Acheron, the Eternal Battlefield
Acheron, often referred to as the Eternal Battlefield or the War Bridge, was a plane that connected several realms, resulting in an infinite battlefield. Acheron serves as the literal stepping stones between The Depths of the Abyss, Mortem, the Nine Hells, Mount Celestia, and the Plains of Elysium. Because of the various degrees of order and chaos inherent in these locations, those armies and troops who make their way to Acheron, inevitably, find conflict. Resident to this plane are also the souls and spirits of soldiers who lost the cause they were fighting for and, when they died in their wars, could not find rest in proffered peace, choosing instead to take back up their armor and weapons and fight on Acheron.
Acheron's landscape is unique and strange. It is divided into five layers named Asalas, Thuldanin, Tintibulus, Ocanthus, and Cabal Macabre. Each of these layers is uniquely shaped and inhabited by different armies. The shapes of these layers are highly geometric, and they float in the airy void of nothingness that comprises this realm. Asalas is comprised of huge cubes that serve as battlefields for various armies. Thuldanin is shaped the same, though its cubes are smaller. Tintibulus is shaped of odd geometric angles and shapes, sometimes eight or even nine-sided. Ocanthus is comprised of razor thin sheets of stone, with the influence of gravity present on both sides. Finally, Cabal Macabre, exists at the very bottom of Ocanthus as a huge castle made of black, elegantly carved, ice. It is here that the Goddess of Death and Magic resides, brooding and observing the wars raging above. Acheron is only traversable by way of moving from one cube/geometric shape to another. From time to time these cubes run into one another, providing individuals with an opportunity to move from one island to another. It is believed that the discerning, intelligent eye can find patterns in the way these masses move and slam into one another.
Asalas
The meandering islands that comprise Asalas's surface are shaped like massive cubes. Here, however, these masses are most stable and easily traversable. Made of fine metal, the sounds of armies marching across these cubes sounds like thunder. The landscape does not change much here, besides conical mountain ranges, iron fortresses, and forests of steel, the only definable characteristic to the "iron planes of Asalas" is the River Styx, which burbles up through a pit and turns into a river for some distance, before disappearing into another pit after some distance on each of the cubes on Asalas, providing Charon a path to the dead and dying. Portals to the various connecting realms of the Abyss, Mortem, Mount Celestia, and Elysium can only be found here. A harmonious sound can be found emanating from any portal leading to a plane of order, while a discordant tone can be heard emanating from a portal leading to a plane of chaos. Asalas is the largest and most stable of the layers of Acheron, but it is also the most easily accessible and dangerous in terms of conflict with outside forces.
Thuldanin
Thuldanin consists of cubic islands that are less large and also less stable. These metallic cubes are, instead, pitted and scarred and show signs of great wear and tear. Some of these pits and scars lead deap into the interiors of the cubes, where the inherent magic of this layer turns mundane objects and items into stone within weeks, or even, sometimes, days of exposure to the magic of this layer. Thuldanin, however, is interesting because it serves as a graveyard for all manner of invention, contraption, fallen buildings, shipwrecks, failed experiments, armor, weapon, and magical device. Many scholars, tyrants, and other individuals seeking power have come here in search of a lost artifact or item they wish to fix and perfect and, in turn, gain strength from.
Tintibulus
Tintibulus's islands are oddly shaped in comparison to those of the other two layers. While the other two are always cubic, the floating islands of Tintibulus can carry a variety of geometric shapes. From eight to nine-sides is not even uncommon here. These islands float through space just like their cubic cousins, however, they are generally smaller and this layer is mostly devoid of inhabitants. Some scholars come here for the peace and quiet the plane offers, seeking to perfect a spell in perfect isolation or find peace from the mundane world. However, the fact remains that there are some dangers that lurk here among the quiet. Strange creatures and shadows lurking just beyond perception. Quiet creatures that stalk the unaware.
Ocanthus
Ocanthus is the fourth and final "layer" of Acheron. It is comprised of razor thin, hard, black squares. Gravity is present on both sides of the black squares, and their danger lies in getting hit by the edge of one of these squares.
Cabal Macabre
Cabal Macabre is not so much another layer of Acheron as it is a part of Ocanthus. Cabal Macabre is a castle, made entirely of black ice, that is said to be the residence of the goddess of death, magic, and vanity. Very few have ever made their way all the way down the layers of Acheron to Cabal Macabre safely, and even fewer have returned. Those who have managed to petition the goddess, and returned safely afterwards, described the interior of being filled with the icy statues of those that the goddess slew, frozen in various forms of flight or fight. The goddess accepts petitions, but punishes those she finds lacking by adding them to her collection. Great boons can be found here, as well as great danger. Patrolling this icy layer are cyclops, frost giants, ogres, yetis, and various other entities which the goddess brought to protect her realm.
