The Nine Layers of the Nine Hells
The Nine Hells are divided into nine distinct rings, each one representing a different facet of suffering, corruption, and sin. Volassmir rules over the entire infernal realm from his seat in the Ring of the Damned, though each ring carries its own unique ruler or purpose:
The Ring of War (Ruled by Deanosis): A battleground of eternal conflict, where the damned souls and infernal armies clash endlessly. Deanosis, the god of terror and nightmares, reigns here, feeding on the fears of all who are condemned to fight and die in this endless war.
The Ring of Copper (Ruled by No One): A sprawling, endless city made entirely of copper. The oppressive heat and metallic taste of the air are constant reminders of the greed and ambition that brought many souls here. Though no one rules this ring, it is a place where souls wander, lost in a maze of greed and desire for material wealth.
The Ring of Ice (Ruled by No One): A frigid, desolate wasteland of eternal ice. The souls trapped here are frozen in place, their cries for release unheard in the endless expanse of frozen silence. No ruler claims this domain, as it is a place of isolation and forgotten suffering.
The Ring of Bones (Ruled by Lathrea): A haunting and treacherous realm where the skeletons of ancient creatures and dragons tower over the landscape, and the condemned souls here are doomed to endure the constant threat of betrayal and the suffocating weight of their lies.
The Ring of Darkness (Ruled by Baathul): A shadowy realm ruled by Baathul, the deity of murder, ritualistic sacrifice, and agony. This ring is a place of endless violence and torture, where the souls of murderers, torturers, and those who reveled in pain are eternally tormented. Darkness pervades everything here, and the screams of the damned echo through the void.
The Ring of Rot (Ruled by Sorentas): A realm of decay and necromancy, ruled by Sorentas, the goddess of the undead and necromancy. The ground is made of decaying flesh, and the stench of rot permeates the air. Corpses rise and fall endlessly, animated by Sorentas’ dark magic. Souls condemned here rot from within, constantly decaying and reanimating in an endless cycle of corruption.
The Ring of Desire (Ruled by No One): A seductive, hedonistic paradise masking a deeper, darker reality. The Ring of Desire is a place of indulgence, lust, and debauchery, where souls are tempted by every imaginable pleasure. Though it has no ruler, those who linger here find themselves consumed by their desires, trapped in an unending cycle of excess and despair.
The Ring of the Damned (Ruled by Volassmir): Volassmir’s domain, a place of absolute tyranny, punishment, and control. Here, souls are bound in chains both physical and spiritual, punished not only for their sins but for daring to defy Volassmir’s rule. The realm is a masterpiece of fear and submission, where Volassmir’s iron fist keeps all in line.
The Ring of Dread (Ruled by No One): An endless, dark sea of freezing water, where the souls who fall into it are instantly frozen. Small, floating cities drift on the icy waters, offering brief moments of respite before they too are consumed by the cold. The Ring of Dread has no ruler, as it is a place of pure, unrelenting terror and despair.