The Bleak Eternity of Gehenna is a plane of relentless slopes and volcanic desolation, where willpower is the only currency that matters and existence is a constant struggle against gravity.
Description
Gehenna is an Outer Plane representing the alignment between lawful evil and neutral evil. It consists of four infinite layers: Khalas, Chamada, Mungoth, and Krangath, each formed as a massive volcanic mountainside with gravity pulling creatures at a constant forty-five-degree angle. There is no true horizon, peak, or base, only endless descent across jagged slopes. Losing one’s footing can send a traveler tumbling for miles before finding purchase.
The ground itself radiates heat and dim light, fed by rivers of lava, fumaroles, mud pots, and frequent volcanic eruptions. Earthquakes are common, reshaping the terrain without warning. On hotter layers, exposed materials can ignite from the superheated air. Nearly all structures are carved into or anchored onto the slopes, and natural terrain ranges from gritty ash to dangerously slick stone.
Inhabitants
Gehenna’s only true natives are barghests, fiendish predators that prowl the rifts and slopes, alongside the rare pyroclastic dragons. Most other creatures are immigrants or exiles from neighboring Lower Planes, including yugoloths, devils, and other fiends seeking refuge, secrecy, or strategic advantage.
The plane has long served as a place of exile for disgraced archdevils and lesser fiendish powers. Petitioners drawn here are typically souls defined by ruthless ambition, cruelty, or calculated selfishness, reflecting the plane’s ethos that existence is a test of dominance and endurance.
Adventuring in Gehenna
Exploration in Gehenna is defined by environmental peril. Constantly slanted terrain makes travel exhausting and dangerous, while eruptions, avalanches of ash or rock, and toxic fumes present ongoing threats. Navigation is difficult, as landmarks can be destroyed or reshaped without warning. Encounters often revolve around survival, endurance, and power struggles. Safe shelter, stable footing, and reliable routes are invaluable resources.
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