Tartarus

"There is a place feared by all mortals, and most gods. A place of torment and sufffering. Tartarus. He is both a primordial god and a realm designed to torture all within it. Ever since Chaos fell into a deep slumber, many consider Tartarus to be the most powerful being in existence." ~Church Paratir, Grand Archivist of the Authenian Archives.

The realm of Tartarus is under the control of the Chthonic Gods, and as such, it's ruler is technically Hades. Hades sentences the souls of the particularly evil to suffer in Tartarus for all eternity, where they are tormented by daemons on behalf of Tartarus. Tartarus may be the most powerful being in the Cosmos at this point in time, and it would be nigh-impossible for an individual god to defeat him in a standard fight. Despite this, Tartarus is not unbeatable. Tartarus knows that he cannot defeat the three sons of Cronos, let alone every Olympian, and so he instead sides with them.

Geography

Gateways to Tartarus can be opened by powerful magic, though the most famous entrance is The Gate of Tartarus, which is deep within the Underworld.
The Realm of Tartarus looks like a dark reflection of the Mortal Realm. Buildings are in ruins, all plants are dead and the sky is filled with and endless and ever-present storm clouds with red lightning piercing the dark sky. Within the sky you can see the Titans. Gods chained in the sky, and endlessly tortured, by Tartarus himself.

Climate

It is incredible cold in Tartarus, and the air is incredible thin. The winds are incredibly violent, and blows in unpredicible directions. Apart from the winds, there is no weather in Tartarus. Helios' rays cannot reach the Underworld and the chained Hyperion's light is dimmed by his Chains of Torment.

Fauna & Flora

Ashblossoms are white roses with blacked, burn stems. They can be found near the entrance of The Gates of Tartarus. It is said that being pricked by an Ashblossom makes the affected area burn red hot. Venatorian Mages have brought samples of these flowers back to Eregost, as they can be used to fabricate a poison that tortures the inflicted. The Venatorian Empire denies using this poison in the Ceilic Region, but reports vary.
Voidfruit are small black, plum-like fruit. Eating one causes the consumer to temperarily gain enhanced strength, but once this is over, they will be struck with a sickness that hinders the endurance of the one who ate it. Voidfruit grow on sickly looking trees, close to lakes.
Hope-Orchids are a type of flower found only in Tartarus. They are imbued with divine power, a rare sight in the Abyssal Realm. They look like tall blue orchids, radiating blue light. Daemons cannot enter the light of a Hope-Orchid without burning, making these flowers capable of saving souls from abyssal torture. These orchids were planted by Hermes himself on his first trip to the Underworld, and they are his greatest gift to the realm. Tartarus was shocked to learn that a mere child, god or not, would be brave enough to defy his will and provide the damned souls some comfort.
Daemons were spawned from Tartarus himself, and act as enforcers of his dreaded punishment. They are formless beings, made of shadowy smoke and vapour. They often take a semi-humanoid shape, with a shadowy three pointed crown. Their eyes glow, and are often red in colour. Daemons are capable of changing their shape, making blades out of their limbs, or slipping through a keyhole at will. Daemons can develop power by siphoning it from mortal souls, leaving their victim in a diminished state. More powerful daemons are capable of changing their form into that of another creature. They can manipulate the forces of nature, creating blizards and infernos. They can possess the bodies of mortals, granting them great power at the cost of their free will. All daemons are capable of instantly teleporting long distances as long as they are in pure darkness.

History

Tartarus was one of the primordial gods created by Chaos, the first being. All of the Primordials were fundamental aspects of existence, and Tartarus was no different. Tartarus was the void. A vast emptiness. As Gaia and Uranos created the Mortal Realm together, Tartarus decided to display his great power by taking the form of a realm without the need of a partner. Tartarus created a realm of Torment, a realm where the wicked could be punished for the crimes that they did not answer for in life.
As Uranos was overthrown and the Titan Age began, Tartarus offered Cronos a deal. Tartarus would become a punisher for all who Cronos faced who were wicked. Cronos assigned Themis to act as a Jailor, ensuring that none of his prisoners would escape, especially the more monstrous of the children of Uranos and Gaia, who Uranos himself plunged into Tartarus during his reign.
Slowly, the Titans began to abuse their power, and those who were banished to Tartarus became less and less guilty of any crimes. Tartarus began to to anger at the fact that the Titans were not using his services as they were made for. When Hades vanquished Themis, Tartarus suggested that Hades should banish her into his void, and in return he would free the Cyclopses and the Hecatoncheires. From then on, Tartarus has been loyal to the Olympians, and eagerly accepted the Titans to his realm, where he has tortured them ever since, taking a sadistic pleasure from doing so.

Tourism

The only people that willingly go to Tartarus are powerful spellcasters looking to gain something from their trip, such as exotic samples, sources of power of information only obtainable from a soul within the cruel realm.

"I have been to Tartarus multiple times, and I always make certain to bring back something important when I come back, such as vapours from a dead daemon or Titan blood. Because if you're going to a realm of endless torture and pain, you must make that trip worth the risk." ~Church Paratir, Grand Archivist of the Authenian Archives.

Alternative Name(s)

The Cruel Void, The Abyss

Type

Plane of Existence

Owner/Ruler

Hades

Owning Organization

The Chthonic Gods