The Abyss
From Valwiki
The Abyss is a mortal plane of existence, in some ways similar to the plane of Kharlia though inherently unique in most categories. In terms of size, Kharlia may resemble a galaxy in measurement, whereas the Abyss is closer to that of a solar system; this article focuses on the eponymous planet of the Abyss, whose denizens are collectively referred to as Demons. Though they have no relation to the Devils of Nuzalheim, Demons have been given this name by Kharlians who, upon observing the bizarre races of this dead world, misunderstood their origin and deemed them no different than hellspawn. Demons, by a large degree, are content with this intimidating misnomer. Indeed, by many definitions, their world resembles a hell all its own. When referring to themselves, the preferred nomenclature is Abyssal. It is important to note, however, that the Abyss is not a plane where souls travel upon death, as is the case with Nuzalheim.
As with ancient Kharlia, the world of the Abyss is made up of one super-continent. Divided into ten geographical regions, these areas are colloquially known as "circles" named after the magical circle that adorns the center of each territory. The leader of each region draws his or her power from these circles, and thus they are given the title "circle-master." At the head of these circle-masters is the most powerful of her kind, Altima, leader of the Fallen and once chief among Seraphim. It is through her might that the Abyss, first as a world and then as a plane, was conquered.
Religion
Demons share the Kharlian pantheon, but it is a warped version thereof; those that practice faith do so in worship of the evil gods, with the other deities holding almost no regard amongst the population. Even amongst the pious, dedication is limited, as many Demons still recall a time before the pantheon's existence, many holding the occasionally-worshiped deities of evil in even more contempt than those of good. For the most part, abyssals are atheistic or wholly concerned with their circle-master.
Mana
Most all creatures born of the Abyss cannot and do not utilize mana in the same way that Kharlians do, and are unable to use any spell requiring mana while on Kharlia without learning as an initiate would. This is due to the fact that the connections between the Abyss, on a planar level, do not exist to the planes of magic. The denizens of the Abyss have developed alternatives to mana, therefore, drawing power from themselves as a Suirikun warrior would chi.
Ecology
The following list is not comprehensive, but it covers the basics of the common creatures living in this dark realm. With the exception of animals, the majority of the creatures in the Abyss are of the Lawful Evil alignment, forever ingrained in their culture from years of totalitarian regime. For an Abyssal, law keeps their dead world functioning and nothing is more important than the concept of the self, be it in regards to survival or the acquisition of power.
Demons (Abyssals)
As Altima conquered each planet in the Abyssal plane, she chose the strongest of each race living on any given world (though many had none or simply one) and folded their numbers into her own. The resultant sentient race combined from years of inter-breeding was known as the Abyssal. They are by far the most numerous type of creature on the planet, the original race having populated it long before Altima and her Fallen arrived. Generally speaking, demons resemble humans, being bipedal with two other limbs functioning as arms. Their skin and hair color ranges from light to dark hues of gray, and their eyes are white, yellow, red, or black with varied, alien irises. Many demons are born with cleft-feet, horns, a spiked tail, or other strange attributes such as the lack of a shadow or the ever-present aroma of brimstone; these are recessive traits passed down from previous races. Physically, they tend to be stronger and quicker than an average human from Kharlia, though this is not always the case as individual demons can vary as much as individual humans do. All demons possess formidable intelligence, though several demons are considered ignorant for their tendency to remain focused on a single goal with great fanaticism.
An interesting sub-group of the demon is the rare and awe-inspiring Archdemon. Mirroring, and again a misnomer of, the concept of an Archvile, these individuals are thought to be a genetic offshoot of standard demons, possessing an even greater level of power, both mentally and physically, than their lower kin. Due to their incredible stamina and innate cunning, Archdemons are favored military commanders in Abyssal society. Their numbers are truly rare, however, with far fewer appearing in recent years as the Fallen keep a close eye on the population of their Demon thralls.
Fallen
- Main article: Fallen
Fallen are former Seraphim, beings of light from the higher planes, that sided with Altima after she killed the great Ancient she once served and fled to the Abyss, falling from grace forever. Given Altima's successful takeover of the Abyss, the Fallen are generally considered the 'higher ranking' race of the underplane, even though they are far less common and, in many ways, not as strong as the native demons. Fallen are much more humanoid in appearance than demons, much taller and more slender than any normal Abyssal race; even males have a very odd, androgynous beauty to their appearance. The Fallen capital city reflects their status among the Abyssal races, nestled away in a region of the Abyss crafted to resemble their previous home.
As previously stated, the Fallen do not possess the same degree of strength as their Demon thralls, though they do possess an unnatural grace. Without exception, each member of the race is with wings, be they feathery or bat-like, though these have taken on an ashy, gray tone due to their time in the underplane. These wings provide the ability to fly, but the race's greatest strength over the demons is their ability to plan and scheme. All Fallen are capable of blinding processes in thought, with even the least intelligent Fallen on par with any Archdemon. Unlike other races in the Abyss, the Fallen are not restricted from channeling the mana of Kharlia; it has been observed that they are, in fact, potent spellcasters.
