Gehenna (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the "Dungeons and Dragons" fantasy role-playing game, Gehenna (in the current edition of the game, the Bleak Eternity of Gehenna; also, The Fourfold FurnacesCook, Monte: "The Planewalker's Handbook", p. 21, TSR 2620] or The Fires of Perdition), is a plane of existence of neutral evil/lawful evil alignment [cite book
first=John | last=Larme | date=November 3 2000
title=Dangerous Games?Censorship and "Child Protection" [http://www.members.tripod.com/anthonylarme/gc/gamesthesis.pdf] | location=Queensland
format = PDF
accessdate=2007-10-05] . It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Planes that form part of the standard "Dungeons & Dragons" "(D&D)" cosmology, used in the "Planescape", "Greyhawk" and some editions of the "Forgotten Realms" campaign settings. It borders the Gray Waste of Hades and the Nine Hells of Baator.

Inhabitants

The yugoloths call Gehenna home, and are its primary natives, though they originally hail from the Gray Waste - they dominate both planes, but in Gehenna their rule is more overt and in the Waste more subtle. The "Tower of the Arcanaloths" is also found on Gehenna. The leader of their race, known only as the General of Gehenna, moves his Crawling City from layer to layer according to his will. The City moves on thousands of fireproof legs and may climb the face of any cliff.

tructure

Gehenna consists of four planar layers; each layer consists of a pair of huge volcanos floating in space, joined at the bottom to form massive "earthbergs", hundreds of thousands of miles tall. Smaller mountain-shaped and -sized chunks of earth also float through Gehenna, occasionally colliding with the primary earthbergs. The first layer, Khalas, is a hot and fiery place, but the volcanos gradually grow colder as one passes through the layers; the third layer, Mungoth, is a cool place, while the fourth, Krangath, is icy and dead.McComb, Colin and Cook, Monte: "War Games", p.46 (in: "Hellbound: The Blood War", TSR 2621)]

Layers

Khalas

Khalas is the location of a number of godly realms, including the kobold deity Gaknulak's realm of "Aknuthrak", the wererat god Squerrik's realm of "Cheisin", Math Mathonwy's realm of "Corriegrave", and Sung Chiang's realm of "Teardrop Palace".

Chamada

Chamada is the location of a number of godly realms, including the giant deity Memnor's realm of "Thraotor" and Sargonnas' realm of "Palace of Deception". It also contains the realms of dead gods Iyachtu Xvim ("Bastion of Hate"), and Maanzecorian ("Rictus"). The town of Nimicri can also be found floating above the second layer.

Mungoth

Mungoth is the location of the lich god Velsharoon's realm of "Death's Embrace" and Loviatar's realm of "Ondtland".

Krangath

Krangath is the location of the orc god Shargaas' realm of "The Night Below". It is also home to "Hopelorn", Mellifleur's obsidian citadel.

Fauna

* Phiuhl
* Pyroclastic dragon
* Vaporighu

In other cosmologies

In the revised cosmology of the "Forgotten Realms", the infernal plane of Gehenna was the home of the dark god Bhaal, lord of murder and death, before he was killed in the Time of Troubles.

Historic influences

Gehenna is based on the use of Gehenna as a synonym for Hell in Judaism.

References