One of the ten
Planes of Existence, the Infernal Plane is commonly understood to be the place that devils and other infernal creatures call their home.
Common Knowledge
Most cultures that believe in some form of life after death have an interpretation of the Infernal Plane as a very bad place to be. Some groups believe that any soul considered too corrupt to be redeemed in the
Shadowfell will be sent to the Infernal Plane as punishment. Others consider the Infernal Plane to be a challenge one must overcome on their path to the
Celestial Plane. Some don't consider it to be part of the journey of death at all, but a world filled with tempters and tricksters bent on dragging creatures from
any plane back to their infernal lairs to serve their dark machinations.
Those with a more academic understanding of the planes consider it to be the "home base" of most infernal creatures. In magical academia, it's commonly understood that summoning or making contact with a devil is done by reaching out to the infernal plane, though doing so is largely frowned upon and the details are not very well-documented.
Infernal Legacy
Many
tieflings, especially residents of
Lockhinge, have a stronger opinion of the Infernal Plane due to their unique and oft-debated relationship to
Asmodeus. Those who embrace the story of the Lord of the Ninth understand the Infernal Plane to be his kingdom; those who believe themselves to be descendants of Asmodeus therefor feel that the Infernal Plane is in some ways a legacy of theirs, for good or for ill.
However, opinions still vary widely on the nature of the plane itself. Some consider it to be a dangerous and cruel place, while others simply consider it a distillation of their natural infernal predilections. A few even believe that the Infernal Plane will one day welcome them with open arms, but most are too wary of true devils to be that optimistic.
The Old Days
Garrus has mentioned that before the
Spellplague, the Infernal Plane was referred to as the Plane of Madness by those who knew of it. He's described it as a chaotic realm, the nature of which would drive mortals to literal insanity. He has never been there himself, but he seemed to show a general distaste at the idea of visiting.
Districts
While it has not been extensively studied by anyone who's lived long enough to share their research, what little
is known indicates that the Infernal Plane has a surprisingly predictable and structured geography. While planes like the
Feywild shift with the whims of their denizens, the layout of the Infernal Plane consists of a number of "districts" that always precede each other in the same order.
District of Ceaseless Cataclysm
The most commonly visited district, and likely what gives the Infernal Plane such a bad name. It's described as a desolate wasteland filled with rocky terrain, sparse, charred vegetation, caverns, volcanoes, and rivers of magma. The sky is choked withnsmoke and often glows red due to streaks of flammable gas and rock. These occasionally smash into the ground with enough force to cause reverberrating earthquakes and showers of toxic ash for miles around the impact.
Disctrict of Desocation
A flat, barren district containing little more than sand and dry or stagnant rivers, stretching for thousands of miles in all directions. Rarely, a "salt sea" breaks up the landscape, though these flats only serve to confuse those who fall for its mirages. There are a few pockets of lesser devils that eek out a violent and meager existence here, though a majority of their time is spent fighting each other for dominance.
District of the Drowned
In stark, mocking contrast to the District of Desocation, this district is flooded with vile bogwater, decaying bodies, and rotting marshland. The landscape is repeatedly drenched by rain, sleet, and hail storms. Navigation is extremely difficult due to the soggy, bone-strewn terrain, which is only occasionally broken up by tangled forests or jutting, impossibly sharp rocks.
Village of Crowns
TBD
