Tartarus Revisited

[Ramos]

The Tarterian depths of Carceri, the prison plane, the land of the banished or simply Tartarus is one of the lower planes that, instead of reflecting an alignment and being filled with exemplars of that alignment is a plane populated by outcasts of the highest order. The ruling powers of every plane and the heads of every pantheon-with the exception of the Abyss-have banished their worst enemies and traitors to their cause into Tartarus for countless millenia. While Hell is a plane filled with devils ruled by Asmodeus' iron fist, it is an orderly place and, to some extent, mortals and other lower beings following the rules there are virtually safe. And while Gehenna and Hades are endless expanses of war and desolation, war and despair-while extremely dangerous-are nothing new in Creation. But just as the Abyss is the home of all those powers of destruction above any other plane and deities turning against their own are sent there for eternity and unimaginable evils are spawned from its infinite depths, Tartarus, while not a true infinity as the Abyss is, has collected the losers of the Prime since the world's creation. It is not the endlessness of a terrible infinity where horrors are spawned without end and noone can know their number; Tartarus does not give the damned infinite options. The facet of damnation the prison plane embodies is instead eternity-the same ancient evils from the dawn of time are forever bound into its depths, their punishment lingering eternally.
Tartarus is home to old deposed deities too powerful to be slain and fade in the Astral, beings of cosmic power that the deities of the ancient world defeated and stole their domains from, abominations and demigods that those that bested them imprisoned them forever. Fallen that were sent to Tartarus before Hell existed, now turned to Demodands-spirits forever bound to the plane that will do anything to share their eternal imprisonment with new entrants. Dragons that were purged from entire worlds when mortals in them rose to power and eradicated them, their long banishment turning them to twisted caricatures of themselves, wurms of darkness. And finally, those that failed in one way or another in the eyes of their masters and were banished there as punishment for a time, all the older and more powerful prisoners seeking to keep them there forever.
Ironic it is that the only crime everyone is ever banished to Tartarus for is failure, really. Those that betray their masters or overthrow morals and seek to forge their own order of Tyranny are sent to Hell. Those that do evil for evil's sake are sent to Gehenna. Those that spread mindless destruction, madness and corruption of the soul are sent to the Abyss. Only for trying one of the above but being caught and failing are you sent to Tartarus. Only those immortals and deities defeated in combat and cannot or will not be slain are imprisoned eternally. As a result Tartarus, while an evil place because eternal imprisonmnet eventually drives almost anyone to either vengeful rage or madness, is not filled solely by evil creatures. Beings of every type are banished there for their failures, to be trapped eternally for Tartarus inhibits any attempts to escape its confines. Is escape possible? Noone can say for those that escaped are either mad beyond salvation or keep the secret with their lives lest the enemies they made in that place get free and hunt them. That, however, rarely makes new prisoners any wiser and they attempt the escape anyway-most often with disastrous results...



...There was no light in the room for there is no sun in this place, no day or night, only the subtle illumination of the plane itself. Other planes ofcourse have different laws and the lack of of the pull of the stars or true passage of time in the form of days, seasons and years is a fact quickly felt by spirits of any kind. The pull of the earth-gravity some mortals call it-is also subtly different, a bit stronger so the feeling of being under some sort of ligering weight as if in a deep cave is ever-present. The room was some sort of cavern, seemingly natural but without the water that eats away the stone or the cracks of the earth's movement that create such caves. Its edges lost in the dim illumination, its ceiling fifty or more feet high, no windows or doors visible at all, it would be a prison to mortals-but not to spirits. Usually. Ofcourse, usually is very far from always in such situations. The nature of the place was different from the Prime-being an outer plane, it touched neither the Shadow nor the Ethereal and this spot was somehow cold spiritually. It didn't take long for those with the ability to realise the deep-buried piece of magic within their essence that allowed them to traverse vast distances via teleportation was dormant-this room, now obviously a prison, was either under a dimensional lock or disjoined from the Astral through the power of an immortal.
Yes, definitely a prison. The memory of how you got here is unclear at best-though the lingering stiffness and remembered pain in muscles and joints would indicate something unpleasant-but the why, that is very clear indeed. And as in most prisons, no prisoner is alone though this one seems to have many prisoners in one big cell; there are other bodies of varying shapes moving in the dark, coming out of the same torpor that seems to have held all of them during their coming here...

