#Baator

[inaconstantstateofchange]

Hellish Landscape: Art in the Szarr Palace

The other day my friend and I were running through the Szarr palace on multi-player, and found this elaborate painting which neither of us had ever noticed before. It is in the cursed guest room where you can find the body of Victoria, on the wall directly to the right of the door as you walk through.

If you use Alt or hover your mouse over the painting, it reveals that it is titled Hellish Landscape. And that title could not be more accurate, because what it is depicting is the Descent into Avernus.

The winged figure at the top is none other than Zariel, recognizable by the flail she has in place of one hand. Behind her, that glowing circle is the Companion, the second sun that burned above Elturel for 50 years, before it turned into a portal that tore the city through into Avernus. Elturel itself can be seen below both the Companion and Zariel.

What is particularly interesting, in in-universe terms, is how quickly this painting was made, relative to Elturel's fall.

Another question it raises, based on the incredible detail of it all: who made this painting, what was their connection to Elturel or the Hells, and how did it come to be occupying a sole guest room in Szarr Palace?

Note: The lighting in Szarr palace is truly abysmal, so I took the painting to Sorcerous Sundries for a clearer reference. Here it is in its original position.

ETA: This painting can also be found in the secret vault behind the inert gem in the House of Hope.

#voidling speaks #meta #in a sense #my meta #bg3 #astarion #cazador szarr #baldurs gate 3 #elturel #zariel #descent into avernus #baator #avernus #szarr palace #bg3 raphael #house of hope

[galahadwilder]

New D&D Setting/Story Idea:

One month ago, the Blood War ended.

Both sides lost.

One thing that any D&D/Planescape/Descent Into Avernus player knows is that the forces of Good are reliant on the continuation of the Blood War to keep the Fiends in check. The devils and the demons, seemingly uncountable and seemingly unstoppable by anything but each other, have occupied each other in endless battles across the Lower Planes that kept them from seriously invading anywhere else.

One month ago, that changed. One month ago, every Demon and every Devil suddenly died.

Hell is empty. The Abyss itself is silent.

Something killed them both. And not even the Inevitables know what.

#worldbuilding #d&d #dungeons & dragons #dungeons and dragons #the blood war #devils #demons #baator #the abyss #cosmic horror #planescape #descent into avernus #mechaus #the inevitables #original content

[justavulcan]

Airmark's Guide to Planar Vegetables: Minauran Creeper Lily

Minauran Creeper Lilies are a waterway-dwelling plant best suited to acidic and toxic environments. Native to the third of the Nine Hells of Baator, these predatory plants look relatively innocuous from the surface, with a large, flat leaf or 'lily pad' dominating their above-water profile.

Beneath water level, of course, the plants conceal a sharpened, woody stem for injecting a paralytic substance into would-be prey and an array of roots they use for grappling their prey. Accustomed to inverting completely in battle to expose their dangerous undersides, minauran creeper lilies are some of the only plants in the Multiverse that will try to take their prey hostage if it traveled in a group.

Minauran creeper lilies are not overly intelligent, but aside from their drive to feed (they supplement their normal diet of water, soil, and 'sun' with flesh and blood), they are known to be extremely enamored of gold, silver, and other precious metals. Despite their relatively simple intelligence, their ability to discern true value from counterfeit is sharp, and they will typically accept a few pounds of precious metals in exchange for a captive.

When interviewed with Speak With Plants, creeper lilies explain that the precious metals have some bearing on their reproductive process, although exactly what they are either unable or unwilling to say. In any case, they reproduce by seeding, seeking out other lilies and areas of marginally faster current to fertilize and distribute their seeds.

#Airmark's Guide to Planar Vegetables #D&D #Dungeons and Dragons #Dungeons & Dragons #Planescape #Nine Hells of Baator #Baator #Hell #CR 6 #CR 5-10

[cassiartblog]

Also uhhh I’m the anon who spoke about Graz’zt, Belial and who doesn’t shut up about Neverwinter Nights. My brain’s like super mega fixed on Baator , devils and archfiends atm (less so the Abyss even though I find Graz’zt interesting with his relationship with Tasha)

Hi :D

I love it so much that I'm not the only one who is super fixated on the nine hells atm! And I'm always happy to see another question in my ask box :D

Baator is so an interesting place, I try to learn everything interesting about it. And your questions really got me thinking. Atm I am working on my own interpretation of Belial and draw it, I hope i will finish it soon (as long as I don't draw Mephi instead again lmao)

I'm also working on Asmo, Levistus and soon Dispater.

