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ROME

THE ANCIENT CITY OF ROME IN ITALY, located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio, along the shores of the Tiber. Within the city boundaries sits Vatican City, an independent territory under the exclusive dominion of the Holy See. Known also as the City of Seven Hills and also as the "Eternal City", Rome is generally considered to be the cradle of Western civilization and the centre of the Catholic Church.

Since the proclamation of God's death scrawled on the walls of Saint Peter's Basilica, the city has seen an influx of visitors both holy and un, all searching for answers about exactly what the declaration means and what's going on in Heaven and in Hell.

The Triduum Tucked unobtrusively a few streets from the piazza del popolo is the home and headquarters of The Triduum, a coalition of saints headed by a council of six.

Founded in the 15th century, The Triduum are a sacred order akin to the Templars, dedicated to the archiving of holy relics, the keeping of historical records, the education of saints, and the elimination of devils, dangerous apostates, and hostile fallen.

Although an independent order, The Triduum works closely with The Holy See.

The Vatican Home of the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, The Holy See, and the Pope. It was here, on the walls of St. Peter's Basilica, that the Prophet Jessamy wrote what is now referred to as the proclamation ad mortem before dissapearing.

The Villas Sanctora An apartment building, recently acquired and managed by The Triduum in response to the influx of visitors to Rome, the Villas Sanctora (also known as simply The Sanctora) offers free housing to any saint, regardless of whether they are a member of The Triduum or not. Walled in around a central courtyard garden, with its thick iron doors guarded at all times, The Sanctora is a safe haven against the unholy.

The Black Cells Located deep beneath The Colosseum are the Black Cells, a subterranean prison for dangerous apostates, hostile fallen, and devils awaiting exorcism. The Black Cells are managed jointly by The Triduum and The Holy See, and guarded by both priests/nuns and saints.

The Church of The Fallen Established in 1757, The Church is a sanctuary for fallen angels and apostates.

Headed by an elderly Mother Superior and managed by a mix of non-Triduum saints, secular clergy, and stable fallen; The Church offers anything that lost souls might need, be it permanent safe haven where they can live without harming others, solace, respite, or temporary rest-stop.

Although The Church has a sometimes difficult relationship with The Holy See and, to a lesser extent, The Triduum because of its willingness to take in apostates, both bodies acknowledge The Church's value as an intermediary in dealing with fallen and apostates who have not yet gone so far astray as to deserve imprisonment in The Black Cells.

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HEAVEN

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, whose capital is The Silver City, called Caelum.

Of those who walk the Earth, on the fallen have ever passed the gypsum gates and dwelled in God's halls. Once, perhaps, some favored saints might have briefly glimpsed in visions the gleaming coalition of the Heavenly Host; the ranks of the Seraphim, Cherabim, and the many-eyed Thrones; the Dominions, Virtues, and Powers, beneath them the Principalities crowned in light.

Since the Proclamation ad Mortem in Rome, such visions have become a thing of the past. Even those chosen who once had the strongest of bonds with their divine guardians, now find only emptiness when they seek the voice of the divine.

Heaven has gone silent.

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Hell

THE INFERNAL PITS OF HELL, divided into a geography of 7 depths and whose capital city is the furthest chasm, called Infernum. Home to all demons and the birthplace of devils, its landscapes are dominated by rings of active volcanoes, molten rock, obsidian cliffs, sulfuric seas, and dead plains.

Though there are hundreds of demon lords, at the peak of its hierarchy are the 7 Archdemons who rule above all others. Unlike Heaven, who drew strict lines in allowing access to Earth, Hell has ever encouraged its denizens to interfere with the mortal world, permitting its agents to come and go from Earth for the purpose of corrupting human souls. Or so it was. Since the Proclamation ad Mortem in Rome, those devils currently on Earth have found themselves unable to return to The Pit.

Hell has locked its doors.