Pocket Plane (Baldur's Gate)

The Pocket Plane in the game Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and its expansion Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal is a plane within a plane unconsciously created through the power of their Bhaalspawn blood by the player character to shield themselves within Bhaal's realm.

Nature
The Pocket Plane first appears at the end of Shadows of Amn when the player character is dragged into "hell" together with Irenicus who has stolen most of their divine soul. In order to find their soul, the player character must get to know it better, and to that end the Poket Plane forms to contain a number of tests for self-discovery. The same theme continues in Throne of Bhaal, when more tests appear in a newly-designed Pocket Plane that are part of the protagonist's road to knowing their divine essence in preparation for when they will gain the overwhelming majority of Bhaal's essence at their disposal at the end, if they succeed.

The Pocket Plane is variously stated to be in the Nine Hells or the Abyss, though on the other hand it's also supposed to be in Bhaal's realm, which is officially in neither. Though there are two versions of it, both have a central chamber with a large gate and a number of smaller passages leading to rooms for testing. They also have the same general appearance, with twisted statues around the floor and on walls, and with everything being generally mosntrous and large. In the first version, the "sky" (which also seems to go on underneath the plane's structures) is solid red; in the second, it's swirling with green, formless shapes.

In Throne of Bhaal, the player character becomes able to move to the Pocket Plane at will. It ceases to exist when the player character is ready to face Amelissan and chooses to dissolve it, ending up at the Mana Forge instead.

Features and characters

 * The gate of the Watchers. This monstrous gate, surrounded by five unnatural eyes, dominates the central hall of the first version. The eyes turn to follow the player character, and the gate cannot be passed until all five are closed. This can only be done using the Tears of Bhaal. Once opened, the gate will send forth Irenicus, ready for a final battle.
 * The Tears of Bhaal. According to one of the demons guarding the Tears, "Death causes many tears to fall -- and Bhaal collected many while he lived". Whatever the exact nature of these small gemstones is, each is gained after completing a challenge, and each will close one of the eyes on the gate.
 * Irenicus. Irenicus had also been exploring the soul he shares with the player character, and he is able to draw on some of its power. When he is finally summoned from behind the gate, he will immediately proceed to summon two glabrezus and two balors to match the protagonist's party, and to turn into the Slayer himself.
 * Sarevok.