Elysium

"I would consider taking a brief holiday to Elysium, only I am certain that the Archives would fall apart without me. Plus Cerberus would probably find me eventually and try to tear me to shreds." ~Church Paratir, Grand Archivist of the Authenian Archives.

Elysium is the realm of the honoured dead, where those who lived righteous or eventful lives are rewarded upon death. Elysium was made to be a paradise for all who enter, at it is most certainly deserving of its reputation.
Though Elysium is owned by Hades, each city is watched over by a king appointed by Hades. Lerophon is the largest city in Elysium and is ruled by the shade of the hero and ancient king, Theseus.

Geography

The true size of Elysium is unknown, it may be larger than Eregost itself. It has magnificant cities of immense size and beauty, rocky mountains, crystal clear rivers and vibrant blue seas. There are fields of grass that stretch on for miles, forests with glistening fruit and the spirits of long dead animals and tropical islands with massive beaches.
A small section of the River Lethe goes through Elysium, allowing ancient heroes to clear their minds of unpleasant memories. This stream of the River Lethe is less powerful than the one found in Asphodel, and it takes a lot more of this water to wipe a shade clean from their identity.

Localized Phenomena

"It would be wise to remember that Elysium is not bound by the same rules as the Mortal Realm, and neither are the residents. There is no day. There is only night. Everyone is dead and yet they cannot be slain. It is a land that makes little sense to the average mortal." ~Church Paratir, Grand Archivist of the Authenian Archives.

It is always night at Elysium, though there are beautiful glistening stars in the sky, illuminating the land. Shining silver clouds occasionally race through the sky, facinating the souls of long dead stargazers.
Mortals who have broken into Elysium find the realm to be very cold, though none of the souls of the honoured dead have any complaints about the temperature. Perhaps the realm itself knows not the be accomidating towards intruders and wants to let them know that they are not welcome.
Gravity in Elysium is slightly slowed, making everything lighter. Those who move fast enough can even run on water.
The shades of Elysium can choose which version of themselves they appear to look like, making them capable of changing their age and having any scars or lifelong injuries they suffered from disappear.
Whenever a shade in Elysium is killed, their form begins to burn in blue flames, and then immediately afterwards they reform in their home. Killing a shade is impossible, no matter the circumstances.

Fauna & Flora

Mortals are not the only beings with souls, animals have them too. The wilderness of Elysium is filled with spectral animals, and some of the residents have even reunited with their dead pets.
Pomegranate trees are the only plant found in both the realm of the living and the realms of the dead. These trees were introduced to the realm by Persephone, when she was being courted by Hades.
Sunfruit are large, pineapple like fruit with golden, glowing leaves. They have a briliant sweet and tangy taste. There are whole jungles of these fruit in Elysium, and they are commonly eaten by the shades of the realm. Mortals who eat the fruit experience magical healing to their wounds. Some powerful wizards who break into Elysium sometimes bring back samples of this fruit.
Nightgrapes are a type of grape that only grows in Elysium, they have a sweet yet tart taste. They are black as night, hence their name. They grow on bright red vines thoughout both the cities and the wilderness. The shades of worshippers of Dionysus create a luxurious fine wine with these nightgrapes, which is enjoyed by many of the shades of Elysium. Even Hades himself has on occasion shared a bottle with his loving wife.
Gravepeppers are small chillies of incredible potency, especially to the living. They are orange in colour, with yellow and red flower petals. A single bite can make a mortal splutter and cough for hours. The first of these chillie peppers was planted by Hermes on his first adventure to the Underworld, if you believe the legend.
Frostlimes are small citrus fruits with a tart, bitter taste. The insides are cold and semi-frozen. They have a green skin, covered in a thin layer of ice. Frostlime trees have a pure white bark and have leaves often coated in a light layer of snow.

Natural Resources

Elysium is filled to the brim with exotic plants and materials. One of the most legendary being black adamant, a variant of adamant as dark as night, which is always as cold as ice, lighter than any metal found on the mortal plane and impossible to break through methods not including magic or divine power.
Sunfruit wood is incredible resistant to the elements, and it does not rot, making it an excellent building material. It is watertight and is great at insulating houses. It is dense, making damaging it very hard, the only easy way to dispose of the wood is by burning it.

Tourism

The first thing many souls do upon being granted entry to Elysium is take in all the fascinating and otherworldly sights. Elysium is both an alien world to the newly deceased and a place of wonder and awe.
The Arena of Lerophon is famous for holding the fights of the ages, with many heroes and adventurers of old taking part in fights that would be deadly anywhere but the realm of the dead.
The jungles of Ankon are regularly visited by shades, as the sunfruits' glowing leaves create a beautiful, captivating view as they illuminate the dense woods, as the sounds of spectral birds chirp and jackal spirits dash through the undergrowth.
Many in the Underworld go to library of Artane in order to learn some of the mysteries of the world. Hermes suggested to Hades that this library be built, as he came to the conclusion that the souls of mortals will never find peace until they had answers to some of their wonders and fears. Church Paratir has tried to break into this library twice before, though he has not succeeded.
The Hotsprings of Hermoti are a favoured spot by many of the shades in Elysium. The Hotsprings are visited by the battle-weary souls of dead warriors and the worshippers of Dionysus alike. Many have taken to living beside or even in the hotsprings, creating a small community of shades who spend their days doing nothing but relaxing.
The Plains of Amnesis are used by warriors to hold massive battles every day. Most of these shades are killed in battle and immediately reform in their houses, only to go back and fight again the next day. This daily battle is used by many fallen warriors to relive their mortal experiences, and test their skill against those who are considered their equals.

Alternative Name(s)

The Eternal Paradise

Type

Plane of Existence

Owner/Ruler

Hades

Owning Organization

The Chthonic Gods