View source for Hades

{{Plane
| image             = 
| caption           = 
| name              = Hades
| othernames        = Gray Waste
| symbol            = Hades.png
| demonym           = 
| natives           = [[Daemon]]s, [[diakk]]a, [[achaierai]], [[nightmare]]s, [[mephit]]s, [[night hag]]s
| languages         = 
| color-pool-color  = Rust
| color-pool-image  = ColorPoolHades.png
| fork-material     = [[Iron]]
| fork-note         = E
| fork-audio        = E4.ogg
| basicrefs         = <ref name="MotP1e-106">{{Cite book/Manual of the Planes 1st edition|106}}</ref><ref name="Dr120-p42-43">{{Cite dragon/120/Plane Speaking|42-43}}</ref><ref name="MotP1e-62">{{Cite book/Manual of the Planes 1st edition|62}}</ref><ref name="MotP3e-p49">{{Cite book/Manual of the Planes 3rd edition|49}}</ref><ref name="DMG5e-p47">{{Cite book/Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition|47}}</ref>
| type-GW           = [[Outer Plane]]
| shape-size-GW     = Infinite
| gravity-GW        = Normal
| time-GW           = Normal
| morphic-GW        = Divinely
| element-energy-GW = 
| alignment-GW      = {{alignment grid|off|off|off|off|off|off|off|on|off}}
| magical-GW        = Normal with special cases
| layers-GW         = [[Oinos]]<br />[[Niflheim]]<br />[[Pluton]]
| layer-number-GW   = 
| location-GW       = 
| refs-GW           = <ref name="MotP1e-73">{{Cite book/Manual of the Planes 1st edition|73}}</ref><ref name="MotP1e-75">{{Cite book/Manual of the Planes 1st edition|75}}</ref><ref name="MotP1e-78-82">{{Cite book/Manual of the Planes 1st edition|78-82}}</ref><ref name="MotP1e-105">{{Cite book/Manual of the Planes 1st edition|105}}</ref><ref name="MotP3e-p108-111">{{Cite book/Manual of the Planes 3rd edition|108-111}}</ref>
| type-WA           = 
| shape-size-WA     = 
| gravity-WA        = 
| mutability-WA     = 
| element-energy-WA = 
| alignment-WA      = 
| magical-WA        = 
| layers-WA         = 
| layer-number-WA   = 
| location-WA       = 
| refs-WA           = 
| type-WT           = 
| shape-size-WT     = 
| gravity-WT        = 
| time-WT           = 
| morphic-WT        = 
| element-energy-WT = 
| alignment-WT      = 
| magical-WT        = 
| faith-WT          = 
| layers-WT         = 
| layer-number-WT   = 
| location-WT       = 
| refs-WT           = 
| inhabitants       = yes
| deities           = yes
| locations         = yes
| organizations     = yes
| settlements       = yes
| based             = [[wikipedia:en:Hades|Hades]] (Greek and Biblical)
| usethe            = 
| useon             = 
}}The '''Gray Waste of Hades''', also known as the '''Gray Waste''',<ref name="PCS.DMG-59">{{Cite book/Planescape Campaign Setting/A DM Guide to the Planes|59}}</ref> was an [[Outer Plane]] in the [[Great Wheel cosmology]] model,<ref name="MotP1e-74>{{Cite book/Manual of the Planes 1st edition|74}}</ref> home of the [[daemon]]s. Located at the midpoint of the [[Lower Planes]], it was a plane of [[evil]] balanced between Law and Chaos.<ref name="MotP1e-105" /><ref name="DMG5e-p58">{{Cite book/Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition|58}}</ref>

{{Quote
|I don't know, I don't care, and I don't care if you don't like it.
|Viarth the Grim, six-week resident of the Waste.<ref name="PoC-28">{{Cite book/Planes of Conflict/A Player's Guide to Conflict|28}}</ref>
}}

==Description==
The three layers of Hades were called ''glooms'' for good reason; they were realms devoid of emotion, hope, and peace. Gray land and gray sky throughout, with no sun, moon or seasons to break the monotony. Any color other than shades of gray would be obvious against the background but would fade to gray in a week or two. And like bright colors, beings would begin to fade also. At first they would feel the drain of emotions leaving only sadness, ennui, and defeatism. In a [[tenday]] or two they would be trapped in Hades and their existence would begin to fade until finally they became [[Soul larva|larvae]].<ref name="MotP1e-105" />

Hades was a unique plane, as described by the [[Great Wheel cosmology]] model, because it not only joined to adjacent planes in the Great Wheel, it also held the foundation of [[Mount Olympus]] and the roots of [[Yggdrasil]] the World Ash. These two planar artifacts connected Hades to [[Olympus]], in the [[Arvandor (layer)|first layer]] of [[Arborea]], and [[Ysgard]] respectively, allowing travel between Hades, the [[Upper planes]], and Alternate [[Prime Material Plane]]s<ref name="MotP1e-72">{{Cite book/Manual of the Planes 1st edition|72}}</ref> without going through the [[Astral Plane]], much like the [[World Tree]] in the [[World Tree cosmology]].<ref name="PGtF-140">{{Cite book/Player's Guide to Faerûn|140}}</ref>

