The Seven Hells

The **Seven Hells,** also known as the **Seven Domains of Hell,** is one of the Outer Planes. It is the domain of demons, devils, darkness, evil, and other malevolent, twisted beings. The Seven Hells are split into seven layers, each ruled by one of the seven Demon Lords of Hell, with limitless reaches each with their own extreme environments. Unlike the other Outer Planes, the Seven Hells is unique in that rifts and portals to the plane are commonplace, and frequently appear in places where dark, evil, and chaotic energies are being utilized.

## **Mir, the First Layer**

As decreed in an ancient time, the seven domains of Hell were layered on top of each other, and all rifts and portals to the Seven Hells always lead to **Mir,** forcing visitors and the denizens of the plane to descend the layers from the top in order to traverse them. This ensured that the lowest layer, Toros, which is also the seat of the Seven Hells, would be safe from the invading forces of the other Outer Planes.

Mir is an infinite battlefield, with rivers of blood and fields of decaying corpses littering the rolling gray wastes, all set against a permanent dusk. Rusted weapons and dented armor are strewn about as the forces of Hell clash against invading armies, broken only by the occasional basalt fortresses that hold a semblance of order among the chaos of war. Packs of carrion hounds feast on the fallen, and storms of acid rain and red lightning occasionally tear across the land, sowing destruction wherever they go.

Scattered across Mir's landscape are large archways of obsidian; portals called hellgates. These hellgates are linked to various locations across the planes, and are the staging grounds for assaults on other worlds from Hell's forces.

### The Dread Tower

At the epicenter of Mir is the **Dread Tower,** a massive citadel constructed of black marble and darksteel. From within, Demon Lord Marad Shaan rules over the domain, overseeing the countless battles and conflicts as he broods and devises plans to act on his envy against the gods. The Dread Tower is surrounded by a moat of jagged, bone-like spikes, which are littered with the corpses of those valiant enough to reach Marad's front door.

Even as Mir expands infinitely in all directions, the Dread Tower is always visible on the horizon. Above the Dread Tower the sky falls away like billowing clouds, revealing the bleak realm of Orgszok. To traverse through the rift, one must be transported by one of Marad Shaan's Dreadkeepers, or they must reach the top of the Dread Tower, where the transportation sigil resides.

## **Orgszok, the Second Layer**

**Orgszok, the Bubbling Expanse,** is a putrid swamp with thick fog and black skies. Most of Orgszok is filled with knee-deep sludge or murky water, with deep, sinking pits hidden among the pools. Some of these sinking pits can be rifts to Anemmar, but most are hazards that swallow the unwary, and the only way for a mortal to discover a rift is for a local to point one out. Sometimes, a dry island can be found in the vast marsh-ocean, overgrown with reeds and sometimes even featuring twisted, gnarled, dead trees.

Throughout Orgszok are massive, cyst-like "hives", which serve the purpose of creating oozes and providing them with a nourishing ecosystem while they wait to be summoned to any of the other planes. Overseeing these hives is the Demon Lord Jucralobex, who uses his ego to ensure that all within his domain fit in his image; formless and mindless. Any who are unfortunate enough to stumble across Jucralobex in his aimless wandering are infected with painful cysts, which slowly grow and erupt brutally into oozes of various castes. These infected roam through Orgszok, and their pustules are contagious.

Emanating from the ooze hives are noxious gases which are swept up in Orgszok's winds. Some of these gases cause a victim's skin to erupt in blisters, others cause their blood to congeal. Few survive the gases, and the biggest sign of danger when traversing Orgszok are fields of corpses.

## **Anemmar, the Third Layer**

Beneath the stinking bogs of Orgszok, the cavernous depths of **Anemmar** reside. At first glance, Anemmar might just seem like a labyrinthine web of tunnels of varying sizes, and many would be fooled to think this way, but it's actually the work of Demon Lord Yurolithak, whose chaotic dreams create an illusory effect in the tunnels. Those with a strong will are able to see the true form of Anemmar, and as such are not doomed to walk the infinite caverns aimlessly.

The denizens of Anemmar are few and far between, and often find themselves establishing minor civilizations within dead-end tunnels. On occasion, a fierce wind blows through the tunnels, which racks travelers with a piercing migraine. These winds are rogue, stirring thoughts emanating from the Sleeping Prince, which some believe to be nightmares.

In both its illusory and true forms, tremors can be felt as hellworms tunnel through the dark rock in pursuit of food. Those who can see the truth of Anemmar are quick to discover that its tunnels all lead to the **Deep Lair,** where Yurolithak sleeps. While viewing the true Anemmar, some tunnels can be found that break into the frozen wastes of Perytos.

## **Perytos, the Fourth Layer**

Flat ice plains and jagged rocky cliffs make up **Perytos'** harsh landscape, where storms send down razor-sharp icicles and a freezing wind that cuts through bone. Few creatures roam the landscape, and those that do are ravenously hungry, attacking anything without remorse. Blue flames flicker through the gray skies of Perytos, which bring frosts that burn.

Hidden in the damning storms are the **Feasting Halls,** where Demon Lord Galbora and his denizens reside, devouring the endless supply of food available to them.

## **Kyritos, the Fifth Layer**

wip (shifting red sand deserts and sprawling brass cities)

Domain of Demon Lord Daxxon Ephistophal

## **Vereska, the Sixth Layer**

wip (also known as the Demonweb)

Domain of Demon Lady Erroth

## **Toros, the Seventh Layer**

Black, rocky fields and vast magma oceans make up most of Toros' landscape, broken only by massive ravines and violent volcanoes. **Toros** is the epitome of the Seven Hells, and its image is what the plane is envisioned as in its prime. The most menacing and powerful of all hellish entities reside within Toros, building large cities and carving lairs from the black stone.

The seat of power in Toros, as well as the Seven Hells in its entirety, is the **Throne of Toros,** which is carved perfectly from the bones of an ancient titan. Seated on the throne is Demon Lord Barronzar, the Lord of the Seven. Wearing the Dominion Crown, Barronzar assumes total control over the Seven Hells, usurping power from the other six Demon Lords and even issuing commands to them. When not wearing the Dominion Crown, Barronzar seals it within his vault, which only he can access.

As rumors go, more layers exist beyond Toros, as suggested by similarities in rift appearances between Mir and Anemmar. It is believed that no mortal knows of these layers beyond due to the sheer chaotic energies, which is deemed so strong that even the seven Demon Lords can't enter the supposed Eighth Layer without being unraveled, ceasing to exist.