Artwork:
Midjourney by Aphterlyfe

Lost Souls in Avernus

Though they swore to protect their homes and realm from the ravages of the demonlord Yeenoghu, the Hellriders find themselves eternally entangled in the Blood War. Their once saintly protector, the angel Zariel, has now become a master of Hell, the Archduke of Avernus, a Devil commander in the endless war against the chaos of the Abyss.

How could this once-mortal army hope to overcome the endless hordes of the Abyss? And what does Zariel want with the city of Elturel and it's people? Destiny has called mighty heroes forth to the uncover their secrets in the hopes of saving the doomed city--but what, if anything, can be done to for the Hellriders themselves? Or, after hundreds of years performing deeds of unspeakable evil in service to their dark mistress, are they too far gone to be worthy of redemption?

About

Hi I'm Aphterlyfe, and I am a Dungeon Master running Descent into Avernus  in 5th edition D&D. Crypt of the Hellriders is my own head-canon branch rife with heavy themes exploring morally grey quandries, difficult ethical choices, and asking big questions about the very nature of immortal souls.

Browsing this wiki

This website is meant to be browsed like a wiki, in that you can click links within each article to access the greater web of content.

Recent Articles

Avernus

Ruled by Archduke [yadawiki link="Zariel" show=""], Avernus is the first layer of the 9 Hells and the first plane all travelers come to when arriving in Baator.

Zariel

Zariel is the Archduke of [yadawiki link="Avernus" show=""], making her one of the Lords of the 9 Hells and the general on the forefront of the Blood War against the demons of the Abyss.

Faye Mournhell

Faye Mournhell was an agent of the [yadawiki link="Cult of the Dragon" show=""] who was recovering precious artifacts sacred to her masters. She befriended a group of Flaming Fists in fighting [yadawiki link="Cult of Zariel" show="Zarielite cultists"] beneath [yadawiki link="Baldur's Gate" show=""].

Crypt of the Hellriders

The Crypt of the Hellriders is a fortress in [yadawiki link="Avernus" show=""] where the original Hellriders who followed [yadawiki link="Zariel" show=""] finally reside.

Lord Olanthius

Lord Olanthius is one of the Three Generals who served under Archangel [yadawiki link="Zariel" show=""] as she gathered a mortal host to wage war against the Demonlord [yadawiki link="Yeenoghu" show=""].

Lord Haruman

Lord Haruman is one of the Three Generals who served under Archangel [yadawiki link="Zariel" show=""] as she gathered a mortal host to wage war against the Demonlord [yadawiki link="Yeenoghu" show=""].

Charlemagne Martel

Charlemagne Martel is an aged [yadawiki link="Hellriders" show="Hellrider"] Elite who stands for moral purity and holds Hellriders under his command to a higher standard of ethical conduct.

Shield of the Hidden Lord

[yadawiki link="Gargauth" show=""] yeah

Elturel

The Holy city of Elturel is the capital of the Elturgard, and home to the honorable knights known as the [yadawiki link="Hellriders" show="Hellriders"].

Hellriders

The Hellriders of [yadawiki link="Elturel" show=""] were a noble and honorable class of knights who protected the Elturgard from any evil that sought to disrupt the life of good people.

Yeenoghu

Yeenoghu is a savage, bestial Demonlord of the [yadawiki link="Abyss" show=""], and the chief being worshiped by gnolls. Dedicated only to destruction, the Ruler of Ruin seeks the collapse of civilization and he would brutally butcher all that stands between him and his rabid slaughter.

The Abyss

The Infinite Layers of the Abyss is the birthplace of demons, a chaotic evil universe unto itself with unaccountable layers of infinite variety connected haphazardly.

The Nine Hells of Baator

The Nine Hells of Baator, sometimes shortened to Hell or Hells, and named Baator in Infernal is the home of devils and the plane that embodies lawful evil.

Xanthites

Xanthites are a faction within the Hellrider organization who believe in an ends-justify-the-means mentality. Their most daring endevour is in attempting to use the energy of [yadawiki link="The Abyss" show=""] itself, seeing it not as an enemy to destroy but also as a tool that can be wielded.

Lady Yael

Lady Yael was one of the Three Generals who served in [yadawiki link="Zariel" show="Zariel's"] mortal army assembled in the material plane with the intention to chase down Yeenoghu, and the romantic partner of Lord Olanthius.

Finnen

Finen held [yadawiki link="Morgan" show=""] as she died in his arms at the Battle of Avernus, but refused to follow [yadawiki link="Sven Lyons" show=""] in retreat; instead he and [yadawiki link="Edmond" show=""] fought bravely alongside Zariel to the end.

Morgan

Morgan was a [yadawiki link="Hellriders" show="Hellrider"] who survived the Charge of the Hellriders to bravely fight [yadawiki link="The Nine Hells of Baator" show="devils"] during the Battle of Avernus, where she would give her life to protect [yadawiki link="Idylglen" show=""].

Sven Lyons

Sven Lyons was a [yadawiki link="Hellriders" show="Hellrider"] who fought at the Battle of Avernus. Seeing the devastation, he led others to abandon Zariel and the generals in retreat back through the portal to escape.

Estellen Sohl

When the city of Elturel was swallowed by Hell, she witnessed cultists brutalize and murder her family. As a former Hellrider Battlemage, she burned them all alive in her family's house, before wandering the streets in agony, slaying devils and cultists in retribution.

Edmond

Edmond was an old farmer who gave his life in the last stand at the Battle of Avernus. Hailing from [yadawiki link="Idylglen" show=""], he pledged to [yadawiki link="Zariel" show=""] with [yadawiki link="Lady Yael" show=""] to protect his land and family from the threat of [yadawiki link="Yeenoghu" show=""].