Abeyal is the first level of the nine hells of [[The Nine Hells|Invernus]]. It serves its purpose as the entrance to [[The Nine Hells|Invernus]], as well as the collection point for lost and damned souls. Of all locations in [[The Nine Hells|Invernus]] it is the most accessible, though not many would want to try and access it... # Hierarchy * The Duke of Abeyal is known as Duke [[Oromon]]. This devil used to be part of [[Asmodeus|Asmodeus']] personal guardian [[Celestials#Seraphim|Seraphim]]. Well acquitted to guarding doorways and passages, [[Oromon]] now rules the entrance to hell. * Chancellor [[Azaezel]] helps run both the skirmishing efforts of Abeyal as well as the [[city of Weyvhet]], though more focussed on the latter. Also known as Mayor [[Azaezel]], he is a shrewd leader, who can spin any tale into his favour. * The adjudicators of Abeyal are known as the [[Conductors]]. These devils are tasked with ensuring each soul that enters [[The Nine Hells|Invernus]] reaches their correct level. * Residing in the [[city of Weyvhet]], the [[Horned Merchants]] rule the imports and exports of their infernal trading. The guild houses of [[City of Weyvhet|Weyvhet]] hold most power in the city, outside of the mayor himself. * Leading the raiding parties of [[the cinder plains]], the [[Skrimlords]] rule their respective camps of forces. These devils are sometimes also known as the Skirmishers. * The soldiers of Abeyal mainly consist of [[Devils#Spinnagons|Spinnagons]] and [[Devils#Merregons|Merregons]], which form the bulk of raiding parties under the [[Skrimlords]]. A specific subgroup of soldiers, known as the [[Soul Guides]], work for the [[Conductors]] and are tasked with guiding the damned over [[the ghastly trail]]. * The notary of Abeyal consist of [[Devils#Pyrragons|Pyrragons]] and [[Devils#Imps|Imps]], whose main job is keeping track of the flow of souls and the imports and exports of [[City of Weyvhet|Weyvhet]]. * The servants of Abeyal are mainly the inhabitants of [[City of Weyvhet|Weyvhet]], who perform most day to day tasks in the city. They consist mainly of [[Devils#Imps|Imps]] and [[Devils#Xazits|Xazits]]. # Geography Abeyal is a wasteland desert made of sharp obsidian shards and toxic ashes. Any who wander its barren fields for too long will feel the toll Abeyal asks of its inhabitants. The only things breaking up the monotonous dunes of glittering grey are the large and jagged basalt mountains that encircle the entire level. The mountains offer little respite from the sharp sands, as the rough and crooked stone is akin to climbing sandpaper and knifes. Throughout Abeyal are small skirmishing camps and settlements of lesser devils ready to try and raid souls on their way to [[The Eternal Plane|Eterna]]. However, none are as proficient as the [[The Gates of Oros|Gates of Oros]]. Two large basalt pillars infused with the flesh and bones of the damned guide the souls of people who bartered their afterlife to the devils who now own them. Swathes of the dead are herded down [[the ghastly trail]] into the [[city of Weyvhet]], where Duke [[Oromon]] himself sends them towards their eternal demise. # Government Abeyal is ruled by Duke [[Oromon]], who from his courtroom sees all that happens in his ruined plains. [[Oromon]] himself guards the entrance deeper into [[The Nine Hells|Invernus]] known as the [[pit of desperation]], which resides in the bounds of his city. The souls of the damned are guided by the [[Soul Guides]], who in turn hand the souls over to the [[Conductors]]. The [[Conductors]] are a troop of devils who work directly under [[Oromon]] and are tasked with guiding each soul to their final destination. Though often unpleasant for the visitors, Abeyal is open for trade, diplomacy, and commerce within the [[city of Weyvhet]]. The [[Horned Merchants]] allow the beings to stroll amongst the devils as long as they do not interfere with their works. [[Oromon]] has forbade their troops from killing visitors within the city. However, many of the [[Devils#Merregons|Merregons]] and [[Devils#Spinnagons|Spinagons]] love to torment and hurt the visitors whenever they can. # History Though being the highest level of [[The Nine Hells|Invernus]], it was constructed well before its lower 6 levels. After the creation of the [[Infernal Sentries]] and the [[Soul Engines]] of [[Noxia]], the devils of hell had a need of a faster influx of souls then their dealmakers could entice. Abeyal was made as a skirmish ground to prepare