The Malice War

The Malice War

  The Malice War is a conflict between demons and devils, or in other words, chaotic fiends and lawful fiends. Though the two groups share many traits, they are eternally divided by their fundamental opposition: chaos versus law. This war is well-known across the universe, though most only grasp the basic concept—demons versus devils—without knowing the deeper details.  

Synopsis (From the perspective of a learned mortal or a low-level soldier)

Introduction

The Malice War is an eternal conflict, having raged longer than anyone remembers. At its heart is the clash between law and chaos. The primary battleground is Avernus, the first layer of The Nine Hells, a war-torn former paradise now ruled by the archduke Bel. For the past two centuries, the devils have been on the defensive, with most of the fighting concentrated in Avernus. Despite this, no end is in sight, and the balance of power remains relatively unchanged.   Notable figures on the devil’s side include: Bel, archduke of Avernus and commander of the devilish forces; Zariel, a former angel corrupted by Asmodeus who once ruled Avernus before being overthrown by Bel; and Asmodeus himself, the divine ruler of The Nine Hells.   The Malice War is classified as an interplanar war, meaning it spans multiple planes of existence. While Avernus is the primary battlefield, the war also rages in other planes, including The Abyss, Hades, Tartarus, and Gehenna. Summonings of fiends are more common on the Material Plane than anywhere else, naturally leading to more clashes between the two factions there as well. The devils, known for their meticulous planning, have divided the war into several frontiers known as Hellwards.  

The Hellwards

Avernus is referred to as the First Hellward, with Gehenna as the second, Tartarus the third, Hades the fourth, and The Abyss the fifth. Each Hellward has its own general, with Bel leading the First Hellward. All generals, aside from Bel, command from a Hellsteel Bastion, a fortress that serves as their base of operations. Together, these generals form the War Council, led by Bel, who in turn reports directly to Asmodeus.   Each Hellward specializes in different strategies. With the devils now on the defensive, most Hellwards focus on holding their territories and preventing further demonic incursions. The only notable exception is the Material Plane, which—though not designated a Hellward—hosts numerous Hellchain Keeps.  

Hellchain Keep

A Hellchain Keep extends the influence of The Nine Hells on the Material Plane. These keeps often blend in as ordinary castles, with their true purpose kept secret. It's common for Hellchain Keeps to house portals to The Nine Hells, allowing devils to slip into the Material Plane. In regions plagued by fiendish activity, the source of the problem can often be traced back to a nearby castle. At times, cults or organizations serving devils may openly control a Hellchain Keep.   These keeps typically operate independently. This is thought to be because they are often established by ambitious devils looking to rise in rank, who are unwilling to share their successes with others. Additionally, the number of fiends passing through these keeps is generally small, due to the limited resources of their creators and the need for secrecy.  

Naming

The conflict is most commonly called the Malice War on the Material Plane, but it goes by many names. Devils refer to it as the Hellfire Crusade, while most angelic and upper-planar beings call it the Eternal Dissonance or simply The Dissonance. Demons, on the other hand, rarely give the war a formal name, usually calling it The War, as it is the only true war they participate in.