Map16 - Port to Hell

## Port to Hell

Port to Hell is the sixth level of Hedon Bloodrite, following the Besieged level cluster. The town represents one of the important logistic positions connecting the fabled Core of Hell archipelago to the rest of the Underworld past the Sea of Fire. Although it is bluntly referred to as "the Demon Town" by the Iron Division orcs, it was primarily built by Cultists, albeit at the behest of the Demons who decided to leave their fiery homelands in order to be closer to their worshipers. The port town is thus one of the increasingly common instances of the demonic hordes living among humans rather than interacting with them from the shadows, as they usually do with the Overworld kingdoms.

Following the failure of the initial Iron Division campaign, the remnants attempt to attack Hell from a different angle, picking the far less fortified Demon Port Town as a potential target for piercing the demonic frontier. This plan becomes even more appealing to the orcs after finding out that the Blue Baron's fleet is set to arrive there for a meeting between Nithriel and the Demon Icon. Seeing the unique opportunity to slay the enemy leaders, the orcs and their allies set off an assault on the town, following Zan's successful sabotage of the outer defense.

As the leader of the operation, Warlord Grund orders the warriors to split into different groups in order to cover more ground, considering they have next to no information of the town's interior layout. Zan and her squad are tasked with taking the east side of town, starting with the eastern wing of a large demonic cathedral.

## Central Town

### Eastern Cathedral Plaza

The southern access of the Demon Town leads to a sprawling demonic cathedral, with multiple wings leading to the various plazas of the town. The Eastern Cathedral Plaza is medium in size, featuring a grizzly blood fountain in the middle. The large buildings bordering it vary in function and looks, which is an overarching characteristic of the cluttered town that shows a lack of rigorous planning outside of the structure and layout of each plaza and square.

### Palace

Facing the northern side of the Eastern Cathedral Plaza with an imposing facade, the Palace is the lavish home of one of the local demon lords, featuring a grand main hall, a large kitchen, generous bedrooms and a small back garden with a fountain built from ancient spoils.

The Palace security is enforced by few Golems and a Forge Elemental, and due to its strong walls and position, many other demons retreat inside when the orcs invade the town.

### Side Streets

The sprawling layout of the Port Town comes with an entire web of small streets and back alleys that often times allow the inhabitants to access their buildings from behind, like in the case of the nearby alchemy shop. Being well aware of their critical defensive role, Lord Igrutius orders squads of Iron Maidens to use them as choke points and delay the orcs' advance.

### Foundry

Facing the corner of one of the Side Streets from the eastern edge, the Foundry once used to provide the adjacent Maiden School with all sorts of equipment and gear, ranging from weapons and torture devices to tools and training dummies. After the war with the Iron Division broke out it was repurposed for the production of artillery munitions, being provided with shell casting and loading equipment. Following the production of the Paingun, it was also used to store bullets for the local garrison of Hellions.

### Maiden School

Located just by the Foundry, the Maiden School is essentially a military academy designed to train the foot soldiers of the Cult's army - the Iron Maidens.

One may notice that the central hall and the training rooms occupy only half of the School's premises, with the other half being used as a prison and torture chamber, designed not only to teach the daughters of the Cult to inflict more pain, but to hone their bodies and minds to be strong enough to resist heavy punishment. Not all of them pass this gruesome training, but the ones who do become reliable soldiers as proven by the discipline with which their shield walls protect the town's streets.

### Bell Tower Square

Located to the north of the central demonic cathedral wing and overlooked from the east by Maiden School's Prison block (just above the gallows), the Bell Town Square is a place of gathering for the local population, being well connected to the central area of the town. The Square's name comes from the large tower in the middle which is equipped with a bell large enough to be heard all the way from across town.

The Bell Tower also proves its usefulness to the town's defense by signalling demonic reinforcements to gate in and catch the attackers by surprise. This allows the Demons to halt the advance of Captain Dura and her troops who end up cornered by the cathedral entrance in the south-western corner of the Square, following the collapse of the western tunnel leading further into the town.

### Golden Cathedral

At the other end of the area, the lavish Golden Cathedral displays its facade from a slightly elevated position, just north of the Bell Tower. It is said that the golden trims of the imposing building were made with the coins of the cultists forced to relinquish their possessions before choosing the path of the Initiate.

The Cathedral is not only a place of worship and ritual, but a true school of Self magic responsible for training the casters of the Cult. The scholastic wing is located to the south-west of the Cathedral's main body and is complemented by a library and scriptorium built along the eastern edge of the main nave.

Since the Golden Cathedral is an important choke point preceding the Central Plaza, Lord Igrutius orders it to be heavily reinforced, and a wooden barricade is erected behind the northern entrance (which is also locked for good measure).

### Central Plaza

With a wide space and an unusually symmetric layout contrasting with the rest of the town, the Central Plaza connects to the town (to the south and west) and to the Bridge leading way further to the east, towards the Port and the Sea of Fire. It is bordered by administrative buildings, the building to the north being the town hall.

Lord Igrutius and his army make their final stand against the invaders here, with the sizable space allowing for a great number of troops to hold the area.

## Sea Side

### The Bridge

Traveling eastwards from the Central Plaza comes with a drastic change of scenery, with a massive demonic bridge leading on into a seemingly endless red horizon. Some claim that the bridge itself is a portal to a different layer of the Underworld, but a proper investigation of the true nature of this cursed wonder has never been possible with the Demons guarding it closely. Held by an impressive structure of massive chains and metallic pillars, the bridge is strong and wide enough to be regularly used by chariots to transport goods to and from the Port Market.

### Port Market

Located at the eastern end of the Bridge, the Port Market is one of the primary outposts of commerce between the Hell archipelago beyond the Sea of Fire and the Underworld's main land. Although Demons don't normally bother to trade with their own cultist worshipers, the Market is still a good place to exchange information or store supplies until further transportation. It also has plenty of room and board for any visitor who doesn't mind the thick, foul air to rest at the market.

### Port

Few believe in the existence of the Sea of Fire, and even fewer have ever gotten to see the Demons' iron fleet crossing it. The Port is one of the few places in the Underworld where these ships can drop anchor. Much like the other demonic ports surrounding the Sea of Fire, it is equipped with a flame beacon which serves the critical role of guiding ships through the ever-thick coastal mist.