The Underdark

2020-01-01T22:47:11Z

2601:98A:4100:FE80:3C42:6F78:93C0:B11D: /* Trapped Souls: The Darkfates */

[[File:Underdarkpolitical.jpg|centre|thumb|595x595px]]'''The Underdark '''is an [[The Quelmar Great Wheel|Quelmar-adjacent plane]] of innumerable caverns, tunnels, and caves. The plane is identical in size to [[The Quelmar Realm|Quelmar]], and resides between 3 to 5 miles below Quelmar's surface.

== About ==

=== Quelmar's Shield ===
The sole purpose of the Underdark is to confuse and complicate any attempts at directly plane jumping between the evil, outer planes and the [[Prime Material Plane]]. The punishing energies of the Underdark cause any and all plane jumping teleportation to get struck by a surge of [[Wild Magic]], distorting the destination of the target in both space and time. A powerful protection, it keeps any demon lords, archdevils, or lower fiends from just directly popping into the Quelmar Realm.

Conversely, those seeking to summon devils or demons requires incredible dark magic, as it can be nearly impossible to directly pull demons through the protective shield of the Underdark. Even then, most summoners can only pull small and powerless fiends.

=== Trapped Souls: The [[DarkFates|Darkfates]] ===
[[Souls]] who get trapped in the Underdark when trying to plane jump are bound to suffer from one of several fates. Those of particularly strong body, soul, and beliefs can survive the adventure, living normally in the Underdark. These type of survivors are typically ''Lawful Good'', and are deemed incorruptible. But most of the time, those banished to the Underdark suffer from one of three ultimate fates: becoming an '''Allip''', a '''Bodak, '''or a '''Soul Reaver'''. These abominations are known as the [[DarkFates]].

=== Escaping the Underdark ===
When trapped in the Underdark due to a plane jump or teleportation gone wrong, the easiest solution is to ''Dispel'' the magic that cast you into the Underdark to begin with. Being subjected to the energies of ''Dispel Magic ''has a non-zero chance of reverse the jump, flinging the creature back to it's original destination, though the time and place may not be exactly when and where they departed from.'' ''

== History ==

=== Creation ===
The plane of the Underdark was created by the [[Lost God]] known as [[Torog]]. A god of punishment and pain, Torog shaped the plane out of dangerous energies, imbuing the life and terrain to exist solely as a lethal test to those enduring here. In a way, the Underdark is one massive cavernous prison.

Torog was tasked by the creator gods to create a "buffer" between [[Quelmar]] and the [[The Ten Hells]] that lie beneath it. As [[Asmodeus]] was prone to trying to take over the realm, the Underdark was the first line of defense against all fiendish energies.

=== Habitation ===
Though created solely to trap and confuse those plane jumping forces, the Underdark was directly tied to the Quelmar Realm, and could even be reached if one managed to go underground far enough. Very few natural cavern systems existed that reached the Underdark, but in Quelmar's ancient history, those caves were used to send banished groups deep underground, including the original [[Drow]], [[Duergar |Duergar]], and [[Svirfneblin]].

== Geology ==
The Underdark is home to countless rare gemstones and ores. A brief list of Underdark treasures is listed below:
* Agate
* Azurite
* Adventurine
* Amethyst
* [[Alexandrite]]
* Ioun Stone
* Lapis Lazuli
* Light Gem
* Malachite
* Phenalope
* Ruby
* Sapphire
* Spell Gems - A [[Svirfneblin]] gem craft that imbues any of the other gems listed here with a one-time spell.
* Tiger Eye
* Topaz

== See Also ==
* [[The Underdungeon]], a campaign set entirely in the dangers of the Underdark.

DarkFates

2020-01-01T22:46:54Z

2601:98A:4100:FE80:3C42:6F78:93C0:B11D:

'''DarkFates''' are a collection of creatures who are born from trapped souls in [[The Underdark]]. There are three known types of DarkFates, known as '''Allips''', '''Bodaks''', and '''Soul Reavers. '''

== About ==
When a creature tries to teleport between Quelmar and the Evil Lower Planes, typically a form of corruption occurs due to the evil energies of those destinations. Conversely, a demon may already have those fiendish energies, but may pick up some material contamination from the material plane. As such, a creature trapped in the Underdark consists of 3 Aspects, and each of the DarkFates is the result of when a creature has been boiled down to it's last shape.
* Those whose minds perish, but whose material form survives become '''Bodaks'''. Physical semblences of themselves but driven insane.
* Those whose bodies are frail and perishable, but whose minds are strong will go on as '''Soul Reavers, '''trapped spirits of their former selves.
* Those who are weak of both body and mind are wiped away leave only the fiendish contamination itself, known as an '''Allip'''

== Allips ==
When a creature attempts to teleport into [[The Abyss]] from [[Quelmar]], they will be caught by [[the Underdark]], but not before contaminating themselves momentarily with the demonic energies that the Abyss harbors. Trapped in the caverns of the Underdark and diseased with demonic plague, those who are not strong in mind and constitution will ultimately succumb, becoming a shell of their former selves: An '''Allip'''.

'''Allips''' are the incorporeal remnants of a humanoid plagued by madness. They are considered a type of undead, and take the form of shadowy chaotic clouds of evil, a remnant of the chaotic energies that devoured their mortal form.

== Bodak ==
When a trapped creature with a low will (such as lower demons or inferior devils) is stuck in the Underdark, they can become targets of the psionic energies that flow through the caverns. Many powerful psionic entities reside in the underdark, including [[Aboleth|Aboleths]], [[Mind Flayer|Mind Flayers]], [[Myconid|Myconids]], and [[Duergar]]. Massive swaths of the Underdark are littered with stray psionic energy, which feeds and destroys weak minds.

'''Bodaks '''(also called '''Gorgers''')''' '''are a vampiric abomination, created when all that used to exist in a creature's mind has been removed and replaced with the need to subsist on brains and thoughts. A type of undead, Bodaks will scour the underdark in hungry packs, ready to devour the heads of any and all creatures to satisfy it's lust for psionic power. Though ravaged, their physical form will typically remain similar to it's mortal form, meaning that Bodaks can be massive, small, strong, or frail depending on their original race.

== Soul Reavers ==
The most rare of the DarkFates, a '''Soul Reaver '''is created when ''only ''the will of a creature is strong. It has been able to shake off whatever psionic, eldritch, or fiendish energies it has cross contaminated with---but its flesh is compromised and destroyed.

A type of spirit, the Soul Reaver is a lost [[soul]] who has lost it's original husk. Still bound to the Underdark by the buffer protections, the Soul can not return home to repent, and can not escape. Now stuck in the punishing Underdark, Soul Reavers typically become cynical, cruel, or downright malicious. They have proven themselves "superior" to the corruptions of the Underdark, but have little to show for their victory except for an intact soul.
[[Category:The Underdungeon]]
[[Category:Underdark]]

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The Underdark

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