The Devil Spires of Kursh
The Devil Spires of Kursh
A treacherous expanse of jagged peaks, vast steppes, and deep, shadow-choked rifts, the Devil Spires of Kursh mark one of the deadliest regions in the known world. Named for the infernal presence that lurks at its heart, the Spires are avoided by all but the most desperate travelers, daring warbands, and those bound by infernal pacts. The HellGate at its core pulses with unholy energy, periodically unleashing fiends upon the land, which, in turn, fuels constant war among the devils and the mortals foolish enough to dwell here.
Landmarks of Note
1. The HellGate of Xhorr’vas
A colossal, ever-burning rift of black stone and bleeding magma, the HellGate of Xhorr’vas is the Spires’ cursed heart. It is said to open without warning, disgorging infernal legions that spread terror across the steppes. Surrounding it are the ruins of past settlements—both mortal and devil-forged—each a silent testament to the futility of controlling the gate for long.
2. The Spires of Black Glass
Towering obsidian formations that jut from the land like the fangs of some slumbering beast, these Spires are not of natural origin. Legends claim they were formed when the HellGate first tore through the world, their surfaces forever seared by infernal flame. Some say they whisper at night, carrying the voices of the damned.
3. The Blood Rifts
Deep, yawning canyons that crisscross the land, the Blood Rifts are said to have been carved by the battles between rival devil factions. The canyon floors are home to twisted, gnarled trees that feed off the blood spilled in these eternal conflicts. Warbands and desperate travelers often use the rifts for shelter, but they are also prime hunting grounds for lurking horrors.
4. The Wailing Flats
A barren stretch of steppes where the wind howls like tormented souls. The ground is littered with old bones, some belonging to ancient beasts, others to warriors who fell to devils, raiders, or worse. The Flats are the last passage before reaching the Devil Spires proper, and many believe the spirits of the dead here try to warn travelers of their impending doom.
5. The Maw of Kurash
A massive sinkhole at the western edge of the Spires, said to be the mouth of an ancient, long-dead titan. The Maw descends into a labyrinthine network of tunnels, many of which lead to caverns filled with fiendish cults, forgotten horrors, or treasures left by those who never returned.
6. The Ashen Watch
A crumbling fortress built atop a plateau near the Spires’ edge. Once a stronghold of demon hunters, it was overrun centuries ago. Now, infernal warbands use it as a staging ground for their raids, though mortal outcasts and warlords have, at times, tried to reclaim it.
Devil Factions of the Spires
1. The Iron Host of Zorr’ukal
A legion of infernal knights clad in blackened steel, the Iron Host follows the warlord Zorr’ukal, a pit fiend of immense power. He seeks to forge an empire in the mortal realm, using the HellGate to summon his forces at will. His warriors are disciplined and brutal, favoring overwhelming force in battle.
2. The Gloamborn
A cabal of shadowy devils and nightmarish entities, the Gloamborn operate from the depths of the Blood Rifts, striking under cover of darkness. Led by the enigmatic Umbravex, a devil rumored to be part-shadow, they prefer deception, assassination, and ambush over open war.
3. The Crimson Maw
More a horde than an army, the Crimson Maw is a chaotic assembly of lesser devils, monstrous fiends, and corrupted mortals. Their leader, Vrexir the Insatiable, is a bloodthirsty behemoth of a devil who feasts on both flesh and souls. The Maw roams the Spires in an endless rampage, leaving nothing but ruin in its wake.
4. The Pactbound Court
A collection of infernal aristocrats who manipulate the other factions through contracts, betrayals, and intrigue. Their leader, Lady Xhivara, a fallen archduchess of Mortum, plays a long game, seeking to make the Spires a permanent foothold for the Nine Hells. Her agents are everywhere, offering deals that often lead to damnation.
The Sundering, Emergence of the Hellgate (Legend)
At the heart of the Devil Spires lies the HellGate of Xhorr’vas, a gaping wound in the fabric of reality where the mortal realm bleeds into the depths of Mortem. This cursed rift is no natural phenomenon; it was torn open in an ancient and cataclysmic battle between gods and devils during The Dawn War —a war that shaped the very cosmos.
According to legend, the HellGate was the result of a world-shattering clash between Kord, the Stormlord, and Asmodeus, the Lord of Lies. During the height of the war, Asmodeus sought to claim the mortal world as his own, bringing forth an infernal army to break the will of gods and mortals alike. Kord, the mightiest of the warrior gods, descended upon the battlefield, wielding his thunderous might against the Prince of Hell.
