The Abyss

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The Abyss (AKA the Infinite Layers of the Abyss) is the chaotic-evil aligned plane in the Greyhawk cosmology

Contents

Inhabitants

The Abyss is the home of one of the principal combatants in the blood war, the Tanar'ri, a class of demon that rule the plane. Various other chaotic evil creatures and deities inhabit the plane, including bebiliths, bodaks, undead and even some renegade devils.

The petitioners of the Abyss are called manes. They have pale white skin, sharp teeth and claws, and maggots are reported to crawl through their flesh. Manes that survive for many years may be promoted to lesser forms of demon.

The demon lords (or "demon princes") inhabit the Abyss, including Demogorgon, Graz'zt, and Pazuzu. Many evil deities make their home here including Lolth, the Great Mother and Diirinka, deity of the Derro.

Structure

Like other outer planes, the Abyss is spatially infinite and supposedly consists of an infinite number of layers, or sub-planes.

The first layer shares its borders with the neighboring planes of the Windswept Depths of Pandemonium and the Tarterian Depths of Carceri; travel is possible between the Abyss and these planes at certain locations. The River Styx flows through the Abyss to many other lower planes, and as such can be used to gain access to those planes.

Layers

The Abyss is said to consist of an infinite amount of layers, though the total number of layers is also quoted as 666. Some of the known layers are listed here:

  • 1 - Pazunia (also known as The Plane of Infinite Portals or The Palace of 1001 Closets has been described as an infinite plain with only three types of distinct features:
    • The river Styx flowing through it (as it does through the top layers of other evil planes).
    • Large sinkholes which connect to other layers of the Abyss.
    • Iron Fortresses which guard the physical bodies of Demon Princes when they leave the Abyss to astral travel.
  • 2 - Driller's Hives, realm of Tharzax the Chattering Prince.
  • 10 - "That Hellhole"
  • 17 - Death's Reward, realm of Abraxas the Unfathomable.
  • 42 to 47 - these three layers make up Azzagrath, the realm of the demon prince Graz'zt, the rival of Demogorgon. Some sources say that Azzagrath begins on layer 45.
  • 88 - The Gaping Maw (or Brine Flats or Abysm), home to Demogorgon, Prince of Demons, one of the highest-ranking demons in the abyss.
  • 113- Thanatos, the realm of Orcus, demon prince of the Undead. Some sources quote this as layer #333 or #133.
  • 176 - Hollow's Heart, realm of the demon lord Fraz-Urb'luu, which, due to his magical illusions, appears to be flat, colorless, and featureless to the human eye.
  • 222 - Shedaklah (aka The Slime Pits), home to Juiblex demon Prince of Slimes, and Zuggtmoy, Demon Queen of Fungi.
  • 503 - Torremor, realm of the demon lord Pazuzu.

References

External links

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