Demon General Compendium

Welcome, brave adventurers, to Hell. A vast inhospitable cavern, miles under the surface, Hell exists not on a separate plane of existence, but rather right below your feet. Deep in the molten depths and across the black stone wastes, a variety of fiends and underground beings make this barren place their home. The fiends fought and squabbled, ruling over each other through might alone.

Geography of Hell

Hell is a general term used to describe the underground systems that sit just above the planet's upper mantle, a depth range spanning from three to ten miles below sea level. Its proximity to the mantle distinguish it from the Underdark, and the denizens of Hell are a much different breed from those found closer to the surface.

The vast main cavern of Hell sits roughly three miles below sea level, with networks of tunnels and smaller caverns leading outwards and downwards. The main cavern is divided into nine sections.

Avernus

Home to the River Styx, fueled by the waters of Stygia, carve Avernus into two halves.

Dis

The Iron City of Dis served as the Demon King's palace, the crown jewel of his domain. The fiends he conquered pay tribute to the Iron City in mass parades from all walks of Hell. Pilgrims travel to Dis to gain the blessing or favor of the Demon King.

Minauros

An endless bog of avid and carrion, Minauros fell under the rule of Vor Erodia after the Demon King's rise to power.

Phlegethos

Scorching heats and crumbling earth shape the domain known as Phlegethos. The ground bleeds ceaseless flames, and is constantly patrolled by the demon soldiers of Vor Agganon.

Stygia

In the cold land of Stygia, even the fires of Hell do little more than keep the frost from spreading. One of the rare parts of the cavern that contains liquid water, Stygia became home to many terrible aquatic life forms, each more vicious than the next. The waters of Stygia flow onto Avernus in the form of the River Styx.

It was in this cold and icy domain that Viz Astraea was formed, rose to power, and eventually ruled. Her army of undying Naga act as her eyes and fangs, allowing her the time she needs to work on her experiments.

Malbolge

Home of rock slides and boulders, Malbolge is known as the Crushing Lands. Malbolge was deemed unbefitting to build a citadel, and remains as a lawless, unruled land.

Maladomini

The origin of many of Hell's ancient denizens, Maladomini is known as the cradle of fiends. Ruins of demonic temples and cities spot the now-barren fields of ash. Prior to the rise of the Demon King, Maladomini was a land of endless conflict. Countless fallen fiends scattered their ashes across the plains, creating a nearly desert-like landscape that eventually buried the temples of old.

Cania

Many things lie hidden under the ice of Cania. The chill of Stygia feels like a warm summer's breeze compared to the glacial winds of Cania. Even Hell's fire has no place here; the ice sheets of Cania stretch on and on, a frozen tundra nigh impassable by all who enter.

Nessus

To descend even deeper into Hell, one must trek the ravines of Nessus. The sheer cliffs and nearly endless pits provide a descent into the darkness below.

The Demon King

In the midst of the chaos, one fiend rose above the rest. He allied with four of the most powerful fiends and together began amassing an army of followers. As his army cut down those who opposed him, his demon generals feasted on the essence of their foes, garnering great strength within each of them. The Demon King granted areas of Hell to the dominion of his generals, and then claimed Dis as his own. The mighty Iron City stands as a testament to his strength.

Unification of Fiends

Under the banner of the demon king and his generals, demons and devils alike were brought under one rule. Over time, their languages, Abyssal and Infernal, blended together into a single common Demonic tongue.

A Demon's Flame

Inside each fiend lies a fiery core, a physical manifestation of their life force. When a fiend dies, it's core will begin to fade, with the flames of more powerful fiends lingering the longest. The demon generals discovered that by feasting upon the demon flames of their enemies, they could increase their own powers. Thus began a cycle of kill and be killed, wherein powerful demons slew others and then were slain in turn, and the power of many fiends were amassed into powerful demon's flames.