Fiends
As with many worlds, the Abyss is populated with "lesser" creatures that possess little to no sentience. Those numerous creatures brought from other conquered worlds to roam the vast wilds of the Abyss are known as Fiends. The most infamous of these fiends are the grotesque pit-creatures that guard Altima's palace. Massive in stature and strength, the creatures possess little-to-no thought of their own but obey their mistress' every whim unconditionally. They represent a larger, tougher stock of creatures that roam the Abyssal lands, hunting and breeding in much the same way animals on Kharlia do.
Due to the sheer number in variation, it is impossible to classify every variant of fiend in the Abyss. Needless to say, they are numerous, and some are quite dangerous even to the denizens of the realm, not unlike a wolf or bear would pose risk to a lone traveler. At the same time, others are much more docile and some are kept as pets.
The Circle Masters
While the lords of the Abyss are by no means benevolent, stories of their evil deeds contain more exaggeration than truth. While some, most notably Eurogynes, have plotted with great ambitions to conquer the other realms of existence, there is truthfully little imperialism in the underplane. With the exception of major events, the only Abyssals to travel to other planes are small-time rogue demons who stumble upon ancient rifts, restless Fallen, or secretive agents sent by the circle-masters.The hallmark of the circle-masters is their incredible organization, a structured hierarchy that each is content to serve in, or at least that is how it appears on the surface. Indeed, the Abyss is full of dark plots and plans of betrayal, but all of the lords know their superiors and underlings, and work towards maintaining the order of their world. It is a system they feel even the pantheon of Kharlia must envy, for surely they are not as orderly as the demons claim to be.
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Vercingorenax, The Ebon Claw
With arching shoulder and elbow-claws and a hellish visage set in his chest, Vercingorenax is the most aberrant of all the circle-masters. While his form is twisted, it is not from any specific battle or punishment; the Ebon Claw has made himself this way through years of self-experimentation, originally resembling an average demon. He is fascinated with the transformation and progression of the physical form and the many dozens of ways that creatures evolve special traits to deal with the elements. These are characteristics that Vercingorenax has applied to himself, and he has power to show for it.
Ages ago, when Hashmaluum ruled the Abyss and his form was not as it is today, Vercingorenax served as the Regulator's right hand and it is from this that he earned his title. Acting many parts, Vercingorenax delegated everything from ministering the hordes of the underplane, leading them to war, to enforcing the laws of the land in times of peace. If Hashmaluum was the judge of the Abyss, then Vercingorenax was its bailiff. When Altima put an end to Hashmaluum's rule, Vercingorenax lost much of this prestige but nevertheless was complacent with his master's removal and greeted the Fallen with open arms.
Ruling from his vast laboratory beneath the Fields of Hunger, Vercingorenax spends most of his time creating and manipulating flesh beasts with the dark alchemy of the Abyss. Since the coming of Altima, his territory and people are run by a council of Fallen that advise and plan with Vercingorenox on how best to lead. He has no enemies, and thus far appears content to be left to his experimentations, something that gives Altima passing doubt as to the true intentions of the circle-master. Nevertheless, the Ebon Claw claims to have no real goals other than to further his studies and keep the peace of his circle, caring little for the plots and machinations surrounding the Abyssal wars. He has been known to strike deals with select mortals in exchange for a dire price, but this is the extent of his transactions with the world of Kharlia.
Moloch, Warlord of Fire
Standing taller and broader than his brethren, Moloch the Warlord of Fire rules over the Inferno Jungles of Sangría. He is a brash, single-minded circle-master that resembles a great, powerfully built satyr with the head of a stag. While his great frame suggests that he is the most physically powerful of the circle-masters, Moloch prefers to boast his great mastery over the element of fire and the destruction it brings.
For as long as anyone can recall, Moloch has ruled his region. Even before it was shaped and bound by the circles, Moloch could be found rampaging through his jungles with his lesser kin. When Hashmaluum was disposed of, Moloch paid little attention. When Altima came during the ritual of the circle-bindings, the Warlord rejected her plans and bellowed an enraged challenge at the queen of the Fallen. Impressed with his zeal, yet annoyed by his single-mindedness, Altima bound his snout in iron and set his spirit aflame, granting him powers over fire. Since then, his body has shifted to accommodate the great flames, and Altima treats him as one would a pet, ordering Moloch to take his Walkers in Flame and patrol the borders of the Abyss. Moloch's Walkers are special fiends that can resist, and in fact prefer, the fiery heat of the jungles. They range in size and shape greatly, though their numbers are few compared to the other marshaled forces of the Abyss.
