273rd Layer of the Abyss
Type: Planar Region — a layer of the Infinite Layers of the Abyss Canonical Layer Name: Unknown to the party (may have a demon-lord name; the 273rd is not widely documented in accessible sources) Ruler / Occupying Force: Unknown — no demon lord has been identified as claiming this layer Status: Active — party entered in Session 047; combat in the canyon approach; fortress in sight First Referenced: Session 046 — Seraphona Shadowbane and General Zon named this as Ser Vindictus's location; portal confirmed in the Tomb of Orcus First Entered: Session 047
Overview
The 273rd layer of the Abyss is where Ser Vindictus has been held captive — imprisoned in the Prison of Ser Vindictus, a lone tower standing in the badlands of this layer. The portal connecting this layer to the Tomb of Orcus is the route the Leilon Knights of Vindictus used (with the chapter's corruption resulting from the attempt) and the route the party took in Session 047.
Time distortion is a property of these outer planes — distance and duration may not map cleanly to Material Plane experience.
Geography (Known)
The Portal Arrival Point
The disc-portal in the Tomb of Orcus deposits travelers into the 273rd layer at the mouth of a natural chasm. From there, the terrain and path are as follows:
The Crevice of Nesting Demons
A narrow canyon of eroded limestone, sandstone, and granite — the walls climbing 60+ feet before opening to the sky. The wind is gritty and constant, as if the eons have been sandpapering the rock. No plant life. No water. The geological formations look wind-carved; there may have been erosion at some ancient point.
- Atmosphere: Perpetual twilight — not bright, not darkness, an unnatural permanent dusk. The sky is the wrong color. There is no sun.
- Aerial hazard: Vrocks circle far overhead, but the canyon is too narrow and sheer for them to descend. The party is physically sheltered from the Vrocks by the terrain.
- Volgaloth colony: The cliff walls are honeycombed with alcoves and crevices where Volgaloths roost. Six ambushed the party in Session 047; many more remained on the cliffs.
- Path: The canyon winds forward, climbing and descending, eventually opening toward the land bridge.
The Gorge (Land Bridge)
Between the Crevice of Nesting Demons and the Prison of Ser Vindictus: a gorge — a deeper chasm cut across the approach — spanned by a land bridge. The party has not yet crossed it as of Session 047's end.
The Prison of Ser Vindictus
At the terminus of the canyon path, past the land bridge: the Prison of Ser Vindictus — a lone tower of dark stone rising from the badlands. Seraphona described it as "the crypt of a lone tower."
At the tower's summit: "encased in dark red light, crouches a motionless figure enchained by three floating rocks." This is Ser Vindictus.
(See Ser Vindictus for what is known about the angel's condition and situation.)
What the Party Knows
- Session 046 (from Seraphona Shadowbane): Ser Vindictus is held in this layer, in the crypt of a lone tower. The Leilon chapter attempted to reach her; they were corrupted before arriving. The portal is the way in.
- Session 047 — First entry. Canyon terrain, wrong-color sky, Vrocks overhead but inaccessible. The disc-portal deposited them near the canyon entrance. The canyon path leads toward a structure (fortress/tower) in the far distance.
- Volgaloths are native canyon ambush predators. Six were killed; more remain. The party does not know how many more Volgaloths occupy the Crevice, or whether they'll re-engage on a return trip.
- Time/distance distortion was mentioned by at least one party member — the Abyss is known to warp spatial and temporal experience. The party has no baseline yet for how long travel in this layer actually takes.