffs and ravines dot the landscape, creating twisting pathways for the ceaseless winds. The whole cavern is dark, illuminated only by a dull purple light that emanates through the realm, as well as a sporadic orange glow that emits from the cavern roof as the dripping rivers of lava from Eremus quickly cool in the wind.
The predominant refuge from the blistering winds of Luxuria is the Tower of Carnality (Turris Carnalitatis), the magnificent and luxurious palace of Pulcheria. The Tower of Carnality is a spire of smooth obsidian and dark glass that rises from the cavern floor, all the way up to the ceiling, the buffeting winds curving around it. The Tower is place for those who wish to satisfy their carnal desires, with frequent debauched events, and a special care to curate to those with more exotic tastes. The unceasing pursuit of pleasure is said to forever trap those unfortunate enough to succumb to it's lure, the wretched becoming the playthings of the Archdevil of Lust. The Tower is populated by many Succubi and Incubi.
Gula
Circle: 3rd
Leader: Praetor Trophimus
Capital: Hall of Trophimus
Gula is the third circle of the Hells, and is ruled by the Archdevil of Gluttony, Trophimus. Gula is also home to the Aegroti Devils, the foul servants of Trophimus.
Gula is a subterranean bog of icy foul mud as far as the eye can see. A damp, rotting, disease-ridden marshland drenched in a ceaseless, foul, icy rain. Fungi, algae and mould are the only things that survive here. A thick fog perpetually hangs over the terrain, obscuring vision of the deep lakes and stagnant rivers of oozing and bubbling filth that threatens to engulf careless wanderers. The waters could also sometimes erupt in geysers of foul water and mud. Dripping stalactites descended far from the ceiling, making the cavernous circle seem much smaller than it is. The whole land is illuminated only by a dull greenish glow that emanates from the bioluminescent algae and filthy ooze, the only safe pathways are said to be the sparse and slippery ridges of rock, barley visible above the muddy waters.
The predominant structure within Gula is the Hall of Trophimus (Aula Trophimi), a domed iron fortress built upon the roof of the cavernous Gula and the domain of the Archdevil of Gluttony.
Avaricia
Circle: 4th
Leader: Praetor Lucretia
Capital: City of Gold
Avaricia is the fourth circle of the Hells, and is ruled by the Archdevil of Greed, Lucretia. Avaricia is also home to the Mercatores Devils, the specialist servants of Lucretia.
Avaricia is a barren and craggy subterranean realm, stripped of every possible resource. The ground is fissure ridden igneous rock, and is filled with lakes of stagnate water, created from the dripping filth that descends from circle of Gula above, forming long stalactites from the ceiling. Scholars believe that Avaricia used to be a volcanic realm, with thousands of vein-like rivers of lava webbed through the earth, but they have since dried up millennia ago. Avaricia is the darkest of the Circle of the Hells, with no natural light source to be found, making the craggy landscape, as well as the numerous tunnels and large caves, the remnants of old abandoned mining efforts, dangerous to traverse.
It is said that millennia ago, Avaricia used to be brimming with a variety of ores and precious gems, hidden beneath the earth, but because of the constant mining efforts of Lucretia, the land has been stripped bear, leaving only a bleak and desolate wasteland.
The only structure within Avaricia is the City of Gold (Urbs Aurei), a walled and heavily fortified city, a haven for exotic trade and slavery, with the sale of any wares permitted within it's walls, attracting traders from all over the Universe. Trade within the walls is heavily regulated, with traders forced to sign a waiver where any transgression leads to the confiscation of wealth, with all the profit going to the Archdevil of Greed. Despite the name, the City is not made from gold, but ornately carved stone, created through the labour of countless slaves, it's name instead coming from the vast wealth of Lucretia that is said to resides somewhere within her impenetrable fortress.
Invidia
Circle: 5th
Leader: Praetor Livius
Capital: Court of Mirrors
Invidia is the fifth circle of the Hells, and is ruled by the Archdevil of Envy Livius. Invidia is also home to the Deceptores Devils, the specialist servants of Livius.
Invidia is said to be the most beautiful circle of the Hells, a vibrant and stunning subterranean landscape. The terrain is covered in a vast forest of colourful, bioluminescent fungi, otherworldly plants, and shimmering lakes, rivers and waterfalls of crystal clear water. The waters, ground, as well as the cavern walls and roof, are dotted with clusters of bioluminescent matter, illuminating the land in an ethereal multi-coloured glow of greens, blues and purples.
But while the land may seem beautiful at first glance, it is but an illusion. Everything within the circle of Invidia is incredibly deadly and toxic, from the poisonous waters to the carnivorous plants and giant venomous insects that hide within every hole or crevasse. Magical mirages are also frequently found here, either conjured by the residence or naturally formed, tricking unwitting travellers, and leading them to their doom. Due to the deadly etherical beauty of Invidia, it is often equated with the Land of Faerie.
There are many minor structures within the Circle of Invidia, but the largest and most magnificent is the Court of Mirrors (Atrium Speculorum), the home of the Praetor Livius. The Court of Mirrors is a massive palace located at the centre of a crystal clear lake, a huge domed roof at it's centre. The whole structure is covered in mirrors, reflecting the environment around it, giving it a disorientating and otherworldly appearance. The inner palace is also said to be highly decorated with mirrors, making traversing the labyrinthian halls incredibly confusing. It is said that if anyone were to find their way to the centre of the palace, the Archdevil of Envy will reward them with their hearts greatest desire. But it is far more likely that the Court of Mirrors is a prison, where the foolish find themselves trapped for eternity, constantly chasing what they can not reach.