===Oinos===
{{/Imagemap}}
{{Main|Oinos}}
The first layer of Hades was named for the lord of the daemons (the [[Oinodaemon]]), [[Anthraxus]] the Decayed. Oinos was the land of disease with stunted and withered plants amid gray rocky terrain. The river [[Styx]] flowed through this layer and there were portals to [[Tarterus]], [[Gehenna]], and [[Concordant Opposition]] that looked like huge spinning metal coins, visible for miles, often guarded by iron fortresses. Anyone walking this land or floating on the river Styx had a chance of contracting a major disease. Many of the daemons and some of the other creatures from the lower middle planes who were immune to disease made their home here.<ref name="MotP1e-105" />

===Niflheim===
{{Main|Niflheim}}
Compared to Oinos, the terrain in the second layer was rougher, like foothills, with cooler temperatures, healthier vegetation including pine trees, and no disease. Everything was cloaked in dreary fog and mist, limiting vision to about a hundred feet (thirty meters). [[Yggdrasil]]'s roots reached Niflheim, connecting it to [[Gladsheim#Asgard|Asgard]] in [[Gladsheim]].<ref name="MotP1e-105" /> The goddess [[Shar]] once maintained an abode here.<ref name="F&A-p138">{{Cite book/Faiths & Avatars|138}}</ref><ref name="N.EoM.TWoN-p55">{{Cite book/Netheril: Empire of Magic/The Winds of Netheril|55}}</ref>

===Pluton===
{{Main|Pluton}}
The lowest level of Hades contained the base of [[Mount Olympus]], a direct conduit through the [[Astral Plane]] to the plane of [[Arborea]]. The gray motif continued throughout this layer but most of the vegetation was black willow trees and dry, dying poplars.<ref name="MotP1e-105" />

==Inhabitants==
The [[daemon]]s were the presumed rulers of Hades, but were actually outnumbered by the bird-like [[diakk]]<ref name="MMII1e-50">{{Cite book/Monster Manual II (1983)|50}}</ref> and the [[greater deity|greater powers]] had no trouble carving out realms for themselves. Factions of [[demodand]]s carried on a low-level insurgency, sniping at the daemons but generally avoiding large-scale conflict that might attract the attention of the resident deities.<ref name="MotP1e-106" /> Also known to inhabit all layers of Hades were [[achaierai]],<ref name="FF1e-9">{{Cite book/Fiend Folio 1st edition|9}}</ref> [[nightmare]]s,<ref name="MotP1e-106" /> [[mephit]]s<ref name="FF1e-64">{{Cite book/Fiend Folio 1st edition|64}}</ref> and [[night hag]]s.<ref name="MM1e-73">{{Cite book/Monster Manual 1st edition|73}}</ref> The night hags lived in seclusion there, intervening in local politics only when it was absolutely necessary.<ref name="MM1e-106">{{Cite book/Monster Manual 1st edition|106}}</ref>

==Afterlife==
[[File:Yggdrasil2Hades.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The layers of Hades, Mount Olympus, and Yggdrasil]]
{{Main|Afterlife}}
Most souls that arrived in Hades became [[Soul larva|larvae]]&mdash;sickly, human-headed worm-spirits&mdash;that were harvested by the night hags as a commodity for Lower Plane commerce.<ref name="MotP1e-106" /><ref name="MM1e-59">{{Cite book/Monster Manual 1st edition|59}}</ref>

