#levistus

[wawtman]

Night Garden Levistus Tiefling Virtue and the girls are having a good time.

[bluecoolr]

“Ascension has a price, my love. Even frozen kings must pay to pass. Fortunately for us, your mother covers the expense.”

[meowchart]

Good ol levy redesign (pre ice cubing)

My dad just needed a cube for his drink alright (I hope he gets made into Stygian snow cones)

[athanor-continuity]

Funny how I only just remembered how much my hellish story amuses me.

[haharuspex]

one more artfight ref! whipped out my feathery warlock boy out of the blue >:) no such thing as too many eyes or feathers

[shellem15]

The Nine Hells of Baator

As a devil fangirl, I finally decided to write a basic overview of the Nine Hells, which has consumed my brain since forever. While most of this is taken straight from forgotten realms lore (shoutout to the wiki!), I've put my own spin on things and emphasized certain details I found interesting. The list of sins associated with each layer (Wrath, Fear, Greed, Lust, Deceit, Gluttony, Sloth, Envy, and Pride) is taken from the Enneagram sins, because I needed 9 of them instead of just 7.

I might decide to go more into depth for each layer/archdevil, but no promises!

Overview:

The Nine Hells of Baator is a plane of pure law and evil, a place where tyranny reigns supreme. Devils, or Baatezu, make their home here, crafted from the souls of the damned and eternally bound to serve their betters. The Hells consist of nine descending layers of sin and punishment, connected by the flowing waters of the river Styx. Each layer is ruled by an Archdevil, a devil of immense power and influence who exerts total control over their domain. While the layers are distinct, they are still interconnected, each serving a purpose to further the Hells' agenda.

Devilish society is centered around power, hierarchy, and order, with those without power seeking to claim it and those with power seeking to keep it. The Blood War, the endless conflict between Devils and Demons, keeps the Hells running; an eternal enmity that keeps the populace from turning against their masters. Everything in the Hells ultimately serves to further the goals of Asmodeus, the Lord and Master of this dark domain.

Avernus:

The first layer of Hell is Avernus, a blasted plane of endless trenches and rivers of blood. It is a war-torn battlefield, the Hells' first line of defense against the ceaseless hordes of demon-kind. This is the layer of Wrath, of eternal bloodshed and unending hatred. The armies of the Hells are stationed here, ready to be thrown to the crushing wheel of the Blood War.

Avernus is ruled over by their fell general, the Archduchess Zariel. A fearsome warrior—a fallen angel—who lives for the kill, for the next great conquest.

Dis:

The second layer of Hell is Dis, a plane of those who watch, and those who are watched. An iron city, one of smoke and steel and hidden eyes. This is the layer of Fear, whose denizens live in terror of those beyond the walls—and of those within, as well. Dis acts as a multi-tool for the Hells: it is a hub of interplanar trade, a great titan of industry that produces the arms and means needed to fuel the Blood War, and, most critically, it contains the greatest surveillance network in the outer planes. Knowledge is as valuable as souls in the streets of Dis.

The overseer of this foul city is the Archduke Dispater, an old devil, paranoid about usurpation despite the tight grip he keeps over his domain. He locks himself away in his iron tower, a panopticon from which he monitors all dealings in his realm.

Minarous:

The third layer of Hell is Minarous, a plane of those who have, and those who have not. It is a thick swampland, home to monstrosities that slither and crawl through the muck and mud. This is the layer of Greed, of crushing poverty, sinking debt, and grabbing hands. The heart of this fetid realm is the Bank of Minarous, the center of all commerce in the Nine Hells. This is only bank allowed to mint soul coins, the official currency of the Hells. The Blood War runs on the souls of the damned, and all souls pass through Minarous' coffers.

The master of the bank is the Archduke Mammon, a miserly, serpentine devil who sits upon a hoard larger than any dragon's. He is a devil loved by none, but money speaks louder than words, and power is oft bought rather than earned.

