Avernus
Avernus was the first layer of the Nine Hells of Baator. The most likely beachhead for any attack by demon-kind, it was the primary battleground of the Blood War: legions of devils marched across its plains in continual readiness to repel the hordes of demon invaders that sailed the River Styx into the layer.
Geography
The layer was a charred wasteland of vast ashen plains covered in rubble and the occasional line of foothills and basalt mountains heaped with broken rocks of obsidian and quartz. The ubiquitous presence of rocks and boulders, some of which seemed to resemble tormented faces and shapes of creatures, rendered the terrain extremely treacherous and difficult to cross at any pace quicker than a fast walk. A blood-red light suffused the very air and huge fireballs flew at random through the sky, occasionally impacting and exploding wherever they hit. There was no sun or stars in the Avernus sky. Travelers needed to get to shelter like a building or cave, lest they inevitably be struck. As with all the lower planes, the River Styx ran through Avernus, with a number of offshoots and falls. Rivulets, lakes, and streams flowed across Avernus's plains and fed the Styx. The source of this blood was not known; devils claimed it probably came from all who had died on Avernus. The layer's territory was also in a constant state of expansion by military conquest. The Styx, which at one point flowed at the edge of the layer, was later located at its center thanks to a relentless baatezu campaigning and conquering of gate-towns along the layer's edges.Landmarks
Elturel
This sister city to Baldur's Gate was ripped from the material plane and brought to Avernus, where it's now tethered by infernal chains over the river styx. A large sphere of darkness crackles with energy above the city.Fort Knucklebone
A night hag named Mad Maggie runs this outpost, overseeing the construction and repair of infernal war machines along with her gang of redcaps, madcaps, a flameskull named Barnabas and a pair of Kenku mechanics. The Savage Seven curried favors with the night hag by helping her band while she gathered supplies for a ritual to bring back Lulu's memories. They left after the ritual with an infernal war machine and supplies for their journey.Haruman's hill
Wrought iron trees line a trail that leads to the summit of a steep hill. Anguished knights are impaled on the trees’ metal branches, their bodies writhing in torment as bloated stirges feast on their blood. Here the hellriders who betrayed Zariel suffer for eternity, their blood feeding the vampire and former hellrider Jander Sunstar. Lulu was mistaken when she brought the Savage Seven here, and they chose to leave without helping the damned knights.Stygian dock
A river dock where flying fortresses can undergo repairs while siphoning souls from the Styx.Demon Zapper
A unicorn trapped within a blue sphere of energy between the mandibles of a massive rusted metal beetle obliterates any fiends that come near it. Here, a Dao is bound to protect the device. The Savage Seven have entered into a deal with it, offering to help free her in return for directions to Bel's forge and introductions to the pit fiend who rules there (once the ruler of Avernus, now a bitter underling to Zariel).Bone Brambles
A maze of warped trees and bonelike vines. Calcified corpses merge with the trees, covered in fungal pods that feed on the blood oozing through the undergrowth. Here and there, narrow paths wend deeper into the wood. Here the oracle Red Ruth (a night hag) offers her services of divination, potions and spell scrolls. The Savage Seven came to visit her to discover how to free the Dao from the Demon Zapper.The Wandering Emporium
A collection of brightly colored tents stands clustered together, creating an oasis of comfort amid the dread landscape of Avernus. Huge infernal war machines form a horseshoe about the tents, with curtains made of small, rectangular iron plates and lamps dangling from chains strung between them. Soft, lilting music and wondrous smells drift across the hot winds, inviting a closer look. The Savage Seven came here to secure an appointment for Red Ruth, but also learned of the dragonborn priest of Tiamat Arkhan the Cruel.Uldrak's Grave
The cracked helm and sword of a titan lies half buried in the ash of Avernus. A spherical stone set into the sword’s pommel still gleams with scarlet radiance. The Savage Seven came here for the blood of a titan to free the Dao from the demon zapper, but found Uldrak had been turned into a spined devil millenia ago. He sent them to Arkhan's tower to trade with the dragonborn priest of Tiamat for the blood of Tiamat herself.Arkhan's Tower
A dark tower looms on the horizon, its black spire rising hundreds of feet, its ramparts bristling with charred skulls mounted on iron spikes. The tower’s apex splits into five narrower spires that jab at the sky like clawed fingers. Circling above the tower’s peak is a great white dragon stained with ash and soot. As you get closer to the tower, you notice figures shuffling atop its ramparts—undead guards in various states of decay. The Savage seven came here to trade the orb of dragonkind with Arkhan for the blood of Tiamat, but found his servant Krull (a tortle death priest). He led them to Arkhan at the monument to Tiamat.Monument to Tiamat
A colossal dragon’s skull leans against a mountainside, surrounded by bones the size of houses. Acrid smoke rises from the skull’s maw. A military tent has been pitched among the bones, and parked next to it is a two-wheeled infernal war machine. Gathered around this tent are a dozen chattering, reptilian humanoids with gleaming swords, white scales, and white, leathery wings. Here, the Savage Seven treated with Arkhan and came to an agreement--they would bring him the unicorn from the demon zapper as a sacrifice in exchange for Tiamat's blood.
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