The Devil's Last Drink

The Devil’s Last Drink is a widespread myth in the Hells regarding the final alcoholic beverage consumed by Lucifer before he swore off drinking for eternity. The nature, ingredients, and even the effects of the drink are the subject of endless speculation. No two tellings are alike, and no bar serves the same recipe. Yet nearly every tavern across the Levels claims to offer a version of it.   The earliest written references appear in Level 5 cocktail manuals dated to the late 1960s, where the drink is described as “a temptation so profound even Satan found sobriety preferable.” Oral traditions in Level 3 attribute the tale to traveling bards or retired demons who swear they "were there" when it was poured, though none agree on the setting. Some claim it was during a diplomatic summit with a rebellious archdemon, others suggest it was in solitude, in a ruined chapel on Level 7.   Bars throughout the Hells offer their own interpretation of the drink, usually at high prices. These versions range from fiery liquors in molten glasses on Level 1 to frozen shots served in bone chalices on Level 4. One "tavern"-ruin on Level 8 serves it intravenously via rusted needles.   Higher-ups in the Infernal Bureaucracy have long debated the myth’s meaning. Some see it as a cautionary tale about indulgence and regret, pointing to the fact that Satan’s renunciation of alcohol coincides with increased administrative control of the Hells. Others think it has a deeper meaning: that even the Prince of Darkness has a limit. Then there are some among the voracari claiming it as proof that reform and salvation from indulgences is possible.  

In culture

The Devil’s Last Drink has taken on a folkloric role across all levels. It features in music, poetry, legal excuses, and advertising. The phrase "took the Devil’s Last Drink" is common in everyday speech, meaning anything from "made a final choice" to "blacked out, woke up on Level 7.” A surprisingly effective deterrent in sobriety programs, it is also a recurring theme in Level 5 cinema, especially noir thrillers and romantic tragedies.