When Moloch is not on patrol, he is planning great recreational events from his lavish brass palace, Corona. Such events involve building great defensive structures and then having his men test themselves by assaulting and defending the fortresses. To the Warlord, there is no greater joy than watching the carefully calculated fall of a redoubt, and his main weapon of choice goes without saying. At any given time, Moloch employs hundreds of his Walkers in Flame to slave on such constructions. The wardens of these task-squads are his lieutenants, the Doom Beast Som il Sol being one such example.
Ireazeul, The Demon Lord
Ireazeul is the youngest of the circle masters, next to Vinx, haven been given the circle after his predecessor, Damathir (or Xau), mysteriously disappeared. Tall, lithe, and strong, Ireazeul appears almost effeminate in person. He is known to fight with catlike grace and speed in battle, wielding any number of slender knives and swords, albeit having no signature weapon of his own.
Ireazeul, outside of being gifted the circle by her in his master's absence, has very little history with Altima. In the past, he had only met her face to face as Damathir's personal guard and second in command. Ireazeul tends to keep to himself more than his predecessor, and it is known he has very little interest in invading other realms. Like his close ally Zalera, he, possibly even more overtly, coordinated and gave information to the forces of Kharlia during the first Abyssal War.
Idomeneus, The Incarnation of Fury
Not truly a demon, Idomeneus is a fiend that rose to power and gained the attention of Altima when she first traveled the lands of the Abyss. Being the only one of his kind to hold such a title, he is sometimes referred to as the Father of Fiends. Appearing as an obese creature with spiny protrusions jutting out from all over his body, Idomeneus bids watch over the Thorned Wastes of Bellon, and feasts on the many fiends that call it home. His face is full of dagger-like teeth and he has a bush of ratty hair covering most of his upper body. It is unknown if Idomeneus is capable of speech; he does not communicate beyond the occasional war cry bellowed before taking down his prey.
Before the coming of Altima, Idomeneus was simply a predatory fiend living in the thorny landscape, being hunted by Abyssal woodsmen and other fiends for sport. When Altima came, she too participated in the various hunts, and cornered Idomeneus after slaying many other dangerous creatures. The circle-master reared up and held his ground, initiating combat with the Fallen queen and managing to hold his own for a short while. Intrigued, Altima empowered him as a circle-master, revealing that she had been hunting for the right candidate the entire time. She bestowed to him sentience and the fury in which Idomeneus went about tracking down and murdering the various Demonic huntsmen that lived in the region gained him his formal abyssal title.
Zalera, Angel of Death
Altima's consort and lover, Zalera is a Fallen that rules over the forests of New Eden. Tall, slender, and strong, Zalera is as handsome as he is deadly. He is known to wield a strangely hooked falchion, and his skill with the weapon earned him the title as the Angel of Death long ago. He is also a vastly skilled illusionist, grasping magic with the ease of any other Fallen, and therefore few ever see him as he actually appears.
Zalera, of all the circle masters, has been with Altima the longest, having come to the Abyss at her side. As such, he was one of the first beings to be gifted with a circle of power, and was charged with forming a home for the rest of the Fallen. Surprisingly, outside of Altima herself, Zalera is the only fallen circle master. He resides in the dense forests of New Eden, where he largely keeps to himself.
Zalera is very secretive in his actions, and often seems distrusting of any of his peers. However, it was known he had a very strong alliance with the missing circle master Damathir (or Xau) Faea, one which has carried on to Damathir's successor, Ireazeul. Zalera also opposed the inital plans to invade Kharlia, and secretly offered help to the Kharlian forces opposing him. That said, Zalera is one of the only known circle masters to have at least one active agent in Kharlia, and rumor has it that the agent is in fact his half-mortal son, conceived through means hereby unknown.
Nybbas, Devourer of Souls
Prince of the dirty deed, Nybbas resembles a handsome demon with an extra set of extended arms that he uses to wield his legendary war-axe, Sever. Nybbas prides himself with his looks, having his hair braided and jewelry kept immaculate by his extensive harem. But beneath the beauty lies a horrible, bestial creature that lacks any of the elegance and grace that the circle-master portrays; in this form, he appears to be a mix between a wolf and a bull, though few have seen him this way. He enjoys a decadent lifestyle, floating above the demons of the Shrouded Moors in his flying castle, the Bastion of Contracts, where he gazes upon his people as a lion would his pack.
Nybbas has been in a love-hate relationship with Toranna, the Mistress of Destruction, for generations. Currently the relationship is that of hate, and each conspire to undo the other through various means of political blackmail and intrigue. Nybbas arose to power originally because of his lust for bondage and servitude, offering other demons wealth and power in exchange for favors; unfortunately for his victims, Nybbas has never written a fair contract and the "favor" usually involves Nybbas collecting on their very life. This tendency to collect souls and his focus on manipulation drew the interest of Altima, and she approached him in becoming a circle-master. It would be the only "fair deal" that Nybbas ever signed.
