Dismal Caverns

Dismal Caverns was an Astral dominion in the World Axis cosmology model. Prior to the Spellplague it was known as Deep Caverns in the World Tree cosmology model. It was the home plane of the Great Mother, Ilsensine, Laogzed, and Ghaunadaur.

Description
This plane was a great solid mass of rock perforated by caverns, chasms, and tunnels of all sizes. There was no sky and no light except for that given off by luminous fungi and molten lava flows. Portions of the Caverns were subject to swift winds that howled through the maze of tunnels. Mapping the labyrinth of tunnels was completely impossible because within the demesnes of the deities the passageways and walls obeyed their will and could open, close, change direction, or collapse on an infernal whim.

Inhabitants
Dismal Caverns was the afterlife destination of most beholder, illithid, and troglodyte petitioners, and they appeared here much the same as they had in life. Their behavior was also similar as in their former lives and the disparate groups viewed each other with disdain, hatred, or animosity. Oozes, slimes, and abominations of all kinds also gathered here under the lurking eye of Ghaunadaur.

Realms

 * Ghaunadaur: The deity of abominations, a former member of the Drow Pantheon. Following the events of the War of the Spider Queen and fed up with the machinations of the Drow goddess Lolth, it left the Demonweb Pits and created a new divine realm in the Deep Caverns.


 * Great Mother: The deity of all beholders inhabited a great region called the Realm of a Million Eyes. The Great Mother lived in a vast cave under a great amount of vertical shafts, ideal for floating travelers. She ate everything that came near her reach, even her own sons.


 * Ilsensine: Ruled over The Caverns of Thought. This area echoed with his thoughts, so evil that every creature eventually went mad.


 * Laogzed: Controled the Rotting Plain. He lived on the bottom of a vast cave, filled with putrid lakes and devoured everything that thousands of tunnels brought him. He was a nearly mindless creature.