Phlethegos:

The fourth layer of Hell is Phlethegos, a plane of flame and rock, pleasure and penance, judges and those who whisper in their ears. The great courts of the Hells reside in this volcanic realm, and so too do the pleasure houses and casinos. This is the layer of Lust, of tipped scales and weighted dice, of burning passion underneath cool indifference, of great rewards and dire consequences. Law and order is the backbone of Hellish society, and it is here where "justice" is served.

Reflecting the dual nature of Phlethegos, the rulers of this place are the Archduke Belial and Archduchess Fierna. Belial is the original ruler of the fourth Hell, the great Justiciar who presides over the court system. Fierna is the newcomer, Belial's daughter and rising challenger, the Lady of Lusts and Pleasures. On the surface, it seems that father and daughter are at odds, each vying for power over the other; Much like their realm, however, their interests are more entwined then one might think.

Stygia:

The fifth layer of Hell is Stygia, a plane of lies and exaggerations, of truths distorted in icy reflections. A frozen ocean of dark waters and bright glaciers blinding those who gaze into the ice. This is the layer of Deceit, of endless news cycles and lies sold as truths. A war cannot be fought without support, and the broadcasts of the fifth ensure the thirst for blood among Hell's populace is never sated.

The chief of this artic bureau is the Archduke Levistus, a handsome, silver-tongued devil frozen in a vast glacier. The conniving charlatan was trapped as punishment for his own treachery, and now can only speak though the forked tongues of his servantry.

Malbolge:

The sixth layer of Hell is Malbolge, a twisted plane of cushioned cellblocks, of iron bars and shackles disguised as sweet salvation. It is an endless labyrinth, a prison of luxury and extravagance which traps its inmates like flies in honey. This is the layer of Gluttony, where excess and indulgence bind souls tighter than any chain. Even the Hells have its lawbreakers, its criminals and traitors, and here is where those souls are sentenced, forced to pay penance for their crimes and misdeeds.

The warden of this dreadful prison is the Archduchess Glasya, Princess of the Hells and daughter of Asmodeus. While she oversees the Hells' penal system, she is also the Hells' greatest criminal, bending Baator's laws and rules as far as she can while skirting her way out of consequences.

Maladomini:

The seventh layer of Hell is Maladomini, a once-bustling plane now fallen to rot and ruin. It is a place of the lost and forgotten, of decaying cities, crumbling infrastructure, and long-abandoned ghost towns. This is the layer of Sloth, of malicious negligence and crushing complacency, of rusted factories and strip-mines long since dried up. Bureaucracy is the bane of progress, and here, where all the records in the Hells are kept and stored, bureaucracy reigns supreme.

The chief executive of this putrid domain is the Archduke Baalzebul, the Lord of the Flies. Once a beautiful angel of the Heavens themselves, he is now as grotesque and wretched as the realm he rules.

Cania:

The eighth layer of Hell is Cania, a plane of melting ice and rapid development, of forbidden knowledge and those who wield it. It is a frozen mountain range, one where vast glaciers and snow-capped peaks hide secret laboratories and great libraries, where "progress" is made at the expense of morality and reason. This is the layer of Envy, of the relentless strive to be greater than your peers, of the pain one feels at others' success. The Blood War demands bigger weapons and greater firepower, and Cania is at the forefront of these advancements.

The mastermind behind this frigid realm is the Archduke Mephistopheles, the Hells' greatest wizard and second-most powerful Archdevil. In his resentment of his fellows, the Lord of Hellfire has thrown himself to invention and experimentation, creating new and terrible magics that melt the very foundations of his icy domain.

Nessus:

The ninth and lowest layer of Hell is Nessus, a plane of those who rule and hold themselves above all else—a plane of power itself. It is a wind-swept wasteland scarred by endless chasms and ravines, where grand citadels and fortresses light up the darkest trenches in the Outer Planes; where the greatest deals are struck behind closed doors. This is the layer of Pride, of great hubris and unwavering conviction—the mother of all vices. It is here where laws are made and authority is unchallenged, where power is held as most sacred and holy. All the Hells are beholden to the will of Nessus.