In exchange for a record of the souls he collects, and the continued stewardship of the sixth circle, Nybbas has been allowed by Altima to take his petty squabbles with the demoness Toranna to a new height. His time is spent seducing demons and fallen alike to commit to his Faustian pacts, and managing the multitude of layers in political strife and sometimes physical violence that lie between him and Toranna.
Vinx, Herald of the Depths
Vinx is a hulking reptilian beast, who appears largely out of place compared to his demonic and fallen brethren. Standing a good ten feet in height on tyrannosaur-like hind legs, he clutches a wicked trident in one of his four arms, each of which end in a set of four sharp claws. Vinx is, to say the least, an intimidating figure, something which works in his favor as he's also not the most well trusted of the circle-masters.
Little is known about Vinx within the Abyss, and for good reason. Vinx is not originally from the Abyss itself, in actuality a former denizen of Kharlia. There he lived as a mer-creature, though little is known about his race or if even they exist to this day. A friend of an old king of Empyria, Vinx was sent by the victors of the First Abyssal War to claim Eurogynes' circle of power, which then lay atop Mount Phoenix. Narrowly beating Tarus Rubeus to the summit, Vinx averted what could have been certain disaster for both worlds. He claimed the ley-energies of the circle and managed to return it and himself back to its original locale. He used this new-found power to alter his form into a more appropriate shape. Surprisingly, he was accepted by most of his brethren, with the exception of Eurogynes' remaining followers, and all his former admirers. Despite his diplomatic windfall, however, he has relatively little contact with the other circle masters and has spent the better part of the century trying to reinstate order amongst his new home.
Toranna, Mistress of Destruction
Soft-spoken, eloquent and slow to anger, there is little inclination that Toranna is known as the Mistress of Destruction. Bearing a feathery mantle and sporting an unassuming smile, the apparent meekness of Toranna could not be further from her true nature. Prone to short, but intense, fits of anger, the demoness is so committed to destruction that she ruined her own region in a bout of supernatural rage just to prove a point. What once was a peaceful coastal region, now lies the Shattered Bogs of Rime, where Toranna rules over her fearful people as they go about their lives wondering when she will erupt again.
Toranna is an idealist, a former cleric of Searith who believes in absolutes and one who spends long hours fantasizing about all manner of cataclysmic events that would shift the balance of power in the multiverse to her favor. Toranna was in the middle of leading a rag-tag band of mercenaries to crush an opposing Demoness that had slighted her when Altima arrived in the Abyss. Awed and immediately jealous of her power, Toranna approached the queen of the Fallen and demanded surrender. Altima in turn offered a greater prize: the free reign to rule as a circle-master and cause destruction all across the Abyss as long as she followed some basic principles. Toranna had never been happier.
Since becoming a circle-master, Toranna has spent much of her energy focusing on her former lover, Nybbas, but she notably voiced support in the First Abyssal War and showed keen interest in those that followed. She often views Moloch's region from afar and envies his destruction celebrations, sometimes sending a regiment of her own soldiers to crash the celebration to vicariously revel in the dramatic aftermath. Although she is inescapably chaotic, Toranna does a good job of keeping her circle under control, even if through fear and shows of power.
Hashmaluum, The Infernal Regulator
Hashmaluum, in his current incarnation, is a massive beast wrought of the black sand and stone of his desert domain. Standing somewhere between twenty to thirty feet in height, he is all but impervious to harm, capable of terrifying speed, and possessing the physical strength to rend anything as if it were paper. Other offensive capabilities of this giant of battle are largely unknown, as few have ever witnessed them and lived. He is able to change his size, as he has been seen within Altima's palace before, sans his massive bulk.
Before the coming of Altima, Hashmaluum was the ruler of the Abyss. In his pride, he was one of the few who questioned the Fallen queen's might and skill. Challenging her to single combat for control of a domain he viewed as rightfully his, he was promptly defeated with meager effort on Altima's effort. In her infinite wisdom, Altima knew that killing the creature would be unwise two-fold: first, there would attempted revenge by those who still claimed loyalty to their old master, and two, to kill such a powerful, magnificent creature would be a waste. So, as a "gift", Hashmaluum was transformed into the beast he is today. Rumor speaks that he is eternally bound to Altima's will, now acting as her personal guard, given the title of Infernal Regulator, he who solves disputes between circle-masters when they arise.
In recent times, little has been seen of Hashmaluum. While this may be less than surprising, as he often never leaves the vast deserts of his circle, rumour has it he was the last being to see Damathir Faea before his disappearance from the Abyss. This has lead to many whispers in dark corners in the cities of Corinthel, as it is known Damathir and Hashmaluum held a long-standing resentment for one another.
