It’s All Mad Here; D&D’s Abyss – Birthplace of the Demons Explained
D&D Abyss is one of the worst, wildest, and hardest to predict planes of existence known. But mortals still visit from time to time.
Dungeons and Dragons’ Abyss is the birthplace of demons and chaotic evil in the universe. Though its location in the Forgotten Realms has shifted over time, its lore and importance in the many planes has stayed more or less the same.
The Abyssal Plane
Under the ‘Great Wheel’ cosmology of the planes, the Abyss was one of the outer planes and connected to the Astral Plane, Pandemonium, Carceri, and the Outlands. In the more recent World Tree cosmology model, connections to the Barrens of Doom and Despair, Clagnor, Hammerrgrim, the Demonweb Pits, and the Astral Plane, which in turn connects all of the fiendish planes to the Prime Material Plane indirectly.
The Abyss has an unknown number of levels, though it is thought to have somewhere between 666 and an infinite number. Nobody can tell for absolute certain, but somewhere in the area of 670 have been cataloged and named for their defining characteristic. Some of these layers include Desert, Hellscape, Normal, and Undead.
The first layer is Pazunia, named for the demon lord Pazuzu, and is described as a dusty, barren wasteland baking under a red sun and only broken by great iron fortresses, massive holes in the ground, and the River Styx- later renamed the River of Blood. This could be different at any time, however.
The Abyss is described as a ruined domain of ever-changing, unnatural features and realms. Demons endless wage futile wars over meaningless empires, and their river empties pollution into the Astral Sea. This may all be because the Abyss was cast into the furthest depths of the elemental Chaos by Asmodeus long ago.
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‘Life’ in the Abyss
Inhabitants of the Abyss mainly consist of various demons such as the tanar’ri and lourmaras. But there are examples of non-demonic life in the Abyss as well. For example, both mortal explorers and captives sometimes make their way to the Abyss, as well as some souls.
In some worlds and mythologies, chaotic evil souls are thought to travel directly to the Abyss and become low forms of sub-demons. In other cases, demon lords looking for slaves or cannon fodder for their endless wars may steal souls from the Fugue Plane.
A few more powerful demons also reside in the Abyss, attracted by the natural chaotic evil nature of the place. Some of these were treated as royalty, and others still made the transition into godhood. Lolth for example spun her webs on the 65th and 66th levels before becoming a greater god and moving her Demonweb Pits to the Fiendish Planes. Orcus had a palace made of bones and “employed” many undead servants. And Zuggtmoy oversaw many realms throughout the Abyss’s numerous layers.
What is the Abyss?
In short, it is one of the planes of the many existence in Dungeons and Dragons. It’s best known for its natural chaotic evil alignment, and being home to countless demons.
Is the Abyss Alive?
Just like nobody knows exactly how many layers there are, it’s not known exactly what the nature of the Abyss is, either. Some believe that the plane itself is alive in one way or another and this is often used to explain why the place itself seems to try and kill intruders. It could also just be that as far as planes of existence go, the Abyss is a more dangerous one for your average adventurer.
Is the Abyss Infinite?
Maybe but also not really. It’s unknown how many layers there are to the Abyss. There may be an infinite number of layers, or there may be a finite number- only about 670 have been explored and reported on so only that many are known for sure, but many more are likely. That said, the Abyss is not infinitely wide, so every layer takes up a finite amount of space.
Who Rules the Abyss?
The Abyss is ruled by many, but also by nobody. Pazuzu controlled the skies above the Abyss, and Caron controlled the River Styx and the plane’s primary mode of transportation, while The Queen of Chaos ruled the Abyss’s 14th layer.
Often various demon lords will have their enslaved souls fight endless and meaningless battles for territory, but these wars are also just as likely out of boredom or to establish dominance and sow fear. Who is in charge will likely depend on where in the Abyss you are at the moment and which demon lord happens to be closest at the time.
What is the Difference Between the Abyss and the Hells?
While sharing many similarities, the Abyss and the Nine Hells are different and distinct. The Abyss is a plane of infinite evil and chaos. It’s a place where everything goes and everything happens just because it should. Additionally, while there are lords and leaders, there isn’t a set hierarchy or order to the madness.
In comparison, the Nine Hells are strictly ordered. There is method, hierarchy, and rules. Neither is a place where your average mortal should want to visit, but the Hells may at least make some sense.
Have you ever ventured into the Abyss? What did your party find there? As a DM, is it somewhere you would ever send your group? Let us know in the comments!
Happy adventuring!
