Hel
Hel: The Abyss of Unmaking
Hel, the realm of eternal suffering in the doctrine of The One Faith, stands as the grim counterpart to Hevalla. It is a shadowed abyss, forged from the fragments of Chaos that the Allfather could not purge during the Founding. Reserved for the unworthy—those who failed the Measure of Worth—it serves as both punishment and warning, a reflection of the corruption that festers in hearts that stray from the virtues of the One Faith.
Structure and Landscape of Hel
The Wailing Maw: Souls enter Hel through a colossal, yawning chasm that pulls them down with an irresistible, howling wind. This gateway, lined with jagged, ever-shifting stone, is said to be alive, devouring the hopes of those who pass through it.
The Nine Depths: Hel is divided into nine descending circles, each representing a particular transgression against the virtues of the Allfather. These circles grow increasingly horrific as they spiral toward the core, a place known as The Abyss of Unmaking.
Torments of Hel
The Shattering Chains: Each soul in Hel is bound by chains forged from the weight of their sins. The links are unbreakable, forcing the damned to carry the physical manifestation of their failings.
The Siren's Mockery: Echoing psionic whispers drift through the air, laced with cruel truths about the soul's failings. These whispers, impossible to ignore, strip away all pretensions and self-delusions.
The Hunger Eternal: No soul in Hel is free from a gnawing, all-consuming hunger—physical, emotional, or spiritual. This yearning remains unfulfilled, a reflection of their failure to satisfy their potential in life.
The Sovereign of Hel
Hel itself is ruled by The Veiled Warden, a being of shadow and fire said to be born from the Allfather’s wrath, cast into exile to preside over the damned. The Veiled Warden, whose true form is obscured by an impenetrable black mantle, is both judge and jailer, ensuring that souls endure their punishments with grim efficiency. Some say the Warden was once one of the Archons who rebelled against the Allfather's divine order, now cursed to serve the very cause they defied.
The Bridge of Lament
A fragile, crumbling span of stone and silver connects the mortal realm to Hel. It is said that the bridge allows the living to glimpse the horrors of the abyss as a warning. Pilgrims seeking to reaffirm their faith sometimes journey to this bridge, reciting the Canon of the Allfather to strengthen their resolve.
Hel’s Role in the Cosmos
In the doctrine of the One Faith, Hel is not merely a place of punishment but also of cosmic necessity. It represents the consequences of Chaos left unchecked, the corruption that arises when mortals stray from the Allfather's virtues. Without Hel, the faith teaches, Kryllos itself would fall to the forces of unmaking.
Hel and the Damned
The damned are not static entities; they writhe and struggle against their torment, each suffering uniquely crafted to match their failings in life. Those who lived without Truth are condemned to wander blind in a mirror-lined labyrinth, where they can see but never grasp their own flaws. Those who forsook Loyalty find themselves endlessly searching for their loved ones, always within sight but never within reach.
Rumors persist of those who have escaped Hel through acts of profound repentance and suffering, though these tales are dismissed by most theologians of the One Faith. Redemption from Hel is considered a near-impossibility, as the Warden and the forces of Chaos hold a firm grip on their prey.
Comparison to Hevalla
Where Hevalla is filled with light, fellowship, and purpose, Hel is a realm of isolation, shadow, and despair. The two realms serve as stark reminders of the consequences of choice: one offers the fruits of virtue, while the other enforces the punishment of vice. The faithful believe that even in Hel, the Allfather’s will is present, for the torments serve to maintain balance in the cosmos. In Hel, the unworthy are not merely punished but consumed, their suffering a harrowing mirror of their lives. It is a realm where Chaos and Order collide, a place of perpetual torment and unrelenting judgment, reminding the living of the eternal stakes of the Measure of Worth.
Hel, the realm of eternal suffering in the doctrine of The One Faith, stands as the grim counterpart to Hevalla. It is a shadowed abyss, forged from the fragments of Chaos that the Allfather could not purge during the Founding. Reserved for the unworthy—those who failed the Measure of Worth—it serves as both punishment and warning, a reflection of the corruption that festers in hearts that stray from the virtues of the One Faith.