Altima, The Fallen Queen
Among the varied, shrouded lands that make up the Abyss, and the myriad of creatures that call it home, one stands as the undisputed ruler. Altima Kaelis was the leader of the Seraphim who were cast out by the ancients after the death of the god Vivrius. After her arrival in the Abyss, she quickly established herself as a leader of all its people, meeting surprisingly little resistance and quickly winning over those who showed any initial objection.
Ever since her flight to the Abyss, Altima has had a continued obsession with what her former masters had taken such pride in: the ability to create life from nothing. Hashmaluum had been a start, but she had merely animated a powerful construct with the demon's spirit. For centuries, Altima has worked tirelessly to discover these secrets, and to master them herself. There are whispers throughout the Abyss that at long last, at least on a small scale, the dark queen has succeeded. What this creature could be, and where it has since gone, remains a mystery. Ultimately, the goal of the former Seraphim is to utilize this power, as one would the Ortus Vita, to bring life back to the dead plane of the Abyss. From there, one can only speculate what sinister plans Altima keeps hidden away.
Regions of the Abyss
Contrary to popular belief, the Abyss is not a crawling zone of madness and monsters like Nuzalheim. In reality, the Abyss shares many ecosystems as Kharlia, teeming with forests, barrens, mountains, and seas. Geographically, there are ten distinct regions, each tied to a circle of power and, as such, the circle-master functions as the region's leader in all things, governing under the Empress Altima. While each circle-master has his or her own agenda, wars rarely break out on a grand scale, though the occasion territorial struggle does occur. For the most part, the Abyss is an orderly, well structured realm and its denizens exude this lawfulness in most of their dealings. That being said, any time large numbers of Abyssals spill into the world of Kharlia, the various circle-masters are content to squabble and play up their differences on battlefields in the mortal realm.
Note: This section is still needs major work, and I'll be putting up regions as a finish writing them up, which won't necessarily be in numerical order.
The First Circle: The Fields of Hunger; the Fel Laboratory and Vercingorenax, the Ebon Claw
A sweeping span of verdant land, the Fields of Hunger are marked by acres of blue-green foliage, interrupted only by the occasional barrow rising up out of the flat terrain. The skies are in a perpetual state of bright light, almost as if a lamp were kept focused on the beds of plant life that crawled through the region, but the normalcy ends there. Occasionally, a great sink hole opens up in a random location on the fields and swallows up everything in it's radius. The ground reforms shortly after, with the fields quickly reforming around the entirely of the effected area. It is from this anomaly that the circle gets it's name.
All manner of small fiends dwell in these fields, burrowing their homes and foraging for what nutrients they may receive from the bushy undergrowth. Due to the nature of the fields, no demons or fallen make permanent establishments above ground, instead vying for the safety of the circle-master's true domain. Below the ground exists an entirely different realm; the winding caverns built ages ago by Vercingorenax serve as the arteries connecting the great maze that is the Fel Laboratory. Entry points into the cave system are access by the barrows above ground, stairways circling down for what seems like miles.
Here, the circle-master participates in countless experiments, his population of demons living in large city-lairs as they farm phosphorescent, edible fungi and collect the swallowed up offerings from the fields above. They view the circle-master as a well-enough leader, having a great deal of experience before the coming of the Fallen. To his name, Vercingorenax has never done anything to stir up trouble outside of his circle in all of the time he's ruled since then; his border is kept safe, and beyond the strange experiments, the first circle is as unassuming and stable as it gets in the Abyss.
The Second Circle: The Inferno Jungles of Sangría; The Brass Palace Corona and Moloch, Warlord of Fire
Bordering the eastern coast and reaching far to the south is the Inferno Jungle of Sangría. The area gets it's name from the constant, fiery rain of water that ignites on contact with the ground, trees, animals, and everything. While the fires rage in the canopies and all around, the plant life never truly burns away, simply dying down until the next storm. The humidity here is staggering, and the ash and the water left from the fiery rain mixes together in the jungle's rivers and pours down the coasts, giving the illusion of a bleeding jungle.
Carnivorous fish and other aquatic life swim off the coasts of the jungle, and the landscape itself is teeming with all manner of fiendish creatures, be it crabs in the beach or ape-like animals in the trees. The greatest of these fire-proof creatures are known as the Walkers in Flame, and have the barest amount of intelligence, enough to serve the circle-master Moloch in his duties. On the western edge of the jungles like the numerous cities of demons that live under Moloch's rule; making home out of the sparse safe-zones along the edge of the region and working to provide the Abyss with it's strange bounty of fruits and materials. Others serve as indentured-servants to the Warlord, creating great fortresses in the jungles for his eventual enjoyment.
Moloch himself lives in a shining palace of brass, as much aflame as the jungles surrounding it. Here, he gathers an army of his most trusted people, for use in patrolling the borders of the Abyss and to engage in his favorite pass-time of laying siege. He, more than any other circle-master, resents Altima's rule and his people share the sentiment; despite this, Moloch enjoys his duties and is content to play out his hatred with Altima in what he secretly considers field practice. With the exception of an age-old scuffle with the now disposed circle-master Eurogynes, Moloch is on good terms with his fellow demon lords.