Ira
Circle: 6th
Leader: Praetor Bellonius
Capital: Colosseum of Ira
Ira is the sixth circle of the Hells, and is ruled by the Archdevil of Wrath, Bellonius. Ira is also home to the Pugnatores Devils, the specialist combatants of the Infernal legions.
Ira is a subterranean realm of fire. Towering volcanoes pump toxic smoke into the air, obscuring the cavernous ceiling with a cloud of black and grey smoke. Rivers of lava flowed from the volcanoes, traversing across the land, leading to bubbling pools and vast molten lakes. The ground is almost exclusively cracked and fissure ridden igneous rock. The realm is boiling and inhospitable, with choking smoke, swirling embers and pyroclastic ash, filling the air. The endless fire causes the realm to be perpetually illuminated in a bright orange glow.
Towering at the centre of the volcanic realm is the monolithic Colosseum of Ira, a towering fortress of carved, ornate, igneous rock built in and around a giant volcano, the domain of the Archdevil of Wrath. Residing within the volcano's caldera, hanging above the bubbling magma, is a massive arena, with seating circling the caldera walls. Here combatants from all across the Universe, looking for a fatal challenge, come to test their might in a violent blood-sports and gladiatorial combat, to appease both the crowd and the terrible master of the event, Bellonius.
Acedia
Circle: 7th
Leader: Praetor Narkissia
Capital: Crystal Palace
Acedia is the seventh circle of the Hells, and is ruled by the Archdevil of Sloth Narkissia. Acedia is also home to the Venatores Devils, the specialist hunters of Narkissia.
In direct contrast to the circle of Ira, Acedia is a realm of bitter cold, with temperatures averaging around -40°C. The land is dominated by towering mountains of jagged ice and colossal shifting glaciers, all blanketed in a near-continuous blizzard or freezing snow or jagged, deadly hail. Below the frozen surface is dark depths of icy waters, a death sentence for any that would fall into their numbing clutches. Acedia is a dark place, illuminated only by a dull bluish, white light that emanates through the realm. Most other Devils avoid Acedia, with it being the least populated circle of the Hells.
Build atop a gargantuan glacier is the only respite from the blistering cold, the Crystal Palace (Palatium Crystallinum), formerly Rime Hold (Castellum Pruinae), the domain of the Praetor Narkissia. A frigid castle of crystalline ice, with countless pointed, icicle like towers and spires that extended into the frozen sky. During the reign of Ignavius, Rime Hold was said to be as barren and freezing as lands of Acedia, but under the reign of Narkissia, the Crystal Palace is now said to be magically heated, with a luxurious and comfortable interior, an alluring haven from the bitter cold.
Superbia
Circle: 8th
Leader: Praetor Vanorum
Capital: Apex Vanoruim
Superbia is the eighth circle of the Hells, and is ruled by the Archdevil of Pride Vanorum. Superbia is also home to the Volantii Devils, the winged soldiers of Vanorum.
Superbia is an incredibly mountainous region, the cavern that houses the circle being the tallest in the Hells. The multiple steep, craggy peaks and sheer cliff-faces that dominate the realm are deceptively treacherous and incredibly difficult to traverse. The terrain itself is sharp and jagged, slicing into flesh. Deadly landslides and perpetually tumbling debris is a common occurrence, as rocks and boulders topple from the mountain heights, threatening to knock even the most skilled climbers to their deaths. While ascending the mountains you can often find great caves carved into the mountainside, as well as the ruins of crumbling fortresses. The sky of Superbia is bathed in a dull, reddish glow, and a perpetual storm of turbulent winds circle the peaks, buffeting climbers as they ascend and dislodging a constant deluge of debris. Not even the ground layer of the realm is safe, littered with jagged and shattered, unsteady rock and debris, that threaten to shift and give way, leading to you being impaled or crushed.
Upon the tallest peak of Superbia, which resides at the centre of the realm, is the Apex Vanoruim (Vanorum's Pinnacle), a towering palace and citadel built upon the very submit peak of the mountain. The Vanorium is described as a places of exquisite grandeur and luxury, crafted from polished marble, with gold tipped spires that reach up to the cavern ceiling, standing out above the dilapidated landscape. Within the palace, large stained glass windows and extensive tapestries depict the Archdevil of Pride himself, mirrors and polished, reflective surfaces lie around every corner, and the towering golden throne of Vanorum is said to be centred perfectly above the mountain peak, preventing anyone but him from truly reaching it's submit.
Praetorium
Circle: 9th
Leader: Praetor Adversarius
Capital: City of Dis
Praetorium is the ninth and deepest circle of the Hells, and is ruled by the Lord of the Hells, the Dark Deity Adversarius. Praetorium is also home to the Archivarii, the specialist servants of Adversarius and the Archivists of the Infernal Archives.
Praetorium is a jagged and cavernous landscape, with twisting rivers of lava and multiple deep chasms and fissures that lead down to depths of molten magma. Praetorium is bathed in a soft reddish light that mixes with the orange glow of the flames. The realms is unbearably hot, with winds of scorching air and storms of blazing fire.
Praetorium is the Capital of the Hells and is largely comprised on one massive city, the City of Dis. It's iron walls are surrounded by a mote of molten flame and guarded by numerous legions of powerful Devils. The city itself is a vast maze of towers, courtyards, winding streets and gilded domes, the structures a mix of carved, ornate stone and black obsidian, as well as blackened iron, and gilded gold. At the centre of the city resides the palace and throne of Adversarius, it's walls black, polished obsidian, lined with cracks of gold, it's tall gold tipped towers dominating the skyline, an Infernal mockery of the Archonad of the Heavens. The City of Dis also houses the Infernal Archives, which is said to contain the records of every Infernal and Divine law, contract, oath and pact ever made.
Local Language
Infernal
Comments