The Nine Hells, also known as the Infernum, is a vast, terrifying realm of eternal punishment, ruled by Asmodeus, the archdevil and warden of the damned. It is a place where the souls of the wicked are sent to atone for their sins through torment and suffering, each level of Hell representing one of the Seven Deadly Sins. The Hells are home to demon princes, legions of carrions, and the countless souls condemned for eternity. Overseeing this infernal domain is the dreaded Soul Forge, an infernal machine that processes the souls of the damned and assigns them to their destined level based on the nature of their sins in life. When a souls fate has been decided, it is taken to the respective layer of hell by the Train of Lost Souls.
Origin and Founding
The Nine Hells were formed after eight arch-angels were cast from the Plane of Helion, each banished for succumbing to one of the Seven Deadly Sins. These arch-angels, once noble beings, fell from grace and transformed into the Demon Princes that now rule over each layer of Hell. The ninth ruler, Asmodeus, fell for his betrayal of the Unknown and established his dominion in the deepest layer, Avernus, after his fall. His treachery and the subsequent banishment of the other arch-angels gave rise to the Nine Hells as they are known today.
The arch-angels turned archdevils now preside over their respective levels, maintaining a realm of twisted order amid eternal suffering. The Nine Hells are tightly controlled, with each archdevil ruling their domain as an expression of the sin that led to their fall.
The Nine Levels of the Hells
First Level - Galor (Gluttony)
Ruled by Voragiel, the Fallen Archangel of Abundance, Galor is a wasteland where the damned are eternally starved yet forced to consume mountains of rotting, endless food. Gluttony leads to eternal bloating and suffering as the damned can never be sated. Voragiel embodies the all-consuming hunger that once caused him to devour the lives he was meant to protect.
Voragiel, the protector of abundance and sustenance, was tasked with ensuring that all creation had the sustenance it needed to thrive. However, as his power grew, so did his insatiable hunger for more. In his downfall, Voragiel became the embodiment of Gluttony, cast down to rule over Galor, where the damned are forever consumed by their endless cravings. His once pure visage is now twisted, reflecting the ravenous hunger that drives him to consume all he oversees.
Second Level - Avaris (Greed)
Ruled by Giliador, the Fallen Archangel of Prosperity, Avaris is a realm where souls are bound to a torturous cycle of accumulation and loss. The greedy are cursed to hoard riches that constantly turn to dust in their hands, driven mad by their inability to hold onto anything. Giliador sits on a throne of ephemeral gold, forever watching his illusory wealth crumble.
Giliador, once the guardian of prosperity and fair distribution, succumbed to his lust for riches and power. Entrusted with the wealth of the divine realms, he grew possessive, hoarding the celestial treasures meant to nourish all creation. His obsession with wealth led him to Greed, and he was cast into Avaris, where he now rules over the eternally greedy souls, cursed to grasp at riches that crumble to dust in their hands. His angelic wings are now gilded in tarnished gold, a symbol of his fall.
Third Level - Acedia (Sloth)
Ruled by Langouron, the Fallen Archangel of Peace, Acedia is a silent and motionless expanse where the damned are so gripped by sloth they cannot even move. Their torpor becomes their prison as they wither away, unable to exert even the smallest effort. Langouron remains in an eternal slumber at the center of his domain, drifting through dreams of wasted time.
Langouron, the celestial embodiment of peace and rest, was given the task of maintaining serenity in the realms of existence. But as he grew complacent in his duties, he fell into the endless void of indifference. Sloth overtook him, and he ceased to care for the divine order he was meant to uphold. Now ruler of Acedia, the realm of Sloth, Langouron's radiant form has become dim and listless, barely stirring as he oversees the souls of the damned, paralyzed by their own apathy.
Fourth Level - Lustria (Lust)
Ruled by Istharael, the Fallen Archangel of Devotion, Lustria is a place where the damned are tormented by their deepest and most unfulfilled longings. They are eternally teased by visions of pleasure and satisfaction that remain forever out of reach. Isthareal, embodying boundless lust, dangles illusions of beauty before the damned while feeding off their despair.
