Layers of the Abyss

Each layer of the Abyss is different from all the others, the only apparent similarity being that the plane seems to try and inflict as much harm on travelers with each layer as possible. It might even be said that the plane is as varied and evil as the demons who inhabit it. Even deities dwell in the Abyss, like Umberlee and Merrshaulk, as well as Demon Lords that are mostly worshiped by one kind of species, such as Sess'innek, the lord of lizardfolk who makes his home on the seventh layer, Phantom Plane, and Vaprak, patron of ogres, ogre mages and trolls. Vaprak is located on the layer of Shatterstone. Lolth used to occupy the 66th layer as the Demonweb Pits, but during the Silence of Lolth, she moved her domain from the Abyss to a plane of her own making, leaving the 66th layer a desolate wasteland, bereft of any life, mortal or otherwise.

List of Known Layers

 * 1: Plane of Infinite Portals, Pazunia
 * 2: Driller's Hives
 * 3: The Forgotten Land
 * 4: The Grand Abyss
 * 5: Wormblood
 * 6: Realm of a Million Eyes
 * 7: Phantom Plane
 * 8: The Skin-Shedder
 * 9: Burningwater
 * 10: "That Hellhole"
 * 11: Molrat
 * 12: Twelvetrees
 * 13: Bloodtor
 * 14: The Steaming Fen
 * 15: The Courts of Mustering
 * 16: The Endless Graveyard
 * 17: Death's Reward
 * 18: Carnaxius
 * 19: Falserapture
 * 20: Candlesnuff
 * 21: The Sixth Pyre
 * 22: Ebon Death
 * 23: The Iron Wastes
 * 24: Torpor
 * 25: Nightmire
 * 26: Magebane
 * 27: Malignebula
 * 28: The Mountains of Murder
 * 29: Rotting Corpse
 * 30: Slimeflow
 * 31: Dungeon Dimensions aka The Deserts of Still Silver
 * 32: Sholo-Tovoth: The Fields of Consumption
 * 33: A'Shad'lfogh
 * 34: The Wispering Lights
 * 35: Throne of Skulls
 * 45-47: Azzagrat (respectively: Rauwend, Shadowsky, and Voorz’zt )
 * 48: Nerebdian Vast
 * 49: Shaddonon
 * 52: Vorganund
 * 53: Phage Breeding Grounds
 * 57: Torturous Truth
 * 65-66: The Remains of the Demonweb Pits
 * 67: The Heaving Hills
 * 68: The Swallowed Void
 * 69: The Crushing Plain
 * 70: The Ice Floe
 * 71: Spirac
 * 72: Darklight
 * 73: The Wells of Darkness
 * 74: Smaragd
 * 77: The Gates of Heaven
 * 79: The Emessu Tunnels
 * 81: The Blood Shallows
 * 88: Gaping Maw, also known as Abysm
 * 89: The Shadowsea
 * 92: Ulgurshek
 * 99: Unnamed Contested Layer
 * 100: The Barrens
 * 111: The Mind of Evil
 * 113: Thanantos
 * 128: Slugbed
 * 137: Outcasts' End
 * 142: Lifebane
 * 148: Torrent
 * 176: Hollow's Heart
 * 177: The Writhing Realm
 * 181: The Rotting Plain
 * 191: Fountain of Screams
 * 193: Vulgarea
 * 222: Shedaklah
 * 223: Rarandreth
 * 230: The Dreaming Gulf
 * 241: Palpitatia
 * 245: The Scalding Sea
 * 248: The Hidden Layer
 * 274: Durao
 * 277: Belistor
 * 297: The Sighing Cliffs
 * 300: Feng-Tu
 * 303: The Sulfanorum
 * 313: Gorrison's Grasp
 * 333: The Broken Scale
 * 340: The Black Blizzard
 * 348: The Fortress of Indifference
 * 357: The Arc of Eternity
 * 377: Plains of Gallenshu
 * 399: The Worm Realm
 * 400: Woeful Escarand
 * 403: The Rainless Waste
 * 421: White Kingdom
 * 422: The Seeping Woods
 * 423: Galun-Khur
 * 434: Demonwing
 * 444: Morass of Adarus
 * 452: Ahriman-abad
 * 471: Androlynne
 * 477: The Spires of Rajzak
 * 487: Lair of the Beast / Mansion of the Rake
 * 489: Noisome Vale
 * 493: The Steeping Isle
 * 499: Carroristo
 * 507: Occipitus
 * 512: The Plains of Rust
 * 518: Melantholep
 * 519: March of the Pierced Men
 * 524: Shatterstone
 * 531: Vudra
 * 548: Garavond
 * 550: Forest of Living Tongues
 * 558: Fleshforges
 * 566: Soulfreeze
 * 570: Shendilavri
 * 586: Prison of the Mad God
 * 597: Goranthis
 * 600: Endless Maze
 * 601: Conflagratum
 * 628: Vallashan
 * 643: Caverns of the Skull
 * 651: Nethuria
 * 652: The Rift of Corrosion
 * 663: Zionyn
 * 665: Unnamed Bottomless Void

