The Abyss

## Common Knowledge

Many know that this is where Demons hail from and that it is a hot, fiery place that can’t support non-demonic life. The magics of the Abyss are a highly corrupting force, and these magics affect any creature that spends extended periods of time in the Abyss without magical protection. They pervade both the body and the mind, causing those not from the Abyss to lose their minds and transform into disgusting bastardizations of themselves. The physical transformation takes hundreds of years, but the mental breakdown can start showing in as little as two weeks. The Abyss has now been completely split between Narak and The Mordant Realms due to the aftermath of Darkfel, this event is commonly referred to as the Fracture.

## Topography and Climate

The Abyss is separated into thirteen different land masses, more commonly known as "terraforms." The terraforms raised from an ocean of molten lava, reaching towards a caved ceiling. Each terraform is a colossal land mass with distinct environments according to the particular terraform. The surrounding area is ridiculously hot due to the vast amount of lava.

Travel between terraforms is rather difficult. There are three recorded forms of transport.  The first is to use a prohibitively expensive portal.  The second is to walk along the precariously swinging plank bridges. If you lose your step and fall, you will die a horrible death in the lava.  The third and rarest option is flight. However, this is not usually practical as the distance separating the terraforms means that the average flying humanoid could not make it. Many who have tried to fly across have failed and fallen to their deaths. Greater Demons have been able to fly to another terraform with great difficulty. The portals are so expensive that most demons will choose the bridges or flying if they have business between Terraforms.

Specific terraform topography and climate are described in the Terraform section.

## Population

A land filled with demons, imps, hellhounds, and various creatures of fire and death. Only the heartiest of creatures can inhabit this land.

## Exports and Trades

Exports: Brimstone, alchemical components, Fiend’s Brew, Stygian Iron products, etc.

Trades: Alchemists, Hunters, Warriors, Magic users, Blacksmiths, etc.

## Government

Each terraform has a Demon Lord ruling over it. The Lords govern their terraform and no other, they settle disputes of a major degree and lay down the laws but otherwise leave their people to their own devices.

## Military

There is no national standing military, given the lack of national organization. However, word travels fast in the Abyss, and there is no shortage of willing warriors in the case of a threat. Each terraform has their own version of a militia, under the direct control of the Demon Lord or their underling. Despite tensions between terraforms, there has never been extended combat between them, due to spatial difference. It’s hard to move a demon army across a tiny bridge.

## Social Hierarchy and Culture

Demon Lords rule their terraform and subjects but nothing else, if she wants Velka could interfere over a Demon Lord’s head. The power scale is as follows: Velka, Demon Lords, Greater Demons, Distinguished Lesser Demons, Lesser Demons, Imps, Abyssal Creatures, Non-Abyssal Creatures. There is no institutionalized slavery in the Abyss, though imps are often used as servants.

The subjects of a terraform, whether because of magical influence or a desire to social climb, tend to take on the major personality trait of their governing Demon Lord. In this way, a lesser demon can have a Gluttony demon parent and a Facetiousness demon parent, but be a Lust demon. After the demon has matured, their trait is solidified, even if they relocate. It is generally encouraged to emulate the trait of your Terraform, but demons who leave the Abyss tend to have complicated relationships with their trait.

There is no religion other than veneration of the Demon Lord, which some terraforms interpret in a more faithful light than others. Cowardice, Envy, Wrath, Lust, and Pride are the more religious terraforms. Different demons rise in the ranks to serve as priests, with worship mainly consisting of a public demonstration of the desired trait.

Demons possess a power referred to as “The Curse of Upholding”. Each demon has their own way of enacting and then sealing a deal. Examples of ways deals have been sealed include handshakes, contract, or sexual favors. The Curse of Upholding then binds a demon to the deal, and forces them to uphold it. Demons have discovered that sealing the deal with a blood pact passes the curse to a mortal, and will bind them to the deal as well. If a deal is ever broken, the demon will experience excruciating pain for 100 years, crippling them for that time. In recent years, Lesser demons have lost the ability to make deals. This is thought to be a result of the corruption of the Abyss into The Mordant Realms.

### Celebrations and Holidays

The Abyss as a whole shares no holidays, and the terraforms themselves tend to be too chaotic for an organized celebration.

