Gehenna

The Crawling City on the slopes of Gehenna.

## Basic information

### Natives

Barghests, Nightmares, Imps, Manes, Daemons, Mephits, Lesser Devils, Achaierai, Pyroclastic dragons

## Outer Plane

### Gravity

Objective directional: at a 45° angle to the level of the ground

### Layers

Khalas
Chamada
Mungoth
Krangath

The **Bleak Eternity of Gehenna** (pronounced: /gɛˈhɛnnɑː/ *ge-HEN-na* or: /gɛˈhɛnə/ *ge-HEN-uh*) was an Outer Plane in the Great Wheel cosmology model representing alignments between neutral evil and lawful evil.

“
Life is an exercise in will. Now hold still while I exercise mine.

”
— Monteirus Cherif, a student of Gehenna's lessons.

## Description

The four layers of Gehenna were infinite planes with gravity at a forty-five degree angle to the ground, making travelers feel as if they were on the side of a mountain with no base or peak. Anyone losing their footing could tumble for miles/kilometers before finding enough purchase on the slope to halt their fall. Nearly all terrain that was not a river of water or lava was slightly slippery to quite slick. All structures were either built onto or carved into the slopes. Heat and light came from the ground, much like Tarterus, but the source was volcanic: lava flows, vents, fumaroles, and mud pots were very common. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occurred often, tearing the land apart. On the hotter layers, unprotected flammable items and creatures would catch fire from the glowing ground or superheated gases being ejected. The barriers between layers were always underground, usually in dead end corridors.

### Khalas

*Main article: Khalas*
The uppermost layer, Khalas, was the most livable of the four planes with many waterfalls cascading down the slopes, the largest being the river Styx. The Styx followed a rough path down the slope, fell for thousands of feet/meters, ran through twisty rapids before finally disappearing into underground passages. Steam rose into the infinite and empty black sky. making the horizon glow a dull red. Khalas touched the Astral Plane and had connections to Hades, the Nine Hells, and Concordant Opposition. The portals appeared as black chasms in the floor of deep underground caverns. While there was no way of telling where these would lead, intelligent travelers had made markings on the walls by many of them to indicate the portal's destination, if one could read them.

### Chamada

*Main article: Chamada*
The second layer of Gehenna was the most violently active layer with lava cascades thousands of miles/kilometers wide and city-sized volcanoes yawning open on the slopes. The air was foul with acrid smoke for 10 miles (16 kilometers) above the surface and would cause *blindness* to unprotected eyes and had the effect of a *stinking cloud* on the lungs. Below ground the air was fresher but stank of burning flesh and hair.

### Mungoth

*Main article: Mungoth*
Mungoth was a land of falling ash and burning snow. The furnaces of this layer were fewer and farther apart, allowing ice and snow to build up in the darker places between active areas. Travelers had to brave the never-ending avalanches of wet snow and fiery rock. Underground passages were relatively safe.

### Krangath

*Main article: Krangath*
The fourth layer was devoid of any volcanic activity, even underground. All was dark and cold. The name of this layer meant literally "dead furnaces".

## Cosmography

Mount Olympus connected to Gehenna at randomly changing locations throughout the plane. It was unclear why the mountain had a connection at all to the plane, but some sages speculated that the mountainous character of the plane attracted the planar conduit there.

## Inhabitants

The only creatures known to be native to this plane were the barghests, running through the rifts of Khalas and occasionally found in smaller number on the other layers, and the pyroclastic dragons. All the other creatures originally came from the adjacent lower planes, mostly to hide from more powerful beings that wished to enslave them. Gehenna was often a plane of exile for the less powerful archdevils and daemon taskmasters.

## Realms

Even lesser deities tended to avoid Gehenna. Those that leaned toward Law were recruited into the hierarchy of the Nine Hells and those that favored evil tended toward Hades. Here is a list of the Powers known to have called this plane home at some point:

* Bhaal, Lord of Murder, once had a realm here on Khalas called the *Throne of Blood*.
* Gaknulak, god of kobolds, had a realm called *Aknuthrak* on Khalas.
* Iyachtu Xvim's *Bastion of Hate* resided on the layer of Chamada.
* Loviatar, Maiden of Pain, had a fortress of ice in Mungoth named *Ondtland* before moving to the Barrens of Doom and Despair as described by the World Tree cosmology model.
* Maanzecorian, a mind flayer god, had a realm on Chamada called *Rictus*.
* Math Mathonwy, a Celtic god of magic, had a realm on Khalas called Corriegrave.
* Mellifleur the Lichlord had an obsidian citadel on Krangath called *Hopelorn*.
* Memnor, a god of cloud giants, lived in a realm called *Thraotor*.
* Shargaas, Night Lord of the orcs, lived underground on Krangath in a realm called the *Night Below* and controlled the deepest caverns of Mungoth before moving to Nishrek as described by the World Tree and World Axis cosmology models.
* Squerrik, god of wererats, once lived in the realm of *Cheisin* on Khalas.
* Velsharoon's realm of *Death's Embrace* once resided on Mungoth.