The Third Circle: The Plains of Faethir; The Onyx City of Corinthel and the Demon-Lord Ireazeul Kaldaris
The Planes of Faethir are one of the more populous regions of the Abyss. Physically, it is a very long, flat scrubby grassland, filled with the occasional scraggly shade trees and low brush. Most of this is inhabited by smaller, feline beasts, and some larger, horned lupine creatures. However, beyond the indigenous flora and fauna, the predominant feature of the planes is a gigantic, great-walled city: Corinthel. By Kharlian standards, Corinthel dwarfs any city in the known world, easily matching Selnic, Greendale, and Ganelon combined. Corinthel is set, literally, in the dead center of the planes; built in a roughly circular fashion, one perfectly smooth, ebony cylindrical tower juts from it's center. Not unlike a Kharlian city, however, is the makeup of Corinthel: There is everything from markets and street vendors to massive libraries and colleges, chronicling things most Kharlians would have never even heard of. It's population largely consists of standard demon stock, though a few fallen populate the library districts.
The tower in the center of the city is known as Xen-la, and is home to the region's circle-master, Ireazeul Kaldaris. He is well known as being one of the most vocal and blatant opponents to the late circle-master Eurogynes' plan to invade Kharlia. However, few outside the tower, which houses his most trusted minions, know of his assistance to the seraphim Ares Warblade and his allies in the first war. Ireazeul, and his region in general, has a very close alliance with Zalera Volteldekk, the master of the largest constituency of fallen in the deep woods of New Eden. Finally, Ireazeul is notable for being one of the only circle-masters to not have originally held a circle, having taken it over after the disappearance of his legendary predecessor, Damathir Xau Faea.
The Fourth Circle: The Thorned Wastes of Bellon and Idomeneus, the Incarnation of Fury
In the northern portion of the continent lies a barren waste leading into the thorn-covered mountains of Bellon. The land below the hazardous mountain passes is gray and lifeless, only the bleached bones of past fiends litter it's terrain, while the sun hangs low in the sky. Strong winds blow through the mountain trails, and many caves are dug out of the cliffsides. The mountains are otherwise solid, having no carved out cities in the great below or worked passes going over them; the region is all the more imposing because of this, acting as a complete shield to the northern seas and a dead end to those from the south. The thorns that cover the mountains are plentiful and immense, creating a web of shadows as the sun peers through as they crown the hilly topsides.
Because of this terrain, no demons or fallen make civilization here. Only a variety of fiends play out their existence, hunting one another and weaving in and out of the dangerous spiked vegetation. Often, however, demonic hunters will travel to this circle in the hopes of proving themselves or slaying great beasts to serve as trophies or reagents in powerful rituals. In times before Altima's rule, these hunts would go on with impunity, but with the coming of the circle-master, many of the hunters track their prey with caution for the greatest fiend of them all.
Since his revenge and ascension, Idomeneus has allowed many small lodges for demons that wish to live among the thorned wastes and hunt dangerous game. He demands only a small tribute of the best kills once a year, and no one questions his rule; many demons and fallen come to this circle to escape prosecution or hide away from crimes due to the otherwise dearth of laws. They find the land hazardous enough to ward off detection, and hospitable enough to eek out an existence, the only caveat being the fickle nature of the circle-master. Idomeneus has been known to elect certain residents as the ultimate prey, and tracks them down with great skill before butchering them mercilessly. To date, he has never lost a target.
The Fifth Circle: The Forests of New Eden and Zalera, Angel of Death
The Sixth Circle: The Shrouded Moors; The Bastion of Contracts, and Nybbas, Devourer of Souls.
A snaking river from the sweltering jungles in the north winds it's way southwest and feeds into a lowland; these waters, combining with the winds coming from the western desert, create a foggy, lush region known as the Shrouded Moors. One of the larger circles, the Shrouded Moors enjoy a mild climate where the sky is perpetually dusk and many demonic senses feel sharpened here. Creatures such as fiendish hydra, dragons, and undead roam the foggy terrain looking for sustenance, and the wretched Gremlins arose originally from this circle many years ago.
With the exception of Corinthel, the sixth circle boasts the largest population of demons in the Abyss. Situated in dozens of small cities, the Shrouded Moor is home to many cultural aspects of demonic society including theaters, arenas and burlesque houses. Very few Fallen find these activies appealing, especially when bent with a Demonic twist; indeed many Fallen find the general atmosphere of the region to be unsettling and would rather home elsewhere. The Demons wouldn't have it any other way.