Oh and the tip with neverwinter nights was awesome! I have the game now (but I'm still at the beginning, still didn't finish Bg3) and I listen to the Mephistopheles lines on YouTube often. His voice is very good and how he developers in the game and with the choices you make is awesome. Some lines really got me laughing. Poor Mephi.

And Graz'zt... Tbh the only demon I find interesting atm but I'm not deep into abyss lore, is a very interesting character as well. And Abyssal Tieflings are fascinating too. I love their design.

So don't hesitate to ask me whenever you have a new thought, you really gave me a few good ideas :D

Thank you for your questions so far and I wish you a hellish good day and rest-weekend, greetings from Cania XD

#Ask #questions #dnd thoughts #baator

[thedungeoneddragon]

Pit Fiend

This is a Pit Fiend I painted. It’s another sculpted by Loot Studios.

#painting miniatures #miniature painting #pit fiend #baator #Devil miniatures #DND miniatures #planescape #painted miniatures

[atlas-infernalis]

Asmodeus, Lord of the Ninth, King of Hell , Faerunian Deity of Indulgence

"You wish to know of the Hells, mortal? Then know this: in all of Baator, none is greater than I, Father of Devils, I, the Rebel Serpent who causes gods and demons to quake, I, the Fallen One who knows the truth of law and indulgence. I am without peer!" Placeholder Text

#asmodeus #dungeons and dragons #dungeons and dragons lore #worldbuilding #TTRPG #Baator #the nine hells #dnd lore #heroforge #lords and ladies of the nine #lords of the nine #archdevil #dnd5e #dnd #d&d 5e #d&d

[pantherlord3]

So, getting permission from one of my favorite Tumblrs inspired me to help talk about one of the Archdevils of my setting.

Belial, Lord of the Fifth. Once a soldier of an yet unnamed war deity, the Lord of Wrath ironically despises war crimes and dishonor. Cowardice, unneeded (in his mind) atrocities, using civilians as cannon fodder etc are what trigger his destructive fury. It's a combination quiet and loud rage too,he doesn't speak, just snort and bellow. He can tell friend from foe, and he is MERCILESS.

Appearance wise he resembles a 8'0 tall minotaur with black fur,red eyes and razor sharp horns. Hooves the size plates and hands bigger than catchers mitts. Usually he's wearing a generals attire,sans armor Due to not needing it. Around one of his horns is usually a red ring engraved with infernal runes, the smaller form of his signature weapon,Kuul-Vog. An ancient orchish word,a verb meaning "to crush something flat". The weapon usually takes the form of a huge war hammer.

When not in battle or planning for battle,he's the second most affable of the Dark Eight. Friendly, respectful and encouraging to his troops. The kind of general who can lead an army in battle and in celebration. But when it's time for War, The Horned General gets SERIOUS. Mercilessly destroying his enemies, and crushing them like paste. His bloodlust is only surpassed by Asmodeus, though Belial lives to fight. It was the purpose he was created for and he is DAMN GOOD AT IT.

The Unstoppable Juggernaut has only be truly defeated in battle once. Even then it was down to luck against his foe; 4 Seraphic Knights, the top tier warriors of Mt. Celestia. Defeating 3 of them and only being captured by the last after a long grueling battle. The reason the knights were sent in? Belial haf single handedly destroyed an entire Angelic Legion. A Battle that raged for three days straight, and he would have killed more if he hadn't been captured.

All the Archdevils devil's in my setting I was thinking embody different types of Lawful evil. Leviathan is hierarchy and management, Mammon is finances, currency and industry. Belial is the Military/War aspect. Armies, military dictatorships,battles etc. He is the general leading the armies of Hell. The enforcement of order on those who attempt to fight back.

Seem interesting?

#dnd homebrew #Baator #Bull #Wrath #minotaur #archdevil

[daemons-and-deathrays]

Musings on the Cage - Days in the Life and More

Musings on the Cage – Days in the Life and More

The Cage, Sigil, an ever lively place full of surprises and wonders.  Joy can be found amidst struggle and sorrow.  Wonders are as common as fears.  It is a place of variety, it is the center of the multiverse.  For your curiosity, I have obtained letters about fae glamour, angered tree men, a murderous conspiracy and the Hag Countess’ campaign from the Cager side. [Editor’s Note: Because in the…

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#2e #AD&D 2e #Advanced Dungeons and Dragons #Baator #badger #dark fantasy #fae #Planescape #Planescape Campaign Setting #Sigil #Sigil the City of Doors #vampire

[alteredstateadventures]

The Mutiny of Baator - Part 2 - Altered State Adventures

#adventure #adventures #altered #and #baator #critical #dnd #dragons #dungeons #fantasy #krumpet #mutiny #of #pazrael #podcasts #role #state #story #tale #the

[inaconstantstateofchange]

Since you offered to do so, would you mind sharing more of your views on Infernal sociology? I'd like to hear your thoughts on it as well, because it's a super interesting topic!