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The dim illumination is not only absence of light but also a thin mist. You can see as far as normal but the details are fewer than normal beyond a few dozen feet.
The prison is disjoined from the Astral, there is no Ethereal or Shadow and it is under an undeniable gravity effect (you can't fly). Your other powers work normally.
Please make an introduction of your characters in your first post, posting what the others can see of you. Don't give out info that would not be observable (e.g. the fact that you're a demon, devil or angel) as this should be discovered during roleplaying.

[Greyen]

Sri

Two red eyes blink in the darkness before fading to a dim red glow. A man sized shape is barely visible in the gloom. He, if it has any discernable sex at all, stands in one of the brightest spots in the room. Dark black, grey skin shimmers in the light, slim built his sinewy muscles ripple as he looks around. He nods to each of you wordlessly before he slowly walks into one of the darker areas and fades from view.

[Lochar]

Italics=Thoughts to self
"Text"=Speaking
"This"=Telepathy

Kiramanthu

Groaning slightly to himself, Kiramanthu stood, shaking his wings and feeling the oppressive weight holding them down from lifting his body. Mentally assessing himself, he feels the connection to the Astral gone as well.

Chitinous black skin shifts as he moves around for a moment, assessing any lingering damage done to him. Finding the last few of his aches and bruises fading, he nods to himself.

Apparently I failed in the overthrow...

Stretching his claws out, Kiramanthu looks around the prison, seeing the others rising. Withholding judgement about any he can see, he moves about in the prison, looking for the edge of the walls, attempting to find a door or any other means of egress.

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Taking 20 on a search, for a quite sad total of 22.

[Paladin Latham]

Giant Toad?

An obese mass of flesh in the corner shudders and unfolds to reveal a hideous toad creature of impossible fatness, one with a quivering mouth and watering eyes that it quickly buries into its fatty hands.

Why won't anyone mate with me!

It blubbers in a deep bubbling bass voice

ChChChChoooooo!

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For anyone who hasn't heard a toad chitter when its scared or upset, it absolutely hilarious and actually sounds something like that.

Awash in its misery the toad will rock back and forth weeping loudly.

[Belial_the_Leveler]

Asha

Another winged form stirs in the dark, batlike wings flapping for a few moments in futility, straining to lift a slender form.
Damn
Two hands raised at shoulder-level as if the creature is offering something, it holds that stance for a moment then wispers
Let there be dark!
In its left hand a black fire strewn with flames of green sprouts like water from a fountain reveals a slender arm, that of an elf-or a woman, while at the same time another black fire sprouts from its right hand tinged with a shade of purple. Both conflagrations spread upon the creature's body revealing a slender, athletic and very definitely female body with a pair of batlike wings and a long mane of black hair reaching to its-or rather her-lower back. Within three heartbeats, she stands wreathed head to foot in the black flames, wearing them instead of the clothes she lacks-a daring fashion statement indeed. Ruby lips twist into a smile and ebony-colored almond-shaped eyes glint with either amusement or anger-you cannot tell. The voice that follows is musical but deep with an otherworldly echo as if coming from deep within a cave though it is still recognisably female.
And there was dark and the Black Flame came forth to devour the souls of her enemies.
And then the she-fiend laughed, her voice echoing like that of a thousand women. Looking around her she shook her head and moved on to explore her new prison.
Well, it could be much worse. I could be bound in one of Esras' imprisoning spheres for all time. I could...
Interrupted at that moment by the frog-thing's wail and absurd request, the she-fiend winced.
On second thought, here's not much better either. At least in Abaddon I didn't have to put up with insane slaadi...

[Lochar]

Kiramanthu

Kiramanthu pauses in his search to look at the female. "You say that as if all slaadi weren't insane." he sends to her, before returning to his searching.

[Greyen]

Sri

The shadowy figure moves about in the darkness. Seeing someone searching for something he moves toward him. He speaks to Kiramanthu
[infernal] What are you searching for? Surely whoever put us here wouldn't have been naive enough to leave a way out. The eyes angle for a moment as if in thought before he continues in a sarcastic tone [infernal] Every prison does need a way in and out though. With that Sri begins searching too.

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Search (1d20+24)[42]
True Seeing active

[Lochar]

Kiramanthu

Kiramanthu shrugs. "A way in, at least. If I were to imprison someone, I wouldn't care to have a way for them to leave. But if you can put something in, you should be able to force your way back out of it."

[Greyen]

Sri

[Infernal] True enough. The black thing (devil?) slides across the walls unseen, searching as he goes.