Descriptions of Known Layers
The uppermost layer of the Abyss, known alternately as the Plane of Infinite Portals, Pazunia, The Plain of Yawning Pits, The Palace of 1001 Closets, The Wasteland of Gates, etc., is a barren wasteland of unrelenting heat and blistering winds, cut through by the infamous River Styx.
 * Layer 1: Plane of Infinite Portals

Even with the demon armies, inhospitable terrain and unrelenting heat, this layer attracts travellers from across the planes. They seek the pits that dot the landscape – pits that lead to nearly every other layer of the Abyss itself. Thus, the first level becomes the entrance to all that is below.

The largest of these pits is known as The Grand Abyss (the interior of which is separately counted as Level 4). Some pits are two way, others via astral magic only delve down. Some lead directly to another layer, others change destinations on a daily basis, some lead nowhere and are merely deep pits that contain creatures worse than the layers themselves, and it is these pits that sparked the Blood War, remnants of which sit strikingly alongside the pits. Iron fortresses which once held vast armies (emptied and abandoned, as the Blood War continues deeper within the Abyss) now hold the physical bodies of Demon Lords during astral travel. These demonic princes, lords, and queens have holdings on deeper layers. Most of the rulers of these fortresses are balors, mariliths, nalfeshnees, succubi, nabassus. advanced fiends, archdemons, and every once in a while, a lesser demon lord (like Aldinach, Ahazu, Baltazo, and Laraie) These creatures often wage war amongst each other, laying unrelenting seige to impregnable fortresses of dark magic and demon armies.

There are a few landmarks within this barren warzone – The Town of Broken Reach (ruled by a succubus called Red Shroud) and a region of Lakes of Molton Iron, known to be the birth of many a weapon in the Blood Wars, guarded by demon armies. Beside this lake lies the Fortress of Ferrug.

Other sites and fortresses of note include: Battle Not With Monsters, the Iron Fortress of Mithrengo, The Edge of Sanity, Raazorforge, Styros, Sonu-Aar'ri, The Tower of Chiryn, The Dolorous Keep, Fortress of the Fallen Stair, and Gallowsgate (ruled by the marilith Jaranda).

This layer is under undisputed rule by Pazuzu, The Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms. Demons pledged to him call the realm Pazunia.

This layer is similar to the Elemental Plane if Air, in that there is no firmament, just an endless expanse of air, dotted with huge hives. These hives are home to gigantic wasp-like creatures with venom-dripping stingers known as 'The Drillers'.
 * Layer 2: Driller's Hives

There are two factions of Drillers, engaged in a war of their own. To the eye, they look identical, but they can tell each other apart, presumably be scent, or other means. One of these factions is ruled by the insect-demon Tharzax the Chattering Prince. Those entering the layer bring both the ire of the Drillers and the layer itself. If the drillers don't kill you, the realm will eventually convert adventurers into insect-like creatures that the Drillers use as slaves, fodder, or food for their larvae.

Paladins are said to be immune to the transformation effect of the layer, but the demon insects are, in and of themselves, a serious threat to anyone not of their realm.

This entire layer acts in the same way as the River Styx – in that entering this realm robs you of your memories of the realm – thus nobody can clearly confirm or deny what is in the Forgotten Land. The realm is said to be ruled by Zzyczesiya the Ungrasped.
 * Layer 3: The Forgotten Land

What we do know comes from accounts of undead creatures and constructs that have managed to visit and return. According to the journal of a long forgotten lich, the Forgotten Land is "a bare and desolate place inhabited only by the twisted manifestations of the memories it has stolen from those who set foot upon it....and the remains of those who set foot upon it and had forgotten how to leave."

