Cysgodol

[quote] If you go there you are on your own. We have no connections there, and the cost of retreiving whatever was left of you... never again   Cysgodol is the Plane of Shadows, a realm of perpetual twilight and ever-shifting gloom. It lies adjacent to the Material Plane, acting as both a distorted reflection and a mirror of its reality. Shadows of objects, people, and places in the Material Plane bleed into Cysgodol, twisting into eerie, melancholic forms. This plane is suffused with the essence of decay, undeath, and rot—concepts that tie it to entropy and the inevitable dissolution of all things.   Cysgodol mirrors the Material Plane in strange and imperfect ways. A bustling city in the Material Plane might be represented in Cysgodol as a ghostly ruin, its streets covered in ash, and its buildings leaning at unnatural angles. Living beings who enter Cysgodol find their shadows grow darker and more substantial, sometimes even acting independently. Portals to Cysgodol often form in places where the boundary between light and dark is thinnest, such as deep forests at dusk, abandoned crypts, or forgotten ruins.   Cysgodol is a plane where undeath thrives, fueled by the ambient magic of decay and stagnation. Blood spilled here becomes a powerful conduit for necromancy, often imbuing spells with greater potency but at a cost to the caster’s vitality. Rot is not merely a natural process but an active force in Cysgodol, spreading rapidly and consuming all it touches, even magical items or creatures otherwise immune to decay.   This makes the plane a prime destination for those seeking to master necromantic arts or craft artifacts of unparalleled dark power. However, the price of prolonged exposure is steep—mortals who linger too long in Cysgodol find their lifespans shortened, their memories dimmed, and their souls marked by shadow.  

The Feywild Connection

Cysgodol exists as the dark counterpart to the Feywilds. While the Feywilds embody vibrant life, chaotic beauty, and the eternal cycles of growth, Cysgodol is the embodiment of decay, stillness, and loss. These planes are inextricably linked, often influencing one another in subtle ways. Fae beings corrupted by darkness sometimes flee to Cysgodol, becoming twisted mockeries of their former selves, while shadows from Cysgodol occasionally infiltrate the Feywilds, casting doubt and dread into the hearts of its denizens.  

Aspects of Cysgodol

 

Undeath

The plane’s connection to undeath is profound. It is said that the very essence of Cysgodol fuels necromantic magic, strengthening the bonds between corpses and the dark energies that animate them. Liches, wraiths, and other undead often find themselves drawn to Cysgodol, either by design or as an inevitable consequence of their nature. The plane itself resents the living, sapping vitality from those who linger too long.  

Blood and Rot

Blood spilled in Cysgodol is absorbed into the ground, feeding its strange ecology of shadowed fungi and withered, blackened plants. Rot spreads unnaturally fast here, and even the most pristine objects or creatures begin to decay over time. This makes the plane a potent resource for certain alchemical and necromantic practices, though such knowledge comes at a steep price.  

Important Locations in Cysgodol

 

The Hollow Nexus:

At the heart of Cysgodol lies the Hollow Nexus, a swirling vortex of shadow magic that connects the plane to countless others. It serves as a hub for travelers and beings seeking to traverse the multiverse, though using it comes with great risk. The Nexus is guarded by shadow-touched beings, and the toll for passage is often paid in memories or fragments of one’s soul.  

The Shrouded Spire

A towering structure of blackened stone that seems to defy the laws of space and geometry. It is said to be the home of a powerful entity known as the Whispered Shadow, a being of pure darkness who grants knowledge and power to those willing to pay the ultimate price.  

The Ebon Reflection

This vast lake mirrors the sky of Cysgodol perfectly, but its waters are pitch-black and unnaturally still. Those who look into the Ebon Reflection for too long see twisted visions of their own death or darkest fears. Beneath the surface, shadowy, aquatic horrors patrol the depths, waiting for the unwary.  

The Nameless Court

: Once a part of the Feywilds, this ruined palace now resides in Cysgodol, its former grandeur warped by shadow. It is inhabited by the Dread Regents, a court of shadow-touched fae who have embraced decay and despair. The Nameless Court serves as a reminder of the tenuous balance between the Feywilds and Cysgodol.