The Lethe was a planar pathway, a river that flowed through some of the lower Outer Planes.[1][2][3][4]
Cosmology[]
In the Great Wheel cosmology, as far as it is known, the Lethe originated in Nessus where it was fed by a lake of fluid ice.[1] From Nessus,[2] the Lethe flowed through Erebus in the Gray Waste.[3] The Lethe flowed parallel to the Styx into Pluton, where it eventually joined it in Hades's realm.[4][5][3]
Effects[]
In Erebus, the Third Gloom of Hades, drinking the waters of a pond created by the Lethe river would cause one to lose their memories and become feebleminded, a condition curable only via wish, limited wish, or alter reality spells (and even so, the memory wouldn't be restored). Luckily, there was a twin pool in Hades' realm, called the Pool of Memory, the water of which could cure the memory loss, but only if Hades or Persephone allowed so, otherwise it would be just regular water.[3] Another way of restoring the memory loss of someone who drank the water of the Lethe river was the spell winged memory cast by archons[6] and priests.[7]
Devils were supposedly immune to the effects of the Lethe water's touch, at least in Nessus.[8]
Culture[]
The river Lethe was known about in Faerûn, with an ancient Netherese drink was named after the river. It was called Blue Lethe by dwarves because of its temporary effects of erasing memories.[9][10]
"Wellspring of Lethe" was a description given to Shar, goddess of loss and forgetfulness.[11]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 David "Zeb" Cook (1994). Planescape Campaign Setting, A DM Guide to the Planes. Edited by David Wise. (TSR, Inc), p. 52. ISBN 978-1560768340.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Colin McComb (February 1995). “Baator”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Law (TSR, Inc), p. 25. ISBN 0-7869-0093-8.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Bruce Barber (September 1986). “Welcome to Hades”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #113 (TSR, Inc.), p. 12.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Colin McComb, Dale Donovan (December 1995). “Adventures in Conflict”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Conflict (TSR, Inc.), p. 9. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.
- ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 123. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur (February 1995). “Mount Celestia”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Law (TSR, Inc), p. 6. ISBN 0-7869-0093-8.
- ↑ Monte Cook (1996). The Planewalker's Handbook. Edited by Michele Carter. (TSR), p. 126. ISBN 978-0786904600.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (August 1983). “The Nine Hells, Part II”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #76 (TSR, Inc.), p. 44.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, The Hooded One (2012-02-13). Questions for Ed Greenwood (2013). Candlekeep Forum. Archived from the original on 2024-05-02. Retrieved on 2025-10-30.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (December 1994). Elminster: The Making of a Mage. (TSR, Inc.), chap. Epilogue, p. 312. ISBN 1-5607-6936-X.
- ↑ Frank Timar & Erika Timar (July 1997). Vengeance. Living City (RPGA), p. 22.