Hell

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Hell is the home base for the majority of devils. It is located west of London.

Early History[edit | edit source]

Hell is not the first home of the devils. It was conceived of out of a need to escape the Law.

The devils used to be servants of the Judgements in the High Wilderness, and after a failed revolution, they fled to Parabola via Caduceus to escape the Judgements' sight and punishment.[1][2] Led by the Eglantine Regent,[3][4] they made a deal with the Fingerkings[5][6] and spent "aeons"[7] in Parabola,[8] mapping and planning.[9] When the devils finally discovered the Neath, the Fingerkings thought they had found their ticket to existence - but it was a poisoned bargain,[10] since the devils' bodies corroded anything that tried to possess them.[11] The devils passed through mirrors back into reality, and proceeded westward from Irem[10] until they settled at the current location of Hell, bargaining with the Creditor for safe settlement.[12] The founding of Hell was promptly celebrated by the deposition of the Eglantine Regent, who had proclaimed herself sole ruler.[13] (At least if the Book of Roses is to be believed; it is possible, given subsequent events, that this last segment was added much later.)

Later History, Ideology, and Trade[edit | edit source]

After the Season of Revolutions, when the old Princes of Hell were overthrown,[14] Hell declared itself a republic[15] - though an odd type of republic, since it was only a democracy for a single afternoon.[16] It might be more accurate to think of it as a giant bureaucracy.[17] Most unusually, however, Hell's laws are constantly being changed and reforged by the numerous Law-Furnaces in the city.[18] Its doctrines are ever changing, and history does not matter. Anyone who defies this commandment is branded a traitor.[19] With such an ever-evolving system, opinions considered radical in London are seen as reactionary in Hell;[20] that said, Hell itself does have its radical elements. One of these is a group known as the Dynamite.[21]

Hell has a a civic religion, but it does not concern itself with the worship of one or many deities; in fact it is considered gauche to do so. The worshippers simply pray in Hell’s direction.[22] A core tenet of their religion insists upon the death of all tyrants.[23]

Underhanded means of gaining social currency, like betrayal and manipulation, are seen as more respectable among devils than among humankind[24] - although there is certainly still plenty of this in London. Hell is fraught with infighting, and the popularity of its various factions ebbs and flows.[25]

Both the Fourth City[26] and London have tried to invade hell; both have failed. During London's attempt in 1868, Hell would only release its prisoners of war in exchange for souls; most prisoners were forced to labor on infernal triremes. And there were many prisoners indeed; the campaign went very poorly for London, and was ended by a treaty between the two cities.[27] Nowadays, Hell exports brass, hydrogen, devilbones, and other goods to London, and imports souls in exchange.[28] The Brass Embassy is the diplomatic office of Hell in the Fifth City;[29] it had a similar establishment in the Fourth City, called the Celestial Embassy.[30]

Hell lies west of London,[31] with the Hinterlands in between;[32] many rivers flow toward the city.[33] Hell also shares a border with Parabola,[34] and their brass triremes can even navigate the river near the Far Shore.[35]

Previously, a single railway ran from Moloch Street to Hell,[36] with Marigold Station as a major stop between the two.[37] This is used to bring the damned (whatever that means) to Hell,[38] though if the train arrives late, all souls onboard are freed.[39] In 1898, with relations between London and Hell far less strained than they used to be, then-Lord Mayoress Virginia negotiated the opening of the Hinterlands to Londoners, and created the Ministry of Upper River Development. This chain of events led to the foundation of the Great Hellbound Railway, which constructed a second rail line between London and Hell.[40]

Hell has a colony in the Neath: the Iron Republic, south of London. There, all laws, both of society and nature, have been abolished,[41] and new laws replace the old ones every day.[42]

The Book of Pilgrims[edit | edit source]

It is quite difficult for ordinary visitors to describe Hell, thanks to the Law-Furnaces constantly at work within;[43] sometimes, it appears as a book more than a city.[44] That said, we can say some things with certainty.

