Duumal

Duumal

Type	Layer of the Hells
Location	The Ten Hells
Inhabiting Race	Devils, Yugoloths

Duumal is the First Layer of The Ten Hells.It is ruled by the archdevil Sheriff of Duumal, Elytria.

About

Duumal is the frontier of the Ten Hells. The region is dominated by vast red deserts and treacherous canyons, with The River Styx running through its center. Devilish cowherders wrangle up Infernal Bulls and damned souls alike, while wandering fiendish gunslingers share stories and bullets at their local saloon. Infernal prospectors work long hours in the Mammonian Gold Mines while Abyssal Demonic criminals raid, pillage, and steal all they can.

Most Devil's present in Duumal serve in the Infernal Calvary, fighting back the encroaching hordes of demons in The Blood War, while others live in the frontier for new opportunity. Some Demons have even chosen to break from their hordes to live in the frontier as criminal outlaws, plundering and destroying to their heart's desire.

The layer is ruled by the Sheriff Elytria, Archdevil of Duumal and the fastest gun in the Hells. After the reconstruction of the first layer they took control and established a loose system of order, traveling the wastes killing and imprisoning demons and ne'er-do-wells alike. They prefer the layer as it is and prefer to spend their time as a lone ranger wandering the dunes. Those who have tried to overthrown Elytria or establish their own order beyond the frontier have quickly found themselves with a bullet in their head. The closest anyone has come is Mammon, the Lord of Greed, who was permitted to establish Infernal Gold mines in return for cementing Elytria's rule.

History

This layer was formerly known as Avernus. During First Infernal Emergence the Underdark sea flooded the first layer of Hell, washing away much of what was there before. After the flooding receded the layer became the new infernal frontier where it was anyone's game. The reconstruction was heavily inspired by the culture of BR era wild west Pteris where the First infernal emergence took place, turning the newly named Duumal ("Blood Desert" in Infernal) into Hell's frontier land. While major regions of the layer were taken up by The Blood War, other regions were turned into Infernal Gold mines of frontier shanty towns.

In 904 PR a rift between Duumal and the sixth layer of the Hells, Malbolge, opened in the wastes of Duumal, allowing Demons to enter deeper into the Hells. This rift was eventually secured by a team of adventurers and their patron, the Archdevil Philani.

Later in 925 PR the waters of The River Styx would dry up and all demons across the planes would disappear. This led to much initial rejoicing from the devils who fought in the Blood War, believing they had triumphed over their centuries long foe. But it also opened the way for opportunistic devils to make a grab for power. The Pit Fiend Bel organized a militia of loyal devils and declared himself the true ruler of Duumal and began a campaign to sway the legions of devils in Duumal who no longer had a war to fight to his side. During this time he forged an alliance with Dispater, trading valuable souls for powerful war machines. One of these war machines was the terrifying Soulnaught, a massive walking fortress in the shape of a bull. At the same time, a group of fiendish mercenaries who fought in the Blood War formed The Sinner's League in hopes of maintaining what power they had gained during the war. At the same time, the Archduchess Elytria disappeared, many believing she was laying low to see which of the two factions would come out on top.

These two factions would continue their scramble for power until Bel managed to wipe out a significant portion of the Sinner's League forces by ambushing them during their summit at Bloodmaw Keep.

Devils

A majority of Devils in Duumal come from other layers to serve in the Infernal Calvary and to fight in the Blood War against invading demons. Other natural denizens prefer to live the frontier lifestyle, tending to small brimstone farms, digging in the mines, tending to herds and cattle, or traveling as wandering mercenaries. A small number of Devil's serve as Elytria's deputy sheriffs, informing her on any outlaw activity in the layer.

Other Archdevils on the layer are either representatives of other Hellish rulers or generals in the Blood War.

Demons

Rising from the Abyss and emerging into the First layer of the Hells through the River Styx, the demons wage an endless war through Duumal. Though sensing opportunity, many demons chose to break away from the horde and take up outlaw lives in the frontier, forming gangs of roving criminals across the wastes of Duumal. In the far reaches of Duumal these criminal demons are even to find refuge in small towns where the local devils are more worried about their own livelihoods rather then fighting demons.

Notable Places

Brimstone Gulch

• A small town out in the red wastes, this town is notable for its hangman's block were hundreds of damned souls are lined up a day to be hanged, unmade, and sent deeper into the Hells.
  • The Devil's Duster: A saloon run by an old Bearded Devil named Grishawn
  • Ortus' Camp: On the outskirts of Brimstone Gultch is a war camp commanded by the Bone Devil commander Ortus.

The Bronze Citadel

• The Bronze Citadel is the oldest standing structure in all of Duumal. Rumored to have been created by Asmodeus himself, the citadel is a massive bronze dome many miles in diameter and is the largest gathering place of devils in Duumal. It is most famous for being home to the Infernal Rodeo.

The Lock-Up

• A large prison where Elytria holds the criminals she keeps alive until she either decides to shoot them, hang them, or let them rot for eternity.

Bloodmaw Keep

• Long ago, Duumal when it was called Avernus was ruled by Zarial, a fallen angel loyal to Asmodeus. After Duumal was flooded, the angel disappeared, leaving their castle empty. Rumor has it that the castle was cursed, as any devil or fiend who tried to claim ownership of it thereafter would always meet a terrible and gruesome fate. Over time it became neutral ground for warring devil factions.

The Devil's Anus

• The Devil's Anus is the only way to travel between Duumal and the second layer of the Hells, Dis. It is a massive hole in the desert through which flows the River Styx that leads directly down into Dis.

Glasya's Folly

• Glasya's Folly was a portal created between Duumal and the Sixth Layer of the Hells, Malbolge, in 904 PR, due to a weakening of planar barriers. This portal was then used by demonic forces to invade Malbolge. After servants of the Archdevil Philani stabilized and secured the portal, it was used to ferry goods from Malbolge to the front lines of the Blood War.

Charon's Soul Barge

This massive ship made of bone can occasionally be seen floating atop the waters of the River Styx as it ferries the souls of the damned.

Notable Factions

• The Duumal Deputized: Servants of Elytria, these Devil gunslingers travel out in her name to capture demons and fiendish criminals.
• The Demonic Hordes: Thousand of demons flood out through the Abyss into the wastes of Duumal engaging in battle with Hell's armies. Many though split off to form criminal factions in the deserts.
• The Mammonian Mining Company: A company of devils in service to Mammon who have a contract with Elytria to mine gold in Duumal.
• Bel's Militia: Stationed in the Bronze Citadel, these devil loyalists serve the Pit Fiend Bel. After the River Styx dried up in 925 PR, Bel and his militia moved to claim Duumal for their own.
• The Sinners League: This loose alliance of fiends comprised of many mercenaries and warlords who fought in the Blood War. After the River Styx dried up and the war seemingly ended, the banded together to try and maintain what power they had.
• The Fingers of Barroth: A syndicate of draconic devils loyal to the Red Dragon Barroth.

Notable Inhabitants

• Elytria, Ruler and Sherriff of Duumal
• Bel, A former Archduke who used to rule Duumal before being deposed, Bel seeks an opportunity to retake the layer for himself.
• Charon, The Ferryman of the Damned, Charon occasionally passes through Duumal via way of the River Styx.
• Baron Samuel Boarhide, representitive archdevil of Mammon and manager of all infernal gold mines on the West side of the River Styx.
• Governor Solme, an Amnizu and governor of the Bronze Citadel
• Sellena "Snake-Eyes," Marilith-Spawn Demon outlaw killed in 894 PR. Former owner of The Vaulkner gun.