Floating slowly above all of this is the abode of Nybbas, Devourer of Souls. So named the Bastion of Contracts for it's numerous halls filled with the thousands of legal documents detailing every shady deal the circle-master has ever made. Recruiting many scribes and accountants to his cause, Nybbas tracks these innumerable contracts and maintains their fufillment; most, if not all, of them involve the trading of one's soul away to the circle-master, and his greatest pleasure is adorning the Bastion with the ill-gained spirits. Those who do not serve in Nybbas' lair as contract keepers do so as pleasure slaves, indulging the circle-master in his perverse desires. To his people, Nybbas is considered a level-headed and calculating leader, "sparing" them from involvement in any war, planar or otherwise, when in fact Nybbas fears the potential outcome of such events; he is much more content to wage smaller battles and reap finer victories through use of politics and diplomacy.
The Seventh Circle: The Sea of Forever and Vinx, Herald of the Depths
The Eighth Circle: The Shattered Land of Rime and Toranna, Mistress of Destruction
West of the Plains of Faethir once stood a great coastal region known to be the epicenter of naval interest in the Abyss. A corrupt stretch of land where bandits, cutthroats and other truly wicked demons would call home. When Altima and her Fallen arrived, she appointed Toranna to this region as it was the place of her birth. The newly formed circle-master repaid her homeland by literally tearing it to shreds in a fit of supernatural anger; all that remains of this coastal region is a series of islands out in the sea and a copse of bogs farther inland. This is so named the Shattered Land of Rime.
Few creatures outside of the occasional researcher travel or live in the bogs; it is a place of deep swamps and choking disease-clouds. Farther west, pirates and merchants live amongst the atolls, building up small cities and outposts in the aftermath of the circle-master's wrath. Many rich minerals and exotic fish are amongst the decidedly cold, clear waters of the western sea and Demons are often drawn here in hopes of gathering wealth or, more often, reputation for their deeds.
Toranna herself makes herself as comfortable as possible, traveling between the islands on her gigantic flagship, the Calm. She enjoys engaging others in naval combat, and relishes in it's destructive outcome, though she is the ultimate sore loser. Often, Toranna will sail north and across the seas, destroying chunks of mountain from afar using her ship's immense cannons as she nears her region's borders. If not for being bound to her circle, set inside a swirling maelstrom in the middle of the islands, Toranna would surely cause more chaos amongst her brethren. But the reality of the situation puts her people at ease, going about their lives knowing the circle-master is far too busy shouting death-threats at her fellow circle-master, Nybbas, to cause commotion with Altima. It is a false sense of security, however, as Toranna has no qualms of putting her region through another cataclysmic temper tantrum should the mood strike.
The Ninth Circle: The Endless Black Dunes of Castaer and Hashmaluum, the Infernal Regulator
Even moreso than Altima's palace, there is one region of the abyss that most hardened abyssal is afraid of. That is the black desert of Castaer. Unlike nearly every other region, the desert is truly a hellish place. Bleak, inhospitable, and dark, Castaer is not generally inhabited like the other regions of the abyss. In fact, only one thing calls Castaer home: Hashmaluum, Altima's Infernal Regulator. Arrogant – but powerful – Hashmaluum lorded over the abyss in the time before Altima and her fallen created the current world, and he is likely the one being to truly oppose her largely benevolent takeover. Now Hashmaluum is hardly a demon at all, but a massive creature forged from the same black sands that choke the landscape of the the desert itself. Still himself, but eternally bound to Altima's will, he lives an eternity of servitude for his resistance. But with it is untold strength and power – far, far more than Altima herself (or so she would leave him to believe), or likely any circle-master to be.
Despite the dangerous nature of the ninth circle-master, it is safe to assume that very few other creatures set foot in Castaer, or at least willingly; in recent times, the region has become a sort of "prison" for other rogue fiends. They are sent to confront the regulator for their crimes and almost none leave once his judgment has been passed. Many also travel there to speak with Hashmaluum on a less hostile basis, to discuss strategy and ask questions about the time before time when he ruled. This practice has largely stopped, however, since the disappearance of Damathir Faea, when his circle was severed from him shortly after being sent to speak with the obsidian giant.
The Tenth Circle: The Jewel Hills; the Hilltop Capital of Solace, and the Fallen Queen Altima Kaelis-Volteldekk
The Jewel Hills await those that travel to the far end of Castaer, and are as much different than the surrounding sands as day is to night. Gone is the harsh, black landscape, and in its place is a breathtaking hill-country, lush with flora beyond the imagination of anyone native to the mortal realm. Even the dismal skies of the Abyss are brighter, shining an amethyst hue akin to the blue skies of Kharlia. It is truly unlike anything in the Abyss. This region was transformed from the rest of Castaer at Altima’s coming, using her own personal power to create a small piece of her lost home among the heavenly realm of the ancients. Very few abyssal ever visit Altima's home, save for fallen. The only settlement in the region, called Solace, is almost more beautiful than the natural hillsides it sits among. This palace doubles as Atlima's capital city, a crown jewel of beauty and elegance set amongst the center of the hills.