This realm is comprised of a huge pit with no bottom and no top (some say it is not 'bottomless, per se, but actually loops back on itself). Instead, the Grand Abyss is comprised of bridges and pathways carved into the walls, linking an infinite number of portals to other layers of the Abyss, and other Planes of existence all together. The layer is home to many flying and ground based demons and fiends. Shattered statues cover the paths and bridges, lending credence to the legend that the layer itself eventually petrifies anyone from the Prime Material Plane who strays here too long. It is also rumoured that many a demon prince make this layer their home, including Abaddon, (wherein it is said that the bridges and pathways are lined with unnumbered locust demons), and further down, The Dark God Nastrond.
 * Layer 4: The Grand Abyss

Wormblood is a parched desert layer that eventually infects all visitors (save for undead or constructs) with a type of mummy-rot that slowly eats away at the body from the inside out. As such, there are simply no inhabitants of this layer, nor has any demon prince claimed the realm.
 * Layer 5: Wormblood

This layer is ruled by the Great Mother Goddess of the Beholders. An underground realm not unlike the Underdark of prime worlds, the Realm of a Million Eyes' tunnels are dotted with living eyes like the encrusted gems. These are supposedly the eyes of the Great Mother herself. As befitting her insane and chaotic nature, most of the the time she would simply observe and/or ignore visitors, and some other times she would attack them with eye rays.
 * Layer 6: Realm of a Million Eyes

Haunting the tunnels are beholders and beholderkin, preying on each other, and visitors alike. Occasionally, the tunnels open up to massive caverns, and rumours persist that there is a cave the size of prime material planet, floating in the midst of it is a city built from the shell of a long dead beholder of unimaginable size. The city is known as Failing Sight. An unholy cathedral is built within the socket that was once the central eye of the dead abberation.

This is the realm of Sess'innek. The seventh layer of the Abyss is a vast swamp ruled by the demon prince Sess'innek. Inhabited by lizard kings and various giant reptiles, the layer got its moniker "The Phantom Plane" because Sess'innek had sealed off all the gates leading to this layer. No portals from the first layer reach Kearackinin, leading many to think the place no longer exists. The demon prince has strict control over what enter or leave the layer, as a result, Sess'innek, unlike most demon princes, is less occupied with repelling invading hosts from rival demon lords.
 * Layer 7: The Phantom Plane

Realm of Volisupula the Flensed Marquesse. One of the few Abyssal layers that actually resemble a Prime Plane. No poison air, acidic water, or blood sucking grass. However, Skin Shedder is no less dangerous. The layer apparently corrupts the alignment of any who visit to chaotic and evil. Tieflings are reportedly immune to this effect; then again, most tieflings are tend toward chaos and evil to begin with.
 * Layer 8: The Skin-Shedder

It is said that a demon lord of corruption (Volisupula the Flensed Marquesse) made his home here. Whether he rules this layer or not is another matter.

Discovered by a marid, much to his dismay, Burningwater appears to be an endless ocean of crystal clear refreshing water, but in reality is a very caustic acid. Inhabited by strange creatures that resemble twisted lobsters, shellfish, and armored fish, there seem to be no land mass in Burningwater. No known demon lords lay claim over the layer.
 * Layer 9: Burningwater

So-called by its discoverer, a dwarf named Gorbin of the Clan of Normarrin of the Iron House. Gorbin didn't stay very long in this layer to even know what its landscape is. He was attacked as soon as he stepped out of the gate to the layer. It seems that the inhabitants on this level of the Abyss feed off each other and any visitor who happens to drop by. Gorbin got the impression that the layer is one endless feeding frenzy.
 * Layer 10: "That Hellhole"

Molrat is an underground realm, once again, not unlike the Underdark of prime worlds. And of course, with a perverted twist that only the Abyss can provide. The layer is eternally dark and all the fiends there have become haters of light. All have developed some form of blindsight or scent ability to compensate. In fact, Darkvision does not even work in Molrat. The layer itself seems to devour light, whether it is from mundane or magical sources. They work initially but become dimmer and dimmer until they are extinguished totally. It is not known what demon lords might rule this layer, but undoubtedly it appeals to those who prefer darkness.
 * Layer 11: Molrat

The 12th layer of the Abyss is a place where the tanar'ri conduct necromantic magics and other vile projects for their Blood War with the devils of the Nine Hells.
 * Layer 12: Twelvetrees

It is said a long time ago, twelve devas were captured by the fiends and sacrificed here. Their screams still echo and resound throughout the layer, not unlike the roaring madness of Pandemonium. Those without telepathic capabilities like the tanar'ri would be hard pressed to communicate with one another because of the incessant shrieking.

