Zenith & Penumbra Cosmology – The Nether Realms
“Now, being heroes, I know you’re going to be tempted to go charging off into the Hells in search of fame, glory, fortune, or your mama’s lost longsword. I know better than to try and stop you morons, so here’s the deal. I’m going to tell you what I know, and in return maybe…Just maybe…you’ll get out of it with your skin and soul intact. No promises about your sanity though, you’re on your own there.”
–Dame Lorraine Orlaf, syllabus for Planology 301: The Nether Realms and You
Commonly referred to as the ‘Hells’ by mortals, the term actually refers to a labyrinthine web of inter-connecting planes of various size, power, and dominion. Sprawling by nature, the Nether Realms boast all manner of terrains, even some that look deceptively similar to Zenith and Penumbra. Contrary to some religious schools of thought, the Nether Realms are not the source of the evils that plague mankind, they are merely a representation thereof. It should be noted that the Nether Realms encompass the home for all evil outsiders, as well as some not-so-evil outsiders.
The Hells are ruled by a council of the five most potent demon lords referred to as the Hand of the Nether Realms. Membership in this council is gained primarily through violently ousting a sitting member, though it is not unheard of for a demon lord to simply retire from infernal politics all together. The Hand settles inter-planar squabbles, sets the agenda for the mortal plane, and responds to all existential threats. In many ways, the Hand rules the Hells much the same way a senate rules a republic.
Below is a list of common or prominent demonic entities. It is pointless to list many of the lesser demonic lords, due to the nature of war in the Hells, a typical week will often see more than one mantle of lordship changing hands.
| Name | AL | Portfolio | Domains | Favored Weapon |
|
The Hand of the Nether Realms |
||||
| Averni | CE | Deception, deceit, lies | Chaos, Darkness, Evil, Knowledge, Trickery | Dagger |
| Fenthik | NE | Blight, decay, death | Death, Destruction, Evil, Plant | Sickle |
| Kaynus | LE | Thralls, slavery, conquest | Knowledge, Law, Evil, Strength, War | Spiked Chain |
| Malachar | CE | Suffering, pain, despair | Chaos, Evil, Luck, Madness, Trickery | Whip |
| Sin’Telok | NE | Sin, debauchery, chaos | Charm, Evil, Madness, Plant | Short Sword |
|
Other |
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| Chaos | CN | Chaos, anarchy, whimsy | Chaos, Destruction, Luck, Trickery | Unarmed Strike |
| In’Dys | NE | Sexual predation, rape | Artifice, Evil, Strength, Trickery | Rapier |
| Joiangel | NE | Lost children, hopelessness, invention | Artifice, Darkness, Evil, Trickery | Light Hammer |
| Khamnala | CE | Carnality, carnage, feral beasts | Animal, Charm, Evil, Trickery | Scimitar |
| Sarak | CE | Blood, war, destruction | Chaos, Destruction, Evil, Fire, War | Claw (Unarmed) |
| Umbrasax | CE | Spite, malice, petty hatred | Chaos, Death, Madness, Travel | Heavy Flail |