Map22 - Buried

Buried is the twelfth and final level of Hedon Bloodrite. It was initially part of the previous map, Blood Rite, from which it was separated (in a post-release update) through an intermediary level transition. It is set below the Blue Baron's Citadel, inside his secret underground Vault.

Very few are aware of the existence of this place, and nobody really knows how it came into being - only that the alien-like designs allude to the physiology of the Psi Demons, as well as the tendrils of chaos present across all the demonic iconography. The area is devided between what appear to be hi-tech vaults, comprised from shelves of crystaline storage devices which have a similar nature to that of the Crystal Disk.

Nithriel and the Blue Baron have accessed the Vault's knowledge before preparing the ritual that would transport the Elf across the skies, towards the derelict mothership floating inside the Nether. This ritual involved the creation of the transportation beacon and the harnessing of a massive amount of power in order to bring it to life. For this purpose, the Baron has used his own unholy energy (harnessed from countless human sacrifices) as well as the Vault itself, where he imprisoned Abhaoth and syphoned away her power before Zan intervened.

## Baron's Vault

### Main Hall

As the central node of the Vault, the Main Hall is a prime example of the unique alien architecture, showing off a large and imposing space bordered by pillars strong enough to sustain a ceiling so far above the ground that it's engulfed in darkness. The baroque-like shell forms of the stairs connecting the upper level to the balcony overlooking the abyss to the south, the hi-tech gothic arches of the side passages and the ornamental tendrils and organic plates cast from an unknown metal allude to the physiology and forgotten culture of the Psi Demons.

An overgrowth of corruption has expanded in the southern end of the Hall, creating few tunnels that connect to the Southern Vault beyond. The Main Hall also connects to the Alchemy Lab and the Western Vault to the west, and Medical Lab and Eastern Vault to the east.

### Western Vault

Much like the Main Hall, the Western Vault is so tall that nobody could count the layers of data storage shelves it contains without being able to fly over the abyss below. The mid section of the Vault is comprised of a massive pillar containing one of the soul locks of the Central Vault, and is connected to the Alchemy Lab's vats via a suspended overpass made from circuit glass. The outer layer of the Vault is comprised of a ledge which connects the area to the rest of the complex, both towards the south and the east.

### Alchemy Lab

Not unexpectedly, the Baron Vault's Alchemy Lab looks entirely alien compared to even the technologically advanced facilities of the Iron Division Witches. It is presumed that the Psi Demons conceive their most powerful potions here, while also carrying out complex alchemical research. Aside from the experimental vats on the sides and the catwalks overlooking the working area below, the Lab also has a layer of shelves protected by retractible steel walls which are strong enough to contain the potential danger of the reagents inside. The Alchemy Lab is located just south of the Western Vault, and also connects to the Main Hall towards the east and the Southern Vault to the south.

### Southern Vault

An outburst of corruption has taken over what was once the Southern Vault, turning the sizable space into a dark mass covered by sprawling organic tunnels. It is likely that the Southern Vault constitutes the starting point of the Demons' experimentation with the corruption, before they exported it to the other locations across the Underworld, including Valc's Clinic.

Nithriel used her knowledge of Crystals to alter and harness the growth of the corruption, and after obtaining the Seed of Corruption, she was able to use the Southern Vault's fusion device to splice her genes and merge her own body with the dark symbiote.

The dark growth of the Southern Vault has been culled towards the north, with the edges of the organic tunnels allowing it to connect with the Alchemy Lab, Main Hall and Medical Lab without invading the Vault any further.

### Medical Lab

Located on the opposite side of the Alchemy Lab across the Main Hall, the Medical Lab is designed to experiment on living beings rather than alchemical substances. The Psi Demons are using the vats and surgery tables to experiment not only upon humans and even other demons, but also study the Crawlers and Golems created from the corruption. A waste disposal pit lies just north of the Medical Lab, with a pair of walkways leading towards the Eastern Vault.

### Eastern Vault

Although the side Vaults were design to store eldrich information, each one of them features a significantly different layout, with the Eastern Vault being the least accessible to the lower demonic servants of the Psi Demons, suggesting that it holds extra sensitive information. The multi-level Vault is devoid of stairs, with the central walkway and soul key lock pillar being accessible via special jump pads (which reach all the way down to the pillar's base).

### Central Vault

Located to the north of the Main Hall, the Central Vault is relatively isolated from the rest of the complex, surrounded by the endless abyss below. Unlike the other Vaults which were designed as hi-tech libraries, the Central one serves as a power generator for the complex. After Nithriel and the Blue Baron have captured Abhaoth, they used the Central Vault to imprison her and syphon away her magic power in order to charge the teleportation device aimed at the mothership floating above the skies. The Central Vault is also capable of directing energy to other areas of the complex, such as the giant elevator in the middle leading all the way up to the Spire Top.

## Citadel Spire

### Spire Top

Being the highest reaching place in the entire Core of Hell, the Spire Top was an ideal spot to place the teleportation beacon device which would allow Nithriel to reach her ancestors' mothership. Initially, the arena-like top of the Baron's Citadel was intended to host the quarters his most distinguished guests, but it was vacated before the construction of the alien-like beacon in the middle in order to protect its secrecy.

The Spire Top is also the place where the Blue Baron confronts Zan, using the layered levels bordered by gothic arches to summon demonic reinforcements and surround the Halfblood from every side.

### Baron's World

During the final fight, the Baron attempts to subdue Zan by feeding her a series of terrifying visions. The Baron's World is the first such illusion, presenting a figment of his home. An endless sea punctured by three signal beacons allude to the Baron's connection with the mothership and a historical figment on how his race has contacted that of the elves.

### Nightmare Grove

The second illusion employed by the Baron is that of the Nightmare Grove, where Zan awakens in a world dominated by the Demons, where the Iron Division is reduced to a handful of survivors living inside a withering version of Valc Grove's Great Stump. The Nightmare Grove appears to be devoid of life following the systematic death of the Crystals, with tendrils of corruption reaching towards the last bastion of the orcs.

### Soul Grinder

Although it is uncertain whether the Soul Grinder exists in reality or not, this nightmarish vision can explain the creation of the unholy soul veil surrounding the Baron's domain. Featuring rotating saw walls and emerging pools of lava, the purpose of the Soul Grinder is to put someone through an endless torment and drive them insane.

### Nether Mirror

The Nether Mirror takes the shape and form of the Spire Top, although the surroundings indicate that it may be located at the other end of the journey, inside the endless expanse of the Nether. Unlike the Spire Top, however, the four pillars of the beacon appear to be able to retract, acting as pistons. The Nether Mirror may well be a place rooted in reality, showing the Baron losing his grasp over Zan's mind and showing her figments of reality stored inside his own mind.