The Lord of this realm, and of all the Hells, is the Archduke Asmodeus. The greatest of all devils, the Lord of Lies and Prince of Evil, the mastermind behind the Hellish Project. He is ancient and powerful, unchallenged in his dominion, and a being of pure, unfettered arrogance. A tyrant who seeks absolute domination over all of reality, and one willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.

[joy-jpg]

fun fact you can draw your ocs as the binding of isaac and no one can stop you

[burnbrighterthanever]

Genres of Folk Music, Baatezu Edition

Avernus

- The Tanar'ri Killed Someone I Liked/Stole My Spouse/Destroyed My Crops/Some Combination Of The Above And Now I Will Not Rest Until Every One Of The Abyssal Bastards Is Dead

- Gosh, The Archduchess Is So Cool And Heroic (I Totally Don't Have A Lesbian Crush On Her)

- I Went To War And I Now Understand Death And I Would Like To Go Home Now

- The Mine Is Full Of Monsters That Might Or Might Not Be A Metaphor For The Boss, And Now We Need To Unionize

- Remember Tiamat? Yeah, She Sure Was A Bitch

Dis

- I'm So Lost And I Can't Find My House

- The Archduke Could Use Some Prozac

- I Went Out For A Drink, Got Lost, And Went On An Adventure (And I Still Want That Drink)

- We're Building A Road And The Boss Can't Decide Where He Wants It (Please Make Up Your Mind, We Are So Tired)

- I Went To The Gardens And Got My Back Blown Out

Minauros

- I Lost My Stuff In The Mud

- The Archduke Stole My House

- There's A Monster In The Bog And That's Why I'm Late Again

- This Is A Cautionary Tale About The Perils Of Unchecked Greed

- I Forgot My Umbrella And I Regret Everything

Phlegethos

- The Most Pedantic Argument You've Ever Heard, Set To A Catchy Tune

- The Archdukes Have Been Fighting For The Last Nine Hours And I Would Really Like To Get A Coffee About Now

- I Bathed In Hellfire And Was Born Anew, And I'm Really Feeling That Gender Euphoria

- This Person Inconvenienced Me And Now We Must Settle This In A Court Of Law Like Asmodeus Intended

Stygia

- I Caught A Fish And It Was This Big

- The Archduke Is Still Stuck In An Ice Cube, If Anyone Cares

- I Went Fishing And A Shark Tried To Eat Me (Sekolah, If You're Listening To This, Fuck You)

- Song About How Cool The Archduke Is Censored To The Point Where It's Unclear Who Was The Archduke At The Time When This What Written

Malbolge

- The Gardens Are Beautiful And They Will Kill You (Just Like My Lover)

- Gosh, The Archduchess Is So Cool And Powerful (I Totally Don't Have A Lesbian Crush On Her)

- Ow, A Boulder Fell In My Head

- This Song Is About Going Walking In The Swamp (Totally Not An Overwrought Metaphor For Sex)

- Remember The Hag Countess? Yeah, We Like Her Better As A Feature Of Geography.

Maladomini

- I'm High On Gughalaki Right Now And Everything Is Great

- Is The Archduke A Slug Or Not? We're Too Scared To Check

- I Went To The Carnival Eternal And Got My Back Blown Out

- I Know We Live In The City Of Ruins, But Seriously, Stop Throwing Your Trash In The Street, We're Not Fucking Tanar'ri

Cania

- My Love Left Me And Now My Life Is As Cold As The Wind

- The Archduke's Experiments Blew Up My House

- I Am Romantically In Love With The Ocean

- We're Going Whaling! We're Going To Catch- Oh Fuck, The Whale Fought Back And Now Everything Hurts

- I Will Kill This Fucking Whale If It's The Last Thing I Do

- The Exact Plot Of Doctor Faustus But It's Described Like It's A Romcom

Nessus

- Remember The Calamity? That Was Fun, We Should Do It Again Sometime

- The Lord Of The Hells Did Nothing Wrong Ever And We Love Him

- This Song Is About Pomegranates And Is Totally Not An Overwrought Sexual Metaphor

- The Prime Deities Can Get Fucked

- The Lord Of The Hells Sure Has Some Intricate Rituals Going On With His Chosen, And I'm Too Scared To Find Out More