Thanks for the ask! You probably know most of this already, but I’ve been wanting to get some baseline thoughts written out for a while, and this was a great opportunity to do that.

Okay so, the hells as a whole are like… the quintessential embodiment of Lawful Evil. If you could distill Lawful Evil into an environment perfectly designed for it to thrive, that would literally be the hells. Think of the most morally bankrupt, superconglomerate corporate firm, the kind that makes sure the laws are designed to best serve them, as well as having a plethora of loopholes at their disposal, allowing them to pick and choose when to adhere to the letter and when to adhere to the spirit based on what they judge they can get away with. That’s the pale reflection of the hells.

Now think about how that corporation would operate. Everyone is trying to scrabble their way to the top by any means necessary, because power is the only vehicle by which to measure the value of anything. And, for the most part, fiends thrive in that environment.

The majority of devils do not consider existence in the hells a punishment. Certainly there is the potential for suffering around every corner should they fail – or, perhaps worse, succeed – at a task, but there is also the potential for gain, and this is what is foremost in their minds at every conscious moment. Think of that quote by John Steinbeck:

“Everyone was a temporarily embarrassed capitalist.”¹

This pretty well encapsulates the perspective of the majority of the devils and assorted fiends occupying the hells. No matter how far down the corporate ladder they currently are, their big break could be – and surely is – just ahead of them. Every one of them is convinced they are one right step away from taking over from Asmodeus.²

This philosophy colors every single interaction that takes place in the Nine Hells.

¹ Steinbeck, John. "A Primer on the 30's". June 1, 1960. ² They're not, they never were, and they never will be.

#voidling speaks #twistedapple #vflu #forgotten realm #the nine hells #meta #my meta #lore #baator #asmodeus #raphael #bg3 raphael #bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #ask #d&d #forgotten realms

[burnbrighterthanever]

supernatural 5x04: the end // angels before man, rafael nicolás // nobilis, jenna moran // dinner and diatribes, hozier // the caged owl, gregory orr // dear forgiveness, bloodnotink // nobilis, jenna moran // a cornstalk fiddle, notbecauseofvictories // cryptotheism // nobilis, jenna moran

#web weaving #nobilis #angels before man #a cornstalk fiddle #spn #the au #stel speaks #stel writes #stel creates #the fire of baator

[galahadwilder]

In certain bits of D&D lore, Asmodeus created a fake persona and overthrew himself in order to mess with people. Also in certain bits of D&D lore, Asmodeus himself is a fake persona, created by something much bigger and more deadly and more dangerous.

Asmodeus has a daughter, Glasya. Meaning either Asmodeus is real… or Glasya is fake too.

Asmodeus isn’t the only Devil who has faked his own overthrow. Mephistopheles did it too.

What if it’s bigger? What if it’s bigger than anyone realizes? Even the gods? What if Hell itself is a fiction?

What if there are no devils? What if the internecine conflict between the “Archdevils” is a carefully-designed ruse to throw off observers?

What if damned souls don’t become devils—they are simply consumed, and a fake “devil” is created to appear as though they weren’t? What if Fallen Angels are consumed as well, with fake “devils” representing them?

What if every single being in Hell is an illusion cast by Ahriman?

#dungeons and dragons #D&D #Ahriman #D&D Ahriman #Ahriman D&D #original content #dnd #dungeons & dragons #worldbuilding #Asmodeus #baator #hell

[justavulcan]

Airmark's Guide to Planar Vegetables: Garrison Vine

This creeping, bramble vine is easily recognized by its arm-length thorns and mottled black-rust colored stalks.  Cultivated by infernal warlords over thousands of years to its present state, garrison vine has long served as a form of light entrenchment for infernal fortifications in the field.  Originally from the fields of Avernus, garrison vine today grows most extensively in the city of Dis, forming twists and coils of bladed barriers not dissimilar to razorvine.  Unlike that more famous plant, garrison vine is incredibly resistant to spreading unless guided by an intelligent hand, a feat of horticulture as impressive as it is poor for the plant’s prospects.  Over generations of selective growth and careful tending, the natives of baator have rendered garrison vine unable to spread on its own; the plant produces neither spore nor fruit nor seed.  Most patches of the vine that can be found today are descendants of one single plant, cuttings re-planted and encouraged to grow in certain areas by their diabolic masters.  In the unlikely event that devils were one day removed from the multiverse, garrison vine would never spread beyond its current patches.

