A Leap of Faith

Long ago when the world was still young, a great battle was waged in the heavens. Lucifer Morningstar, one of the seven archangels waged war against the almighty, but it was in vain. Both he and his legion were cast down from grace into what would become the infernal pit. This ever-expanding realm of fire and darkness is where the once-mighty archangel began plotting his revenge.

Over the centuries the pit grew into a wildly vast ecosystem fueled by the powers of darkness and the souls of the damned. Nine circles were formed to establish the different domains, one for each of Lucifer’s princes with its king at the center. And, for a great while, this formed the status quo within the pit. Angels would bring souls down to the fiery gates where they would be granted passage by the ferryman, Charon, bridging the gap between the world of the living and that of the dead. From there the souls were dropped off into limbo, the first circle and that housed those with no crimes but held no glory in the eyes of God. Those with true sins were marched to the judges of hell who rested at the entrance to the second circle where Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Aeacus stared deep into the souls of the damned and threw them deeper into the pit depending on the severity of their sins.

Lust, Gluttony, Avarice, Wrath, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery. These are the true sins of mankind that make up the remaining circles of the pit. Each circle is its own ever-expanding world filled with demons, monsters, and flora all onto its own, though many demons come and go through the circles as they please using the intricate tunnels and passageways between them, most generally stick to their own worlds.

Much of this, thus far, has become like a child’s bedtime story: spread far and wide as the fall and creation of the Morningstar and his domain. But, beyond that, history is written by the victors leaving many truths long since forgotten…

With the legion cast into hell, many became greater demons, along with the Princes and Lucifer at the top of the hierarchy with the remainder becoming lesser demons or simply becoming the Fallen, angels twisted by the malevolence of the pit. Even those of virtue who led the souls of the damned to the gates quickly became sick and corrupted, becoming known as the Fae. Using these twisted creatures, Lucifer sought to wage war once more upon the holy gates and take his rightful place as ruler of creation. Not everything goes as planned though and, in the final moments, Lucifer was betrayed by his Princes.

As the Morningstar fell, the remaining seven Princes divided up his power and riches for their own and vowed to rule all 9 circles together. Each one free to do what they will with their own circle without the ruling hand of Lucifer interfering with their plans. And thus, the Court of Pandemonium was formed, where it was agreed that the first and ninth circle be left alone, and the name of the Morningstar be banished from their dark history.

This brings us to today, where demons and creatures pass between the human realm, hell, and the other surrounding realms as they please. While they are free to do as they please, it’s become a common practice to not interfere with the humans or their world directly. Leaving them to stain their own souls makes for a much more delectable meal.

The seven main circles now all live within somewhat controlled chaos as the Princes of hell war and scheme against one another behind the scenes to gain more power. A multitude of clans and factions have formed among the inhabitants to bolster power and prove themselves to their respective leaders. Grand cities have sprouted among the circles, but one towers above all others: the city of Dis. A central hub for trade and goods that rises into the sky forming different levels, separating the poor and weak from the rich and powerful including the Princes, whose influences span out into different districts of the city. The city of Dis is where our story really begins, where an Infernal Incubus with unique blood and an Ombra haunted by her past and duty, set off to confront fate.