The Many Layered Abyss

The Demiurge crafted this domain so than only the most powerful and sinister of all creatures would rise to the top. Visitors will find the outermost layers being the sixth circle and should one survive their passage to the center of the Abyss they might even find the Festering Pit from which all devils come from.

Levels

The Festering Pit - The First Circle - Sins

Within the first circle of hell lies the festering pit. The pit itself is a somewhat shallow pool of a strange red substance. Within that pool lies the origin of sin or rather the origin of devil from sins. Every time someone commits a sin a devil appears in the pit. Each of these devils will swim within the pit until they find another of their kind and either eat or be eaten. Upon eating another sin the devil will grow and change with each of their brethren consumed. Eventually they will become too big for the pit but by then they have become Lemure and climb from the pit into the second circle.

The Untamed Veldt - The Second Circle - Lemure

Around the first circle is a a grassland twice the size of the pit. When a Lemure arises from the Pit it is almost instantly set upon by others of it’s kind who hide in the tall brush. Those that make it into the grass may escape the larger prey but it is always survival of the fittest. As with the sins by devouring their own kind they will grow and eventually an imp will arise from the grasslands too large to hide among the grass. But with it's size and thumbs it may crawl into

The Blasted Waste - The Third Circle - Imp

A imp that climbs from the Veldt will find beyond the grasslands is a clear expanse of desert and hills. The imp will be picked up by other bands who have formed tribes to survive and grow. They will capture and train the imp as a foot soldier for clashes with other tribes. The growth of a imp has diminishing returns after achieving the rank the creature will be the ability to reap the power of another imp just from killing. Soon an army will successfully conquer a large enough portion of the Wasteland that the majority of the gremlins will turn upon themselves to slay the strong and reap their power. Through deception or destruction a few will rise as gremlins and ascend past the walls that house the next layer of hell.

The Black Canyon - The Fourth Circle - gremlin

As the gremlin reaches the Black Canyon they will find the first examples of permanent civilization within the Abyss. Here caves have been carved into the canyon as gremlins scavenge from the ruins of those who came before to build their settlements. There is almost no killing of other gremlins for all who reach this circle are given the vision of the Second World and its power. Upon reaching this level the gremlins will work together to find cracks between world so they may cast their names out into the second world and bargain with mortals. Occasionally a gremlin will manage to kill another but to do so would tax even the most cunning leaving them open to reprise so only those that can kill in secret do so. As they develop and work together to gather greater power some arise as Jinn their mastery of magic and souls allowing them the ability to pass into the next layer of the Abyss without harm.

The Frozen Forest - The Fifth Circle - Jinn

While the forest and the endless snow has claimed the majority of the circle some settlements have been made by the Jinn who band together. Having learned of working with others but never trusting communities begin to develop as the simple tribes have become cities and countries within the ice and snow. Jinn work as they did before casting their name into the void in hopes a mortal will make a bargin but with better organizations Jinn have found ways to sneak into the second world even if only for a time. Jinn of significant cunning who have mastered their magic and is able to find the next circle where they will be granted the title of Devil.

The Sprawling Metropolis - The Sixth Circle - Devils

The Sixth layer of hell is an endless cityscape that covers the entirely of the layer. The most inhabitants of the Abyss can be foun in the Metropolis as the devils are too experienced to fall for tricks. Each devil has crawled from the pit with strength, cunning, and luck all playing a part to make some of the most dangerous creatures in the multiverse. Here devil commune with each other and the archdevils, infernal beings of such age and power they are like gods to the other devils. Most fall within one or more archdevil's purview and are drawn in service to these beings in hopes that working for these fell beings they may obtain power on the same level. Most devils have found there is only a rumor of a seventh layer but still some persist in it's belief. Many believe that the archdevils were once themselves inhabitants of the sixth circle though none can prove otherwise and their godlike masters the archdevils will not confirm.

The Glitering City - The Seventh Circle - Archdevils

The Final Circle of hell is smaller than all others as it floats above the rest of the Abyss sealed away by the Demiurge's magic. Invisible to all save those of power and prowess only a few have found the hidden layer of Hell. Here the devils are granted the title of archdevil and are worshiped as gods among the devils as they are granted a seat at the Demiurge's table. Among all of his creations the Demiurge is proud of and fearful of the other archdevils. Only a handful of archdevils have managed to survive and fewer still exist after challenging the Demiurge. The remainder of the archdevils sit back and await their chance as they have been taught since their creation that only the strong survive and should their creator ever falter they will step up and take his place.

Demographics

99% Devils
1% Other

Government

Beyond the Demiurge who rules absolutely each of the higher layers of hell are organized by the strongest, smartest, and most cunning. The seventh layer holds the most organization with archdevils having enough power that it is next to impossible to kill each other. Instead the devils form circles within the lower sixth level each archdevil aligning it's interests be they attempts to invade other realms of the Chaotic Hells of the First World or finding ways into the Second World, or experimenting with new and unusual magics.

Defences

Devils are trained since birth to kill and avoid being killed. Once they have reached the fifth rank they begin to learn magic and the odd invasion from demons or infernal beings have taught the devils to be prepared for those foolish enough to attack their lands.

Industry & Trade

The only trade devils do are in service to mortals, devils create contract to which their magic fulfills whatever the mortal may ask for and the cunning to twist whatever the request. Occasionally there will be trades of resources when possible and the residents of the Abyss will give portions of it's natural resources in return for the resources and souls of wizards and cultists who use the tainted materials. All other beings natural to the First World will kill each other on sight due to their enmity between the Hallowed.

Infrastructure

Starting from the fifth circle and going outward enterprising devils have created roads, bridges, and other such innovations gleened from the second world. The further away from the center one travels the more advanced the framework and technology becomes, occasionally a few devils will drop siege crafted weapons or experimental technology into the blasted wastes or the black canyon but most technology is limited by the resources available to the circle.

Assets

Devil have very little of their own, only what they can craft from souls and their will upon the First World to convert chaos into raw material. What valuables that can be found are scavenged from summonings that send the sacrificed objects and souls into the Abyss and are traded for a high price.

Guilds and Factions

The majority of devils follow an archdevil to which they swear allegiance to. There are a few guilds and cults surrounding various infernal pursuits such as the whisperers, devils who seek out cracks between worlds so they may whisper the secrets to summon devils.

Geography

Each circle of hell is twice as large as the next filled with devils and their lesser forms. The entirety of Many Layered Abyss resembles an inverted pyramid with each layer dug down into the firmament of the first world.

Natural Resources

The Abyss has many various resources that have been shaped from the Demiurge into a complex ecosystem. All the materials are abyssal in nature though the further outward the less dangerous they can be. While liquid evil from the Festering Pit is pure evil the abyssal grasses from the Untamed Veldt grow from the pit but hold less raw darkness. When you reach the Sprawling Metropolis the bricks are made from the raw chaos of the First World but they hold little supernatural attributes beyond their ability to soak up blood their durability is actually weaker than natural clay. While most of these resources are powerful within the second world for their connection to the chaos of the first world within their natural plane they are not especially as useful as drawing upon the natural chaos itself, barring your ability to do so.

Alternative Name(s)

The Six/Seven Hells, The Devils Domain, and the Abyss

Type

National Territory

Population

The population is in constant flux as the lower levels are battlegrounds for would be devils.

Inhabitant Demonym

Devils

Location under

The Chaotic Hells of the First World

Owner/Ruler

The Demiurge