Hades (Planet)

### Location

In the universe of Altaer, a solar system orbiting a black hole instead of a sun.

### Inhabitants

Vampires, Yugoloths, Undead, Nightmares, Shadows, Mephits, Night hags

### Defining Features

Hades is the realm of the unclaimed dead, and the creatures that manage and feed off their essences. The landscape of Hades is an ashen, shattered plane, interlaced with the many branches and deltas of the River Styx. Hades orbits around a small black hole, causing the sky to appear a deep starless black in the "day", and studded with small, distant stars at night. It is rumored that the realm of Elysium - the home of Thanatos and the righteous undead - is hidden somewhere on the second layer of the planet, but is hidden to all who are unworthy of entering.

Creatures not native to Hades will find the planet to be bleak and toxic - unsuitable for the survival of the living. Whether it be the thermal extremes, the neurotoxin in all the planet's water, the wasting plague carried by all the inhabitants, or simply the gloomy and apathy-inducing atmosphere; nearly all adventurers who spend time in Hades never make their way out.

### Layers

The planet is made up of three concentric layers, each with their own unique inhabitants, features, and geography.

#### The Arctic Wastes of Niflheim

The surface of the planet is a frigid, windswept plane covered in hard-packed snowdrifts. Rarely if ever do the inhabitants of hades make their way to the surface, and those that do die within minutes from the hash cold and complete lack of atmosphere.

#### The Grey Wastes of Erebus

Erebus is a colorless cavern of onyx and obsidian, with soil made of volcanic ash that grows only black, warped vegetation. The River Styx melts from the snow above the layer and across the layer into the Poison Ocean. The layer also contains volcanic vents that billow ash from Tartarus, The good and neutral spirits of the dead aimlessly wander this plane, while the servants of Thanatos (vampires) shepherd the souls into their rightful regions, and slaughter any living who make their way into the realm uninvited.

#### Tartarus, the Realm of Torment

The core of the planet is made up of boiling swamps from the runoff of the Styx, massive volcanoes and lakes of magma. The layer is wracked with earthquakes, heavy ash, and toxic sulfur gas. The Yugoloths live in basalt towers, organizing the torture and servitude of the unclaimed souls of the unjust. If ever a Yugoloth or Vampire wanders into the other's realm, a brutal, hate-fueled slaughter ensues. The river Phlegethon makes its way through the many pockets of Tartarus, draining from the Styxian swamps and fanning out across the layer. The water has an average temperature of 190 F.

### Inhabitants

* Vampires: The vampires are Thanatos' servants, and are the most populous race on Hades (besides the souls of the undead). They appear human in form, but hold many superhuman abilities. When vampires make their way to any other plane, the atmosphere and sunlight causes their metabolism to kick into overdrive, reproducing cells and breaking down their own blood to survive. They must supplement their diet with protein-rich blood, or risk contracting a debilitating autoimmune disease.
* Yugoloths: Fiendish immigrants from Acheron, the Yugoloths here fled the constant war of their home world to build a politically advanced empire fueled by an economy of weapons manufacturing - using the souls of the damned as a workforce and a currency.
* Undead: The souls of the dead often manifest on this plane as undead. They retain a semblance of life and a few of their former memories, but spend most of their time wandering the plain in an aimless state of dull agony.
* Mephits: The combination of magical energy and volcanic activity causes the planet to naturally produce elemental creatures called Mephits. It is believed that Mephits are the native inhabitants of the planet, though vampires argue this statement. Mephits come in many types, and inhabit all the layers of Hades in the form of small villages and flocks.
* Nightmares: Wild herds of Nightmares roam Erebus, feeding off the souls of the unclaimed. They make excellent mounts for the Vampires, and are bred and sold by the Yugoloths to the armies of the Nine Hells.
* Night Hags: Covens of twisted night hags make their home in hades, using the souls of the unclaimed as fuel for their twisted plots and pacts.

### Status

The Yugoloths of Hades seem to have had a recent breakthrough technology; Soul Engines. This mechanism is powered by pain generated from captured souls. Soul engines have been placed in vehicles for land, sea, and sky, as well as in new mechanical suits - all of which have been sold to the creatures of the Nine Hells to help in the Blood war.