Avernus The First Plane of Hell

Avernus

The uppermost plane of the Nine Hells is ruled by

Tiamat, the Chromatic Dragon, and serves as a home

to all lesser unique devils. These are devils with

individual names and characteristics, and powers of

greater magnitude than those of a pit fiend (for all

such unique devils of lesser power are soon destroyed

by their enemies and the cruelty of their fellows),

which are not otherwise placed in the hells as ruling

archdevils or their direct servants.

There are approximately fifty of these lesser unique

devils; embittered, frustrated beings who torment the

lemures and spined devils of this plane and viciously

attack all intruders. Chief among them is Nergal,

who like all of his outcast fellows plots and schemes

constantly to win a higher rank, but through hopes of

reward always eagerly and enthusiastically obeys commands issued by the archdevils. Most such commands

concern the defense of the hells against all intruders,

for the dukes of hell have no wish to deal with intruders on their own ground—the plane or planes they

rule—when such disorderly business can be conducted

elsewhere. The uppermost plane of the hells thus

serves as a marshalling area and training ground for

infernal armies, and is (preferably to the devils) the

place in which intruders are dealt with.