[Dungeons & Dragons series]- Nine Hells Nine Hells

Welcome to Nine Hell, where evil reigns and damns the sinful souls who have sold themselves to the devil. Are you ready to step into the fiery pan of Hell, or throw yourself into the cold River Styx, or worse, sign a contract with the entities here? Let’s join Tavern Talk today to explore the dangerous, deadly, but also fascinating things hidden beneath the hellish floors of the D&D world.

Considering the entire world of Dungeons & Dragons, Nine Hell is a member of the Outer Plane, belonging to the Negative – Lawful part of the cosmic circle (Cosmology).

Specifically, the Nine Hells or full name Nine Hell of Bahtor is a harsh and cruel fantasy realm in the Forgotten Realms universe, made up of nine different levels. Although each level has its own unique environment and form, they are always an eternal nightmare for any alien creature. Hell is also the common home of the Devil – also known as Devil to clearly distinguish it from the Demon of the Abyss realm. Both are of the Fiend species but have many differences in habits and origins that give them such names. Devils in hell all possess Alignment Lawful Evil, so in addition to their inherently evil nature, they also follow an extremely strict and harsh hierarchy. Low-level demons are forced to obey the hierarchies of higher-level demons, and the Archdevils rule each level of hell.

Talking a little about Infernal Contract or Devil’s Contract, they were established to bind a demon to the mortal who came to him. Depending on its ability, the demon will provide what the other person desires, such as power, knowledge, money, status, etc. In return, it will find ways to deceive or manipulate the victim in many ways to always achieve benefits for itself. With the predetermined contract, the victim will gradually be corrupted, or violate the stated commitment, leading to the final conclusion of selling his soul to the devil.

In hell, the number of souls collected is a measure of the demons’ power, becoming a form of currency called Soul Coin. In addition, as mentioned above, rank also represents the strength of each demon as well as their role and authority in the Nine Hells. At the lowest level are the imps like Imp or Lemure, which are used for many purposes such as soldiers, service, reconnaissance, etc. In the higher ranks are the Greater Devils in command positions, generals or elite warriors. Holding the supreme power on each floor are the Archdevils, and finally Asmodeus – the Great Demon Lord who reigns at the Nexus, the deepest level of Nine Hell.

In 2023, the D&D community welcomed the launch of the publication Chains of Asmodeus. In it, the hellish levels of the Nine Hells, along with the Demon Lords and sins they represent, have been invested and developed in many aspects, and we can learn about their unique characteristics as follows:

The first and top level of Avernus is a barren wasteland, said to be the only level mortals can set foot on. The terrain here can be said to be perfect for the Mad Max film set, with endless deserts and deserts interspersed with volcanoes and caves. Most prominent is the river Styx that stretches between the levels of hell, with the power to erase the memories of anyone who touches it. In addition, with other harsh conditions such as acid rain and toxic gases, the creatures here will not be able to survive without becoming deformed. Avernus is also the main battlefield of the eternal Blood War between the Devil faction of Ninehell and the Demons from below the Abyss. The leader of the evil faction and also the lord of the first floor has many different changes in D&D versions, but the most famous is Zariel – the fallen angel. She represents Anger, with hatred and cruelty inflicted on Demons who dare to approach Avernus.

Dis – the second floor of the Nine Hells is a giant city made of iron and steel, surrounded by mountains filled with ore that melts into a thick, metallic-smelling liquid. The River Styx flows from Avernus along the highest mountains of Dis to reach this second level. The ground as well as the walls of the Iron City always glow crimson because of the deadly heat, not to mention the complex architecture like a giant maze imprisoning the unfortunate. However, Dis is also the commercial center of all of Hell, where shadow transactions take place most often. This impenetrable fortress, as well as the entire second floor are built by Dispater, representing slaughter.

Minauros is a huge swamp filled with dirt and toxins, in return for an endless wealth of minerals and plants. Dampness and danger lurk everywhere, with the River Styx winding its way creating waterfalls, bogs and ponds large and small. Rain and wind also help the ecosystem here develop, but also make natural challenges more difficult than ever. Diseases and toxins also need to be mentioned, as they are easily spread through many different ways. In addition, Minauros is also the name of the city floating on this vast swamp. The owner of Minauros – whether the city or the entire third level of Hell – is Mammon, representing bottomless greed.