loose troops of devils to kidnap lost souls in the [[Eternal Sea]]. Though this was deemed a necessary risk, creating a bridge to exit [[The Nine Hells|Invernus]] also by definition meant creating a bridge *into* [[The Nine Hells|Invernus]]. Thus the task of ruling over this entrance way had to be given to someone [[Asmodeus]] could trust. Being one of the most loyal and unwavering [[Celestials#Seraphim|Seraphim]] during [[Ember's Rest]], [[Asmodeus]] awarded [[Oromon]] the title of Duke and tasked him to protect the way into all of [[The Nine Hells|Invernus]]. Seeing the great honour in such a task, [[Oromon]] gladly took on the mantle of Duke. Not long after it was quite clear that the barren fields of Abeyal would need more than just army camps to supply enough resources for the growing skirmishers. Under order of [[Oromon]], the [[city of Weyvhet]] was created. It would be a trading hub via which devils could send out emissaries to other planes for bartering. One of the [[Skrimlords]], known as [[Barbaraz]], was done with the constant skirmishes only being able to steal a handful of wandering souls. He proposed the forces of Abeyal would band together and break through into [[The Eternal Plane|Eterna]] itself; Raid the [[Metro Necropolis]]. Creating a guild of many [[Skrimlords]] under the banner of the [[Cinder Glaive]], [[Barbaraz]] lead the larges collated force Abeyal would ever see and charged into [[The Eternal Plane|Eterna]]. The battle was fierce and losses high, but eventually the [[Cinder Glaive]] was able to break into the city of the dead. More than 23 million souls were stolen in that raid, marking the highest earning raid in all of [[The Nine Hells|Invernus']] history. After the settlement of [[City of Weyvhet|Weyvhet]] grew, [[Azaezel]] made a deal with [[Mammon]] and [[Hapher]] to forge specialized Infernal equipment for non-devils. At first, [[Hapher]] was fiercely against the idea, but seeing the potential of profit [[Mammon]] agreed. The streets of [[City of Weyvhet|Weyvhet]] were quickly stocked with Infernal metals and magicks that many of the travellers would feud over. This contract between [[Phryga]] and Abeyal is known as the [[Forgers Treaty]] and is seen as one of the main sources why trade in [[City of Weyvhet|Weyvhet]] is as popular as it is. The influx of wealth caused by this trade funded many more skirmishes into the [[Eternal Sea]] and gave [[Azaezel]] his promotion from Jurist to Chancellor, deranking the previous Chancellor [[Molloch]] to Adjudicator. # Notable Locations ###### [[The Gates of Oros]] An enormous basalt gateway infused with the physical bodies of the damned. The gates of Oros are the main entryway into [[The Nine Hells|Invernus]]. It is the place where the souls of people who are under contract of a devil arrive when they die. ###### [[The Ghastly Trail]] A large road of sharp gravel cordoned of by pikes and iron fencing. The ghastly trail is constantly being traversed by the souls of the damned on their way to [[City of Weyvhet|Weyvhet]]. Patrols of [[Devils#Spinnagons|Spinnagons]] and [[Devils#Merregons|Merregons]] ensure that the horde of souls keeps moving forward no matter what. ###### [[City of Weyvhet]] An iron and basalt cityscape where large forces of devils prepare their skirmishes towards [[The Eternal Plane|Eterna]]. The streets of Weyvhet are littered with infernal trading hubs exporting their infernal products for anything that can help in their war effort. ###### [[Pit of Desperation]] A large orifice in the surface of Abeyal that leads to the depths of [[The Nine Hells|Invernus]]. It is the portal through which the souls of the damned get sent to the level they are determined to spend eternity on. It is the spring from which the river [[Styx]] originates and flows throughout the other hells. Those who enter the pit never return. ###### [[The Maw]] A jagged mountain range that encircles most of Abeyal. Its teethlike peaks give it its name. Though no official structures are placed on the Maw, many unruly devils seek out a life of solitude in the mountains. It is said the caves of the Maw are home to some of the more fouler dragons. ###### [[The Cinder Plains]] The cinder plains are the glittering dunes that stretch over all of Abeyal. A rough gravel consisting of ashes, obsidian, and brimstone, only broken up by the stray skirmish camp or lava pit. The cutstone pears that grow on the contorted trees of these fields are as sharp as the grounds they grow on.