Abyss (a-BIS)

Ervenian Era, 1051 AB
Ah, the infinite wonders of the Abyss. If there's anything you don't like, you'll find it here.
— A Demonic saying
  The Abyss is not merely a plane, but a howling multiverse of its own, a bleeding scar in the facric of reality, where powers of limitless chaos, evil, and corruption, situated deep within the Lower Planes of Theras’s cosmology. It is a place without order or mercy, consisting of countless infinitely varied layers, each unique in horror, twisted by chaotic evil forces.   Home primarily to Demons, the Abyss represents raw destructive chaos, endless conflict, and unchecked malevolence. It draws souls tainted by madness, cruelty, and chaos, feeding upon them and transforming them into its nightmarish denizens.  

Cosmology

The Abyss is an Outer plane on the Great Wheel connected to the Astral plane, Pandemonium, Carceri, and the Outlands. Some estimate that the Abyss has 666 layers, while the Fraternity of Order claimed to have catalogued 679 layers. It is possible that the number of layers is infinite, but no one can be certain.
The first layer, is described as a barren, dusty place baking under a red sun, broken only by great iron fortresses, huge holes in the ground, and the river Styx. Some branches of the Styx flow down the holes (which are conduits to the various layers) and some of these holes supply water to the Styx in reverse waterfalls.  

[[Layers of the Abyss](location:c2f48b47-8fe1-4b88-9669-8c5f02f78289)

Each layer is shaped by a ruling power, a sin-made-sentience, or by the metaphysical bleed of emotion and nightmare. Examples of known domains include:  
  • Air-dominant: zero gravity, no matter except air
  • Ash: blowing dunes of ashes
  • Battleground: Blood War or other
  • City:warrens and slums to citadels and palaces, teeming with demons
  • Earth-dominant: solid rock tunneled by the inhabitants
  • Fire-dominant: everburning flames with salamanders, etc.
  • Delusion: appears to be Normal but the flowers are poisonous or the trees attack
  • Desert: endless tracts of black, white, or red sand with no water
  • Glacier:infinite black, white, or orange ice with few rocky peaks breaking the surface
  • Hellscape:a burning mix of magma, rock, and belching brimstone
  • Maelstrom:swirling, bubbling chaos like Limbo
  • Mountainous: rocky crags, precipitous cliffs, soaring peaks
  • Negative-dominant: major or minor
  • Normal: similar to a Prime plane with various flora and fauna
  • Ocean: a trackless ocean, with a surface
  • Salt: crystalline badlands or desert
  • Sea: of acid, blood, garbage, insects, oil, or worms, etc.
  • Swamp: noisome bog inhabited by predators
  • Undead: specters, spooks, and ghosts
  • Volcanic: lava flows, earthquakes, volcanoes, and smoke
  • Water-dominant: nightmarish creatures in the murk

Geography

The Abyss consists of infinite layers.  

Inhabitants

The Origin of Demons, this place is littered with them. Non-demonic life can be found in the Abyss as well, with both mortal explorers and captives and the petitioners brought there after death. Many wicked deities also base themselves here.  

Afterlife

Beliefs about the journey of souls to the afterlife chang with the shifting cosmologies and the crystal sphere in which one resided. In some worlds, chaotic evil souls would travel directly to the Abyss and become manes, the lowest form of sub-demon. Manes are treated as slaves, cannon fodder, and food by the demon lords. For mortals, however, all souls will first go to the Hades and await transport to their final resting place. Greedy Demon Lords will open a portal to the Hades and conduct raids to steal souls and bring them back to the Abyss to become manes.

Localized Phenomena

Abyssal Corruption
Prolonged exposure risks corruption into demonic forms.  
Madness Zones
Regions cause insanity.  
Warped Magic
Spellcasting may trigger wild magic effects.  

Sumonning and Binding

Summoning demons requires rituals involving blood, chaos, or sacrificial acts. Summoned demons are destructive, powerful, but notoriously treacherous.  

Entry and Escape

Entering the Abyss is done usually via powerful portals, spells like plane shift, or through corrupted rituals involving demonic relics.
Escaping the Abyss requires planar magic, intervention by powerful beings, or carefully navigating layer-to-layer gateways, which often requires great sacrifices or powerful magic items.
Trait Type
Description
Gravity Normal
Time Changes by layer
Shape & Size Infinite, composed of countless layers
Morphic Traits Divinely Morphic (Only deities, Demon Lords or demigods can alter terrain)
Elemental Energy Varies by layer (some layers enhance air, others impede fire, etc.)
Alignment Strongly Chaotic Evil
Magic Chaos, Evil, Darkness, Madness and Destructive spells are enhanced, while law, good, protection and stability are impeded.
Alternative Name(s)
The Infinite Layers of the Abyss
Type
Plane of Existence
Owning Organization
Related Tradition (Primary)
Inhabiting Species

Articles under Abyss


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