The Bleak Eternity of Gehenna
The Bleak Eternity of Gehenna was an Outer Plane representing the alignments between neutral evil and lawful evil.
The four layers of Gehenna were infinite planes with gravity at a forty-five-degree angle to the ground, making travellers feel as if they were on the side of a mountain with no base or peak. Anyone losing their footing could tumble for miles/kilometres before finding enough purchase on the slope to halt their fall. Nearly all-terrain that was not a river of water or lava was slightly slippery to quite slick. All structures were either built onto or carved into the slopes. Heat and light came from the ground, much like Tartarus, but the source was volcanic: lava flows, vents, fumaroles, and mud pots were very common. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occurred often, tearing the land apart. On the hotter layers, unprotected flammable items and creatures would catch fire from the glowing ground or superheated gases being ejected. The barriers between layers were always underground, usually in dead-end corridors.
KHALAS The uppermost layer, Khalas, the Gentle Land, was the most livable of the four planes with many waterfalls cascading down the slopes, the largest being the river Styx. The Styx followed a rough path down the slope, fell for thousands of feet/meters, ran through twisty rapids before finally disappearing into underground passages. Steam rose into the infinite and empty black sky making the horizon glow a dull red. Khalas touched the Astral Plane and had connections to Hades, the Nine Hells, and Concordant Opposition. The portals looked like black chasms in the floor of deep underground passages. Markings on the walls would often indicate the portal's destination if you could read them. Despite being finite as it floated in the endless void of the plane, Khalas stretched for an unimaginably large distance and was larger than any known landmass of any world in the Prime Material plane. There was no level ground to be found anywhere in the layer: all slopes were inclined at least 45 degrees, and sheer cliffs were common. Marked by abundant volcanic activity, the air of Khalas was saturated with ash and smoke. Close to the ground, the air glowed red due to the lava flows reflecting off the smoke. Above this glow, the sky was permanently dark. The layer was marked by numerous waterfalls that descended the bottomless slopes until evaporating away or going underground through fissures. As the water evaporated, it filled the entire layer with steam and cloaked it in mist. The largest waterfalls were the ones along the course of the river Styx, which flowed rapidly and violently through the layer in gorges, canyons, and sometimes free-falling waterfalls off ledges along the mountain. The violent waterfalls and rugged mountainscape conferred to Khalas an eerie beauty. Above the red glowing mist, the second layer, Chamada, was visible in the distance. The Cloudy Path, a bi-directional always-open Portal to the Quasi-Elemental Plane of Steam. CHEMADA The second layer of Gehenna (also known as the Molten) was the most violently active layer with lava cascades thousands of miles/kilometres wide and city-sized volcanoes yawning open on the slopes. The air was foul with acrid smoke for 10 miles (16 kilometres) above the surface and would cause blindness to unprotected eyes and had the effect of a stinking cloud on the lungs. Below ground, the air was fresher but stank of burning flesh and hair. Of all four layers of Gehenna, Chamada was the most violent and inhospitable. The sustained volcanic activity kept the slopes constantly flowing with thick lava, to the point that solid ground was only rarely found. The entire layer glowed bright red from the incandescent rock, brightly enough for the entire amount to be visible from the first layer of Khalas despite the enormous distance between the two. From the point of view of an observer in the first layer, Chamada appeared to be a bright-red burning moon. Vast rivers of magma flowed and twisted endlessly down the slopes of Chamada, cooling in some locations only to explode in others, creating plumes of lava, secondary volcanoes, and veering in different directions. The extreme heat was hazardous for any unprotected living creature. Due to this eternally ongoing eruption, the air of Chamada was permanently filled with ash, which could entirely block visibility in some locations. The entire layer smelled so strongly of charred flesh and sulfur that it caused an effect similar to that of a permanent stinking cloud spell. Since the ground was the only source of illumination in the layer, all shadows projected upwards. The layer was orbited by the flying city of Nimicri, which resembled a small moon but was actually a single living organism. Here, the Tower Arcane, the great library of the arcanaloths, contained all the recorded history of the yugoloths and all records and contracts of their participation in the Blood War. MUNGOTH Mungoth was a land of falling ash and burning snow (also known as the Burning Ice). The furnaces of this layer were fewer and farther apart, allowing ice and snow to build up in the darker places between active areas. Travellers had to brave the never-ending avalanches of wet snow and fiery rock. Underground passages were relatively safe. Mungoth was far less volcanically active than the topmost two layers Khalas and Chamada, but not completely extinct. There were still cool lava furnaces that provided a dull reddish glow to the layer, as well as volcanic vents that continuously spewed ash into the air. Nevertheless, temperatures across the layer were very low, so that it was under almost