The Nine Heavenly Hells (World Guide, Afterlife) (Patreon)

The Nine Heavenly Hells are a supposed higher-oder transdimensional domain in which souls might find themselves held captive once their current mortal life have come to a conclusion. There, each captive soul is doomed to a wonderfully horrible, ostensibly eternal afterlife as a toy of magnificently vile heavenly demons, vilely magnificent hellish angels, and all sorts of monstrous beasts in between. Only the strong are allowed to retain some recognizable semblance of their mortal form. Only the most worshipful supplicants who’s acts in the mortal realm have brought many souls into the Hells are regarded as something more than mere objects of pleasure. At least, that is how the key’vin’ta described it.

As with any other realm associated with the afterlife, the existence of the Nine Heavenly Hells is purely theoretical. There is nothing in particular to suggest that souls have any existence outside of their fundamental higher-order realm, and the mortal world in which they exist for periods of time in mortal bodies. However, there is nothing to disprove the existence of such domains, and it is entirely possible that the Hells are not a higher-order domain, but another mortal realm of very different nature to the one that is known to science.

Owing to the key’vin’ta conquest of numerous other worlds during prior to their extinction, their belief in the Nine Heavenly Hells spread to other peoples, and has endured to modern times. To many, such as the fey’li, it is one of many potential afterlives, someplace between heaven and hell, where an eternity of disgusting carnal delights await those who seek them. To others, such as the mitanni, it is the only afterlife, one where their physical endurance is put to the ultimate, eternal test, in so many unspeakably wonderful ways.

According to the key’vin’ta, the Nine Heavenly Hells are divided into nine distinct domains, each with its own unique environment and denizens. The first of these is Key’vin’ka, aka the Hub. It is here that all souls enter the Hells, and where they must choose which of the other layers in which to spend the remainder of their afterlife. All around the hub, divided by vast mountain ranges, are areas resembling each of those other layers, and where souls might sample some of the fates to which they might be selected to endure for the remainder of eternity, without permanent consequences. After a time being played with by the local denizens, the soul is returned to the center of the hub, or restored where they are. Eventually, they will find themselves confronted by the portal to the associated layer, which has no fixed position. If they choose to enter the portal, they permanently pass into that layer of the Hells. If the choose not to, then they are returned to the center of the hub.

The second layer of the Hells is Key’va’na. This is a  vast, arid desert, were all souls are subject to the whims of its ruler, Key’tak. Little is known about what forms its captive souls are compelled to take, but the shriveled gray Von’kir shriv is said to at least be inspired by them.

The third layer of the Hells is Key’va’to. This is a dark, heavily wooded swamp filled with giant fungus, entangling vines, and serpents of all sizes and descriptions. Its ruler, Key’pak, is known to enjoy using souls’ physical forms as the basis for growing various pleasingly horrid things. If ever this layer had leaked into the mortal realm, then surely the Odangi Fungus was one of the results.

The fourth layer of the Hells is Key’va’le. This maze of caverns is so complex that even the resident monstrosities have difficulty navigating it. Its ruler, Key’do, is said to be quite lax about the fates of souls who enter his realm, allowing them to find their own place with the help and encouragement of his monstrous progeny. Slime and various insectiod monstrosities are common. The engineered species known as antz are just one creation known to have been inspired by certain descriptions of this layer.

The fifth layer of the Hells is Key’va’no. This is a vast city that mixes both heavenly and hellish components into a twisted mass that is disturbingly pleasing to the eye. It’s ruler, Key’sak, is said to prefer more ‘civilized’ uses of his captive souls. Most such souls retain their mortal form, or something resembling it to some reasonable degree. The use of souls as décor is said to the be the inspiration behind the digital gorgon.

The sixth layer of the Hells is Key’va’ra. This is the immeasurable sea that surrounds the other layers. It is ruled by Key’pik, a beast who prefers his captive souls to exist in forms as aquatically bestial as they are useful to his monstrous subjects. Several biogel body modifications have been inspired by this layer of the Hells, including the crystal jelly cat-fish mod.

The seventh layer of the Hells is Key’va’tu. This is the layer of slime. Everything is made of slime, in various viscosities ranging from solid to sloppy. Even the monstrous residents are all slime. The layer is ruled by Key’so, whose captive souls are treated to all sorts of wonderfully pleasurable slimy horrors. Gobzite, and purple slime in particular, are all associated with this level of the Hells.

The eighth layer of the Hells is Key’va’vi. This is the layer of flesh. They layer itself is a single, living organism whose flesh makes up everything, and into whom every captive soul is physically incorporated in one fashion or another, and made available for the use of the monstrous denizens who dare to risk residing among the perils that even they cannot always escape. This layer has no ruler other than itself. Modern works of art and entertainment focusing on the Hells tend to use descriptions of this layer as their inspiration. The Biogel Hells biogel transformation peril attraction is a prime example.

The ninth layer of the Hells is Key’va’sho. No one really knows what Key’va’sho is supposed to be, save that it is the home of the Mistress of the Heavenly Hells, Key’sha. The ancient key’vin’ta described it as a perfect sphere of slimy something, a perfectly black void of terrifying pleasure into which souls could cast themselves in order to be absorbed into Key’sha’s allegedly divine being. Biogel is said to have been inspired by this layer of the Hells, and its nature carefully compose in order to imitate it, right down to its ability to transform and essentially absorb its supplicants into the powerful entity known as Omega.