Pandemonium
Pandemonium is an underground realm, a great mass of matter pierced by innumerable tunnels carved by the howling winds of the plane. It is the plane of chaos and tinged by evil, in many ways the opposite of Vosona. Gravity is always away from the center of the cave, so the traveler can walk on the walls, floors, and ceiling of a cavern with equal ease. Rivers flow along the cave floor or straight down the middle of the cavern through the air.
Three words describe the four layers of Pandemonium: windy, noisy, and dark. The plane of Pandemonium has no constant sources of light. Normal fires are quickly extinguished by the wind. A light that lasts for any length of time is seen for miles in the open tunnels, attracting those creatures that can normally see in the dark. Infravision functions, but the spirits of the underworld radiate no heat, so they cannot be detected in this fashion.
The name Pandemonium is used as a by-word for thunderous noise, as every word, scream, or shout is caught by the strong wind and flung through all the layers of the plane. Conversation can only be accomplished by shouting, and that is ineffective beyond 10 feet. Spells that rely on sound reaching a target do not function beyond 10 feet. Those whose ears are unprotected are rendered temporarily deaf within minutes, and permanently deaf for exposure beyond that. Ear plugs and similar devices negate this effect, but the noise is still mind-shattering.
Finally, the huge caverns (hundreds of miles across and high) are filled with continual wind, which at it's lowest point tugs at the clothing as a strong breeze and at it's highest can lift up to 100 lbs in the air and carry it for miles. "Native" creatures are immune to this effect.
The layers of Pandemonium are four in number. There is a gradual change in conditions from layer to layer:
Pandesmos is the topmost and most habitable layer of Pandemonium. It is here that the Styx winds, fed by innumerable streams that trickle through the rocky wastes. The caverns are largest here, spanning thousands of miles in width, and the wind and noise are as described above. Most of the natives and Powers known to exist in this plane live in these tunnels. What great cities and citadels exist in this plane are found on Pandesmos.
Cocytus, the layer of lamentation, has smaller tunnels and the wind that whistles through them has the sounds of cries and sorrows. The noise is shriller in the layer of Cocytus. Unlike the dry natural tunnels of Pandesmos, the tunnels of Cocytus appear carved, and there are marks of tools and chisels throughout it's length. Who or what created these tunnels is not known even by the gods.
Phlegethon is the layer of darkness. Its very walls are a dull ebon black that swallows the light and reflects nothing. All forms of light, regardless of source, have their radii of illumination halved here. Phelgethon is a wet place, with numerous rivers and streams and all forms of sedimentary formations spring from the black rock.
Agathion is the deepest of the known layers of Pandemonium. It is without tunnels. Instead, the plane is solid rock dotted by great sphereical bubbles. In those bubbles that have barriers to the next layer, the wind swirls in circles, forming massive storms capable of flinging creatures of up to 400 lbs around. Those that do not have barriers are worse, however, for they are filled with stale air of vacuum and are often the final resting places of monsters that the Deities themselves do not wish awakened.
The barriers between the layers are unmarked but usually identifiable by the wind, which can pass between the layers with ease. A dead-end passage with a strong wind indicates a barrier somewhere within that passage. The wind can carry flying (or unfastened) items between the planes.
The portals on the uppermost layer of Pandemonium lead to Limbo, the topmost layer of Cania and Elysium. These portals are always flat squares in the sides of the caverns. Yellow squares usually lead to Limbo, red to the Cania, and white to Elysium. -Usually.-
Features of Pandemonium
Pandemonium has no known native life; the beings that live here are usually immigrants, exiles, or marooned creatures from other planes. Most of the various non-name demons make their homes here, and the occasional demon lord-in-exile has a hiding place in the realms. Shadow demons are found in abundance, but again, they are not natives to the plane.
Pandemonium Traits
Objective Directional Gravity:
In the cavernous tunnels of Pandemonium, gravity is oriented toward whatever wall a creature is nearest. Thus, there is no normal concept of floor, wall and ceiling --- any surface is a floor if you're near enough to it. Rare narrow tunnels exactly cancel out gravity, allowing a traveler to shoot through them at incredible speed. The layer of Phlegethon is an exception --- there the normal gravity trait applies.
Normal Time.
Infinite Size:
Pandemonium goes on forever, although it's well-known realms are bounded.
Divinely Morphic:
Specific powerful beings such as the deities Napalu and Ophion can alter Pandemonium. Ordinary creatures find Pandemonium indistinguishable from the Material Plane (the alterable morphic trait, in other words). Spells and physical effort affect Pandemonium normally.
No Elemental or Energy Traits.
Mildly Chaos-Aligned
Normal Magic.
I would also like to note that most, thus far, was taken from D&D, Manual of the Planes. Thank you, TSR.
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