constant snowfall. The snow mixed with the volcanic ash turned acidic and could rapidly damage unprotected living creatures, burning through most ordinary clothing. Upon hitting the ground, the snow and ash mixture turned into thick mud that made the slopes extremely slippery. Mudslides and lava flows were common and frequently buried the caves that could serve as temporary shelters from the acidic snow. The Valley of the Outcasts, was the hideout of the fire giant wizard Testuo, an outcast from fire giant society who was sympathetic towards other outcasts, providing shelter when needed. Testuo maintained arrangements with several yugoloths to ensure the location's safety. KRANGATH The fourth layer was devoid of any volcanic activity, even underground. All was dark and cold. The name of this layer meant literally "Dead Furnaces". Unlike the other three layers of Gehenna, Krangath was completely devoid of any volcanic activity. Although the rock composing the slopes was volcanic in origin, the layer had been extinct for at least several millennia. Not only geologically dead, but the layer was also devoid of any other signs of life. There was no wind, no source of light or heat, and no natural sounds. The only pervasive smell was that of brimstone. The only time's wind blew on the slopes were when an occasional portal shifted the air. The only sounds heard were distant footsteps of visitors. The layer's rare petitioners kept very quiet for fear of being discovered by its residing lich lord. The only inhabitable locations throughout Krangath were subterranean caves that provided some protection against the intense cold. Since nothing could survive on the surface, the cave systems were violently disputed among the layer's inhabitants. Hopelorn, was a city in Krangath inhabited by liches and other undead spellcasters. Melif, a lich lord who conducted research on life, death and being in his stronghold of Hopelorn.
Mount Olympus connected to Gehenna at randomly changing locations throughout the plane. It was unclear why the mountain had a connection at all to the plane, but some sages speculated that the mountainous character of the plane attracted the planar conduit there.
The only creatures known to be native to this plane were the barghests, running through the rifts of Khalas and occasionally found in smaller numbers on the other layers, and the pyroclastic dragons. All the other creatures originally came from the adjacent lower planes, mostly to hide from more powerful beings that wished to enslave them. Gehenna was often a plane of exile for the less powerful archdevils and daemon taskmasters.
Even lesser deities tended to avoid Gehenna. Those that leaned toward Law were recruited into the hierarchy of the Nine Hells and those that favoured chaos tended toward Hades. Here is a list of the Powers known to have called this plane home at some point:
DESCRIPTION
The four layers of Gehenna were infinite planes with gravity at a forty-five-degree angle to the ground, making travellers feel as if they were on the side of a mountain with no base or peak. Anyone losing their footing could tumble for miles/kilometres before finding enough purchase on the slope to halt their fall. Nearly all-terrain that was not a river of water or lava was slightly slippery to quite slick. All structures were either built onto or carved into the slopes. Heat and light came from the ground, much like Tartarus, but the source was volcanic: lava flows, vents, fumaroles, and mud pots were very common. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occurred often, tearing the land apart. On the hotter layers, unprotected flammable items and creatures would catch fire from the glowing ground or superheated gases being ejected. The barriers between layers were always underground, usually in dead-end corridors.
LAYERS
KHALAS The uppermost layer, Khalas, the Gentle Land, was the most livable of the four planes with many waterfalls cascading down the slopes, the largest being the river Styx. The Styx followed a rough path down the slope, fell for thousands of feet/meters, ran through twisty rapids before finally disappearing into underground passages. Steam rose into the infinite and empty black sky making the horizon glow a dull red. Khalas touched the Astral Plane and had connections to Hades, the Nine Hells, and Concordant Opposition. The portals looked like black chasms in the floor of deep underground passages. Markings on the walls would often indicate the portal's destination if you could read them. Despite being finite as it floated in the endless void of the plane, Khalas stretched for an unimaginably large distance and was larger than any known landmass of any world in the Prime Material plane. There was no level ground to be found anywhere in the layer: all slopes were inclined at least 45 degrees, and sheer cliffs were common. Marked by abundant volcanic activity, the air of Khalas was saturated with ash and smoke. Close to the ground, the air glowed red due to the lava flows reflecting off the smoke. Above this glow, the sky was permanently dark. The layer was marked by numerous waterfalls that descended the bottomless slopes until evaporating away or going underground through fissures. As the water evaporated, it filled the entire layer with steam and cloaked it in mist. The largest waterfalls were the ones along the course of the river Styx, which flowed rapidly and violently through the layer in gorges, canyons, and sometimes free-falling waterfalls off ledges along the mountain. The violent waterfalls and rugged mountainscape conferred to Khalas an eerie beauty. Above the red glowing mist, the second layer, Chamada, was visible in