Nine Hells (bay-AH-tor)
From the boiling rivers of fluid in Avernus to the sheer crags of Nessus, a body'd be hard-pressed to find a place that sums up the cold cruelty of the multiverse more than Baator does.The Nine Hells of Baator, sometimes shortened to Hell or Hells, and named Baator in Infernal, is the home of the devils and the plane that embody lawful evil. It's a place of sinister wickedness and strict hierarchy, where devils are organized into a rigid caste system. Each of the nine hells has its own unique physical laws and properties, making it a hostile environment for outsiders.
Cosmology
The Nine Hells are situated in the Outer Planes, sandwiched between Gehenna and Acheron, with additional connections to the Astral Plane. These infernal realms are arranged in a layered structure, resembling a nine-tiered cake. Each layer is infinite in size, connected to the one below by barriers that emerge from the lower layer's surface. The infamous River Styx flows through both the first layer, Avernus, and the fifth layer, Stygia, before continuing into Gehenna.Avernus
Avernus reigns as the uppermost layer of the Nine Hells. Astral travelers materialize from shimmering pools here, and reaching the next circle requires a perilous descent to the lower depths to breach the barrier leading to Dis. This infernal realm also boasts portals to Acheron, Gehenna. Whispers circulate that some archdukes maintain hidden portals to the realms of Bane, Seveliat, Tiamat and Ella'li, but their locations remain shrouded in mystery. Astral travelers who stray too far from the River Styx find themselves plummeting towards Avernus, a fiery descent that usually ends in a fiery demise. Avernus presents itself as a desolate expanse of harsh landscapes. Rocky terrain dominates, interspersed with twisted vegetation offering scant cover. Travelers must remain wary of concealed snake pits, hidden caves and warrens, and the ever-present threat of volcanoes erupting and rivers of magma spewing forth. The sky above is choked with smoke, devoid of stars, and casts a menacing red glow due to flammable gas that floats and streaks across the atmosphere, occasionally erupting in fiery explosions. The Blood War leaves its mark on this first circle. Armies of devils constantly march and train for the ongoing conflict against the demons of the Abyss. The ground bears the scars of countless battles, littered with debris, and blood seeps from the very land, trickling down to eventually join the ever-flowing River Styx.Dis
Dis, the second circle of Hell, is a vast, barren plane stretching for miles. Its sky is a dull, cloudy green, constantly pierced by lightning. At its heart rises the massive Iron City, its walls and streets glowing with an eerie red heat. Rivers of foul water radiate from the city, creating a moat of immense size. The city, once smaller but now expanded by Dispater's minions, houses countless prisoners in underground dungeons, their cries echoing through the iron walls. Dispater, the ruler of Dis, sits atop the Iron Tower, untouchable and ever-scheming.Minauros
Minauros, the third layer of Hell, is a desolate swamp plagued by endless rain, sleet, and hail. Decaying bodies and vile pollution litter the landscape, making movement treacherous. Nameless creatures, even feared by devils, lurk within this treacherous bog. The realm itself is a vast, low-ceilinged cavern connected to Dis. An oily substance seeps through the cavern roof, forming rain that falls upon the swamps, deserts, and bubbling fumaroles. The ground is a mixture of mud and oozing black soil, pockmarked with mud geysers. In the heart of this desolate landscape lies the city of Minauros, built of black stone by Mammon. Thousands of minions and slaves work tirelessly to prevent the city from sinking into the treacherous swamp. The city of Jangling Hiter, also known as the City of Chains, hangs above the swamp, suspended by massive chains. This city is ruled by kytons, a fearsome race of demons.Phlegethos
Phlegethos, the fourth circle of Hell, embodies the stereotypical image of eternal damnation. It's a realm of fiery torment, with active volcanoes, rivers of molten rock, ash hills, and smoking pits. The heat is unbearable, and the ground constantly trembles from earthquakes. Even the air feels aflame, reflecting Phlegethos's fiery nature. The city of Abriymoch, the seat of power in this realm, is built from hardened magma, obsidian, and crystal. Nestled within the caldera of an extinct volcano, Abriymoch offers some respite from the fiery environment that dominates the rest of Phlegethos.Stygia
Stygia, the fifth circle of Hell, is a frozen wasteland unlike any other. It's either a bottomless ocean covered in a massive ice sheet or a frozen sea buried deep beneath Dis, depending on the cosmological model. The River Styx cuts through the ice, forming a navigable channel. A few floating islands emerge from the frozen landscape, their peaks crowned with lightning that arcs from the coal-black sky. These islands are the only habitable spots in Stygia. Where lightning strikes, a peculiar phenomenon occurs: "cold fire" erupts. These white flames burn with intense cold, only to vanish without a trace. The city of Tantlin is built on one of these islands, nestled in the curve of the Styx. Due to its proximity to the river, Tantlin serves as a cross-planar trading post for the daring who dare to navigate the treacherous waters.Malbolge
