| Abyss (plane) |
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The description of the Abyss varies some between different editions, campaign settings and even individual accessories. This can be viewed as canonical status of the plane of the Abyss changing, or as an in-character explanation that the conflicting information is the result of misinformation spread by the demons themselves, and of misunderstandings by those who study them. One description of the Abyss presents it as a region of intense, extreme, and unforgiving climates, with layers consisting of overwhelmingly fierce Desert Sandstorm s, explosively unstable volcanic activity, boiling Lava , and molten rock, blinding, sub-zero arctic Glacier s, bottomless oceans filled with enormous Leviathan s, nauseatingly putrid environments saturated with disease-causing Fungi , and the endless, existential void of infinite space. INHABITANTS The Abyss is the home of one of the principal combatants in the blood war, the Tanar'ri , a class of Demon that rule the plane. Various other Chaotic Evil creatures and Deities inhabit the plane, including bebiliths, bodaks, Undead and even some renegade devils. The Petitioners of the Abyss are called ''manes''. They have pale white skin, sharp teeth and claws, and maggots are reported to crawl through their flesh. Manes that survive for many years may be promoted to lesser forms of demon. The Demon Lords inhabit the Abyss, including Demogorgon , Graz'zt , and Pazuzu . Many evil deities make their home here including Lolth , the Great Mother and Diirinka , deity of the Derro . STRUCTURE Like other outer planes, the Abyss is spatially infinite and supposedly consists of an infinite number of layers, or sub-planes. In the standard ''D&D'' cosmology, the first layer shares its borders with the neighboring planes of the Windswept Depths Of Pandemonium and the Tarterian Depths Of Carceri ; travel is possible between the Abyss and these planes at certain locations. '' The River Styx '' flows through the Abyss to many other Lower Planes , and as such can be used to gain access to those planes. In the ''Forgotten Realms'' cosmology the Abyss links via the Astral Plane , to Toril , the Material Plane . A number of Portal s directly connect it with the Barrens Of Doom And Despair , Clangor , and on occasion, with, Deep Caverns and The Fated Depths . The ''River of Blood'' originates in the Abyss and flows through the lower planes, allowing travellers access to those plains by navigating the river. LAYERS The Abyss is said to consist of an infinite amount of layers, though the total number of layers is also quoted as 666. Key layers are listed here:
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