Istharael, once the embodiment of pure love and devotion, was tasked with nurturing the bonds of affection among creation. However, she fell victim to the allure of Lust, her desire for beauty and passion turning her into a figure of temptation. Cast into Lustria, she now presides over those eternally tormented by unfulfilled desires, her once shining beauty now a cruel, seductive mask that leads souls deeper into their torment.
Fifth Level - Irath (Wrath)
Ruled by Abaddon, the Fallen Archangel of Justice, who ascended to the Unknown after the influence of rage and war among mortals grew vast. Once an archangel, Skorn is all that is left of the once divine form of Abaddon. Skorn now presides over Irath, a battlefield where the damned are locked in endless combat, consumed by their anger and hatred. Clashing for eternity, they can never win or die, their rage stoking the fires of the battlefields.
Abaddon, the protector of justice and vengeance, was entrusted with the power to mete out divine retribution upon those who threatened the cosmic order. However, in his righteous fury, he became consumed by Wrath, his sense of justice twisting into bloodthirsty rage. Cast down into Irath, Abaddon became Skorn, now ascended to the Pantheon of Chaos as the God of Wrath. He rules over endless battlefields, where the damned tear each other apart in eternal conflict, their fury feeding his own insatiable wrath.
Sixth Level - Vangore (Pride)
Ruled by Altrion, the Fallen Archangel of Virtue, Vangore is a place where the arrogant are stripped of their identity and memories. The proud are reduced to nothing, left wandering as nameless, faceless beings with no past or future. Altrion, a being of incredible vanity, mocks their futile pride, feeding off their humiliation.
Altrion, the embodiment of perfection and virtue, was tasked with guiding the mortals and lesser divine beings toward enlightenment and self-betterment. However, his sense of superiority and vanity grew until he believed himself more worthy than the gods he served. His Pride led to his fall, and he was cast into Vangore, where he now presides over the souls stripped of their identity and reduced to nothingness, mirroring his own fall from grace. His once perfect form is now a hollow, shifting reflection of the vanity that consumed him.
Seventh Level - Eve (Envy)
Ruled by Elurael, the Fallen Archangel of Contentment, Eve is a twisted garden where the envious are forced to watch the happiness and success of others while their own desires remain forever unfulfilled. Elurael walks among them, her form shifting to reflect the beauty and success that the damned can never achieve.
Elurael, the keeper of harmony and contentment, was entrusted with ensuring fairness and equality across the cosmos. But as she watched the other archangels gain power and praise, she grew envious, longing for the recognition that always seemed just out of reach. Her envy grew until it consumed her entirely, and she was cast into Eve, where she now torments the souls of the envious, forcing them to witness others' happiness while they can never partake in it. Her once radiant wings are now ragged, a symbol of her bitter jealousy.
Eighth Level - Avernus (Treachery)
Ruled by Asmodeus, Avernus is the citadel of ultimate power, order, and treachery. Here, Asmodeus commands his infernal legions and watches over the Nine Hells from his seat of power. His realm is a fortress of iron will, where no mercy is given, and all who enter are subject to his ruthless dominion. It is from Avernus that Asmodeus maintains the Soul Forge, ensuring the eternal cycle of torment continues.
Asmodeus, once the most trusted of the archangels, was the divine warden responsible for maintaining the cosmic balance and safeguarding the divine laws of the Pantheon of Primus. However, his ambition and desire for power led him to betray the gods he served. His treachery resulted in his banishment to Avernus, where he now rules as the supreme archdevil of the Nine Hells. In his fall, Asmodeus became the embodiment of Betrayal, and his citadel stands as the seat of his immense power, where he commands the legions of devils and oversees the eternal torment of the damned.
Ninth Level - Unknown (Abyss)
Despite being classified as the ninth layer of Hell, the Void of Infinitum stretches beyond the known realms, encompassing an infinite expanse of layers beyond mortal comprehension. This is the former Realm of Chaos, now a consuming abyss formed by Unknown, where Unknown, the Watcher in the Abyss, remains imprisoned in eternal madness. Only the most damned souls are cast here, consigned to be lost in the infinite abyss where even the most powerful archdevils dare not tread.