[Belial_the_Leveler]

Asha

The fire-wreathed female smiles at the other demon and sends back
Oh, they are. But as with all things, insanity has many forms, strengths and manifestations. Some slaadi are pretty good to have around-bigger mouths, better screams you know? It is the childish ones I cannot stand. I'll see if this one can be "reasoned" with.
The she-fiend walks up to the giant toad-persumably a slaad of some kind-looks upon its pathetically tearful state and frowns.
What's your problem now? We're all trying to have a nice, restful time in prison-there's no reason for you to spoil it for the rest of us!
It is clear to anyone watching that the fire-fiend's reasonable manners are a facade-she's only toying with the "giant toad". Not that most slaadi would know how to tell the difference-or care.

[The_Snark]

Mara

Another shape stirs in the gloom, better visible in the thin mist than most. Human-sized, it is swathed nearly head to toe in dim white light, hiding even the figure's face from view. The dark makes it difficult to see, but white shapes on her back make it look as if she has white feathered wings.

A sigh escapes the figure, and she (for while the face is not visible, the figure, at least, is feminine) straightens, crossing over to where voices have begun to sound through the dimness. The white wings remain folded behind her. For now, she does not speak; the tilt of her head says she is watching the few nearby.

[Paladin Latham]

Giant Toad?

Everyone is mean to me and none of them will let me lay my eggs in them!

The toads blubbering bass only slightly hitches before she vomits profusely over herself (extremely vile btw) and farts loudly.

Heedless of the vile acts she just demonstrated (or perhaps not comprehending that others might find them repulsive or disgusting) she looks down with large waters eyes and asks:

Will you be my friend?

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You know those legends about demons that swallow oceans? well the Fiendish Codex I pretty much states that demons can A) eat an infinite amount of food and drink infinite amounts of water and B) vomit or release excrement at will and in infinite amounts. As a vile demon I plan on using this to the extent that Ramos will allow me.

[Belial_the_Leveler]

Asha

Having lived in the Abyss where there are much worse and viler things, Asha is not really impressed. This creature may be disgusting but it is only demeaning itself-Asha's fires simply burn away any excrements. Still, such displays are not very polite-even among fiends.

There are a few reasons no-one will be your friend. Your behaviour, for one. Your prospective friends being fiends themselves for another-we don't have friends, only situational allies.

Also, I find your lack of huiegene annoying. Take care not to annoy me too much.

[Lochar]

Kiramanthu

Kiramanthu stops searching when the bile washes over his taloned feet, and looks at the frog thing, speaking for the first time. [Abyssal]"If you insist on blubbering, I will insist on finding a way to sew up your mouth, thing. Are you a demon, or some mortal infant?"

[Greyen]

Sri

Sri continues his search of the area. He pauses for a moment and gives a pointed looks to the toad demon before carrying on. The others in the room are obviously needling it into action. As he moves around the room, he begins to activate his buffs.

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Activating, the following SLA's which Sri wil keep active unless otherwise stated.
Nondetection
Greater Invisibility

[Paladin Latham]

Gertrude

The blubbering Toad Demon suddenly rises to her full 32ft. height, her massive cheeks and throat sack bulging and deflating with angry wheezing breaths.

You think Gertrude is weak! You think to make light of Gertrude's sorrow!

At this point it seems as though half of her flab becomes rigid as adamantine.

Gertrude does not care. Gertrude just wants free... and babies!

At this point she turns to a wall and... licks it? Maybe she's just insane...

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Or maybe it's a tongue-slam! (2d6+22)[30]

Hmm... forgot to throw in 12 points of power attack. Well theres always next round unless I get blasted or something.

[Belial_the_Leveler]

Asha

Asha frowns and shakes her head-this creature either had serious emotional issues or was truly insane. Since the situation wasn't going to evolve to something fun, Asha looks up at the bloated frog-fiend once then turns away while replying.
Get a grip. If no-one will take you either learn how to change into a more enticing shape or find a male and take them by force. It doesn't matter how strong you are-crying makes you seem pathetic.

---

* post roll count doesn't match database

[Paladin Latham]

Gertrude

Despite the results of her assault on the wall, Gertrude will Polymorph into... an obese naked human woman

Now am I beautiful?

She strikes a pose.

[Greyen]

Sri

Ahh, no wonder the stories of this plane are so horrific. If I am going to be trapped in this chamber with this lot for very long there are going to be some problems. Demons and possibly an angel. I wonder what has brought them all here.