## Terraforms

The Abyss is divded into thirteen terraforms.

### 1st Terraform - Gluttony

This terraform is notable in that it is the only terraform of hell where water can be found. Putrefied water drips from the cave-like ceiling and can be purified then drunk. This terraform also visibly has more lava, with large pools developing in many areas. The majority of the landmasses of this terraform are uninhabitable, having only slippery slopes and soft rocks. Small areas of hardened volcanic rocks are often lived upon by nomadic demons. This terraform is the only one with almost sea life-like plants and animals which grow in abundance near the lava flows and in the water pools. The residents of this plane eat a lot, and have extremely hardy stomachs.

### 2nd Terraform - Facetiousness

The land of this terraform is almost completely flat with no mountains, not even a hill or valley. But beware, for the demons often like to play tricks and jokes on others. They make hidden traps all across the surface, so their ornate and detailed sculptures would “jump” at someone if they step in a particular place or make a certain noise. The demons of this terraform mostly live in the vast cavern system underneath the surface, building elaborate halls. The rock that is dug out to expand the natural system is used for the sculpture on the surface. They think this is extraordinarily funny and many demons of this terraform aspire to be as creative and successful as the Demon Lord Direito. Pranks are very common here and those who visit this terraform are the victims of many of them as the demons who live here are very adept at avoiding others traps. This entire situation is very funny to the Demons of Direito and many can take it too far in the name of fun.

### 3rd Terraform - Wrath

This land seems to contradict the rest of Hell, as it is always at subzero temperatures. The magic that covers the entire land has caused this terraform to be an arctic wasteland. The "snow' that covers this land is actually ash from volcanic eruptions. Demons in this terraform are extremely resilient and any casters here are masters of ice magic. Massive solid nitrogen structures and small igloos spot the flat areas. It is extremely common for the buildings of this terraform to be destroyed in volcanic eruptions. While most things die here, lichens and other molds are able to survive. These are harvested for alchemical purposes, as well as the solid nitrogen (-346 degrees Fahrenheit or lower). The demons residing here are strong and tough, though it seems that the heat found in other terraforms has ended up in their blood as many are hot-headed and will fight over the smallest things.

### 4th Terraform - Deceit

The dangerous and corrosive lands of the fourth terraform readily reflect those who live there. The demons of this terraform emulate their Demon Lord, Yalan, and her amazing ability to sew complex stories of fanciful lies that seem to only ring true. Due to the lands they live within, the Demons of Yalan are often immune, or at least resistant, to poisons and acids. The lands are covered in pools of corrosive liquids which are often the base for many alchemical poisons and acids. The extreme heat vaporizes a lot of the corrosive pools into gaseous clouds of certain death. The hot and humid climate give the perfect conditions for spectacular plant life to grow as well. Many carnivorous, poisonus, and venomous plants thrive here and are also used in alchemy.

### 5th Terraform - Lust

It is a desert land with constant windstorms. The sand's constant buffeting has caused for most fifth terraform demons to have extremely thick and calloused skin, which in turn helps them in battle, but also makes them sensitive to temperature and anything too cold can make their skin crack and bleed. The cities built in the third terraform typically have high walls and sturdy buildings. Sandstone and Brimstone are both common in this terraform. There are many valleys and cliffs, and the temperature is almost unbearable for most life forms. This terraform is the second most visited of all the terraforms as there is a thriving trade which is mostly of a sexual nature. Lava spills down the sides of the terraform from underground magma flows which reach the lava ocean below. Those of this terraform, beyond being hardy, are often focused on their own carnal desires and endeavour to satiate such cravings as often as possible.

### 6th Terraform - Velka's Domain

The sixth terraform is the most “fertile” of the terraforms due to underground lava rivers and special mineral content. There are various flora and fauna growing here, specifically Ember Trees and a special grain plant called Pyre which are used in making Fiend’s Brew and Ember Syrup. These two products are this terraform’s main exports to other terraforms and even the surface at some points. The detailed recipe and process are secret and guarded with extreme prejudice even among demon-kind, the only non-demon that has ever earned the right to learn the secrets was a Pionus of great power and respect named Sinbad. There is no specific type of demon that resides here, it is a melting pot of demon types. Demons born here will generally acquire traits that one of their parents display.