Phlegethos’s geography consists mostly of active volcanic ridges, with the Molten Sea being a mile-long sea of ​​lava. All are inherited from the Elemental Plane of Fire, making Phlegethos the hottest layer of the entire Nine Hells. The only city that stood firm in this fiery cauldron was Abriymoch, said to have been built on the body of a god who died at the hands of Asmodeus. The city is also the center of Nine Hell’s law enforcement, as well as handling the laws of the entire hell realm. In addition, Phlegethos also possesses the Pit of Flame, a furnace so hot that it can harm even demons, used to create Hellfire and torture those who have broken the law. All are managed and governed by Fierna and Belial, the only case where Demon Lord Asmodeus allows them to rule together. Both represent envy, which will never be satisfied with what one has.

In contrast to the upper layer, Stygia is an endlessly deep ocean beneath giant blocks of ice. The flow of the River Styx followed spirals from Phlegethos, gradually cooling down below the 5th floor. Even the surface of the river froze while the water was still rushing below, forming a beautiful sculpture of Stygia. However, it also proves the bone-chilling cold of this place, enough to challenge any species that is not resistant to cold, including demons who are accustomed to the heat. On the contrary, resilient creatures, including exotics like direwolves and mammoths, call the snow and ice of Stygia their home. In addition, this place does not have any capital, but only small cities anchored on large ice floes. The demon lord of Stygia is the ice prince Levistus, but he does not actually rule this 5th floor. On the contrary, he believes that this place does not need any law or management, making chaos inevitable. Levistus represents treachery, always ready to manipulate and overthrow his enemies.

Malbolge is said to be the most dangerous area of ​​the River Styx as rockslides and erosion change the shape of the river at any time. Acid and blood from the ruins mixed into the river, creating a mixture that could swallow anything, even unprepared boats. The river also leads to claustrophobic gorges, and steep drops to the next level. The ground side of Malbolge is even worse, with thousands and thousands of traps interspersed in treacherous caves and deep chasms. Titled the Hag Countess and representing Suppression, the owner of the 6th floor is none other than Asmodeus’s daughter Glasya. Perhaps that is why Malbolge became the most terrifying place of imprisonment and confinement in the entire Nine Hells.

Once the most beautiful underworld of the Nine Hells, Maladomini has become famous as a paradise for all living things with its lush vegetation. Sadly, all that’s left of the golden age is only desolation and ruin, with open-pit mines spewing dust and toxins into the air. Except for the River Styx flowing down from Malbolge, the entire water source was completely poisoned and turned into mud. All are proof of Demon Lord Baalzebul’s failure in his quest for perfection, in his desire to build a lasting, prosperous empire. Despite representing lies and deceit, Baalzebul was still chosen by Asmodeus to be the Archdevil of the 7th floor, continuing with his broken dream.

With temperatures lower than anywhere else in Hell, Cania is the most inhospitable layer. If Stygia is an endlessly deep sea with floating layers of ice, then Cania is a giant glacier with an irresistible coldness. No one can see through Cania’s sky, as it is always covered in white clouds created by icy snow. Even the River Styx could not endure the temperature here, flowing slowly and gradually freezing completely when it barely reached the bottom floor. In addition to the glacier, the 8th floor also appears with dangerous ice mountains that always move as if they were alive. That’s why avalanches and icebergs are common occurrences, imprisoning and killing unfortunate victims in the eternal cold. Mephistopheles himself, the demon who rules the kingdom, also spends most of his time residing in a heated castle to withstand the harsh weather. In addition, only Ice Devils can exist on the 8th floor, becoming effective henchmen of the demon lord representing cruel torture above.

There’s no need for a nickname, because the name of the person who owns it is more than enough. No one really gets close enough to get a deep look inside Nessus, unless its owner really wants to. And of course, without receiving an invitation from the Demon Lord, setting foot on Nessus is almost impossible. Living conditions here are a combination of the layers above it, with the River Styx almost completely frozen under eternal cold, while the volcano is still very active and has terrible sandstorms. However, Nessus still has the city of Malsheem, or more accurately, it is a giant fortress with countless traps and protected by the most powerful demons. The citadel is centrally located and extends into all realms, as its master casts a gaze over all the species he rules. With his absolute power, Asmodeus turned Malsheem into a true throne, representing the full power and role of a Great Demon Lord. From here, he gives instructions, looking for ways to pull the strings in his plans and plots. Although no one has actually seen Asmodeus’s true form, his influence on Hell as well as the entire Forgotten Realm is undeniable.

And that’s what you need to know about Baator’s 9 Hells in the D&D world. Under the rule of the Great Lord Asmodeus along with the Archdevils, each level of hell has its own development and beautiful but equally terrible landscape, aiming to damn every sinful soul that sets foot in this place. If you want to know more about Nine Hell, the Demon Lords, or want to learn about other lands of the Forgotten Realm, click the follow channel button and leave a comment below the video! Thank you for visiting Tavern Talk, and see you again.