Sri continues his unseen search of the walls. Checking the ceiling and floors. As he passes the great toad he moves gingerly so as to not get any off it effluence on him. [[abyssal] Was it necessary to make such a disgusting mess on the floor? At the very least, clean up your own filth.

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Continuing to search. Using detect magic as as I go, in addition to True Seeing and +24 modifier.

[Paladin Latham]

Gertrude

Warping back to her normal form, Gertrude will look in confusion between Sri and the vomit-floor

Do you want me to drink it back up? I am kind of hungry...

[Greyen]

Sri
-OOC: I am assuming everyone is defaulting to abyssal as a common language?-

I really don't care what you do with it. Just make it go away. Sri says.

disgusting fat toad demons! Of all the possible cellmates. Ahhh! No wonder the demons fought each other as much as the fought us.

[Ramos]

The vast room is several hundred feet wide and actually a compressed cylinder in shape. It is choke-full of abjuration and evocation magic, especially the walls that don't seem at all harmed by the toad-demon's angry attack.

As more stirring forms are revealed, the toad-demon's foulness simply vanishes, the smell lingering for a time then it, too, is gone.

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Unless we're within the Abyss, any non-living excrements from a fiend simply vanish in one round just like their bodies do if they die.

[Greyen]

Sri

Well, that makes life easier. Sri moves on continuing his search.

[Belial_the_Leveler]

Asha

Seeking a bit of amusement-and an angelic creature imprisoned in Tartarus is quite amusing on its own, Asha turns away from the sulky giant toad and walks towards the lighted corner where the celestial stands to get a better look. The contrast between the black flames Asha wears as clothing and the light coming from the angel is quite striking. When Asha comes into the light's area she smiles and begins her questioning of the angel-this would be fun.
One such as you must have done something truly evil by your miguided standards or impressively stupid to end up here. Which of the two was it?

[The_Snark]

Mara

The angelic figure keeps her gaze on the floor, insofar as it is possible to tell. It becomes clearer, as Asha draws nearer, that the cloak of white is not clothing, but a dim glow that cloaks her and prevents her face (and the rest of her body) from being easily made out. "Neither, and both," she says softly. "I am here for two reasons. One is pride and foolishness. I will not excuse my mistakes." She raises her head slightly, although she is still not looking at the demon before her. "And I am also here for the same reasons as you."

[Greyen]

Sri

Curiosity killed the cat. Sri slides over in the darkness, And you demoness? What did you do to be here? His tone is flat no amusement or emotion to be heard. It appears that there is no egress from here. I think we should at least know each others names. I am Sri.

[Belial_the_Leveler]

Asha


The blackfire-cloaked she-demon bursts in laughter.
Oh, I very much doubt I am here for the same reasons you are, celestial. And why the downcast eyes? You believe you erred to do what put you here or are you apalled that your own perfect celestial choir would use Tartarus as punishment?
Turning to the new arrival Asha smiles wickedly then takes a step towards him.
What I did to be here? Why, I killed far too many of you-or rather, fiends like you. The killings were amusing-too bad they belonged to a fiend much greater than I.
The demoness takes another step towards the other fiend, her tone light and friendly, the meaning not.
Would you like me to display my methods?

[Lochar]

Kiramanthu

Kiramanthu moves over to the angelic being and the blackfire one. "Aww, does the poor angelic miss the pearly gates? I failed to assassinate my Lord to take his place. Since you say we're here for the same reason, which leader of the light were you trying to kill?"

He then raises an eyebrow at the she-demon. "I think I've heard about you. You annoyed several of the higher ups with that. I, on the other hand, thought it wasn't a bad example to set. They couldn't keep their's under control, they didn't deserve to have them."

[Greyen]

Sri

Ahh, some of us are here for similar reasons at least. I killed those who I was told to kill. Unfortunately for me, they did not belong to whom my master thought they did. I took the fall. I will have my revenge for that.

As for your methods, I really do not care to try you right now. You may be the key I need to escape Tartarus. I may be yours. Sri is unfazed by the demonesses implied threat. He even winks at her at his closing words.

[The_Snark]

Mara

The white-cloaked figure shakes her head slowly as first the blackfire demon and then the vrock speak and laugh. "Am I not here for the same reasons?" she asks quietly. "Pride and a personal failing? That, though," she sighs, "that was not what I meant." No more than I expected, though. If they could see what I meant at once, they would not be where they are.

"I am not appalled to be here," she goes on. "I accept it. Sometimes a harsh penace is necessary."