The layer itself is simple bare rock but the tanar'ri had built titanic scaffolding too numerous to count which dominated the otherwise sparse landscape. Here, they built their necromantic Blood War engines - the foremost of which are the infamous Ships of Chaos.

The Ships of Chaos are among the latest triumph concocted by brilliant and yet twisted minds of Blood War Generals. Built from bones, larvae, spirits, unidentified gunk, and yet more larvae, each ship is guided by the intelligence of a vrock demon melded into it. The Ships use the larvae trapped in their hulls as fuel as they glide across the Lower Planes. They are equipped with several offensive capabilities, including ballistae fitted in each "mouth" of the ship's two "heads". Each ship also generates an entropic field which are particularly effective in disrupting the regimented ranks of the devils.

This is the realm of Umberlee and Beshaba. The 13th layer of the Abyss is called Blood Tor. Supposedly once the site of a major incursion by the baatezu of the Nine Hells, it is now a realm of bad luck, misfortune, and evil fate.
 * Layer 13: Blood Tor

The layer, in general, consist of a vast plain with occasional stretches of deserts and sparse woodlands. A reddish ocean also dominate the layer, and it serves as home to the "bitch goddess" Umberlee. The Lady of Misfortune, Beshaba also makes this layer her home, her realm containing her totem animal, the black stag. The demoness Asima and her Vile Oracle has been sighted in Blood Tor as well.

Two noteworthy fortresses can be found in the 13th layer of the Abyss: the now sundered fortress Malevolus, and Gallowshill, controlled by a powerful marilith named Taramanda. Her sister Alamanda was the consort and second in command of the balor who used to rule Malevolus before its fall.

Realm of the Queen of Chaos
 * Layer 14: The Steaming Fen

Considered a launch point for the Blood War armies departing from the Abyss, the Courts of Mustering is a layer of an endless series of "tastefully" appointed courtyards and gardens, many of which are equipped with a planar portal which lead to one of the other Lower Planes.
 * Layer 15: The Courts of Mustering

The one single elevated structure in the layer is the gem-studded tower of the balor Gurtheonir, an archdemon (an advanced Balor with levels in fighter or blackguard). Gurtheonir watches, directs, and "musters" demonic armies in the courts and through the planar portals. However, many of the portals are also one-way trips, thus often making incursions originating from the layer suicide missions, but at the same time preventing the layer from being invaded.

Several infinite ribbons of earth perhaps a mile wide (wider in some area and frighteningly thinner in others) wind through an equally infinite void of pure darkness, this layer is which its name implies. The Endless Graveyard is just that, a field of crypts, gravemarkers, mausoleums, pyres, gallows, mass graves, and worse. An endlessly raging storm surronds the earth ribbon/graveyard and those foolish enough to touch the storm has an equal chance of being transported to the Negative Material Plane, or dropped over the spikes of the Abyssal layer known as Impalator.
 * Layer 16: The Endless Graveyard

A huge skull-faced moon leers over the layer, providing the only source of light, a soft malevolent luminescence, and one cannot help but get the feeling of being watched by the eerie satellite. All the ribbons of earth eventually meets at the center of the layer, here can be found the Palace of Skulls, the abode of the demoness who rules the Endless Graveyard.

The one disturbing thing about the layer, if the layer is not weird enough, is that nothing stirs here. One would expect the undead to be lumbering through the land, instead, not a soul, damned or otherwise, which is native to the layer has been seen...almost if the layer has been abandoned, or in a perpetual state of waiting.

Rumour has it that the demon lady who rules the layer has been betrayed by her minions to another Abyssal lord. So far, no one knows her ultimate fate, or what happened to the other inhabitants as well. So conjectured that the answers can be found in the Palace of Skulls, but no one has dared try to enter the Palace to find out.