The battle raged across the heavens and the earth, shaking the very foundations of the world. Yet even Kord, in all his fury, could not force Asmodeus back alone. It was only with the aid of Ajax, the Apotheon, Kord’s mortal champion, that the tide began to turn. Ajax, wielding a blade infused with divine light, gifted by Pelor, the Dawnfather, struck a grievous wound upon Asmodeus, but the Lord of Lies would not fall so easily.
It was Selûne, the Moonmaiden, who turned the battle’s final moment. She bathed Asmodeus in radiant moonlight, piercing his infernal essence and weakening him just enough for Kord and Ajax to strike as one. With a final, earth-shattering blow, Kord and his champion hurled Asmodeus back into Mortem, sealing his defeat—but not without consequence. The force of Asmodeus’s banishment tore a rift into the world itself, leaving behind the ever-burning scar that is now known as the HellGate of Xhorr’vas.
Though Asmodeus was cast back into the Nine Hells, his curse lingers, and the HellGate remains a festering wound in the land. Periodically, it opens anew, spewing forth legions of devils that seek to conquer what their master once failed to claim. The HellGate has since become the focal point of endless battles, fought both by rival devil factions vying for dominance and by the desperate mortals who seek to push them back.
Even now, whispers say that Asmodeus has not forgotten his defeat, and that one day, he will return to reclaim what was stolen from him. Until then, the Devil Spires remain a battleground, cursed by the echoes of an ancient war.
At the heart of the Devil Spires lies the HellGate of Xhorr’vas, a gaping wound in the fabric of reality where the mortal realm bleeds into the depths of Mortem. This cursed rift is no natural phenomenon; it was torn open in an ancient and cataclysmic battle between gods and devils during The Dawn War —a war that shaped the very cosmos.
According to legend, the HellGate was the result of a world-shattering clash between Kord, the Stormlord, and Asmodeus, the Lord of Lies. During the height of the war, Asmodeus sought to claim the mortal world as his own, bringing forth an infernal army to break the will of gods and mortals alike. Kord, the mightiest of the warrior gods, descended upon the battlefield, wielding his thunderous might against the Prince of Hell.
The battle raged across the heavens and the earth, shaking the very foundations of the world. Yet even Kord, in all his fury, could not force Asmodeus back alone. It was only with the aid of Ajax, the Apotheon, Kord’s mortal champion, that the tide began to turn. Ajax, wielding a blade infused with divine light, gifted by Pelor, the Dawnfather, struck a grievous wound upon Asmodeus, but the Lord of Lies would not fall so easily.
It was Selûne, the Moonmaiden, who turned the battle’s final moment. She bathed Asmodeus in radiant moonlight, piercing his infernal essence and weakening him just enough for Kord and Ajax to strike as one. With a final, earth-shattering blow, Kord and his champion hurled Asmodeus back into Mortem, sealing his defeat—but not without consequence. The force of Asmodeus’s banishment tore a rift into the world itself, leaving behind the ever-burning scar that is now known as the HellGate of Xhorr’vas.
Though Asmodeus was cast back into the Nine Hells, his curse lingers, and the HellGate remains a festering wound in the land. Periodically, it opens anew, spewing forth legions of devils that seek to conquer what their master once failed to claim. The HellGate has since become the focal point of endless battles, fought both by rival devil factions vying for dominance and by the desperate mortals who seek to push them back.
Even now, whispers say that Asmodeus has not forgotten his defeat, and that one day, he will return to reclaim what was stolen from him. Until then, the Devil Spires remain a battleground, cursed by the echoes of an ancient war.
Alternative Name(s)
The Hellspires, Asmodeus’s Folly.
Inhabiting Species
• The Kurshai Warbands: The grey-skinned orcs of Kursh are among the few mortals who dare to dwell near the Spires. They are battle-hardened, thriving in the constant warfare. Some warbands serve devils as mercenaries, while others hunt them in an endless cycle of vengeance.
• The Hellscarred: Mortals who have survived prolonged exposure to the Spires and its horrors, often marked with strange mutations or infernal gifts. Many are exiles, bounty hunters, or warlocks bound to devils against their will.
• The Shellback Tribes: The Shellback Tortles roam the edges of the Spires, their hardened shells protecting them from the region’s many dangers. While mostly neutral, they will fiercely defend their kin from both devils and raiders alike.
• The Caravan Guilds: Despite the dangers, heavily armed trade caravans traverse the Spires to reach Mashhad . These guilds employ mercenaries, warlocks, and sometimes even infernal allies to ensure safe passage. The most famous of these is the Blazing Sands Caravan, led by the fearless human captain, Rahlid al-Kessar.
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