River Styx
The Styx, also known as the River of Blood, is a cross-planar river that links the topmost layers of the Lower Planes and all of the Fiendish planes. It is said those who touched or drank from the Styx risked completely forgetting their past lives temporarily or permanently. The River of Blood/Styx begins somewhere in the Windswept Depths of Pandemonium and flows through The Infinite Layers of The Abyss and The Nine Hells of Baator before dumping its pollution into the Astral Sea.
The river has a deep, swift torrent that cannot be forded. The water at the surface moves slowly and sluggishly, hiding a dangerous subsurface current that can quickly pull boats and swimmers to the bottom. The water flowing in the Styx has a foreboding dark color resembling dark red wine that constantly exudes a putrid odor. It is oily, greasy and foul, covered in bubbles and debris. Its banks are lined with the rotting remnants of battles fought throughout its course.
The Styx is the backbone of The Blood War. Its banks are potential battlegrounds in any plane they touch. In particular, demons enter Avernus by navigating the Styx from the Abyss.
Travelers wishing to navigate the Styx safely are advised to use the boatman Charon or his servants, the Merrenoloths, to navigate the river. If called via summoning spells a merrenoloth typically answer the call within seconds. They charge a fee of 100 gp in advance per passenger and never carry cargo. In addition to these fiends, some Petitioners and, more rarely, mortals work as ferrymen and ferrywomen. Whatever they are, these sinister ferrymen are adept in navigating the chaotic currents and eddies. They are willing to take travelers between the planes, but for a price. When traversed by competent navigators, any point along the banks of the Styx can be reached within a day despite the unimaginable distances involved.
Type
River
Location under
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