Hades
Names
Hades, Underworld, Underdark, Land of the Dead
Alignment
Neutral Evil, Chaotic Evil, Lawful Evil
Description
Hades is an indescriminant final place for evil with no meaningful restriction in exiting Hades for either Hell or the Abyss. Hades is actually an improvement from being in those foreboding places.
Hades is a grey wasteland for the dead who were routinely selfish in life. These souls are left to wander a bleak landscape. In fact, it is all the inhabitants do here. Routinely focused on the selfishness of their life choices, souls get distracted from reaching their destinations. Consumed by their poor choices in life, these souls rarely get more than ten steps before stopping to mentally consider a poorly conceived deed from their pitiful lives.
The River Styx meanders through the layers of Hades. Swimming in the river would cause a soul to rot into its mud bottom. One can only use the river via boat, which is run by an ominous skeletal figure who requires a gold coin for passage.
Hades is a collection of non-hierarchical layers, each controlled by a powerful being.
Common Inhabitants
The following creatures are common in this plane: evil souls, nightmare, a myriad of demons and devils, and lesser and greater gods. It is thought there are blue and green dragons here.
Unique Inhabitants
Cerberus
Guardian of the Underworld, Hound of Hades
This is a giant three-headed dog.
This vicious dog guards the gate of the Underworld. This hound prevents souls from leaving the Underworld into the Astral Plane.
Layer of Hades: Ipios
This layer that is first experienced by those who appear in Hades, whether by fate or astral travel. It is a large region with rural and urban areas best described as bland.
Unique Locations
The city of Skopos is where Hades lives. At the center of the city rests a walled castle made of sharp black stones. This is the home of Hades and his wife, Persephone.
Unique Inhabitants
Hades (god)
God of Death and the Underworld
He appears as a kind, measured man.
He is the controller of the Underworld. It is unknown if this god is good or evil.
Layer of Hades: Yeled-Shayanaa
This is a place of perpetual darkness and deep evil. There is often rain, lightening, loud thunder, and gail force winds. It is a storm of hate.
No matter how far one is from the major city, it always looks close and hospitable -- more hospitable than being in a rural area with substandard shelter.
Unique Locations
The stone city of Horim is made from light-colored stones, each meticulously shaped to its smooth rounded edges. The inhabitants are all eager to help travelers into their homes. The parents are always nervous, indecisive and the children are ironically bold and undisciplined.
Unique Inhabitants
Moloch (devil)
Eater of Children
This ancient giant appears with the head of bull.
He is said to be the eater of children of the faithful. He is the taker of sacrifices. He is a fallen angel.
Layer of Hades: Kara
This layer of Hades is dark, still, and quiet. It is unsettling. However, the layer is home to the yolgay -- shadows of deceit. The yolgay have contempt for anything that isn't a yolgay, which includes constructions and souls.
Unique Inhabitants
Nychta (god)
Goddess of the Night, Mistress of Shadows
She appears as an alluring, attractive woman that has an air of mystery. She has dark hair and wears a midnight black cloak.
She weaves the night and stillness. She is pursued by Hypnos (see Elysium) and Erebos (see Abyss). She is a primordial goddess.
Layer of Hades: Yastaslim
This is a place of grey sand, dark skies, and oppressive heat.
The sands have ever changing dunes. The landscape is always shifting. Its dunes being pushed from wind and an unknown force beneath the hot desert. There is a river that runs through this layer, called the Tanitic. The river is magical with unknown properties, as no one has ever reported drinking from it and telling about it. The inhabitants are shapeshifting jinn, scorpions, jackels, and rakshasa.
Unique Locations
The city of Tijara is well known for commerce, which brings astral travelers here to conduct all sorts of trade.
Unique Inhabitants
Set (god)
Master of Disorder and Violence
He has the body of a human and the head of a jackyl.
His the enemy of Horus and Osiris and is thoroughly evil. He lives in a low layer of Aaru and a layer of Hades, which are thought to be connected by a hidden gate.
Layer of Hades: Harara
This is the hottest layer of Hades. Its dry heat permeates everything, even layers dug into its rocky ground.
Locations of Interest
Jahannam - this is a city in the hottest layer of Hades. The sinners in Jahannam will be provided puss, blood, and harsh boiling water to drink and a tree growing there called Zaqqum which has prickly thorny branches to eat.
Unique Inhabitants
Xezbeth (devil)
Lady of Lies
She appears as a normal attractive human, save for her hair, which is bright red, and horns.
She is known as the "Dominatrix of Lies." Born in Hell, she lives in Hades where she weaves her tales.
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