Realm of Abraxas the Unfathomable.
 * Layer 17: Death's Reward

This layer is a blasted wasteland punctuated by volcanic activity and sudden bursts of flame. The entire plane is engulfed in warfare carried on by petitioners. All who enter this plane are at risk of succumbing to its violent influences, causing them to enter the eternal battle that rages across the desolate landscape. Their war-cries and death-screams fill the air with the sounds of agony. They fight without resting or eating, and those who are not cut down eventually die of exhaustion. Not all of this plane is a complete wasteland. There are a few forests and some ruins that are reputed to hold a vast wealth of treasure.
 * Layer 18: Carnaxius

Places of Interest: 1) "the Pyramid of Destruction" This structure is located in the dead center of the plane, and is the residence of Sekmeth, Goddess of War and Fire and "lady of carnage". The pyramid is constantly engulfed by a raging inferno. These flames seem to be fueled by the pyramid without consuming or damaging it. The pyramid is constantly surrounded by a bloody skirmish of petitioners, forced to fight one-another without purpose or organization. There are no sides in this battle, just every lost soul for itself. Sekmeth sits atop her throne at the apex of the pyramid, observing the never ending carnage around her. 2) Jerat 3) Wysval 4) The Sleeping Forest 5) The River Pyriphlegethon

This layer is a place of desecrated churches, impure nunneries, heretical monasteries and vile shrines. All manner of good and lawful religious icons are on display here, though many are subtly twisted to have horrible new meanings. These houses of worship masquerade as temples to benevolent gods, but house nothing but blasphemy and corruption.
 * Layer 19: Falserapture

This is where the Nalfeshee send those who have mislead and corrupted the faithful in life. The most insidious become the leaders of dark cults hidden under a facade of holiness, while others band together to form fanatical congregations that believe themselves to be holy and right. These petitioners return to their earthly forms, and often appear as holy and god-fearing people.

All religion on this layer is ultimately controlled by the demons, as they use this plane to train corrupt clerics for the blood war. Monasteries and nunneries are kept on corrupt paths by infiltrating succubi and incubi. Glabrezus and mariliths dictate policy to church councils, and balors are revered as the messengers of the gods. The fiends build large constructs that resemble Solars to patrol the skies and randomly slay fanatical worshipers or whisk them away to take part in the blood war.

Places of interest: 1) Library, Laboratory, and Monastery of Gresil

This layer consists of a large void filled with plumes of smoke forever rising into the empty sky from the depths of a bottomless pit as if a series of large candles had just been blown out (hence the name).
 * Layer 20: Candlesnuff

Small landmasses float through this space, constantly being showered by the sparks and embers that shoot through the air at high velocity. These sparks rain down upon the floating islands, tormenting any living things with painful burns. This is a prison layer, and inmates are chained to the floating rocks and left at the mercy of the choking plumes of smoke, and showers of burning embers. There are few inhabitants of this layer other than those who are imprisoned here.

Realm of Kardum, Lord of Balors.
 * Layer 21: The Sixth Pyre

Complete Anarchy - This is the realm of the Babau. The ground is a swamplike sludge of mucous through which larvae, manes, dretches and far fouler beings swim. Most visitors to this realm end up forcibly recruited into the blood war... if they're lucky. The alternative isn't pretty.
 * Layer 22: Ebon Death

Home to Kostchtchie, demon Prince of frost giants, This layer is a flat and desolate landscape of snow and ice. The ice has been recorded to be several miles in thickness, though nobody knows just how deep it goes, or even if there is any solid land beneath. The atmosphere is extremely dark, lit only by a distant sun no brighter than the moons of most prime material worlds. This harsh plane houses few residents, let alone living beings of any variety. There are several frost giant villages spotting the landscape, all of whom revere Kostchtchie (Treat as fiendish Frost Giants). The few other residents of this plane have sought refuge from its bitter cold winds by living in underground tunnels that descend deep into the ice.
 * Layer 23: The Iron Wastes

Places of interest: 1)The Glacier Citadel This is the home of Kostchtchie, where he is attended by a council of elite Frost Giant wizards. The citadel itself is carved into the ice, and lies between two tremendous spire-like mountains of ice.

