Originally posted on the Realms of Evil forums (Womb of Creation), November 5, 2001. The author did not name an edition; it is filed under D&D 3e by its rules. The author said it was also submitted to PS3E.com. Changes the author made later in the thread are applied and listed at the end. Shown as written, with light spelling and formatting fixes only.

This large iron key ring is 12 inches across, and holds nine massive keys. Each key is capable of opening a two-way portal to a specific layer of Baator. The portals are opened by placing the proper key into any key hole and speaking the command word. The command word varies for each key, but most are the true names of long dead Pit Fiends. The portal will remain fully visible to any who pass by for one day, then become a standard portal. The portal will remain stable for exactly one year from its creation, after one year the key used to create the portal must be brought back and used again, or the portal collapses and another cannot be created in its place for a year and a day.

The key ring also has a horrible corrupting effect. Once per week the possessor must succeed at a Will save versus DC 10 + 1/ week in possession of ring, or their alignment becomes Lawful Evil.

Any good creature with the key ring in their possession suffers a -1 Temporary Level drain. Nothing can remove this effect whilst the creature possess the key ring.

Paladins who merely grasp the key ring must succeed at a DC 25 Fortitude save, or lose 1d3 levels.

Each key has its own powers beyond being able to open a portal to its respective layer. The key also has physical traits similar to its layer. Below each key is detailed fully. There is no known method of removing the keys from the ring.

Avernus, the first layer of Baator, is a blasted waste land and so its key is a 12 inch long piece of scarred and burnt iron, with a small human skull motif where it connects to the key ring. The key opens its portal at the base of the Pillar of Skulls. Once per day the key can be used to shoot a ray of negative energy. This ray deals 2d6 damage, with a DC 19 Fort save for half damage. The command word for this key is not recorded.

The second layer of Baator, Dis, is one massive city of burning iron. The key is only 3 inches long and made of an unknown material, but seems to weigh an incredible amount. It glows with heat, but the possessor takes no damage, in fact they gain Fire Resistance 5, but suffer a -4 penalty to strength due to the weight of the key.

Minauros' key opens in to the heart of Jingling Hiter, city of the kytons. The key itself looks as though it was the shin bone of some fiend recently dredged from the bottom of a fetid swamp, after resting there for several millennia. Long strands of weed hang off of the key, in fact they seem to grow from the key itself. The key also smells of rotting plant matter and swamp gas. Three times per day the key can be used to poison a creature. This attempt is made a standard attack (at -4 to attack due non-proficiency). A Fort Save of DC 32 must be passed or the poison deals 1d4 strength damage initially and three rounds later the poison deals an additional 1d3 constitution damage.

Phlegethos' key opens up outside of one of Abriymoch's many gates. The key is a 4 inch long flame extending from a small chunk of unworked adamantite. The key deals 1d8 fire damage to the possessor each time it is grasped or used. Every 10 minutes the possessor must pass DC 15 Reflex save or accidentally touch the key.

The Stygian key opens the portal up just outside of Tantlin, and is a 12 inch long icicle that never melts. The key gives a Cold Resistance 5, as well as a -2 penalty to Constitution due to the constant presence of its intense cold.

The key of Malboge opens up to a random bronze fortress. It made of an 8 inch long chunk of rock that vibrates ever so slightly. This vibration intensifies as the ground becomes more unstable, thus providing a +5 bonus to Climb checks.

The key linked Maladomini opens a portal outside of the east gate of Grenpoli. The key is made of solid gold, but always appears tarnished and no amount of polishing will clean its surface. Due to its inherently imperfect nature some of this imperfection seeps out an begins to affect the possessor. Any non-fiend possessor must succeed at a DC 20 Will save every day or suffer a cumulative -1 penalty to all rolls. Passing a save nullifies any penalties.

Cania's key opens up into the heart of Mephistar. This steel key is a 10 inches long, and freezing cold. It causes all weather within 100 feet to instantly become a blizzard, no matter what the normal conditions. All weather effects, and penalties, apply to this blizzard. A Will save versus DC 31 can suppress the blizzard effect for one day.

As would be expected Nessus' key is the largest, and most ornate of the nine. It is formed of pure adamantite and a large ruby is set in the base, it is 16 inches long. The key is capable of summoning a Pit Fiend once per month. However, an opposed charisma check must be made, success indicates that the pit fiend will grudgingly follow the possessor's instructions for one day, failure indicates the pit fiend has broken possessor's control and may do as it wishes.

It is rumoured that the keys will also open the Pit of Baator. What this pit is or where it is located is unknown. It is speculated that by opening the pit Baator itself will fundamentally change, perhaps in a way that will allow the baatezu to win the Blood War. This final power of the keys is mere speculation, and considered by most scholars to be nothing but screed. However, there is some evidence to suggest that this rumour may true.

Author's Clarifications

The author answered questions about the ring later in the thread:

• The penalties from the keys are permanent as long as the key ring is in your possession. Like any other cursed item, just having it causes the negative effects.
• Cania's key causes the blizzard constantly, whether on the Plane of Fire, Radiance, or Mount Celestia.
• The command words are mostly the true names of pit fiends; what they are is intentionally left vague.
• The portals are two-way, and no worse than a normal portal.
• The keys are normal keys in all respects (apart from being an incredibly ancient, powerful and evil artifact), and cannot be removed from the ring by any known method.
• You can create as many portals as you want. They act as normal portals, so they can be closed or destroyed in the normal manner.

Author's Notes and Corrections

• Reply #3 (November 5, 2001) is the author's answers to questions, shown as "Author's Clarifications."
• In reply #6 a guest poster (probably the author) suggested letting the Lawful Evil shift happen once per failed save, with no way to change alignment back while the key ring is held. This is not applied to the text.