Acheron's landscape is unique and strange. It is divided into five layers named Asalas, Thuldanin, Tintibulus, Ocanthus, and Cabal Macabre. Each of these layers is uniquely shaped and inhabited by different armies. The shapes of these layers are highly geometric, and they float in the airy void of nothingness that comprises this realm. Asalas is comprised of huge cubes that serve as battlefields for various armies. Thuldanin is shaped the same, though its cubes are smaller. Tintibulus is shaped of odd geometric angles and shapes, sometimes eight or even nine-sided. Ocanthus is comprised of razor thin sheets of stone, with the influence of gravity present on both sides. Finally, Cabal Macabre, exists at the very bottom of Ocanthus as a huge castle made of black, elegantly carved, ice. It is here that the Goddess of Death and Magic resides, brooding and observing the wars raging above. Acheron is only traversable by way of moving from one cube/geometric shape to another. From time to time these cubes run into one another, providing individuals with an opportunity to move from one island to another. It is believed that the discerning, intelligent eye can find patterns in the way these masses move and slam into one another.
Asalas
The meandering islands that comprise Asalas's surface are shaped like massive cubes. Here, however, these masses are most stable and easily traversable. Made of fine metal, the sounds of armies marching across these cubes sounds like thunder. The landscape does not change much here, besides conical mountain ranges, iron fortresses, and forests of steel, the only definable characteristic to the "iron planes of Asalas" is the River Styx, which burbles up through a pit and turns into a river for some distance, before disappearing into another pit after some distance on each of the cubes on Asalas, providing Charon a path to the dead and dying. Portals to the various connecting realms of the Abyss, Mortem, Mount Celestia, and Elysium can only be found here. A harmonious sound can be found emanating from any portal leading to a plane of order, while a discordant tone can be heard emanating from a portal leading to a plane of chaos. Asalas is the largest and most stable of the layers of Acheron, but it is also the most easily accessible and dangerous in terms of conflict with outside forces.
Thuldanin
Thuldanin consists of cubic islands that are less large and also less stable. These metallic cubes are, instead, pitted and scarred and show signs of great wear and tear. Some of these pits and scars lead deap into the interiors of the cubes, where the inherent magic of this layer turns mundane objects and items into stone within weeks, or even, sometimes, days of exposure to the magic of this layer. Thuldanin, however, is interesting because it serves as a graveyard for all manner of invention, contraption, fallen buildings, shipwrecks, failed experiments, armor, weapon, and magical device. Many scholars, tyrants, and other individuals seeking power have come here in search of a lost artifact or item they wish to fix and perfect and, in turn, gain strength from.
Tintibulus
Tintibulus's islands are oddly shaped in comparison to those of the other two layers. While the other two are always cubic, the floating islands of Tintibulus can carry a variety of geometric shapes. From eight to nine-sides is not even uncommon here. These islands float through space just like their cubic cousins, however, they are generally smaller and this layer is mostly devoid of inhabitants. Some scholars come here for the peace and quiet the plane offers, seeking to perfect a spell in perfect isolation or find peace from the mundane world. However, the fact remains that there are some dangers that lurk here among the quiet. Strange creatures and shadows lurking just beyond perception. Quiet creatures that stalk the unaware.
Ocanthus
Ocanthus is the fourth and final "layer" of Acheron. It is comprised of razor thin, hard, black squares. Gravity is present on both sides of the black squares, and their danger lies in getting hit by the edge of one of these squares.
Cabal Macabre
Cabal Macabre is not so much another layer of Acheron as it is a part of Ocanthus. Cabal Macabre is a castle, made entirely of black ice, that is said to be the residence of the goddess of death, magic, and vanity. Very few have ever made their way all the way down the layers of Acheron to Cabal Macabre safely, and even fewer have returned. Those who have managed to petition the goddess, and returned safely afterwards, described the interior of being filled with the icy statues of those that the goddess slew, frozen in various forms of flight or fight. The goddess accepts petitions, but punishes those she finds lacking by adding them to her collection. Great boons can be found here, as well as great danger. Patrolling this icy layer are cyclops, frost giants, ogres, yetis, and various other entities which the goddess brought to protect her realm.
Type
Dimensional plane
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