Nine Hells
The Nine Hells is the plane of existence home to devils, governed by a rigid infernal hierarchy with Asmodeus at its apex. It consists of nine descending layers, each ruled by an Archdevil. The first layer, Avernus, is of particular importance to the campaign as the place where Tiamat’s soul fragment was cast after The Calamity and where The Five Rings of Tiamat were forged.
Overview
| Type | Outer Plane (lawful evil) |
| Also Known As | The Hells, Baator |
| Ruler | Asmodeus (from Nessus, the ninth layer) |
| Layers | Nine, each ruled by an Archdevil |
| Notable Inhabitants | Devils, Asmodeus, Zariel (Avernus), Tiamat (imprisoned in Avernus) |
The Nine Hells operates on a strict hierarchy. Every devil answers to a superior, and every layer answers to Asmodeus. The plane itself is a place of infernal bargains, where power is traded and souls are currency. Its landscape varies by layer, from the blasted wastelands of Avernus to the frozen depths of Nessus.
The Nine Layers
| Layer | Name | Ruler | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Avernus | Zariel | Rocky wastelands, rivers of blood, biting flies. Tiamat is imprisoned here. |
| 2nd | Dis | Dispater | The Iron City |
| 3rd | Minauros | Mammon | Swamps and rain |
| 4th | Phlegethos | Belial & Fierna | Fire and brimstone |
| 5th | Stygia | Levistus | Frozen wastes |
| 6th | Malbolge | Glasya | Slopes and rockfalls |
| 7th | Maladomini | Baalzebul | Ruins and filth |
| 8th | Cania | Mephistopheles | Glacial cold |
| 9th | Nessus | Asmodeus | The deepest pit; Asmodeus’s domain |
Connection to the Campaign
The Origin of the Five Rings
After Tiamat’s defeat during The Calamity at the hands of Bahamut and Pelor, her soul was split in two. One fragment was cast into Avernus, where it was forged into The Five Rings of Tiamat. The rings were then scattered across continents to prevent their reunion — three hidden in Tal’Dorei, one entrusted to the Cobalt Soul, and one secured within Vokarth Academy.
Kallum in Avernus
Ishanah scryed on Kallum through a crystal ball and saw him in Avernus — a vast devil city of iron, brass, and bone. He appeared part-dragon in form, wielding two of the Five Rings, and was actively hunting Brennan for what he called the “final key.” Kallum’s presence in Avernus places him near the original source of the rings’ power.
Brennan’s Ties to the Hells
Brennan, a Fiend and the son of Vespin Chloras, periodically returns to Avernus to recover his fiendish powers. His nature binds him to the plane, and his knowledge of its dangers informed his warnings to the party about Kallum’s escalating ambitions.
Note
Avernus, the first layer, has its own dedicated page covering its specific geography, events, and role in the campaign in greater detail.
Connections
- Avernus — The first layer; where Tiamat is imprisoned and The Five Rings of Tiamat were forged
- Tiamat — Imprisoned in Avernus after The Calamity
- The Calamity — Tiamat’s soul fragment was cast into Avernus after her defeat
- Bahamut — Helped defeat Tiamat and split her soul
- Pelor — Helped defeat Tiamat and split her soul
- The Five Rings of Tiamat — Forged in Avernus from Tiamat’s soul fragment
- Kallum — Last seen in Avernus, wielding two rings, hunting Brennan
- Brennan — Returns to Avernus periodically to recover his fiendish powers
- Ishanah — Scryed on Kallum and saw him in Avernus
- Cobalt Soul — Entrusted with one of the Five Rings
- Vokarth Academy — Secured one of the Five Rings
- Tal’Dorei — Three of the Five Rings were hidden here