Carceri
The model for all other prisons in existence, Carceri is a plane of desolation and despair. Its six layers hold vast bogs, fetid jungles, windswept deserts, jagged mountains, frigid oceans, and black ice. All form a miserable home for the traitors and backstabbers that are trapped on this prison plane.
Prison Plane-
No one can leave Carceri easily. Magical efforts to leave the plane by any spell other than a wish simply fail. Portals and gates that open onto the plane become one-way only. Secret ways out of the plane exist, but they are hidden and well guarded by traps and deadly monsters. (Source: DMG D&D) Othrys-
The first layer of Carceri was named for Mount Othrys which was really two mountains on two adjacent orbs (both also called Othrys) each about 50 miles (80 kilometres) high joined together at the peaks in a massive citadel. The worlds of Othrys were so close together that a traveller could easily fly from one to the next. For those who did not wish to fly, the river Styx flowed through all the worlds of this level in the usual mystical fashion. Many other rivers fed the Styx, and the surfaces of this layer were mostly marsh, bogs, and quicksand. Othrys was the brightest (due to the proximity of equal-sized worlds on either side) and warmest layer; no worse than a hot summer day on the Prime Material Plane. Other than the mountains, the ground was soft, like peat, and cut by deep chasms. Othrys could be reached via the Astral Plane and had portals to the Abyss, Hades, and Sigil. This is the layer that Quinmar has there home, protecting the souls in there care from the prisons that are here. Cathrys-
The planets of the second layer were smaller than those of Othrys and about 500 miles (800 kilometres) apart. Plant life in this layer was both abundant and deadly. The flora in the overgrown jungles and grasslands secreted acid that could eat through metal in a minute or less. Minethys-
The third layer of Tartarus had planetoids smaller than those of Cathrys which hovered about 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometres) apart. The air between orbs was torn by harsh winds which carried poisonous dust storms from world to world, making most surfaces a barren desert. Huge tornadoes periodically swept through, carrying anything in its path to distant locations or even an adjacent orb. Colothys-
The worlds of the fourth layer were spiked with colossal mountains rising above deep chasms. Hundreds of miles/kilometres from base to peak, the terrain of this layer made the orbs more asymmetrical than in other layers. Adjacent orbs were 500,000 miles (800,000 kilometres) apart so they appeared to be small spiky red moons in the utterly black sky. Legions of demons and daemons made lairs in the canyon walls. Porphatys-
Black, acidic rain and snow assailed the many worldlets of the fifth layer from giant black clouds that moved between them. On individual worlds, islands barely higher than sandbars came up over the waves of shallow, cold oceans. The snow only stuck to the peaks of any mountains, melting to cover the rest of the surfaces with 1‒6 ft (30‒180 cm) of a weak acid that did not affect metal or stone but could eat away cloth in a minute or less. All barriers between this layer and the next were under water. The orbs of Porphatys were millions of miles/kilometres apart and barely discernible even when not blocked by demonic clouds. A pilotless vessel called the Ship of One Hundred endlessly sails the seas of Porphatys. Agathys-
The smallest, coldest planetoids occupied the sixth layer and were so far apart that neighbouring orbs could not be seen at all. Every surface was covered in dark ice that showed streaks of red and the air was so cold it made breathing difficult. If any layer existed beyond Agathys, the barriers would have been buried under miles/kilometres of ice. Inhabitants-
The dominant race that inhabited Tarterus were the winged demodands. Shators were the ruling nobility, typically controlling major portions of an orb. All but the most powerful daemons and demons would avoid them. Also found on this plane were nightmares, achaierai, and shadow demons, with reports of mephits, hordlings, and vargouille. (https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Carceri)
No one can leave Carceri easily. Magical efforts to leave the plane by any spell other than a wish simply fail. Portals and gates that open onto the plane become one-way only. Secret ways out of the plane exist, but they are hidden and well guarded by traps and deadly monsters. (Source: DMG D&D) Othrys-
The first layer of Carceri was named for Mount Othrys which was really two mountains on two adjacent orbs (both also called Othrys) each about 50 miles (80 kilometres) high joined together at the peaks in a massive citadel. The worlds of Othrys were so close together that a traveller could easily fly from one to the next. For those who did not wish to fly, the river Styx flowed through all the worlds of this level in the usual mystical fashion. Many other rivers fed the Styx, and the surfaces of this layer were mostly marsh, bogs, and quicksand. Othrys was the brightest (due to the proximity of equal-sized worlds on either side) and warmest layer; no worse than a hot summer day on the Prime Material Plane. Other than the mountains, the ground was soft, like peat, and cut by deep chasms. Othrys could be reached via the Astral Plane and had portals to the Abyss, Hades, and Sigil. This is the layer that Quinmar has there home, protecting the souls in there care from the prisons that are here. Cathrys-
The planets of the second layer were smaller than those of Othrys and about 500 miles (800 kilometres) apart. Plant life in this layer was both abundant and deadly. The flora in the overgrown jungles and grasslands secreted acid that could eat through metal in a minute or less. Minethys-
The third layer of Tartarus had planetoids smaller than those of Cathrys which hovered about 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometres) apart. The air between orbs was torn by harsh winds which carried poisonous dust storms from world to world, making most surfaces a barren desert. Huge tornadoes periodically swept through, carrying anything in its path to distant locations or even an adjacent orb. Colothys-
The worlds of the fourth layer were spiked with colossal mountains rising above deep chasms. Hundreds of miles/kilometres from base to peak, the terrain of this layer made the orbs more asymmetrical than in other layers. Adjacent orbs were 500,000 miles (800,000 kilometres) apart so they appeared to be small spiky red moons in the utterly black sky. Legions of demons and daemons made lairs in the canyon walls. Porphatys-
Black, acidic rain and snow assailed the many worldlets of the fifth layer from giant black clouds that moved between them. On individual worlds, islands barely higher than sandbars came up over the waves of shallow, cold oceans. The snow only stuck to the peaks of any mountains, melting to cover the rest of the surfaces with 1‒6 ft (30‒180 cm) of a weak acid that did not affect metal or stone but could eat away cloth in a minute or less. All barriers between this layer and the next were under water. The orbs of Porphatys were millions of miles/kilometres apart and barely discernible even when not blocked by demonic clouds. A pilotless vessel called the Ship of One Hundred endlessly sails the seas of Porphatys. Agathys-
The smallest, coldest planetoids occupied the sixth layer and were so far apart that neighbouring orbs could not be seen at all. Every surface was covered in dark ice that showed streaks of red and the air was so cold it made breathing difficult. If any layer existed beyond Agathys, the barriers would have been buried under miles/kilometres of ice. Inhabitants-
The dominant race that inhabited Tarterus were the winged demodands. Shators were the ruling nobility, typically controlling major portions of an orb. All but the most powerful daemons and demons would avoid them. Also found on this plane were nightmares, achaierai, and shadow demons, with reports of mephits, hordlings, and vargouille. (https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Carceri)
Alternative Name(s)
The Tarterian Depths
Type
Dimensional plane
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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