Abriymoch

Abriymoch, or the Mount of Leaping Flames, was the only city on the layer of Phlegethos in the Nine Hells.

Description
The city consisted of several tiers of chambers built into a hollowed-out active volcano connected through innumerable tunnels, shafts, and stairs, including an enormous spiral path winding its way down the walls of the central gulf. The mountain walls consisted of obsidian, crystal, and hardened magma, lending the city a dramatic appearance as it jutted out from its environs. Many of the city's chambers opened up into balconies facing the volcano's interior, while some stretched through the walls of the mountain before ending in windows and doors on the exterior flanks of Abriymoch. The volcano's crater was crowned with numerous dark basalt towers.

The central cauldron was filled with molten lava, from which buildings and city blocks protruded like islands. Travel on foot was often impossible, so travelers could instead rent gondolas operated by barbazus to traverse the lava. Although the mountain offered some protection from the fires that suffused Phlegethos, certain quarters of the city were exposed to the flame.

Geography
The mountain city was surrounded a lake of lava, beyond which lay great, volcanic plains occupied by various vassals of Belial.

Government
The city was overseen by Governor Gazra, who ruled with a light touch and maintained order through delegating duties, further enforced by his command of a massive police force. The city's economic affairs were overseen by Duke Chamo.

Trade
Abriymoch was considered the pleasure palace of the Nine Hells, where devils could go to enjoy their time off and indulge their every desire. The city was filled with casinos, taverns, theaters, and other entertainment venues.

Much of the weapons and armor trade of the Hells was centered in Abriymoch. The ore used to create Baatorian green steel was extracted from the city's magma (though not exclusively; the ore was also mined on Avernus).

Shrivers, automated magical torture devices used to tear apart the bodies and souls of its victims, were manufactured exclusively in Abriymoch.

Defenses
Abriymoch was considered the mightiest fortress of the middle layers of Hell, and was constantly patrolled by a police force of five thousand hamatulas and osyluths commanded by the city's governor. These forces were merciless and could not be bargained with; a result of Gazra's frequent tests of loyalty. Gazra's legion also patrolled the upper four layers of the Hells, and were intended as a reserve force in case of demonic invasion. Captured intruders, both from Phlegethos and other layers, were sent to the governor's prisons to be tortured with fire by his inquisitors. No mortal ever escaped imprisonment in Abriymoch.

Rumors & Legends
Much like Phlegethos itself, Abriymoch was well known to be an extremely dangerous place. Travelers were strongly advised to avoid the city altogether.

Some said Abriymoch resembled a dead or tortured deity partially breaching its surrounding lake of lava. Governor Gazra claimed this was indeed the case&mdash;the mountain was the husk of a dead power slain by Asmodeus.

Notable Locations

 * The Diabolical Courts or Court Infernal, an independent institution overseen by pit fiend judges and a ruling paeliryon that answered strictly to Asmodeus. The court's function was to act as an impartial judicial party that settled disputes regarding the laws of Hell, and as such it was a bloated, overcomplicated disaster. Devils were constantly scheming to introduce new laws and set precedents to give them an edge and the court was already wholly dependent on an impossibly intricate code full of loophole-ridden statutes exceptions to the rules that could make navigating the legal labyrinth take years. The court handled various criminal charges, including accusations of battlefield cowardice and dereliction of duty, but focused on contract cases between devils. Typically they settled problems between those without a shared chain of command, since such matters were normally resolved by their superiors, although sometimes the court was asked to appeal contracts specifying the details of master-servant relationships. Rarely, damned souls that believed themselves to have been unfairly consigned to Baator, by the terms of a document known as the Pact Primeval, could appeal to the court to be freed of their infernal contract.


 * Gazra's manor was a large palace made from crystal statues, beneath which lay the governor's dreaded prisons and torture chambers.
 * A permanent portal connected the center of Abriymoch with Ogrémoch's fortress of Stonemire on the Elemental Plane of Earth. While it was clear that Gazra and Ogrémoch were in cahoots somehow, details of their alliance could only be guessed at. The portal was heavily guarded and warded on both sides, but passage could be purchased at a steep price.

Inhabitants
The city was staffed primarily by barbazus, spinagons,, hamatulas, and osyluths. Other devils, such as paeliryons, merregons, and war devils, were also found here.

A complement of erinyes commanded by Zaebos were often used to deliver messages both within Abriymoch and to nearby vassals and guard patrols. The erinyes were mistrusted and bullied, suspected of being spies for Asmodeus or Baalzebul.

Abriymoch had a kennel of hell hounds under the command of the pit fiend Zapan.

Notable Inhabitants

 * The archdevils Belial and Fierna, rulers of Phlegethos, owned an obsidian palace in Abriymoch, situated on the edge of the volcano's crater.
 * Gazra, the pit fiend governor of Abriymoch, who was also in charge of policing the upper four layers of the Nine Hells.
 * Chamo, legate of Belial, had the highest civilian position in Abriymoch, and was in charge of its economy.

Appearances

 * Video Games