the distance. The Cloudy Path, a bi-directional always-open Portal to the Quasi-Elemental Plane of Steam. CHEMADA The second layer of Gehenna (also known as the Molten) was the most violently active layer with lava cascades thousands of miles/kilometres wide and city-sized volcanoes yawning open on the slopes. The air was foul with acrid smoke for 10 miles (16 kilometres) above the surface and would cause blindness to unprotected eyes and had the effect of a stinking cloud on the lungs. Below ground, the air was fresher but stank of burning flesh and hair. Of all four layers of Gehenna, Chamada was the most violent and inhospitable. The sustained volcanic activity kept the slopes constantly flowing with thick lava, to the point that solid ground was only rarely found. The entire layer glowed bright red from the incandescent rock, brightly enough for the entire amount to be visible from the first layer of Khalas despite the enormous distance between the two. From the point of view of an observer in the first layer, Chamada appeared to be a bright-red burning moon. Vast rivers of magma flowed and twisted endlessly down the slopes of Chamada, cooling in some locations only to explode in others, creating plumes of lava, secondary volcanoes, and veering in different directions. The extreme heat was hazardous for any unprotected living creature. Due to this eternally ongoing eruption, the air of Chamada was permanently filled with ash, which could entirely block visibility in some locations. The entire layer smelled so strongly of charred flesh and sulfur that it caused an effect similar to that of a permanent stinking cloud spell. Since the ground was the only source of illumination in the layer, all shadows projected upwards. The layer was orbited by the flying city of Nimicri, which resembled a small moon but was actually a single living organism. Here, the Tower Arcane, the great library of the arcanaloths, contained all the recorded history of the yugoloths and all records and contracts of their participation in the Blood War. MUNGOTH Mungoth was a land of falling ash and burning snow (also known as the Burning Ice). The furnaces of this layer were fewer and farther apart, allowing ice and snow to build up in the darker places between active areas. Travellers had to brave the never-ending avalanches of wet snow and fiery rock. Underground passages were relatively safe. Mungoth was far less volcanically active than the topmost two layers Khalas and Chamada, but not completely extinct. There were still cool lava furnaces that provided a dull reddish glow to the layer, as well as volcanic vents that continuously spewed ash into the air. Nevertheless, temperatures across the layer were very low, so that it was under almost constant snowfall. The snow mixed with the volcanic ash turned acidic and could rapidly damage unprotected living creatures, burning through most ordinary clothing. Upon hitting the ground, the snow and ash mixture turned into thick mud that made the slopes extremely slippery. Mudslides and lava flows were common and frequently buried the caves that could serve as temporary shelters from the acidic snow. The Valley of the Outcasts, was the hideout of the fire giant wizard Testuo, an outcast from fire giant society who was sympathetic towards other outcasts, providing shelter when needed. Testuo maintained arrangements with several yugoloths to ensure the location's safety. KRANGATH The fourth layer was devoid of any volcanic activity, even underground. All was dark and cold. The name of this layer meant literally "Dead Furnaces". Unlike the other three layers of Gehenna, Krangath was completely devoid of any volcanic activity. Although the rock composing the slopes was volcanic in origin, the layer had been extinct for at least several millennia. Not only geologically dead, but the layer was also devoid of any other signs of life. There was no wind, no source of light or heat, and no natural sounds. The only pervasive smell was that of brimstone. The only time's wind blew on the slopes were when an occasional portal shifted the air. The only sounds heard were distant footsteps of visitors. The layer's rare petitioners kept very quiet for fear of being discovered by its residing lich lord. The only inhabitable locations throughout Krangath were subterranean caves that provided some protection against the intense cold. Since nothing could survive on the surface, the cave systems were violently disputed among the layer's inhabitants. Hopelorn, was a city in Krangath inhabited by liches and other undead spellcasters. Melif, a lich lord who conducted research on life, death and being in his stronghold of Hopelorn.
COSMOGRAPHY
Mount Olympus connected to Gehenna at randomly changing locations throughout the plane. It was unclear why the mountain had a connection at all to the plane, but some sages speculated that the mountainous character of the plane attracted the planar conduit there.
INHABITANTS
The only creatures known to be native to this plane were the barghests, running through the rifts of Khalas and occasionally found in smaller numbers on the other layers, and the pyroclastic dragons. All the other creatures originally came from the adjacent lower planes, mostly to hide from more powerful beings that wished to enslave them. Gehenna was often a plane of exile for the less powerful archdevils and daemon taskmasters.
REALMS
Even lesser deities tended to avoid Gehenna. Those that leaned toward Law were recruited into the hierarchy of the Nine Hells and those that favoured chaos tended toward Hades. Here is a list of the Powers known to have called this plane home at some point:
Type
Dimensional plane