Hell is a walled city built of white stone, with massive gates at its main entrance.[45] Between Marigold Station and the gates, the road to Hell is paved with the same stone[46] (not, fortunately, good intentions). The air is thick with smog from its Law-Furnaces,[47] but through the haze one can see the Square of Heroes and Martyrs, whose statues occasionally are left to crumble because "all things fall in the end."[10] Other known locations within Hell include the Clarity of Bells,[48][49] the Manse of Sacrifice,[38] the Edict of Towers[50] (which defends Hell's border with Parabola), and the Sanctity of Saviours;[51] the city also is known to have a garden and a greenhouse.[52]

Ultimately, there is one thing that is most certain of all: Hell contains at least one kind of soup.[53]

Real Life Inspiration (unconfirmed)[edit | edit source]

The civic religion of Hell might be inspired by the First French Republic's state religion, the Cult of Reason.[54] This, however, is disputed among the fanbase.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Ask him about his memories of Caduceus, Sunless Skies ""After the Well of the Wolf," [...] "the Devils could no longer remain in the sight of the Judgements: not if we intended to live. We escaped through Caduceus into Parabola, the place that is not; and from there onward. We were a people in exile. Not strong enough to take a place and hold it for our own. Not weak enough to be welcomed as refugees. It was an intolerable time and I take no pleasure in remembering it."
  2. ↑ An Ancient Refuge Site, Fallen London "Once the devils were fleeing an ancient enemy, of overwhelming force, and they came here, swarming from a place called Caduceus into Parabola."
  3. ↑ Discovered: A Chilly Future, Fallen London "Book of Roses 2:1-3: AND AMONG THE PEOPLE AROSE a great and fearful clamour [...] And from this clamour arose a few great voices to lead them. And among these great voices arose the Eglantine Regent, she who bargains with serpents."
  4. ↑ Discovered: A Dark Future, Fallen London "Book of Roses 3:7: AND THE EGLANTINE REGENT SAID unto the people: “I have signed a bargain with serpents; and I have given us a road to walk; and the mirrors shall open to us; and there we shall make new law; and there we shall draft the plans of a city that is already ours.” And upon hearing this, the people rejoiced."
  5. ↑ Receive the story in the form of cascabel venom, Fallen London "The devils swarming into Parabola longed for many things: for souls, for escape, for their own deaths and the things that waited beyond each death. The Fingerkings saw their longing, and welcomed them as food. The devils were bargainers, contract-writers, enemies of the stars. The Fingerkings saw their nature, and welcomed them as allies. The devils were hollow, skin-shedders, eternally in chrysalis. The Fingerkings saw their capacity, and welcomed them as salvation."
  6. ↑ Discovered: A Discordant Future, Fallen London "Book of Roses 4:6-7: AND THE PEOPLE SHED THEIR SKINS to squeeze through mirrors. And the people wandered a wasted sky beyond the glass. It was a time of famine and bitter cold, and the people faltered and regretted their flight. And the Eglantine Regent said unto them: "This place Is Not; and what Is Not may not harm us. For we do exist, and we exist more than anything in existence.""
  7. ↑ Hold steady, Fallen London "Aeons passed [...] They searched the mirrors endlessly for a suitable destination in which to hide themselves, but always that goal remained out of reach – until they found the Neath. Until the first person brought the first looking-glass below."
  8. ↑ Discovered: A Jewelled Future, Fallen London "The Book of Roses 5:4-5: [...] Thus spake the Parlous Knot: "This is the dream of a giant, that we have set aside for you to dwell within." And the people set down their baggage and were still. And said the Eglantine Regent: "Here we shall make camp, but we shall not build our city; for our city has always lain elsewhere.""
  9. ↑ Discovered: A Nearby Future, Fallen London "Book of Roses 6:5-7: AND THE PEOPLE BUILT FURNACES and made maps. They devised new numbers with which to calculate the position of their home. And the Parlous Knot looked upon these works, and saw that they were good. And so said the Eglantine Regent: “Soon we will arrive in Hell.” And the Parlous Knot rejoiced, for it believed that it would accompany them."
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Discovered: A Neon Future, Fallen London "Book of Roses 7:7-9: AND WHEN THE TIME CAME for the people to depart the Is-Not, they made their passage through Irem. [...] And so said the Eglantine Regent: “For the future to arrive one must have a present.” And the Parlous Knot cursed the name of the Eglantine Regent. And the Parlous Knot perished."
  11. ↑ Neutralise the poison; the antidote is already in you, Fallen London "Aeons passed. The Fingerkings waited. The devils built furnaces in Parabola, and laid down trade routes; looked out of mirrors, and considered new homes; and for generations searched for their new Hell. When they discovered the Neath at last, the Fingerkings proved unable to possess them. To be swallowed by a devil was death and dissolution. A Fingerking lives on desire, and a devil cannot sustain it. It was the death of the Parlous Knot."
