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Chaosmancer Homebrew: The World of Arista
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<blockquote data-quote="Chaosmancer" data-source="post: 6734399" data-attributes="member: 6801228"><p>Cosmology of Arista</p><p></p><p>I spent a lot of time here, because while every DM advice column I have ever seen says start small and build, I find it difficult to build if I do not have the larger context figured out. Also, I know very, very little of DnD planar lore. I've mostly just looked at the 3.X and newer core books, so details of who some of these names and their plots are have escaped me. This was a great opportunity not only to learn and condense this information from the Internet, but also to change stuff and make it more mine. I'll admit, most of the details of the Demons and Devils is just copied and pasted, not all, but a lot. My true pride though comes in with the Faerie and the Shadowfell, because I could find next to nothing published so I started painting and plotting for myself.</p><p></p><p>This section is not easily divided, I wrote it like a history in some respects, so bear with me.</p><p></p><p>Opening and Astral Sea</p><p></p><p>[sblock]A note: I wanted to set the original world as diametrically oposed. Looking at the lore, demons live in an infinite realm and spawn naturally within it. The origins of the gods are unknown. From this and the concepts of positive planes and negative planes I had an idea. The original cosmology was quite simple. An infinite, ever-expanding realm for the gods and their forces, and an infinite shrinking realm for the demons. Like an ever-expanding cosmos, with a super massive black hole at one "end". It felt thematically appropriate.</p><p></p><p></p><p>To understand the cosmos it is sometimes best to begin at the end, the farthest reaches. The Far Realms are alien places, home to Elder Evils, such as the Great Mother, and insane monstrosities. Opening a portal to this realm could spell doom and destruction for countless cities, and possibly the world.</p><p></p><p>Next in is the Astral Sea, the home of the Outsiders: The Gods, angels, demons, devils and their kin. The divine realms of the Gods are infinitely large and each god has their own personal domain. Celestial beings usually make their homes in either a god's realm or in minor dominions found between realms where they can watch the world and defend it from outside threats. The Abyss is infinitely small, vanishing into a speck at the end of the Astral Sea. The demons who spawn in its depths gain power through destruction and the Demon Lords who rule within seek to tear down everything in existence. Some do this from insanity, others with the belief that once everything is destroyed they will have power beyond imagining. The Divine Realms and the Abyss have been at war since time immemorial, each working their own agenda with regards to the mortal plane.</p><p></p><p>The conflict moved in the favor of the divine forces when the first mortals appeared from the elemental chaos. These beings held tremendous potential power, and by seeking them as worshippers the gods grew powerful enough hold the demons at bay and away from the foundations of the world. Seeing this a young being, some say a demon some say something else, sought out a mortal and struck a bargain. From this meeting came Asmodeus who forged the Nine Hells from the Abyss and the Elemental Chaos. From here he has gathered power, drawing in lost mortals, special demons and errant celestials to form a new army, an army which countered the gods new strength but also crushed the demon hordes. This three-way tie has persisted until the present day and most likely will continue until the end of days.[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Figures of the Abyss</p><p></p><p>[sblock]Demogorgon and Orcus are two of the most powerful Demon Lords within the Abyss.</p><p></p><p>Demogorgon is an insane being of destruction; split nearly in half in an ancient battle, it is possible that if his two sides were ever recombined his power would become unstoppable. Demogorgon is clever and cunning, but constantly squabbles and plots against himself. He is also a being of ravenous hungers and endless destruction which even puts other demons to shame. Description: The demon towers a full eighteen feet in height, his body at once sinuous like that of a snake and powerful like that of a great ape. Two baleful baboon heads leer from atop his lumbering shoulders, from which writhe two long tentacles. His lower torso is saurian, like some great reptile with an immense forked tail.</p><p></p><p>Orcus is a Demon Lord obsessed with the undead, and was the creator of the Ghouls and other foul creatures. Orcus has no qualms about using his power as a hammer to crush others despite his clever and intelligent nature. Orcus despises the living and his goal is to kill everything and rule the corpse-world which would follow. Description: Orcus is typically described as having the head and legs of a goat (with massive fangs), although with ram-like horns, a bloated blood red body, bat-like wings, and a long tail. He stands 14 ft tall.</p><p></p><p>The Demon Lords Yeenoghu, Baphomet, and Vaprak are the next most powerful demons. While each is probably individually weaker than Orcus or Demogorgon they are unique in that each has a race of mortal creatures created in their own image to augment their own power.</p><p></p><p>Yeenoghu created the Gnolls, and his highest worshippers can create more of their kin by feeding their kills to hyenas. Known as the Beast of Slaughter, Yeenoghu pushes these followers into slaughtering everything they can, spreading filth, disease and terror with a massive horde. Description: Yeenoghu combines the worst features of a gnoll and demon in one immense form. Standing 12-foot-tall, his body is gaunt and lanky, and patches of yellow fur stained with brown spots cover him. Leprous gray skin and suppurating wounds mar his body, revealing the corruption of his flesh and spirit. His head is a large, anthropomorphic hyena’s, with glowing red eyes and a toothy maw from which spills strings of drool.