The Ring of Darkness
The Ring of Darkness is the fifth layer of the Nine Hells, a place of absolute shadow and terror, ruled by Baathul, the deity of murder, violence, ritualistic sacrifice, torturers, and self-inflicted agony. This is a domain where light has no place, and the very essence of the layer is steeped in the blood of victims and the agony of those who worship Baathul’s cruelty. Souls condemned to this layer suffer not just physical torment but also the psychological horrors of fear, violence, and eternal darkness. In the Ring of Darkness, death is rarely an escape—it is merely the beginning of endless cycles of suffering, betrayal, and violence.
Description
The Ring of Darkness is a realm of perpetual night, where light is not merely absent but actively consumed by the shadows that permeate every corner. The landscape is jagged and brutal, filled with sharp cliffs, deep caverns, and endless chasms that seem to swallow any who dare tread too far. Rivers of blood wind through the valleys, and the air is thick with the acrid scent of iron and death. The ground is slick with the remnants of countless battles, sacrifices, and murders, and the cries of those enduring endless agony echo across the desolate plains.
The sky above is a swirling mass of black clouds, where the occasional flash of dark, violet lightning illuminates the horrific scenes below. These flashes reveal glimpses of towering monoliths made from black stone, engraved with dark, infernal runes. These monoliths are altars to Baathul’s cruelty, where sacrifices are offered and rituals of torment are performed. The Ring of Darkness is both a battlefield and a temple, where murder and suffering are not only accepted but revered.
In this realm, shadows are not just a part of the environment—they are living, sentient forces that move and creep with malevolent intent. These living shadows stalk the condemned, feeding on their fear and despair, growing stronger as they consume the souls trapped in the darkness. Even in the rare moments when there is no immediate threat of violence, the souls here are never free from the constant dread that the shadows are always watching, waiting for the next moment to strike.
Baathul, The Bloodied One
Baathul is a terrifying and enigmatic figure, known for his mastery over murder, torture, and ritualistic violence. He is adorned in a complex, ornate armor or robe, with sharp, angular designs that evoke an aura of authority and destruction. A horned helmet or hood conceals much of the face, adding to the sense of mystery and malevolence. What little of his form can be seen is constantly shifting and obscured, blending with the surrounding shadows as if he is part of the darkness itself.
Baathul’s eyes are the only source of light in this realm, glowing a sinister, deep red that pierces through the shadows like a pair of malevolent stars. His voice is a low, guttural whisper, dripping with malice and cruelty. He rarely speaks, but when he does, his words inspire fear and obedience in those who hear them. He is a god who thrives on suffering, and he takes pleasure in watching the twisted rituals and acts of violence that take place in his name.
Baathul’s rule over the Ring of Darkness is absolute, and his presence is felt in every murder, every scream, and every drop of blood spilled on this layer. He is the architect of torment, inspiring his followers to commit unspeakable acts of cruelty and to embrace the darkest parts of their souls. Those who worship Baathul often perform rituals of self-inflicted pain, believing that through suffering, they can achieve a twisted form of transcendence.
The Rituals of Darkness
The Ring of Darkness is a place where violence is not just a consequence of existence—it is a sacred act. The souls who are condemned to this layer are forced to participate in or witness endless cycles of ritualistic sacrifice and torture, often carried out on enormous black stone altars scattered throughout the realm. These rituals are overseen by Baathul’s most devout servants, known as the Night Slayers, shadowy figures who are skilled in the arts of murder and ritualistic violence.
Each ritual is an offering to Baathul, designed to invoke his power and spread his influence across the Nine Hells and into the mortal world. The rituals are brutal and drawn out, designed to maximize the suffering of the victim while also honoring Baathul’s teachings. Those who participate in these rituals believe that through the act of violence, they are communing with Baathul and gaining his favor. These rituals often involve the carving of dark runes into the flesh of the victim, the spilling of blood onto the altars, and the dismemberment of the body in ways that please the god of murder.
But it is not just physical pain that Baathul demands—psychological torment is equally important. Victims are often forced to witness the torture and deaths of others before meeting their own grisly end, and the fear that permeates these moments feeds Baathul’s dark power. The condemned are caught in an endless loop of violence, knowing that death is not a release, for they will be resurrected only to endure the torment again and again.
The Shadowed Maze
One of the most feared locations within the Ring of Darkness is the Shadowed Maze, a labyrinth of ever-shifting corridors and pathways made of solid darkness. Souls who enter the maze find themselves lost in a never-ending series of tunnels where the walls seem to close in on them, and the only way forward is through acts of violence. The maze is filled with traps, murderous creatures, and shadowy assassins who delight in hunting those who wander too far.
The living shadows that inhabit the Ring of Darkness are particularly active within the maze, slipping between walls and floors, striking with deadly precision, and disappearing before their victims can even comprehend what has happened. The maze is a test of survival, where betrayal is constant, and the only way to navigate through the darkness is to embrace the violence Baathul demands.
At the center of the Shadowed Maze lies the Shrine of Blood, an altar dedicated to Baathul, where the most devout of his followers come to offer sacrifices. The shrine is soaked in the blood of countless victims, and the air around it is thick with the smell of death and decay. It is said that those who reach the shrine and survive its trials are granted a brief audience with Baathul himself, though few have ever returned to tell the tale.
Punishments in the Ring of Darkness
The Ring of Darkness is a realm where punishment is inflicted not only through physical torment but through psychological and emotional suffering as well. Souls condemned here are often those who committed acts of murder, cruelty, or violence in life, and their punishment is to experience the same horrors they inflicted on others. These souls are hunted relentlessly, tortured on Baathul’s altars, and forced to participate in endless cycles of bloodshed and sacrifice.
The most feared punishment in the Ring of Darkness is the Mark of the Shadows, where a soul is branded with a dark rune that binds them to the living shadows of the realm. Those who bear the mark are hunted without end, their very presence drawing the shadows to them like a beacon. These souls are never allowed to rest, always running, always hiding, knowing that at any moment, the shadows will find them and drag them into the darkness.
Another brutal punishment is to become one of the Blood Statues, a fate reserved for those who have defied Baathul’s will or failed in their rituals. These souls are turned to stone, their bodies frozen in a state of agony, and placed around the altars as eternal reminders of Baathul’s power. The blood of new sacrifices is poured over them, and though they cannot move, they are fully conscious, forced to witness every act of violence that takes place before them.
Worshipers of Baathul
Baathul’s followers are drawn to his teachings of murder, violence, and ritualistic sacrifice. Assassins, torturers, and those who revel in the infliction of pain are his most devout worshipers. In the mortal realm, cults dedicated to Baathul perform secret rituals, often in dark, hidden places, where they offer blood sacrifices to gain his favor. These cults believe that through acts of violence, they can gain power, protection, and even immortality, as Baathul rewards those who fully embrace his dark teachings.
Temples to Baathul are built in secret, often hidden deep within forests, caves, or beneath cities. These temples are adorned with weapons, dark runes, and pools of blood, and his priests are skilled in the arts of torture and murder. To prove their devotion, followers of Baathul often engage in self-inflicted pain, carving runes into their own flesh or enduring long periods of suffering as an offering to their dark god.
Legacy of the Ring of Darkness
The Ring of Darkness is a realm where fear, violence, and murder reign supreme. Under Baathul’s rule, the layer is a place of unending terror, where souls are trapped in an endless cycle of suffering, bloodshed, and darkness. It is a layer where trust does not exist, and every shadow holds the potential for death. Baathul’s influence spreads through the realms of the living and the dead, inspiring acts of cruelty, ritualistic sacrifice, and the belief that through murder, one can achieve transcendence.