The Sleeping Realm
 * Layer 24: Torpor

The Realm of the Three
 * Layer 25: Nightmire

Realm of the Abyssal lord Lissa'aere the Noxious. The 27th layer is a realm of acidic clouds. This is the home of the gaseous lady Lissa'aere. Her dwelling place is a swirling funnel of malevolence and poison muck. Aluminum fiends, nabassu, and vrocks make up her army, sallying forth only when the troops of hell go through Carceri and threaten the very borders of the Abyss (or when one of her abyssal rivals trespass on her realm).
 * Layer 27: Malignebula

No permanent solid ground exists on this layer. Clouds harden into ice occasionally, but they melt through when too many fiends cluster there to rest their weary wings. It is unknown what happens to those who plummet down into the lower reaches of the plane. Rumor has it that they are somehow consumed by the mistress of the layer, Lissa'aere herself.

This abyssal layer is dominated by a range of living mountains. The range has a triangular shape and contains many deep valleys amidst its spires. The mountains themselves appear to be breaking from the earth. They have the forms of thrusting arms, or writhing serpents. The mountains are alive, and have a sinister cunning. These monoliths of living stone are always eager to eat, squash, or otherwise slay travelers.
 * Layer 28: The Mountains of Murder

In some of the valleys there are settlements of demons built just out of reach of the living mountains. These valley settlements are engaged in constant warfare with each other. All beings on this layer feel a strong compulsion towards dissent and murder.

Places of Interest: 1) Zahhak, the ashen waste. This seemingly endless wasteland borders the mountains, and stretches out infinitely from their foothills. All who roam this desolate wasteland are quickly overcome with a deep sense of apathy. Many travelers in this area simply give up whatever quest they may be on and lay down to die, such is their lack of motivation.

This is a demonic realm of the ghouls.
 * Layer 29: Rotting Corpse

The 30th layer of the abyss is a gigantic cliff side with no discernible base or top over which cascades a series of waterfalls of toxic goo (causing hallucinations and vomiting if ingested). Some of these waterfalls feed into the River Styx where the slime is diluted by and eventually dissolves into the styx water. The slime constantly belches and gurgles out of foul smelling vents in the cliff face. The cliff face is an approximate 50 degree angle and covered in large spires of stone. The cliffs are made of a greasy brown mineral that crumbles easily between your fingers. The stone can even be eaten, although it provides no sustenance.
 * Layer 30: Slimeflow

The denizens of this layer include an array of undead fish that swim the rivers of mucous and jump up the toxic waterfalls. This layer is also home to a variety of slimes and oozes, and several varieties of demon, including yochlols and alkiliths.

Places of interest: 1) Cligpha's lake, Cligpha makes her lair in a fetid lake of slime. There she sits in a throne-room of muscles and membranes atop a tower of organs and limbs. 2) The river Styx runs through this layer, and is a means of traveling to other layers or even other lower planes.

Realm of Turaglas the Ebon Maw.
 * Layer 32: Sholo-Tovoth: The Fields of Consumption

One of the more hospitable and friendly layers of the Abyss is the 14th, A'Shad'lfohg. Perhaps the most visited and traveled by planars and primes, this layer earned the nickname "Abyssal Bazaar". It is one of the largest center of trade in the Lower Planes, at least in the Abyss. A gathering place for merchants, smugglers, mercenaries. adventurers, assassins, cutthroats, Blood War "recruiters" and other assorted scums mad enough to do business in the Abyss, A'Shad'lfogh still lives up to its Abyssal nature in which no pushovers or weaklings need apply.
 * Layer 33: A'Shad'lfohg

The "bazaar" nearly dominates the entire layer, which on its own, resemble a typical Prime world except that it always seem to be dusk, and vegetation there are either sickly looking or healthy enough to eat you. No demon lord-lings exert their will over the layer, but several do lend "support" to the bazaar, thus ensuring its survival and existence, one of which is Graz'zt.

This plane is a vast emptiness filled with sinister mists (Think Ravenloft) and dancing aurora type lights. The air is filled with the sound of a thousand voices all whispering words of fey temptation and corruption. Most visitors to this plain quickly succumb to madness and enter a paranoid-schizophrenic and homicidal state, killing all they lay eyes upon. In some this manifests in a berzerker rage, while others simply go grimly to the slaughter with no show of emotion or remorse. It is said that this is the place where those who whisper words of spite and malice are sent to be tormented for all time.
 * Layer 34: The Whispering Lights

Places of interest: 1) "the obscene islands" These "islands" are gargantuan masses of writhing flesh. They consist of a mishmash of all manner of body parts, from fused mammalian limbs and demonic faces, to insect stingers and pincers. These fetid islands serve as a home to a variety of fiends, and even house several great fortresses made of bone or flesh.