### 7th Terraform - Greed

This terraform is full of massive mountains, some making contact with the cave ceilings. Small clearings at the base of the mountains allow for colonies and tribes to be built.  Within the massive mountains are precious metals, and many demons mine them out to craft jewelry. The finest swords in hell are crafted within the volcanic cores of the mountains. Lava rivers are common and often spill into demon settlements when rock levees break. This terraform has the highest infestation of imps, while the true demons of this terraform, Demons of Ragni, hoard the precious metals and jewelry found and made here.

### 8th Terraform - Ignorance/Gullibility

Almost always covered in a thick layer of smoggy clouds, this terraform has constant storms of fire and smoke. The storms normally consist of lava rain and lightning but can have solid rock fall as well. These storms travel past the edges of the terraform and flow down the sides a short ways. This can lead to demons simply walking off the side of the terraform on accident and the bridges that connect to this terraform are covered in a layer of solidified lava when within the range of these storms. The ground is craggy and uneven and visibility is almost always within five feet or less. The demons of this terraform have really good vision when compared to the normal demon from other terraforms. Due to their inability to see beyond their borders and rarity of travel to this terraform, the Demons of Nevihlas tend to be less informed than other demons. Thus, they will believe many things that may not be true and this is exasperated by the traits they inherited from Nevihlas herself.

### 9th Terraform - Sloth

It is a bleak land, filled with nothing but plains and hills of hard rock. The temperature is very high, and the land is plagued by thousands of wandering Shades. Various strongholds have been built across the plains to protect against the Shades. Dotted throughout the plains, there are small plots of fertile soil where highly nutritious fungi can be grown, along with certain species of carnivorous plants. These are some of the only places where things can grow in Hell. There is very little lava in this terraform, only found underground which gives just enough heat to help the fungi flourish. The demons here find these plots and tend to not move for centuries as they slowly harvest the fungi for food. These demons are also deceptively strong, fighting fang and claw to defend their plot of fungi.

### 10th Terraform - Envy

Lava flows freely on this level, rivers and oceans abound. The land is crumbly and volatile, with active volcanoes destroying land bridges constantly. Due to the strange environment and volcanic ash, this is the only area in which an insanely rare, but incredibly delicious bean, called Mulciber beans, can be found. It is a delicacy to demons, especially those of this terraform who guard it jealously. The only terraform with a steady supply of this bean is Velka’s neutral terraform as no demon wished to challenge her. Many of this terraform are very skilled thieves as they often steal from others, their strong desire to have things that others have drives them to become truly gifted in stealthy “retrieval” missions. They don’t necessarily guard their possessions well, unlike the Demons of Ragni, but whatever goes missing will just be taken again.

### 11th Terraform - Cruelty

It is a terraform of fire and blood. There are rivers of blood running across the land, anything that is not a river is a fiery sludge of blood and ash with flames constantly licking at anything built upon it. Nothing grows here but the demons who revel in their terraform of chaos. The Demons of Ukatili who reside here are always plotting something. They enjoy creating complex and intricate plans designed to maximize the potential pain and humiliation for their target, often others of the terraform as other demons tend to avoid this land. Subsequently they are gifted strategists and investigators, terraforms with more structure may employ them as part of the policing force. This is the also only terraform of hell in which Abyssal Hounds are naturally found, causing them to be hunted often and even bred in some cases. Also, more rarely, Orthruses and Cerberuses can be found wandering this land. Some demons devote their lives to slaying these beasts, more to taming them.

### 12th Terraform - Pride

The pressure is almost unbearable for all creatures but demons and abyssal creatures. Here is where Acrinar’s mighty castle lies. Within the halls of this city sized castle lives thousands of demons, imps, and hell hounds. Fortified at the highest point of the castle is Acrinar's massive throne, adorning it are the skulls of every foe she has slain. The city is speckled with great statues of Acrinar. Due to the intense heat and pressure of this terraform, diamonds form rapidly and speckle the landscape. The Demon Lord Acrinar sends demons to fetch them for her, many of them dying in the attempt. Some of those demons, if they survive, will keep smaller diamond pieces for their own use. The demons here, no matter how old or how important, take great care with their appearance and often try to find more and more things to make their horns and outfits as grand as possible. Many Demons of Acrinar have specialty things made by the Demons of Ragni because of their great crafting skills and valuable materials, these commissions are often paid for with the small diamond pieces kept from the expeditions into the diamond mines.