==Realms==
* [[Abbathor]], the dwarven Great Master of Greed had a realm in Hades<ref name="UA1e-111">{{Cite book/Unearthed Arcana 1st edition|111}}</ref> called the ''[[Glitterhell]]'' because it was lined with gold that sparkled even in the gloom.<ref name="MotP1e-107">{{Cite book/Manual of the Planes 1st edition|107}}</ref>
* [[Anthraxus]] the Decayed was the most powerful daemon in the [[Lower Planes]],<ref name="MMII1e-30">{{Cite book/Monster Manual II (1983)|30}}</ref> occupying his mighty fortress the [[Khin-Oin]], or Wasting Tower&mdash;a twenty mile (32 km) high citadel with dungeons that went just as deep underground.<ref name="MotP1e-106" />
* [[Cegilune]], the goddess of the [[hag]]s, kept her realm of [[Hagsend]] in Pluton.<ref>{{Cite book/Monster Mythology|109}}</ref><ref name="OHG-176">{{Cite book/On Hallowed Ground|176}}</ref> 
* [[Cyric]], the Dark Sun, after the [[Time of Troubles]] took over the portfolios of [[Bane]], [[Bhaal]], and [[Myrkul]] and set up a realm in Hades.<ref name="FRA-17">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Adventures|17}}</ref>
* Hades of the [[Greek pantheon]] had [[Underworld (Olympian)|a realm]] in Pluton where the gates were guarded by the three-headed dog Cerberus.<ref name="MotP1e-106" /> When not about on a mission of retribution, the [[Furies]] stayed there as well.<ref>{{Cite book/On Hallowed Ground|123}}</ref>
* Hel from the [[Norse pantheon]] was the ruler of Niflheim where she guarded the dead.<ref name="MotP1e-106" /><ref name="DD1e-119">{{Cite book/Deities & Demigods 1st edition|119}}</ref>
* [[Hecate]], the Greek interloper deity of magic and the moon, had her primary realm called [[Aeaea]] in Pluton.<ref>{{Cite book/On Hallowed Ground|123}}</ref>
* [[Jergal]] formed his realm, [[Bone Castle]], in Oinos when he was the Lord of the Dead.<ref>{{Cite book/Netheril: Empire of Magic/The Winds of Netheril|40}}</ref> He remained there as servant of Myrkul and Cyric, and became Seneschal of the Crystal Spire under Kelemvor.<ref>{{Cite book/Powers & Pantheons|31-32}}</ref>
* [[Kalzareinad]], [[Draconic pantheon|draconic demigod]] of evil magic, resided in the Gray Waste before his demise during the Time of Troubles.<ref>{{Cite book/Cult of the Dragon|120}}</ref>
* [[Kelemvor]] took over the realm of his predecessors in Oinos and transformed it into the [[Crystal Spire]].<ref name="F&A-p84">{{Cite book/Faiths & Avatars|84-85}}</ref>
* [[Kuraulyek]], god of the [[urd]]s, hid in his realm of [[Urdsrest]] among the hills of Oinos from [[Kurtulmak]].<ref>{{Cite book/Planes of Conflict/Liber Malevolentiae|47}}</ref><ref name="OHG-176"/>
* [[Mask]], the Lord of Shadows once lived here in [[Shadow Keep]], dressed in colorful clothes but also a gray cloak.<ref name="CotR-12">{{Cite book/Cyclopedia of the Realms|12}}</ref>
* [[Myrkul]], Lord of Bones lived with his [[skeleton]]s, [[zombie]]s, and minor Deaths in the [[Bone Castle|Castle of Bones]].<ref name="CotR-13">{{Cite book/Cyclopedia of the Realms|13}}</ref>
* [[Nergal (deity)|Nergal]] the [[Untheric pantheon|Untheric]]<ref name="PP-95">{{Cite book/Powers & Pantheons|95}}</ref> (and Babylonian<ref name="MotP1e-106" /><ref name="DD1e-25">{{Cite book/Deities & Demigods 1st edition|25}}</ref><ref name="OHG-65">{{Cite book/On Hallowed Ground|65}}</ref>) god of the dead ruled a large part of Oinos from his circular city of seven concentric domes, [[Nergaltos]]. There he kept the prisoners [[Marduk]] brought to him.<ref name="MotP1e-106" />
* [[Nidhogg]], a huge, very ancient [[red dragon]] and her brood occupied (and consumed) the roots of [[Yggdrasil]] the World Ash, trying to break the conduit to Asgard.<ref name="MotP1e-106" /> Nidhogg may be another name for [[Dendar]] the Night Serpent.<ref name="PP-188">{{Cite book/Powers & Pantheons|188}}</ref>
* [[Ratri]], [[Lords of Creation|Vedic goddess]] of the night, moved her realm, the Dark of Night, around Niflheim.<ref>{{Cite book/On Hallowed Ground|156}}</ref>
* [[Shar]], Mistress of the Night kept her [[Palace of Loss]] in Niflheim.<ref name="CotR-14">{{Cite book/Cyclopedia of the Realms|14}}</ref><ref name="F&A-p138"/>
* [[Yurtrus]] the White Handed, orcish god of death and disease lived in Hades<ref name="UA1e-120">{{Cite book/Unearthed Arcana 1st edition|120}}</ref> on the layer of Oinos,<ref name="MotP1e-107" /> in his realm called [[Fleshslough]].<ref>{{Cite book/On Hallowed Ground|134}}</ref>

==Appendix==
===Further Reading===
* {{Cite dragon/113/Welcome to Hades|10-26}}
===Appearances===
{{Appearances
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| card games          = ''[[Blood Wars]]''
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}}
===References===
{{Refs}}
===Connections===
{{Hades}}
{{Cosmologies}}
[[Category:Great Wheel planes]]
[[Category:Outer Planes]]
[[Category:Planes of existence]]
[[Category:Planes of conflict]]
[[Category:Lower Planes]]
[[Category:Locations on the River Styx]]