Malbolge, the sixth circle of Hell, some describe it as a massive pile of angular black stone blocks, ranging in size from small cities to sprawling metropolises. These blocks are haphazardly stacked, creating a labyrinth of passages and caverns. The air is filled with foul-smelling vapor that illuminates the sky in a blood-red hue. This has led some to speculate that Malbolge rests on an infinite sea of lava. There are also reports of materials spontaneously combusting, supporting this theory. Most settlements in Malbolge are fortified structures made of black stone, their copper cladding offering some protection from the harsh environment.Maladomini
Malebolge, the seventh circle of Hell, is a desolate landscape shrouded in vapor-polluted skies. The ground is littered with the ruins of ancient cities, stagnant rivers, abandoned quarries and mines, and decaying fortresses. Swarms of biting flies plague the land, and black pools of ichor erupt from the ground. The Lord of Malebolge is known for his dissatisfaction with his capital city. He has repeatedly built and abandoned cities, each more ambitious than the last. Malagard, his largest and most impressive creation, is a sprawling metropolis, fortress, and arcology. It boasts countless black towers connected by a web of bridges and walkways. Rumor has it that Malagard contains a million rooms and sits atop an equally complex dungeon labyrinth.Cania
Cania is a realm of extreme cold, dominated by solid ice mountains and massive, rapidly moving glaciers. Snowfall is relentless, making even Stygia seem mild in comparison. Travelers without proper protection face temperatures as low as -60°F. While the harsh environment limits the number of creatures, those that do inhabit Cania are well-adapted to the extreme cold.Nessus
Nessus, the ninth and deepest layer of Hell, is a land of extremes. It features regions as cold as Cania, volcanoes like those in Phlegethos, a frozen lake, a flaming forest, sheer cliffs, and firewinds. This realm's sheer scale dwarfs even Khin-Oin, the massive citadel in Hades. It's said that Cocytus could hold millions of devils within its mountainous structure, from the lowest depths to the towering spires.
Inhabitants
The Nine Hells of Baator are primarily inhabited by devils and their offspring. Unlike the chaotic Demonsof the Abyss, devils are highly organized, constantly scheming for power and status. Besides devils, this plane is home to a variety of other creatures, including bonespears, gathra, haraknin, hell hounds, imps, night hags, nightmares, and maelephants. You might also encounter achaierai, barghests, hellcats, mephits, Kytons, rakshasa, and stench kows.Hunting Grounds
Most souls in the nine hells aren't directly influenced by devils but are inherently evil. Devils establish territories on the Prime Material Plane called "hunting grounds", each overseen by an undercontroller or Factotum. Factotums are highly coveted positions, reserved for those favored by archdevils. They indicate particularly fruitful hunting grounds teeming with evil souls. Any soul arriving in the nine hells without direct demonic influence is attributed to the undercontroller or factotum in charge. Factotums are highly coveted positions within the Nine Hells, reserved for those who have earned the favor of archdevils. These elite devils oversee particularly abundant hunting grounds teeming with lawful evil souls. Any soul that arrives in Baator without direct demonic influence is attributed to the undercontroller or factotum responsible for that region.- Maintaining Order
Devils are notorious for their infighting, especially in hunting grounds teeming with evil souls. Undercontrollers and factotums must maintain order and prevent conflicts between devils and mortals vying for dominance. These power struggles often arise from superiors assigning the same territory to multiple undercontrollers, a tactic used to manage troublesome devils. The logic is simple: a deceased troublemaker poses no threat, and a successful undercontroller brings more souls to Baator, enhancing their superior's standing. - Cultivating Evil
Undercontrollers and factotums ensure that their assigned societies adhere to lawful evil principles. They manipulate customs and laws to achieve this goal. A well-managed hunting ground exhibits the following characteristics:- A rigid police state with harsh punishments.
- Unquestioning obedience to authority.
- A society obsessed with brutal honesty and record-keeping, yet exempting the ruling class from these same rules.
- A general population that believes in collective thought that marginalizes or demonizes minorities.
- A strong conviction in the superiority of their system, coupled with a desire to force it upon others.
Alternative Name(s)
The Nine Hells, Hell, Hel
Type
Plane of Existence
Included Locations
Related Tradition (Primary)
Inhabiting Species
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