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-====== The Beneath ======
-A hellish world, the Beneath is the subject of many people's nightmares. It is home to all sorts of [[races:supernatural#infernal_origin|fiends;]] creatures that have been long known to feast on mortal souls for sustenance. Unlike many of the other planes of existence, the Beneath has a well-known, unchanging shape and form that consists of seven layers, each placed directly on top of the next in a shape that resembles an upside-down cone. It has been mostly mapped - and it is possible for a mortal to set up a permanent home here, although the quality of life in Hell is not likely to be anything pleasant.
-Flowing through each layer is a river of some viscous black liquid known as the **Way of Black Tears.** This river seems inert, like any other mundane river at first sight, but anything living that strays too close will meet an unfortunate end as the river seemingly comes to life, reeling the victim in with tar-like strands before dissolving their very being within its depths. Even the demons residing in the Beneath are not quite sure what the river is or why it does this, and give its banks a wide berth.
-==== Demons as Adventurers ====
-For innumerable centuries, the Beneath was cut off from the normal flow of magic through the planes, and its inherently magical inhabitants were left with one choice: find some other way to eat, or starve to death. The solution for demons has, until recently, been the energy contained within souls. By forging contracts or simply devouring them whole, demons sustained themselves.
-However, in late 10080, a group of adventurers assisted in establishing an arcane wellspring within the Beneath, allowing demons to survive without the need to consume souls. Of course, a soul is still an immense bit of power, so the more ambitious and power-hungry individuals simply carry on as normal.
-Without a need to constantly harm others to survive, many demons found themselves with an entire world opened to them. Some began to live more peaceful lives within the Beneath, while others travel to the Cefa'zisto to become adventurers.
-===== The Layers =====
-Each layer is variable in its depth, and they all host wildly different landscapes. Furthermore, each layer is subject to a certain "law" - this is not something set by the people residing on the land, but seemingly by the land itself. These "laws" have existed perhaps since the Beneath itself has. Following is a summary of each layer, its landscape, and its people.
-==== Bathemot, Wasteland of Wrath ====
-//Law: None//
-To most mortals, this is what they think of the Beneath. This is a land ravaged by desolation as rivers of magma flow and volcanic eruptions are a daily occurrence. This barren land of fire and stone is inhospitable to all life. With no soil but the volcanic rock and no rain except showers of boiling blood, no plant life could ever grow in this gods’ forsaken region. Here the only source of food is scores of bodies littered throughout the terrain - as Bathemot is the battlefield for most opposing demonic armies.
-Infernal pools of thought, belief, and power swirl here, giving rise to the innumerable imps that form footsoldiers of the Beneath's many armies. Additionally, the omnipresent war on this land has driven many demons to madness, twisting them into the terrifying Wrathborne.
-Notable locations within Bathemot include:
-  * **The Black Crag:** A crack in the earth with seemingly no bottom, and a spawning place for countless twisted, bestial monstrosities. Demonic generals frequently send out expeditions of underlings in attempts to capture these creatures for their war efforts.
-  * **Lustrous Guard:** Former palace of one of the Fallen Servitors of Rudri, Barbatos. Since the [[history:modernage#demonic_invasions_on_ageron|10080 demonic attack on Ageron]], however, Barbatos vanished and her palace has gradually been abandoned, the demons seeking out other lives in other layers or joining the constant clashes of Bathemot.
-  * **The Gate of Ancients:** A remnant of the Empire of the Veil, an ancient civilization which stood on Jaern directly after Torandor's destruction. Though it has lain inactive for millennia, rumors persist that it is not entirely broken and can still open a portal onto the mortal plane.
-  * **Annals of Rage:** An oasis in the constant war that makes up Bathemot, this place is an almost idyllic monastery located atop a craggy plateau. Within it, scholarly fiends toil away, recording each battle that takes place on the layer and telling the stories of the armies without end.
-==== Xerith, Gardens of Hell ====
-//Laws: Thy Word is Thy Oath; No Blade Nor Spell Shall Ring Forth//
-Xerith is the only layer that is able to grow any kind of food for the demons that live in the Beneath. To the outsider, it is a twisted garden filled with food and produce that would make a mortal retch in sickness. The only food that a mortal could safely consume here is a tuber known as blight root, though eating it is like eating hot ash from a dying fire. Few mortals come to this layer, despite its relative peacefulness compared to the rest of the plane.
-The laws of this layer prevent demons from attacking one another and causing harm to the Gardens, as their destruction would have disastrous consequences for all of the Beneath. Few notable locations exist on Xerith; most of the land is rolling hills of farms and blighted waters that begin to blend together before long.
-Rumors persist that a being named **Aži, Serpent of The Garden** lives in the center of this layer in a dense forest. Legend says it was once a minor god of Jaern before it fell to the Beneath. Almost no records exist of this being, though residents of Xerith avoid entering the central forest for fear of attracting its attention.
-==== Parthuraz, the Tangled Jungle ====
-//Law: By Tooth and Blade Ye Shall Dine//
-Despite being seemingly filled with lush plants and fruit ripe for the picking, the law of this land prohibits anyone; demon, mortal, or otherwise, to eat anything but meat that they have hunted and killed themselves. The beasts of this layer are massive and difficult to kill, though, and each hunt becomes a struggle. Those breaking the Law can find themselves freezing up as their hands and feet petrify and become wood... it is thought that many of the tangled, horrid trees that make up the jungle were in fact once creatures who broke the Law of this land.