## Appendix

### Appearances

Novels
*Tymora's Luck*
**Referenced only**
*The Glass Prison*
### References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 108. ISBN 0880383992.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Andy Collins, James Wyatt, and Skip Williams (November 2003). *Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 182. ISBN 0-7869-2884-0.
3. ↑ Jeff Grubb (April 1987). “Plane Speaking: Tuning in to the Outer Planes”. In Roger E. Moore ed. *Dragon* #120 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 42–43.
4. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 62. ISBN 0880383992.
5. ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). *Manual of the Planes 3rd edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 49. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
6. ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). *Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 47. ISBN 978-0786965622.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 73. ISBN 0880383992.
8. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 75. ISBN 0880383992.
9. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), pp. 78–82. ISBN 0880383992.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 107. ISBN 0880383992.
11. ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). *Manual of the Planes 3rd edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 111–114. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
12. ↑ Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. *Dragon* #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 26.
13. ↑ Colin McComb (July 1996). “The Chant of the War”. In Ray Vallese ed. *Hellbound: The Blood War* (TSR, Inc.), p. 7. ISBN 0-7869-0407-0.
14. ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). *Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 58. ISBN 978-0786965622.
15. ↑ Colin McComb (December 1995). “*Liber Malevolentiae*”. In Michele Carter ed. *Planes of Conflict* (TSR, Inc.), p. 24. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.
16. ↑ Colin McComb (December 1995). “*Liber Malevolentiae*”. In Michele Carter ed. *Planes of Conflict* (TSR, Inc.), p. 5. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.
17. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (August 1987). “Cyclopedia of the Realms”. In Karen S. Martin ed. *Forgotten Realms Campaign Set* (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-472-7.
18. ↑ Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). *Forgotten Realms Adventures*. (TSR, Inc), p. 38. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
19. ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). *On Hallowed Ground*. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 182. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Colin McComb (October 1996). *On Hallowed Ground*. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 176. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
21. ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). *On Hallowed Ground*. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 168. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
22. ↑ James Ward, Robert J. Kuntz (August 1980). *Deities & Demigods*. Edited by Lawrence Schick. (TSR, Inc.), p. 60. ISBN 0-935696-22-9.
23. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (August 1987). “Cyclopedia of the Realms”. In Karen S. Martin ed. *Forgotten Realms Campaign Set* (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-472-7.
24. ↑ Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). *Forgotten Realms Adventures*. (TSR, Inc), p. 24. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
25. ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). *On Hallowed Ground*. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 104. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
26. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc.), p. 100. ISBN 978-0786903849.
27. ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). *Player's Guide to Faerûn*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 145. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
28. ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). *On Hallowed Ground*. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 74. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
29. ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). *Manual of the Planes 3rd edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 114. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
30. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (August 1987). “Cyclopedia of the Realms”. In Karen S. Martin ed. *Forgotten Realms Campaign Set* (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-472-7.
31. ↑ Gary Gygax (August, 1985). *Unearthed Arcana (1st edition)*. (TSR, Inc.), p. 119. ISBN 0880380845.
32. ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). *On Hallowed Ground*. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 134. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
33. ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). *Player's Guide to Faerûn*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 162. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
34. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). *Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide*. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, *et al*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 64. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
35. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). *Powers & Pantheons*. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 76. ISBN 978-0786906574.

### Connections

The Bleak Eternity of **Gehenna**
Layers and their Realms

Cosmologies of the Realms

The Great Wheel

Prime Material plane • Feywild • Shadowfell • Fugue Plane
**Transitive Planes:** Astral Plane • Ethereal plane
**Inner Planes:** Elemental Plane of Air • Elemental Plane of Water • Elemental Plane of Earth • Elemental Plane of Fire • Elemental Chaos
**Para-Elemental Planes:** Frostfell • Swamp of Oblivion • Fountains of Creation • Great Conflagration
**Quasi-Elemental Planes:** Lightning • Radiance • Minerals • Steam • Vacuum • Ash • Dust • Salt
**Outlands:** Sigil
**Outer Planes:** Arcadia • Mount Celestia • Bytopia • Elysium • Beastlands • Arborea • Ysgard • Limbo •
Pandemonium • Abyss (Layers) • Carceri • Hades • **Gehenna** • Nine Hells • Acheron • Mechanus
**Energy planes:** Positive Energy plane • Negative Energy plane
**Planar Pathways:** Infinite Staircase • Oceanus • Mount Olympus • Styx • Yggdrasil
**Far Realm**

The World Tree

Prime Material plane • Cynosure • Fugue Plane
**Transitive Planes:** Astral Plane • Ethereal plane • Plane of Shadow • Spirit World
**Celestial Outer Planes:** Arvandor • Brightwater • Dwarfhome • Dweomerheart • Gates of the Moon • Golden Hills • Green Fields • House of Knowledge • House of the Triad
**Fiendish Outer Planes:** Abyss (Layers) • Barrens of Doom and Despair • Blood Rift • Clangor • Deep Caverns • Demonweb Pits • Fated Depths • Fury's Heart • Hammergrim • Nine Hells • Nishrek • Supreme Throne
**Neutral Outer Planes:** Dragon Eyrie • Heliopolis • House of Nature • Jotunheim • Warrior's Rest
**Inner Planes:** Elemental Plane of Air • Elemental Plane of Earth • Elemental Plane of Fire • Elemental Plane of Water • Positive Energy plane • Negative Energy plane
**Planar Pathways:** Infinite Staircase • River of Blood • World Tree
**Far Realm**

The World Axis

Prime Material plane
**Fundamental planes:** Astral Sea • Elemental Chaos
**Astral dominions:** Arvandor • Banehold • Celestia • Cynosure • Deep Wilds • Demonweb Pits • Dismal Caverns • Dwarfhome • Eternal Sun • Fugue Plane • Gates of the Moon • Green Fields • House of Knowledge • Nine Hells • Nishrek • Supreme Throne • Towers of Night • Tu'narath • Warrior's Rest
**Elemental realms:** Abyss (Layers) • City of Brass • Cresting Spires • Fimbulwinter • Hidden Realm • Muspelheim • Root Hold • Sky Home • Steading • Thraotor • Undying Pyre • Zerthadlun
**Parallel planes:** Feywild • Shadowfell
**Anomalous planes:** Far Realm