#Airmark's Guide to Planar Vegetables #D&D #Dungeons and Dragons #Dungeons & Dragons #Planescape #Nine Hells of Baator #Baator #Hell

[y-rhywbeth2]

The thing I can't wrap my head around is Gortash's relationship with religion.

Did growing up in Avernus affect that? Denizens of the Outer Planes - including the mortals - don't tend to take deities (or "Powers") seriously the way the Primes do. Devils certainly don't. There are gods who have residences in the Hells, but they devils sort of just tolerate them "Though the deities have absolute power within their own realms, it's patently obvious who's really in charge here - and it isn't them." The souls of those who serve these deities are immediately forfeit to the archdevils the moment they break a single rule.

Some evil gods are often seen fighting devils to harvest fresh souls on the Shelves of Despond, where assorted (non-Torilian) faithless Lawful Evil and Hells-bound souls initially wash up when they die. Gods are not always the most powerful things out there; did Enver Flymm internalise this attitude?

Does he approach his relationship with Bane as though it were a warlock pact rather than a spiritual bond between devotee and deity? I'm reasonably sure he might've became Banite in the 1480s, when the gods were all suddenly making Chosen left and right; Bane just looked at this guy and went "that one" and Gortash kind of shrugged and went with it because it serves his plans too? Gods keep an eye out for compatible mortals, and try to sway them into worship and service, did Bane approach him earlier?

Does he feel anything about this religion or its god?

Sir, come here, I need to peel your brain matter apart for information.

#fyi: avoid making deals with devils ever; it doesn't need to be a full warlock pact to mark your soul with “Property of Baator” #enver gortash #babbling #villainous nonsense

[dungeonmalcontent]

Worldbuilding concept #138,933.

A fantasy library for a ttrpg game. But there are no books. Instead, with heavy supervision, you are allowed to summon specific demons/devils to barter for information from them. Each summonable fiend has an existing agreement with the library that allows them to be checked out a certain number of times for specific categories of information.

While the information is generally true and the library itself is an extremely careful and prestigious organization, one must be careful with what they uncover. These aren't just any snippets of knowledge, these are notes and lectures from "experts" and could well lead you down a path that takes you to dark and dangerous fields of study.

#d&d #pathfinder #trrpg #story telling #world building #i call it the library of baator but you can use whatever name for a knowledge based hell you have in your game #i will probably use this in a novel at some point

[spyridonya]

Once upon a time, not very long ago in terms of the planes, Raphael once fully supported his father during a coup under Baron Molikroth. Baron Molikroth was a sadistic pit fiend in appearance, gluttonous and obscene, who began a rebellion under Mephistopheles' nose. When sorting through the dead Archfiend's bastards, Raphael was defiant, refusing to join against his father's killer despite the tides of change. Many of his siblings found favor under Molikroth, but Raphael honored his oath.

In the decade that followed, those who served Baron Molikroth were killed by Molikroth's own hand. The coup and persona of the baron was planned by Mephistopheles who posed at Molikroth to find who was loyal and who was not. Raphael survived the purge than many of his siblings did not. Unlike his siblings, Raphael recognized exactly what was going on with the baron. It wasn't a sense of loyalty but knowing his father remarkably well.

He is his father's son, after all.

And then Daddy Mephistopheles went and started the Reckoning.

#character: raphael #raphael bg3 #bg3 #(bite sized raphael based dnd lore) #(there's a huge meta behind this) #(back in the 80s dnd got caught up in satanic panic) #(and devils became the baator) #(demons became the tanar'ri) #(almost all the lords of hell were replaced due to their names being so close to satan) #(and in writing the focus was the tanar'ri lords because they didn't have as much 'baggage' with their names) #(grazzt being an oc do not steal) #(who was super popular in the 80s along with orcus) #(it wasn't until the late 90s that Asmodeus and his ilk came back) #(and their popularity rose) #(meph being the baron was one of the retcons from TSR/WotC no longer being afraid to say) #(devil or demon) #(raphael didn't become a concept until a good 20 years after but i don't care) #(i'm shoving him in)