Underworld of Hades (Custom)

Hoi!

I'm not much of a PnP'er myself, I'm more involved in the Neverwinter Nights community to be honest. I'm building some small time module for a group of friends to enjoy, and of course it has to happen in the PS setting.

One major problem is handling death when you have to make every area, bar, city yourself. Creating all the Outer Planes just to send someone to when they die can be stressful.

That's when I starting thinking about the Gray Wastes of Hades, and the Gate to the Underworld. Since I didn't like the information the Manual of the Planes gave me, I decided to create my own version. I added some mythology flavor and some D&D flavor.

Tell me what you buggers think about it.

Greets!

EDIT: Changed my silly error, many pardons! :oops:

Underworld of Hades
Location:
Deep within the third layer of Hades, Pluton, locked away behind the gigantic Gates of the Underworld.

Description:
The Underworld lies deep between in lowest layer of the Gray Waste of Hades, sealed off by a gigantic gate constructed of beaten bronze. The gate itself is guarded by the three-headed hound Cerberus, who never leaves his post unless ordered so by his master, Hades himself.

Beyond the gate lies a labyrinth of tunnels and forgotten passages. Whoever is brave enough to tread on the soil will likely draw the attention of the Harpies, living within the maze, to her. Past the curving and gloom tunnels of the labyrinth stands a tall dark citadel, towering high above the entrances of the maze. In this marvelous structure Hades, the ruler of the Underworld, makes his home.

Behind the citadel lies the mystical river Styx, which flows into two openings in the dark marble of the Underworld. A small ferryboat occasionally drifts at the bank of the river, waiting for those who seek to pass the Styx. When presenting Charon a garnish he will bring the passenger to her desired location. Attempting to cross the river without Charon’s help however will lead to an unpleasant fall in the waters of the Styx. The lost souls within the dark river will keep the body pulled down, never to resurface again.

Should the passenger wish to travel upwards then she’ll eventually end up in the Elysium Fields. The Elysium Fields is the wonderful place where a body ends up should she leave her mortal life for what it was, naturally only if the person in question led a good life. In truth this place is an outpocket of the plane Elysium, which should be obvious due to the relating name. The Fields consist out of rolling planes, blossoming flowerbeds and orchards as far as on can see. How it came to exist in a place like Hades is something greybeards and sages alike still argue about.

However some passengers desire the opposite of this good-natured place. They often travel down the river Styx in hope to seek answers from past foes, to confront their problems head on, or even worse such as trying to free them. These foes and evil-natured cutters are the ones that inhabit Tartarus, an outpocket of the prison plane Carceri. Unlike the Elysium Fields, Tartarus doesn’t have beautiful planes filled with flowers and happiness, quite the contrary even. In this place those who led a life of sin and malice are punished, which is reflected by the barren wastelands of Tartarus’ environment.

The Underworld of Hades isn’t an evil place in itself, it’s a place where the dead travel should they truly desire so. A place where the greatest of heroes are remembered and the darkest of fiends are punished. No, the Underworld isn’t a domain of good nor evil, it’s just the land of the deceased.

Ruler:
The lord of the Underworld is the Greek deity Hades himself. Only he has authority over this gloom domain, nothing goes unseen while he sits in his majestic citadel. If a body should want to “rescue” a fallen cutter then an audience with Hades is necessary, though if the power would want to grant such a request is not always certain.

However during the cold winter season a body has a greater chance of having her wish approved. It’s during these times that Persephone, the goddess of harvest and reluctant queen of the Underworld, resides in the citadel by Hades’ side. One might even go as far to say that her presence brings out Hades’ kindhearted side.

Lord Hades is also the only one who Cerberus, the gate guardian, answers to. If the ruler of the Underworld should not pardon a soul and the said soul would try to leave the Underworld, then Cerberus will ensure that the said soul is returned to its proper domain. Of course this will only be done after the said soul received a proper punishment for its feeble attempt.

Inhabitants:
Harpies usually make their home in the hidden chambers and forgotten tunnels of the labyrinth in between the Underworld’s gate and the river Styx. These pesky creatures follow and taunt the brave travelers who risk their lives into the depths of the Underworld. Though there have been occasions when the taunting ended and turned into bloodshed, leaving corpses of both Harpies as travelers behind.