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Belierin, sometimes called the Forgotten Layer, was the third and least known layer of Elysium. An endless land of swamps and marshes covered by an eerily luminous mist, it was also rumored to be the prison of an ancient legendary hydra and possibly other powerful entities.[2][4] The layer also contained the divine realm of Nut.[5]

No, berk, you don't get it [snort]. You do not want to go [snort] and see just what Belierin is really like. It's a bloomin' swamp; end of story. [whicker, snort] Get it?
— The equinal Bay to a traveler in Elysium[6]

Geography[]

The River Oceanus flowed slowly through Belierin in a tangle of channels that braided around sandbars and mangrove forests. In some places, rocky ridges rose above the bog, making for stable terrain. A few communities and towns were located in those places, usually built around lighthouses that served as navigation beacons to aid travelers.[4]

Geographical Features[]

Despite the generally desolate nature of the layer, the good influence of Elysium could still be felt in Belierin, in the form of the shiny nature of the fog itself and a luminous vapor that surrounded every light source.[4]

History[]

In ancient times, the guardinals encountered a legendary hydra in one of their quests, thought to be the mythical unique individual that spawned all other hydras. Unable to defeat it, the guardinals used a teleport spell to move the hydra to Belierin, after which they closed all portals that led out of the layer and sealed it off from divination magic. This effectively turned the layer into an infinite cage, from which the only exit was the Oceanus itself, whose blessed waters the hydra could not touch.[2]

Rumors & Legends[]

It was rumored that other powerful entities shared the prison with the hydra. The number and nature of the other prisoners was not known, but rumors existed of a creature similar to the tarrasque, a legendary black dragon, a captured archdevil, a demon lord, an archomental, or even a wounded deity.[2][4]

Notable Locations[]

Nillis-Thur

The ancient aasimon fortress of Nillis-Thur, in the region known as the Quesar's Birthplace, now guarded by guardinals.

  • Nillis-thur, hidden aasimon fortress of old.[7]
  • Quesar's Birthplace, where the mysterious celestials named quesars were originally formed.[8]
  • Refuge of Night, realm of Nut, wife of Geb and mother of Osiris from the Mulhorandi pantheon, after she fled from Heliopolis.[5]
  • Rubicon, the last surviving guardinal outpost of the layer, located on an island in the middle of Oceanus near the point where the river flowed into Eronia.[2]

Appendix[]

References[]

  1. Jeff Grubb (April 1987). “Plane Speaking: Tuning in to the Outer Planes”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #120 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 42–43.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Dale Donovan (December 1995). “Liber Benevolentiae”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Conflict (TSR, Inc.), pp. 61–63. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.
  3. Christopher Perkins (1999-08-27). Quesar (ASP). Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2001-04-05. Retrieved on 2024-06-05.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 138–141. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 90, 173. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
  6. Dale Donovan (December 1995). “Liber Benevolentiae”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Conflict (TSR, Inc.), p. 61. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.
  7. Christopher Perkins (April 1999). Warriors of Heaven. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 9–10. ISBN 0-7869-1361-4.
  8. Monte Cook (December 1995). “Monstrous Supplement”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Conflict (TSR, Inc), p. 22. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.

Connections[]

The Blessed Fields of Elysium
Layers and their Realms
Amoria Eronia Belierin Thalasia
City of the Star
Healing Glade
Light's Blessing
Principality
Quietude
Ro Stau
Succor
Tethridar
Dweomerheart
Great Mother's Garden
Great Mountain of the East
Morninglory
Soulearth
True Grove
Woodhaven
Refuge of Night Ro Stau
Selkies' Grotto