Nine Hells
 | |
| Nine Hells | |
|---|---|
| Alignment | Lawful Evil |
| Inhabitants | Abishai · Cambions · Devils · Dragons · Humans · Jinn · Kytons · Succubi/incubi · Tieflings · Yugoloths |
| Layers | Nine |
| Ruler(s) | Asmodeus · Lords of the Nine |
| Government | Absolute thearchy |
The Nine Hells, also called the Nine Hells of Baator (BAY-uh-tor), Baator, the Hells, or simply Hell, is a Lawful Evil plane of tyranny and oppression inhabited and ruled by devils. It is a world of conformity and totalitarianism, slavery and betrayal, bureaucracy and injustice, all overseen by the ever-watching eye of Asmodeus. Each hell is a vast world ruled by one of Asmodeus's eight viceroys—except for the ninth, which he rules directly.
In Phoena, the Nine Hells is called Barrator (Phoenic: برتور Barratūr).
Inhabitants
The principal inhabitants of the Nine Hells are the devils, Lawful Evil fiends who believe in hierarchy and strict codes of conduct. Their hierarchy, according to Mordenkainen, is as follows:
- Lowest of the Low: lemures and nupperibos
- Lesser devils: imps; spined devils; barbazus and merregons; hamatulas; kytons; and osyluths
- Greater devils: cornugons and orthons; erinyes; gelugons and narzugons; and amnizus and pit fiends
- Archdevils: dukes and duchesses; and above (or perhaps below) them all, Asmodeus himself
Other inhabitants of the Nine Hells include:
- Abishai: Although often considered devils, they are believed to be somehow distinct. They occupy a strange place in the infernal hierarchy—their master is not Asmodeus, but Tiamat.
- Cambions: Half-fiends. Highly prized by devil-lords for their ability to easily travel to and fro Marillia.
- Dragons: Some infernal dragons dwell in the Nine Hells.
- Humans: Some humans have voluntarily joined with Asmodeus or Tiamat.
- Jinn: Some jinn dwell in the Nine Hells.
- Kytons, AKA velstracs or chain devils: Lawful Evil fiends obsessed with pain and torture. Many scholars argue kytons are a subtype of devil, but some believe they are a distinct Lawful Evil race, some of whom simply dwell in the Nine Hells.
- Succubi/incubi
- Tieflings. Many tieflings are born and bred in the Nine Hells.
- Yugoloths
Layers
According to Abn-Azer, the nine titular hells are: