Table of Contents
Layers of Hell and The Abyss
Places
| Name | Description | Ruler(s) | Themes | Sigil Cxn | Secret |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avernus | The center and doorway into the rest of Hell and the Abyss, Avernus is a wasteland destroyed by endless warfare. Armies constantly patrol its ruined land, which is pitted and caved from volcanic action and magical weapons of mass destruction. The ground is not made of earth, but instead bones crushed into gravel, spent bullet casings, and the shattered remains of destroyed war machines. Surrounded by the Styx Ocean. | Ruled by none, but the largest camp of warriors is led by the Fallen Angel Zariel, though in the past it has been ruled by the demon-general Bel. | War and violent anarchy | Athar, Free League, Rev. League, Trans. Order | 1) 2) 3) |
| Styx Ocean | An interstitial layer between Avernus and the rest of Hell, the Ocean Styx must be crossed by all souls leaving the afterlife. | Charon | Sailing, travel | Dustmen | 4) |
| Limbo | In the center of the Lethe Sea connected to the Styx Ocean rises the island of the lotus fruit. | Charon | Forgetfullness, apathy, amnesia, anasthetic | Soc. of Sensation | 5) 6) |
| Carceri | A burning city of iron and forges. | Dispater, who has a body of fluid iron, which emanates from his tower. | Sweatshop Factories | Believers Source, Mercykillers | 7) 8) 9) |
| Malarios | A polluted swamp of acid and poison. Its capital, the City of Minauros, is constantly sinking into the marsh. | It is constantly being fought over by the demon gods Jubilex and Zuggytmov | Toxins, poisoners, decay | Doomguard | 10) |
| Phlegethon | The river of fire. | Archduke Belial and his daughter Fierna. | Fire | None | 11) 12) |
| Saurmidas | A desert of gold coins instead of sand. A single, towering casino is the only sign of civilization and in it resides the only source of water. | Mammon, the Viscount of greed | Greed and Gold | None | 13) |
| Stygia | Beyond the Ocean Styx is a gigantic iceberg in the frozen sea of Cocytus. | Its ruler, Prince Mephistopheles, is trapped deep within an iceberg here. | Ice | None | 14) |
| Maladomini | A labyrinthine metropolis without a sky. | Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz | Secrets, lies, and bureaucracy | Fraternity of Order, Harmonium | 15) |
| Malbolge | The ditches of hell, full of waste, effluvia, corpses, and avalanches. | Sisyphus | Pointless toil | None | 16) 17) |
| Tarrasterrane | A neutral ground between Hell and the Abyss. It is a gigantic corpse parasitized by its denizens. | Helminth the worm | Parasitism, cancer, body horror | None | 18) |
| Purgatory | Beyond the Styx Ocean, and across the Acheron Sea can be found a vast untamed continent, forested and full deadly predators. Even the prey here are fierce. | The Lady Glasya, a succubus clothed in molten glass, and armed with obsidian weapons. | A corrupted eden, violence, predation, sex, evolution in hyperdrive | Bleak Cabal, Sign of One, Xaositects | 19) |
Map
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1)
All layers of hell/abyss can be accessed via the caves in Avernus, though it is often more difficult than going through multiple layers of hell.
2)
While there are indeed caves under Avernus that lead to any other realm in the underworld, these caves are inhabited by eldritch horrors. Aboleths, Beholders, and Illithids, oh my!
3)
Was once the peaceful and beautiful realm known as 'Elysium'.
4)
Davy Jones' locker can be found in this ocean.
5)
Drinking the water and eating the fruit erases one's memory.
6)
One can only leave the island by paying Charon 1 Obol.
7)
Warprofiteer. Will resist Avernus becoming peaceful.
8)
The entire structure of Carceri is in fact the body of Dispater, used for buildings, and being split into weapons.
9)
The city itself is a titanic cannon aimed at Mephistopheles in Stygia.
10)
Jubilex & Zuggytmov will eventually come to terms and overthrow Helminth to capture Tarrasterrane, this will spark the Entropy War. They will use this war as cover to release the King Tarrasque.
11)
Trains warriors, heats Carceri's forges and provides “sunlight” to Saurmidas.
12)
The 'waters' of Phlegethon are hot enough to melt ANYTHING. So traversal over the river is done through the air above it.
13)
Collects taxes and wealth for Hell & the Abyss, after taking his cut, of course
14)
Mephistopheles WAS the Emperor of all Evil, but is now imprisoned here, plotting his revenge and reascension.
15)
Records literally everything in the entire multiverse, every secret can be discovered here.
16)
Sometimes, valuable things are thrown away and found here.
17)
Sisyphus is actually quite kind, though busy.
18)
The 'corpse' is that of the King Tarrasque, still living, but captive. If released, would destroy all of reality.
19)
Here can be found the Apples of the Hesperides, a secret to eternal life. Creatures find these apples irresistible.