Carceri

In the "Dungeons and Dragons" fantasy role-playing game, Carceri (more fully, the Tarterian Depths of Carceri; also, Tarterus or The Red PrisonCook, Monte: "The Planewalker's Handbook", p. 20, TSR 2620] ) is a neutral (chaotic) evil-aligned plane of existence. 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.

Structure

Carceri has six layers, contained inside each other not unlike the shells of a matryoshka doll; each layer consists of a series of orbs floating in an infinite black void. Light is provided by the orbs only; as one progresses through the layer, the light diminishes, and the orbs are separated by larger and larger distances.

The "Bastion of Lost Hope", a fortress controlled by the Revolutionary League, can be found on Carceri.

Layers

Othrys

The first layer, "Othrys", consists of a war-ravaged landscape of swamps and stagnant rivers crossed only by spotted ranges of mountains. Several Greek Titans live on Othrys in the realm of "Mount Othrys"; furthermore, Raiden maintains his "Palace of Thunder" on Othrys.

Cathrys

The second layer, "Cathrys" (also called "The Crimson Jungle"), is a layer of thick jungles and open plains of razored grass. Talona's realm "Palace of Poison Tears" can be found on Cathrys, as can "The Steading", the realm of hill giant deity Grolantor.

Minethys

The third layer, Minethys, is a parched layer of crimson glowing sand and biting, desiccating sandstorms. Notable locations on Minethys include "Coeus' Temple", dedicated to the Titan of the same name; "The Mausoleum of Pain" of the dragon god Faluzure; Karontor's "The Rack of Injustice"; and "Trickster's Delight", the realm of the naga deity Parrafaire.

Colothys

The fourth layer, Colothys, consists of jagged, unforgiving mountains and sudden chasms with little flat ground to find refuge. "Crius' Temple", dedicated to the Titan of the same name, can be found here; furthermore, "Ellaniath", the realm of the the drow deity Vhaeraun, and "The Land of the Hunt", realm of the god Malar, are locatted on Colothys.

Porphatys

The fifth layer, Porphatys, is a cold layer dominated by a shallow, acidic ocean, cut only by sand bars and drifts of semi-solid acid snow. "Oceanus' Temple", dedicated to the Titan of the same name, is located on Porphatys.

Agathys

The last layer, Agathys, consists of a single orb of black ice alone in the void, almost completely devoid of light and sound, with only the shifting and breaking of ice and the slow, crushing agony of petitioners frozen into it being heard. "Apomps' Three-Sided Palace", realm of the demodand (gehreleth) lord Apomps, can be found on Agathys. The god Nerull from the "World of Greyhawk" setting also makes his home on Agathys.

Fauna

* Tarterian dragon
* Vaath

Historic influences

Carceri is based on Tartarus in Greek mythology. Its name is the Italian word for prisons.

References