-The Way of Black Tears meanders in wide arcs through its jungle, and not far from its banks are several profane temples, inhabited by the specters of priests who betrayed and mocked their gods. Many of these temples exist dotted about the jungle, with their inhabitants ever scheming and plotting to exact revenge on the deities they have grown to hate.
-Other than the many temples, there is a wall of thorns and toxic sludge nestled in a meander of the Way of Black Tears - somewhere near the center of Parthuraz. This is the edge of the **Rotted Grove,** a location where a fallen servitor of Osiris, **Beelzebub,** makes their home. This fly-like fiend constantly brews and experiments, spewing out new horrifying diseases and plagues that their adherents and underlings carry to unleash upon the world.
-The Rotted Grove is a horrific place. Every beast is infected, every leaf and scrap of bark is rotten but still agonizingly alive. Everywhere there is the cloying stench of degradation which warps into sweet smells that tempt every creature into consuming the diseases that plague the bodies of fallen hunters and hunted alike.
-==== Azul, the Maddened Maze ====
-//Law: Lose Thy Way to Know Thyself//
-This layer is a twisted, cavernous labyrinth. While it is physically smaller than the first 3 layers, its cavernous and labyrinthine nature makes it appear almost infinite in size, the walls of the realm so thick that almost nothing but the most powerful and destructive of spells could even hope to put a dent in it. The Law of this layer turns logic on its head and undermines confidence in the self: those who are sure of their ways will, one way or another, find themselves lost, while those who enter lost and confused will find new doors opened to them.
-Azul is pitch black with only blue gems to give some light (any spells that rely on light will not work in the fourth layer). Demons in the fourth layer are known to be some of the most intelligent among their kind, but they are often solitary and remain alone in deep spiritual or philosophical thought and meditation.
-This layer has many rooms that are ruled over and manipulated by **Ornias,** fallen servitor of At'ena. This fiend is completely mad, obsessed with understanding more than is possible to know and spreading his madness onto everyone he touches. He takes the form of an emaciated, hunched man. Some rooms within Azul Ornias created include:
-  * **The Blue Tearoom:** This room is home to those that seek answers. But they must deal with the room's owner, the demon of sin, //Greed.// This enigmatic fiend knows a staggering amount about the world and enjoys driving hard bargains to access his knowledge. This room has a large table that goes on endlessly, and tea cups filled with hot tea are always at the ready for the guests. The room is a light blue color all around. The table, cups, and chairs are all blue to create a sort of dizzying effect on the guests.
-  * **Sanctum of Time:** This chamber shows the strands of time; past, present, and future all colliding and coiling in this very room. Those with an interest in ancient knowledge could stand to gain much from finding this room. This room, however, is also the home of Ornias themself - here ancient knowledge that Ornias has accumulated over the years has been stored away. His madness corrupts the time streams to create hallucinations of timelines that make no sense at all.
-==== Elysium, the Steel Republic ====
-//Laws: Speak in Warmth, Punish in Frost//
-{{  settings:elysium_zoekogut.jpg?300}}
-[[settings:beneath:elysium|Elysium]] is the sole place that can be called a city in all of the Beneath. Though it has many laws, the greatest is that listed above. Elysians are well known for their extreme hospitality; contrasted by extremely draconian punishments. Most permanent residents of the Beneath live in Elysium. Elysium is ruled by the **Steel Chancellor** and their **Council of Six,** all mysterious fiends who have rarely, if ever been seen in public.
-The city itself is a dense mash of brutalist architecture, all stone and metal lit by a constantly inoffensive gray sky. Peppering this desolate landscape are spots of color, where people have set up markets and living spaces. The Council of Six have divided Elysium into six "pits", each with a specific purpose and special hospitality laws, as an attempt to rein in the chaos of this realm. In the very center of the city is the Council of Six's Forum, where the highest people in the land meet and rule.
-The Pits of Elysium are described here in short:
-  * **Pit of Succor:** This Pit has a tradition of hospitality which obligates every member to aid the local community in some way, shape or form, be it constant community service projects, donations to local businesses and organizations, etc.
-  * **Pit of Cords:** Demons in this Pit tend to be very occupied with entertainment and delight in putting on shows, plays, musicals, dance routines and comedy sketches. A day doesn't go by where a citizen of the Pit of Cords doesn’t watch a thousand earnest entertainment productions, or star in them themselves. Inviting as many guests in on the fun as possible is standard practice.
-  * **Pit of Worms:** The demons of this Pit value materialistic wealth in the forms of collectable curios and nice looking articles of clothing as well as unique magical items. This is the location of the **Market of Worms,** where one can find strange magical items which quickly lose their value when outside of the Beneath, as well as many other things in the wide and never ending bazaar.
-  * **Pit of Eyes:** Demons of this Pit offer medical exams and treatment to guests, so great is their propensity for offering these checks that nearly every building in this Pit is built to serve as a makeshift triage. It is considered poor form to let a guest leave without at least providing them with ample healing supplies for a journey.
-  * **Pit of Beasts:** The demons here are a dull sort, far too busy, in their estimation, to do anything other than the humdrum of day to day life. Citizens of this Pit decide to play at hospitality by leaving their homes unlocked and set aside refreshments, goods, and/or supplies in their homes in case a guest needs them.
-  * **Pit of Burdens:** This Pit has a tradition for hospitality which is most like what people expect of a gracious host, an open door, a warm room, filled with kind people offering what they have to weary travelers. The demons here are kindly folk that are quick with a story or a laugh and will gladly engage in conversation no matter the time of day or night such is their zest for life and living.