### 13th Terraform - Cowardice

This terraform is the only one that doesn’t have a large, deadly drop to the ocean of lava and it sits a few feet above the ocean surface. This is the hottest terraform of the Abyss and the land itself isn’t fully solid. The surface of the land is cool enough to walk upon but it can crack and split at anytime which allows the lava to rise to the surface. Rivers and lakes of molten rock and metal crisscross the land and shift with the land itself so they are never in the same place or shape. The land itself roils and shifts in small waves, creating moving hills and shallow valleys. There are no real buildings here and nomadic tribes of demons traverse the surface constantly. The only permanent structure is the fortress of the Demon Lord Kukavika, his strong protective magic allows for a permanent residence. The Demons of Kukavika are adept at escaping dangerous situations and take the survival of themselves and their family above the need for honour in combat and other situations. Many other demons see the Demons of Kukavika as shallow and selfish demons who only look out for their own wellbeing and will run away more often than not. These demons are often shunned from other terraforms, if they ever actually leave the thirteenth terraform.

## Alliances

The Abyss had no alliances before it fell and as it no longer exists to create new ones, there are no alliances.

## Enemy Countries

Due to its split into The Mordant Realms and Narak it has no enemy countries as a whole.

## Founding and History

The Abyss was created by the Goddess of Protection for her daughters children, the demons, which her daughter then ruled over. The lands were created first for the race of demons with their respective climates and topography established before the rise of the Demon Lords. When the Demon Lords rose to power, and demons began to take on the traits of their ruling Lord, the distinct landmasses were linguistically separated into “layers”, called terraforms, that are associated with their ruling Demon Lord and relative height within the Abyss.

There was relative peace due to both Velka’s rule and the actual physical separation of the terraforms. This was until some of the most powerful demons, in the early years of the AB, refused to conform to the structure of the Abyss and hated the environment. They decided to leave, which the Demon Lords took exception to and sent armies after them. The four demons escaped to the surface and took refuge within locations with strong elemental ties. The demons, in their fight against the demon armies trying to bring them back, somehow gained the ability to manipulate these elements and took on trait representing these four elements. Thus, the Greatest Spirits were born and the demon armies were beaten back. The children of these spirits still conform to the demon lineage of taking on traits of, in the case of not having a Demon Lord to follow, of their parents. And so the other race of outsiders descended from the Goddess of Protection was created and flourished. Because of this, for many centuries, demons and spirits hated each other and were unable to coexist without fighting. But as time went on these histories were either forgotten or disregarded and the schism between the races was healed enough for peaceful coexistence.

The Abyss continued to exist in this way for many centuries until the events and aftermath of Darkfel, in the spring of 10014 AB. The banishment of Vierfrynn and destruction of the conversion ritual created a strong magical explosion which followed Vierfrynn to the Abyssal Plane. This racial conversion magic combined with the already corrupting magic of the Abyss and the mental state of Vierfrynn created a wave of pure evil magic called the Fel. This magic swept quickly across the Abyss despite the Demon Lords’ and Velka’s attempts to stop it. When it was clear that the wave was not going to be stopped, the demons that survived and Velka retreated to the thirteenth terraform. The Demon Lords did not retreat and bought enough time for Velka to  create a strong enough magical barrier, with the help of her mother, to withstand the wave and protect the final layer from corruption by the Fel. Unfortunately, the Demon Lords were lost to the Fel because of their valiant sacrifice. Thus, the Abyss was split into two realms, the city state of Narak and The Mordant Realms. This event, commonly called the Fracture, changed the demons and the Abyss forever more. The demons who were unable to escape the tide of Fel were instantly corrupted into Fel Demons and now wander the wastes of The Mordant Realms along with all other manner of corrupted Fel creatures.

## Further Information

* Darkfell
* Vierfrynn
* The Mordant Realms
* Narak
* Velka
* Demons
* Abyssal Creatures