Avernus, the eighth layer of The Nine Hells, is a wasteland of desolation and decay, ruled by the great devil Asmodeus, the Warden of Hell. This is where the souls of the treacherous and deceitful are condemned to spend eternity in agony and torment. It is said that the very air in Avernus is thick with the stench of sulfur and brimstone, and the sky is an endless, dark red hue, as if the plane is perpetually caught in a state of twilight. As one ventures deeper into Avernus, they will find that the landscape becomes increasingly inhospitable. Jagged rocks, twisted thorn bushes, and foul swamps dominate the terrain, and the ground is slick with a noxious, acidic sludge that is said to eat away at the flesh of those who come into contact with it. The few structures that do exist in Avernus are imposing fortresses and towers, built from blackened stone and guarded by legions of devilish soldiers. It is in these citadels that Asmodeus conducts his business, overseeing the operations of the Nine Hells and enforcing his ruthless hierarchy of devils. The souls of the damned are brought before him, and he metes out punishments according to their sins, doling out eternal torment with a cruel and calculated precision. Those who have earned his favor are rewarded with positions of power and influence, while those who have earned his wrath are subjected to unimaginable horrors. Despite its bleakness, Avernus is a place of great power and influence, and those who are able to navigate its treacherous terrain and earn the favor of its ruler can achieve great things. However, most who are cast into this plane are doomed to suffer for all eternity, their souls forever trapped in the grasp of the Warden of Hell.