Cocytus
Ervenian Era, 1051 AB
Cocytus is the second layer of Pandemonium, which is also known as Layer of Lamentation.
The tunnels of Cocytus are narrower than those found in Pandesmos, intensifying the howling winds as they rush through. Curiously, the tunnels bear signs of ancient hand-carving, yet the age of these markings defies measurement in years, suggesting an origin lost to time itself.
More chilling still, the plane reacts to the emotions of those within it, drawing forth spectral manifestations of their greatest regrets, fears, and losses, turning inner turmoil into external threat.
Geographical Features
Like in other layers of Pandemonium, prolonged exposure to the incessant winds of Cocytus can quickly sap an individual's physical disposition and sanity. Without shelter, an exposed creature can develop symptoms of madness within hours. To set foot in Cocytus is to risk drowning in sorrow. The very air sharpens feelings of regret and hopelessness, wrapping around the mind like a cold chain. Prolonged exposure brings more than just spiritual torment—travelers feel their limbs grow numb, their emotions fade, and their minds succumb to the creeping frost of apathy. Only those armored with exceptional emotional resilience or strong planar protections can survive without succumbing. Portals to Cocytus are rare and treacherous, appearing only in places already steeped in sorrow or cold. Forgotten glaciers, snow-choked graveyards, or battlefields long since lost to history may suddenly reveal a frozen archway or an ice-slicked mirror pool that crackles shut behind those who dare enter. The magic of Cocytus bends to its mournful nature. Spells of ice, cold, necromancy, and despair surge with unnatural power, while those fueled by warmth, light, or hope falter, stifled by the plane’s oppressive aura.More chilling still, the plane reacts to the emotions of those within it, drawing forth spectral manifestations of their greatest regrets, fears, and losses, turning inner turmoil into external threat.
Inhabitants
Cocytus is a mournful plane of eternal frost and sorrow, inhabited by entities that embody despair in all its forms. Ice Tyrants, ancient and malevolent, reign over vast glacial dominions, their power etched into the land like runes of frostbite. Across the desolate expanses drift Frost Spirits, which are ethereal remnants of grief, whispering ancient laments that chill even the soul. In the shadows lurk Frost Shades, malevolent wraiths that feed upon hope and warmth, extinguishing the inner fire of any who pass. Buried deep within the ice are Lost Souls: mortal echoes frozen in time, forced to relive their regrets with every silent, shuddering breath of the plane.Realms
- The Uncrowned Throne, the Divine realm of Khaziba is located here.
Geography
The plane of Cocytus is an infinite expanse of ice fields, glaciers, and towering spires of frost. Its skies remain eternally dark, illuminated faintly by a distant, cold-blue glow. The terrain itself is as treacherous as it is bleak—gaping chasms split the ice, and blizzards rage with razor-sharp snow, slicing through flesh and spirit alike.
The central feature of Cocytus is the River of Tears, an immense, winding river of frozen saltwater whose surface is smooth as glass. Beneath its crystal-clear ice are countless souls encased, their faces forever locked in expressions of despair, forming an eerie mosaic of suffering.
Noteable Places
Howler's Crag
Rising from the heart of Cocytus is a jagged pinnacle of stone, resembling the collapsed remnants of an immense palace. At the summit is a roughly flat platform, about eight feet across, encircled by a low, weathered wall. An eerie blue luminescence illuminates the platform and those upon it. Beneath the platform, the Crag is honeycombed with numerous small tunnels—some lead nowhere, while others connect intricately. Every burrow's walls are etched with forgotten languages, spelling cryptic hymns, obscure rituals, and mysterious numerical sequences. Local inhabitants believe that words shouted from atop the Crag are carried by icy, screaming winds directly to their intended recipients. This attracts archaeologists, mystics, and messengers seeking lost friends or distant enemies. However, Demons familiar with this steady stream of visitors lurk nearby, ambushing and preying upon those who venture close.Harmonica
A massive cavern filled with enormous stone columns, each pierced by carefully chiseled holes and tubes. Here, winds shriek through the columns, generating a cacophony unmatched anywhere in Pandemonium. Rumors claim that hidden deep within this labyrinth of deafening noise is the ultimate secret of planar travel: the ability to journey between planes without portals, spells, or other magical means. While most consider this tale mere myth, adventurers and truth-seekers occasionally attempt to locate Harmonica, only to become lost forever amid its howling pillars.Trait Type |
Description |
|---|---|
| Gravity | Special |
| Time | Slower - each Day in the Plane, is ten-day in Prime Material Plane |
| Shape & Size | Goes on forever; its layers are bounded |
| Morphic Traits | Highly Morphic |
| Elemental Energy | None |
| Alignment | Chaotic Neutral and slightly Chaotic evil |
| Magic | Special |
Alternative Name(s)
Layer of Lamentation
Location under
Included Locations
Comments