  12. ↑ Discovered: An Abyssal Future, Fallen London "Book of Roses 10:2-3: WHEN THE PEOPLE CAME TO THE END of their voyage west, they set down their baggage and began the work of building a new city. And there they made petition to the powers of the Earth, who might set the boundaries of their city."
  13. ↑ Discovered: An Altered Future, Fallen London "AND WHEN THE LAST BRICK WAS LAID on the last wall of Hell, there arose a great and joyful clamour among the people. And there the Eglantine Regent lit the furnaces once again, so that those great voices among the people might devise new laws. And there the Eglantine Regent made a proclamation of her rulership. Upon hearing this, the people struck her down."
  14. ↑ The Diabolical Diplomat, Fallen London ’The Season of Revolutions brought an end to thrones in Hell’
  15. ↑ Argue the Monkey's case, Fallen London
  16. ↑ Prove Virginia's motives (The Waswood), Fallen London
  17. ↑ Perform Outreach for the Church, Fallen London
  18. ↑ Trial and Error, Fallen London ’Could this be a law furnace? In Hell, such devices sit in great factories, forming an integral but obscured part of their legal system.’
  19. ↑ The Destiny of the Marigold, Fallen London "This Knight of the Marigold earned the enmity of Hell [...] Hell rewrites its doctrine regularly: [...] This Knight, [...] was once a historian. [...] attempted to create a comprehensive analysis of the revolution. They were given to the Marigold for their trouble [...] return only when they had found Truth."
  20. ↑ Ask her about prior winners of the Marvellous, Fallen London
  21. ↑ Speak to the Ambassador, Fallen London
  22. ↑ Visit the Diocesan Church of Hell at Burrow, Fallen London
  23. ↑ Engage in a little light preaching, Fallen London
  24. ↑ Trial and Error, Fallen London ’Backstabbing and jockeying are a natural feature of the Brass Embassy, and Hell at large.’
  25. ↑ Trial and Error, Fallen London ’The letter is curiously neutral when it mentions that cabals fall in and out of fashion in Hell.’
  26. ↑ Investigate the Fourth City's War against Hell, Fallen London
  27. ↑ The Brass Grail (Story), Fallen London ’ The contract is valid according to the laws of Hell, and therefore binding here due to the treaty signed after the war.’
  28. ↑ A trade in souls?, Fallen London
  29. ↑ What is the Brass Embassy?, Fallen London
  30. ↑ What is the Brass Embassy?, Fallen London
  31. ↑ Involved in a Railway Venture, Fallen London
  32. ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London ’You are leaving London. Beyond are the outskirts of the Empire, and further still, the hinterlands of Hell.’
  33. ↑ Analyse the fauna of Hell, Fallen London
  34. ↑ The Bishop of Southwark 2, Fallen London ’But Parabola shares a border with Hell.’
  35. ↑ Caught Up in a Soldier's Heartbreaking Tale (Story), Fallen London ’"Are you familiar with the place? There are worse things on that river than the dead […] When I awoke, I was in a boat on a dark river. You may be familiar with the river."’
  36. ↑ An Exceptional Story: An Infernal Interview, Fallen London
  37. ↑ For All the Saints Who From Their Labours Rest, Fallen London ’ I'll arrange for the train to make a brief stop at Marigold Station.’
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Enter Hell once more, Fallen London
  39. ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London ’"The train does not stop. There is a simple reason for this – if the train arrives late, all souls aboard go free. An ancient accord that predates us all." He smiles ruefully. "Though there is a margin of error."’
  40. ↑ Advertisements of a New Venture, Fallen London
  41. ↑ Debate the Republic's law, Fallen London
  42. ↑ Day 1, Hurled from High Places, Fallen London
  43. ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London ’A ruddy fog seeps out: smog from the law-furnaces.’
  44. ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London ’ Book of All Hours 6:19: The traveller was distressed to find themselves back at the beginning. The Emissary was commanded to turn the pages.’
  45. ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London ’ Hell's walls rise before you. They are high and misshapen, scarred by sieges. The gates tower above you.’
  46. ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London ’There is only a simple platform a short set of steps, and then the road to Hell: broken and cobbled in white stone.’
  47. ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London ’[…] the Gates open, just a crack. Beyond, you glimpse a slabbed square, forested with statues. Each depicts a hero of Hell's revolution[…]’
  48. ↑ Return to Hell, Fallen London
  49. ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London ’The traveller departed, following an incident with the cartography in the Clarity of Bells.’
  50. ↑ Beyond the White Walls, Fallen London
  51. ↑ Enter Hell for the first time, Fallen London
  52. ↑ Deliver Mr Transport to Hell, Fallen London
  53. ↑ An infernal broth, Fallen London 'From a recipe taken from Hell itself. Even Hell, it seems, contains soup.'
  54. ↑ Cult of Reason, Wikipedia
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