Azzagrat (Rauwend, Shadowsky, Vhoorzzt being the respective levels) spans the 45th, 46th and 47th layers of the Abyss. All three layers are connected by the River of Salt. The 45th layer appears as a windswept steppe with a continual gray sky. The 46th layer shines with it's own luminosity, projecting shadows upwards into the sky. The 47th layer glows under the light of a blue sun and flames of blue deal cold damage instead of fire damage. The chief city in this realm is Zelatar, which spans and connects to all three layers of Azzagrat. In it is Graz'zt's palace, the Argent Palace.
 * Layers 45-47: Azzagrat

desert realm bordering both Azzagrat and Shaddonon. (Dragon #360) Called Skeiqulac, the Ocean of Tears, in Demonomicon (2010).
 * Layers 48: Nerebdian Vast

Realm of the demon lord Rhyxali, Princess of Shadow.
 * Layers 49: Shaddonon

realm of the Abyssal lord Alvarez the Purging Duke.
 * Layers 52: Torturous Truth

This is the realm of Lolth and Selvetarm. Lolth's Demonweb is located on the 65th layer, from there access is possible to the 66th layer, where her realm and spider-ship is located.
 * Layer 65-66: The Demonweb Pits (formerly)

Hunting grounds of the demon lords
 * Layers 71: Spirac

Realm of Nocticula the Undeniable.
 * Layers 72: Darklight

This realm currently serves as the prison of several demon lords such as Shami-Amorae, Ansitif and Ebulon.
 * Layers 73: The Wells of Darkness

This layer contains Sseth's realm, the Viper Pit and the Silent Temple, as well as the realms of Merrshaulk and Ramenos.
 * Layer 74: Smaragd

Realm of Munkir and Nekir.
 * Layer 77: The Gates of Heaven


 * Layer 79
 * The Emessu Tunnels

Realm of Anarazel the Daring Darkness


 * Layer 81
 * The Blood Shallows

One of Obox-ob's former realms
 * Layer 88
 * Gaping Maw

(or Brine Flats or Abysm), home to Demogorgon - Prince of Demons, one of the highest-ranking demons in the abyss. It is a vast and savage wilderness filled with those that serve the Prince of Demons, various fiends, and dinosaurs.

Reflecting the dual personality of its master, the Gaping Maw is a vast continent covered in a jungle and surrounded an endless ocean and brine flats. Rising from the sea are two towers, topped with enormous fanged skulls that make the fortress Abyss, where Demogorgon rules over his lair. Few can enter without succumbing to madness.
 * Layer 89
 * The Shadowsea

Oceanic realm of the demon lord Dagon, Prince of the Depths.
 * Layer 90
 * The Guttering Cove

Realm of Ilsidahur the Howling King.
 * Layer 111
 * The Mind of Evil

Realm of Sch’theraqpasstt the Serpent Reborn.

Layer 113
 * Thanatos

This was the realm of Kiaransalee until she was forced to flee by the return of Orcus. (Some sources quote this as layer #333 or #133.)

Layer 128
 * Slugbed

Realm of the Abyssal lord Lupercio the Baron of Sloth.
 * Layer 137
 * Outcasts' End

Realm of Azazel, Prince of Scapegoats.
 * Layer 142
 * Lifebane

Realm of the god Chemosh.
 * Layer 176
 * Hollow's Heart

Realm of the demon lord Fraz-Urb'luu, which, due to his magical illusions, appears to be flat, colorless, and featureless to the human eye.
 * Layer 177
 * The Writhing Realm

Realm of Ugudenk the Squirming King. This is the realm of the troglodyte god Laogzed.
 * Layer 181: Rotting Plain


 * Layer 193
 * Vulgarea

Realm of the foxwoman goddess Eshebala.
 * Layer 222
 * Shedaklah

(aka The Slime Pits), home to Juiblex - Demon Prince of Slimes, and Zuggtmoy, Demon Queen of Fungi.

Layer 223
 * Rarandreth

Moander, the Rotting God, had his realm named Offalmound here before his demise.