The entire city seems to shift between all manner of precious gem, metal, and every sort of pure, unblemished beauty. Even the massive demons which guard it have a certain elegance to them, favoring magics and powers of the mind over brute strength of other fiends. Though few have seen her in eons, it is said that both the Jewel Hills and Solace pale when set beside their ruler who, like her consort Zalera, is said to be the most perfect specimen of a female in any realm.
It is rumored that Solace contains many odd and hidden chambers beneath its beautiful exterior, however. Rooms where Altima, once the highest of all the seraphim, tries once more to do what her masters accomplished in ages past: creating life from emptiness.
History of the Abyss
When Altima was banished from Heaven after the death of Virvius and the beginning of linear time, she sought a new world to claim as her own as she fled from the combined forces of the Ancients and the gods. While Kharlia had yet to be created, there existed many other planes that the Ancients had crafted out of the chaotic nether, and it was not long before Altima found the largest of these, the Abyss.
Throughout time, the Abyss has been through a number of iterations in leadership, starting long before the coming of the Fallen. Originally, the Pit King Hashmaluum ruled the Abyss, with Xau Faea, the Archdemon and Vercingorenax, the Ebon Claw, as his right and left hands. This was a time before the circles, when all the land of the Abyss was considered one territory and people fought for petty titles granted by the Pit King. Many powerful Demons existed then that would rival current circle-masters in power and tenacity if not for their collective demises at each others hands.
With the coming of Altima and her armies of Fallen, a power struggle occurred in which Altima defeated Hashmaluum, eternally binding him to her will in a new body wrought of a tainted obsidian from the barren black deserts of the Abyss. She brought with her the power to establish the ten circles of power in a ritual she had stolen from her Ancient creators before the coming of the current pantheon. Going through the ranks of the demons and fiends of the Abyss, as well as her own Fallen, she found those worthy to have these circles of power, and thus the original ten circle masters came into being.
Many of these circle-masters had primary delegates, such as Xau and his chief lieutenant Ireazeul, and Moloch and his personal champion, Som Il Sol. Many had agents in the mortal realm of Kharlia, mostly for keeping track of current events, and occasionally these agents fathered mortal children in the name of their circle-masters as well. It is fairly well known in the Abyss that Zalera and Toranna both had mortal children in the world of Kharlia and, though only spoken about in nervous whispers, there are rumors that Altima herself may as well.
These were, in order from first to tenth, the initial circle-masters to be hand chosen by Altima herself:
- Vercingorenax, The Ebon Claw
- Moloch, Warlord of Fire
- Xau Faea, The Archdemon Prince
- Idomeneus, The Incarnation of Fury
- Zalera, The Angel of Death
- Nybbas, The Devourer of Souls
- Eurogynes, The Archlich
- Toranna, Mistress of Destruction
- Hashmaluum, The Infernal Regulator
- Altima, The Fallen Queen
Within the past century, there have been two changes to this list. Xau Faea mysteriously disappeared, severed from his circle, and was replaced with his second in command, Ireazeul. Near the end of the First Abyssal War, the mortal creature Vinx claimed Eurogynes title after the Archlich was defeated, his circle having been transplanted onto the top of Mount Phoenix during his final showdown with Atna al' Faea. With the final blow, Vinx pulled the circle back into the Abyss and took his place as Eurogynes replacement. Altima banished the remains of Eurogynes and bid Vinx welcome, seeing him as a worthy candidate for the title.
Involvement in the First Abyssal War
During Eurogynes' mad bid for control of the mortal realm, none of the other circle masters openly opposed him by force. Many, such as Vercingorenax, spoke in opposition of his approach and argued to the other circle-masters that he should be stopped. Toranna, on the other hand, seemed to think that it was a good idea, but did little to personally aid the Archlich. Altima and Hashmaluum seemed strangely silent on the issue, though rumors ran high in the dark cities of the Abyss as to their position. Others still, notably Zalera and Ireazeul, put through their own secretive plots to stop Eurogynes, seeing his move as brash and unnecessary. While contingents of Ireazeul's demons were used by the Archlich to destroy Dragoonia and Gadestria, and some of Zalera's agents were used to tie up the pantheon from offering much direct support, the two circle lords secretly lent aid and information to those mortals whom sought to stop Eurogynes; rumor has it that the pair secretly met with the missing Archdemon, Xau, who had been a friend to Zalera and mentor to Ireazeul in earlier times, and it was well known that he and the Archlich were long adversaries. Due to the restrictions of being tied to their circles of power, something which Eurogynes was able to cleverly sidestep, Zalera and Ireazeul were unable to offer any direct physical aid. It is thought, however, that their information may have been key to the eventual defeat of Eurogynes and his exile to the Void.