Structure and Landscape of Hel
The Wailing Maw: Souls enter Hel through a colossal, yawning chasm that pulls them down with an irresistible, howling wind. This gateway, lined with jagged, ever-shifting stone, is said to be alive, devouring the hopes of those who pass through it.
The Nine Depths: Hel is divided into nine descending circles, each representing a particular transgression against the virtues of the Allfather. These circles grow increasingly horrific as they spiral toward the core, a place known as The Abyss of Unmaking.
- First Depth: The Fields of Apathy - For those who lacked industriousness or perseverance, this barren wasteland drains all strength and hope, leaving souls to wander aimlessly under an oppressive, ash-filled sky.
- Fifth Depth: The River of Betrayal - A freezing, black torrent that drowns the souls of liars, oathbreakers, and traitors. Here, they are condemned to struggle endlessly against the currents, only to be pulled under by spectral hands.
- Ninth Depth: The Abyss of Unmaking - At the heart of Hel lies an infinite void of utter annihilation, where the most corrupt souls are devoured by Chaos itself, their existence erased from memory and time.
Torments of Hel
The Shattering Chains: Each soul in Hel is bound by chains forged from the weight of their sins. The links are unbreakable, forcing the damned to carry the physical manifestation of their failings.
The Siren's Mockery: Echoing psionic whispers drift through the air, laced with cruel truths about the soul's failings. These whispers, impossible to ignore, strip away all pretensions and self-delusions.
The Hunger Eternal: No soul in Hel is free from a gnawing, all-consuming hunger—physical, emotional, or spiritual. This yearning remains unfulfilled, a reflection of their failure to satisfy their potential in life.
The Sovereign of Hel
Hel itself is ruled by The Veiled Warden, a being of shadow and fire said to be born from the Allfather’s wrath, cast into exile to preside over the damned. The Veiled Warden, whose true form is obscured by an impenetrable black mantle, is both judge and jailer, ensuring that souls endure their punishments with grim efficiency. Some say the Warden was once one of the Archons who rebelled against the Allfather's divine order, now cursed to serve the very cause they defied.
The Bridge of Lament
A fragile, crumbling span of stone and silver connects the mortal realm to Hel. It is said that the bridge allows the living to glimpse the horrors of the abyss as a warning. Pilgrims seeking to reaffirm their faith sometimes journey to this bridge, reciting the Canon of the Allfather to strengthen their resolve.
Hel’s Role in the Cosmos
In the doctrine of the One Faith, Hel is not merely a place of punishment but also of cosmic necessity. It represents the consequences of Chaos left unchecked, the corruption that arises when mortals stray from the Allfather's virtues. Without Hel, the faith teaches, Kryllos itself would fall to the forces of unmaking.
Hel and the Damned
The damned are not static entities; they writhe and struggle against their torment, each suffering uniquely crafted to match their failings in life. Those who lived without Truth are condemned to wander blind in a mirror-lined labyrinth, where they can see but never grasp their own flaws. Those who forsook Loyalty find themselves endlessly searching for their loved ones, always within sight but never within reach.
Rumors persist of those who have escaped Hel through acts of profound repentance and suffering, though these tales are dismissed by most theologians of the One Faith. Redemption from Hel is considered a near-impossibility, as the Warden and the forces of Chaos hold a firm grip on their prey.
Comparison to Hevalla
Where Hevalla is filled with light, fellowship, and purpose, Hel is a realm of isolation, shadow, and despair. The two realms serve as stark reminders of the consequences of choice: one offers the fruits of virtue, while the other enforces the punishment of vice. The faithful believe that even in Hel, the Allfather’s will is present, for the torments serve to maintain balance in the cosmos. In Hel, the unworthy are not merely punished but consumed, their suffering a harrowing mirror of their lives. It is a realm where Chaos and Order collide, a place of perpetual torment and unrelenting judgment, reminding the living of the eternal stakes of the Measure of Worth.
Art by Midjourney AI
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