Editing Hell

{{Uncited}}
{{spoiler}}
{{Neath_Location|image1 = hellgate_large.png
|caption1 = The Gates of Hell. Art from Fallen London.
|location = West of [[London]]
|allegiance = [[Devils]]
|notable_inhabitants = 
|music = 
}}'''Hell,''' or '''the White City,''' is the home base for the majority of [[devils]]. It is located west of [[London]].

==Ideology, History and Trade==
After the Season of Revolutions, when the old [[Grand Devils|Princes of Hell]] were overthrown,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Diabolical_Diplomat|The Diabolical Diplomat|Fallen London|}}’The Season of Revolutions brought an end to thrones in Hell’</ref> Hell declared itself a republic<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Argue_the_Monkey%27s_case|Argue the Monkey's case|Fallen London|}}</ref> - though an odd type of republic, since it was only a democracy for a single afternoon.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Prove_Virginia%27s_motives_(The_Waswood)|Prove Virginia's motives (The Waswood)|Fallen London|}}</ref> It might be more accurate to think of it as a giant bureaucracy.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Perform_Outreach_for_the_Church|Perform Outreach for the Church|Fallen London|}}</ref> Most unusually, however, Hell's laws are constantly being changed and reforged by the numerous Law-Furnaces in the city.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Trial_and_Error|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.’</ref> Its doctrines are ever changing, and history does not matter. Anyone who defies this commandment is branded a traitor.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Destiny_of_the_Marigold|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."''</ref>  With such an ever-evolving system, opinions considered radical in [[London]] are seen as reactionary in Hell;<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_her_about_prior_winners_of_the_Marvellous|Ask her about prior winners of the Marvellous|Fallen London|}}</ref> that said, Hell itself does have its radical elements. One of these is a group known as the Dynamite.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speak_to_the_Ambassador|Speak to the Ambassador|Fallen London|}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Visit_the_Diocesan_Church_of_Hell_at_Burrow|Visit the Diocesan Church of Hell at Burrow|Fallen London|}}</ref> A core tenet of their religion insists upon the death of all tyrants.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Engage_in_a_little_light_preaching|Engage in a little light preaching|Fallen London|}}</ref>

Underhanded means of gaining social currency, like betrayal and manipulation, are seen as more respectable among [[devils]] than among humankind<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Trial_and_Error|Trial and Error|Fallen London|}}’Backstabbing and jockeying are a natural feature of the Brass Embassy, and Hell at large.’</ref> - 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.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Trial_and_Error|Trial and Error|Fallen London|}}’The letter is curiously neutral when it mentions that cabals fall in and out of fashion in Hell.’</ref>

Both [[the Fourth City]]<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Investigate_the_Fourth_City%27s_War_against_Hell|Investigate the Fourth City's War against Hell|Fallen London|}}</ref> and London have tried to invade hell; both have failed. During [[The Campaign of '68|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.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Brass_Grail_(Story)|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.’</ref> Nowadays, Hell exports brass, hydrogen, devilbones, and other goods to London, and imports souls in exchange.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Sidebar_Snippets#Devils_and_Hell|A trade in souls?|Fallen London|}}</ref> The [[Brass Embassy]] is the diplomatic office of Hell in the Fifth City;<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Sidebar_Snippets#Devils_and_Hell|What is the Brass Embassy?|Fallen London|}}</ref> it had a similar establishment in the Fourth City, called the Celestial Embassy.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Sidebar_Snippets#Devils_and_Hell|What is the Brass Embassy?|Fallen London|}}</ref>

Hell lies west of London,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Involved_in_a_Railway_Venture|Involved in a Railway Venture|Fallen London|}}</ref> with [[the Hinterlands]] in between;<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Twelve-Fifteen_from_Moloch_Street|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.’</ref> many rivers flow toward the city.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Analyse_the_fauna_of_Hell|Analyse the fauna of Hell|Fallen London|}}</ref> Hell also shares a border with [[Parabola]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Bishop_of_Southwark_2|The Bishop of Southwark 2|Fallen London|}}’But Parabola shares a border with Hell.’</ref> and their brass triremes can even navigate the river near the [[Death|Far Shore]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Caught_Up_in_a_Soldier%27s_Heartbreaking_Tale_(Story)|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."’</ref>

Previously, a single railway ran from Moloch Street to Hell,<ref name=":1">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/An_Exceptional_Story:_An_Infernal_Interview|An Exceptional Story: An Infernal Interview|Fallen London|}}</ref> with [[Marigold Station]] as a major stop between the two.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/For_All_the_Saints_Who_From_Their_Labours_Rest|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.’</ref> This is used to bring the damned (whatever that means) to Hell,<ref name=":1" /> though if the train arrives late, all souls onboard are freed.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Twelve-Fifteen_from_Moloch_Street|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."’</ref> In 1898, with relations between London and Hell far less strained than they used to be, then-[[Lord Mayor of London|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 [[The Great Hellbound Railway|Great Hellbound Railway]], which constructed a second rail line between London and Hell.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Advertisements_of_a_New_Venture|Advertisements of a New Venture|Fallen London|}}</ref>

Hell has a colony in the Neath: [[the Iron Republic]], south of London. There, all laws, both of society and nature, have been abolished,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Debate_the_Republic%27s_law|Debate the Republic's law|Fallen London|}}</ref> and new laws replace the old ones every day.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Day_1,_Hurled_from_High_Places|Day 1, Hurled from High Places|Fallen London|}}</ref>
==The Book of Pilgrims==
It is quite difficult for ordinary visitors to describe the White City, thanks to the Law-Furnaces constantly at work within;<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Twelve-Fifteen_from_Moloch_Street|The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street|Fallen London|}}’A ruddy fog seeps out: smog from the law-furnaces.’</ref> sometimes, it appears as a book more than a city.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Twelve-Fifteen_from_Moloch_Street|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.’</ref> That said, we can say some things with certainty.

Hell is a walled city, with massive gates at its main entrance.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Twelve-Fifteen_from_Moloch_Street|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.’</ref> Between [[Marigold Station]] and the gates, the road to Hell is paved with white stones<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Twelve-Fifteen_from_Moloch_Street|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.’</ref> (not, fortunately, good intentions). The air is thick with smog from its Law-Furnaces,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Twelve-Fifteen_from_Moloch_Street|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[…]’</ref> 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."<ref name=":0" /> Other known locations within Hell include the Clarity of Bells,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Return_to_Hell|Return to Hell|Fallen London|}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Twelve-Fifteen_from_Moloch_Street|The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street|Fallen London|}}’The traveller departed, following an incident with the cartography in the Clarity of Bells.’</ref> the Manse of Sacrifice,<ref name=":0">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Enter_Hell_once_more|Enter Hell once more|Fallen London|}}</ref> and the Sanctity of Saviours;<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Enter_Hell_for_the_first_time|Enter Hell for the first time|Fallen London|}}</ref> the city also is known to have a garden and a greenhouse.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Deliver_Mr_Transport_to_Hell|Deliver Mr Transport to Hell|Fallen London|}}</ref>

==Real Life Inspiration (unconfirmed)==
The civic religion of Hell might be inspired by the First French Republic's state religion, the Cult of Reason.<ref>{{Citation|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_of_Reason|Cult of Reason|Wikipedia|}}</ref> This, however, is disputed among the fanbase.

==References==
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