 * Layer 230
 * The Dreaming Gulf

A windy realm home to the dreams of dead gods. This is the realm of the bugbear deities Skiggaret and Grankhul.
 * Layer 241: Palpitatia


 * Layer 248
 * The Hidden Layer

Realm of Eltab
 * Layer 274
 * Durao

(Gateway layer) Mustering ground for the armies of the Abyss, as they prepare for battle in the Blood War.
 * Layer 277
 * Belistor

Yrsillar's realm.
 * Layer 297
 * The Sighing Cliffs

Realm of the Abyssal lord Lady Lynkhab.
 * Layer 300
 * Feng-Tu

Realm of the Chinese gods Tou Mu and Lu Yueh.
 * Layer 313
 * Gorrison's Grasp

Site of Illssender's Tower
 * Layer 333
 * The Broken Scale

Realm of the god Hiddukel
 * Layer348
 * The Fortress of Indifference

Ruled by Tapheon, the nalfeshnee; former realm of the demon lord Thralhavoc.
 * Layer 357
 * The Arc of Eternity

Realm of Eldanoth the Bloodless Scion.
 * Layer 333
 * The Broken Scale

Realm of the god Hiddukel This is the realm of the gnome god Urdlen.
 * Layer 399: Worm Realm


 * Layer 400
 * Woeful Escarand

(Nalfeshnee Realm) - A court at which newly arrived larvae and sometimes other demons are judged.
 * Layer 403
 * The Rainless Waste

Site of Mal Arundak, the City of Confusion (Fallen archon realm)
 * Layer 421
 * White Kingdom

Ruled by the King of Ghouls, once a vassal to Orcus and Yeenoghu, but is now a free agent.
 * Layer 422
 * The Seeping Woods

Ruled by Yeenoghu, Demon Prince of Gnolls.
 * Layer 434
 * Demonwing

An Abyssal layer that has been changed by Demogorgon into a plane-crossing, flying ship.
 * Layer 452
 * Ahriman-abad

Realm of Ahrimanes, Chief of the Cacodaemons.
 * Layer 477
 * The Spires of Rajzak

Is a layer of canyons inhabited by demonic hordes and a maddened, indescribable demon lord known as Rajzak.
 * Layer 487
 * Lair of the Beast / Mansion of the Rake

Realm of the vampire god Kanchelsis.
 * Layer 489
 * Noisome Vale

Ruled by the balor Tarnhem
 * Layer 493
 * The Steeping Isle

Realm of Siragle the Ineffable.
 * Layer 503
 * Torremor

Realm of the demon lord Pazuzu.
 * Layer 507
 * Occipitus

Former realm of Adimarchus, the demon prince of madness.
 * Layer 512
 * The Plains of Rust

Once the site of a diabolic colony before Orcus and Juiblex caused all iron on the layer to crumble.
 * Layer 518
 * Melantholep

Possible name of the nesting grounds of the chole dragons, or perhaps an unknown demon prince who rules the layer.

Layer 524
 * Shatterstone

This is the realm of the ogre and troll god Vaprak.


 * Layer 531
 * Vudra

Realm of the giant marilith Shaktari, the Queen of Poison.
 * Layer 548
 * Garavond

Haagenti's realm.
 * Layer 558
 * Fleshforges

Realm of Dwiergus the Chrysalis Prince.
 * Layer 566
 * Soulfreeze

Realm of Aseroth the Winter Warlock.
 * Layer 570
 * Shendilavri

Realm of the demon lord Malcanthet, Queen of the Succubi.
 * Layer 586
 * Prison of the Mad God

Realm of the derro god Diinkarazan.
 * Layer 597
 * Goranthis

Realm of Socothbenoth the Persuader
 * Layer 600
 * Endless Maze

The realm of Baphomet, demon Prince of Minotaurs. The demoness Pale Night resides here as well
 * Layer 601
 * Conflagratum

Realm of the Abyssal lord Alzrius, Lord of Infernal Light.
 * Layer 628
 * Vallashan

A layer designed to allow temporary victory to conquering armies of good alignment, only to then corrupt the conquerors and turn them against themselves.
 * Layer 643
 * Caverns of the Skull

Realm of the Black Earth Mother Kali, the goddess of destruction.
 * Layer 651
 * Nethuria

Realm of Vucarik, Consort of Chains.
 * Layer 663
 * Zionyn

Realm of the demon lord Obox-ob, Prince of Vermin.
 * Layer 665
 * Unnamed

A bottomless black void where victims fall until the winds flay the flesh from their bones.