</p><p></p><p>Baphomet created the Minotaurs, twisting mortals seeking freedom into monstrous flesh-eating beasts. Minotaurs are massive, ferocious monsters who instill terror by hunting mortals in twisting mazes that they have memorized and following only their base animal lusts. Cults to Baphomet perform dark rituals where humanoids are twisted into Minotaurs by devouring the flesh of other humanoids. Description: Baphomet had the appearance of a 12' tall humanoid with a bull's head, a bovine tail, and broad, stubby hands and feet. His body was covered with coarse black hair. His horns curved downward and outward.</p><p></p><p>Vaprak, the weakest of the three, actually created his race by accident. Though Vaprak has incredible regenerative powers he is a cowardly being at heart, and during one great battle he fled, leaving behind pieces of himself. These pieces eventually grew into trolls, who created more of their kind when their dismembered parts grew new bodies. Description: Vaprak has a humanoid form, 22 feet tall, and colored an exceedingly horrid mottled brown and green, with massive claws, fangs, and a drooping nose.</p><p></p><p>Amongst the Demon Lords there is one more of note, Graz'zt The Dark Prince. Graz'zt is on the same level as Orcus or Demogorgon in terms of raw might, but his mind and demeanor more closely resemble Asmodeus. Graz'zt seeks to unite all evil beings under him, to create an unstoppable army that will destroy the Divine Realms. He also seeks, much like Asmodeus, to control a multi-layered realm instead of a single layer as his peers do. Graz'zt currently holds three layers under his name, gained through conquest and alliance. While his plans are very similar to Asmodeus' it lacks two things. First, Graz'zt relies on demons and other creatures, he has not created his own powerful beings to rule over. The reason for this is tied closely to the second point. Asmodeus' plan came at great personal cost, nearly killing the Arch-devil and leaving him with grievous wounds which persist to this day. Graz'zt will not take this personal risk, nor will he bind himself to truth as Asmodeus has done. He sees these things as the weakness of a brash being, and unnecessary to achieve his goals. Asmodeus sees Graz'zt as a coward who is unwilling to sacrifice for his plans, but Graz'zt is also the closest rival Asmodeus has within the demon hordes so he watches him closely. Carries an acidic greatsword. Description:Standing nine feet tall, Graz'zt appears as a lithe, muscular humanoid. His skin shines like polished obsidian, and his eyes glitter with malevolent green light. He has yellowed fangs, pointed ears, and six slender fingers decorating each hand. He is sometimes described as having six small black horns half-hidden amid his thick black hair.[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>The Nine Hells</p><p></p><p>[sblock]Asmodeus' realm is divided into nine layers, eight of which are ruled by his immediate subordinates, The Archdukes and Duchesses. Asmodeus himself rules from the Ninth layer. The eight Archdevils are named Zariel, Dispater, Mammon, Makanthet (Queen of the Succubi), Levistus, Glasya, Baalzebul, and Mephistopheles. Each layer is only accessible from the layers above and below it, with the exception of Shendilavvri, which has many portals connecting to its pleasure houses.</p><p></p><p>Zariel rules the wastelands of the First Layer, Avernus, which act as the frontlines of the Nine Hells where many battles are fought. It is common to see armies of Celestials or Demons teeming across the barren fields, waging war on Asmodeus. In the center of the Plane sits the Bronze Citadel, the seat of Zariel's power. Deep within this massive complex, which is filled with demons and war machines, lies the portal to the second layer. Zariel has always been the Archduchess of Avernus, but she was deposed by her lover Bel for thousands of years. Bel ruled and kept power by devouring Zariel's flesh, but in recent times Zariel escaped and deposed her lover. She locked him in the same torture chamber in which she herself was locked and daily enacts her revenge against him. Zariel's body shows the scars inflicted by Bel, and she has yet to regain her full power, but she rules once more and is more deadly than ever. Zariel was actually the first being corrupted by Asmodeus. She was a powerful Angel, and Asmodeus placed her as Gatekeeper of the Abyss both to show his power to his enemies and because her strength was necessary to give him time to build his armies. Description: Due to her scars Zariel often keeps herself covered with a thick crimson cloak. Her face is unmarred, with small golden horns curling under her ears, and long red hair falling down her back. Underneath her cloak are two bone wings, remnants from her fall.</p><p></p><p>Dispater rules the Iron City of Dis, which is a major gathering point for powerful beings. Dispater is incredibly paranoid and his city is a mass of secret police and and surveillance as well as back room deals. These are useful for his long term convoluted plans, which he executes with calm precision. It is said that the tower in the center of the city acts not only as a hub for these activities but also as a powerful artifact, which as long as Dispater remains within he cannot be killed. Description: This dark-haired, red eyed figure stands just over seven feet tall with gray skin and small horns protruding from his brow. Dressed in regal finery, he carries a long rod capped with a macelike head</p><p></p><p>Mammon rules over Minauros, a vast swampy realm of endless muck and fog. Within this bog, where corpses are often found, lies the Golden City, a testament to Mammon's vast wealth which constantly sinks into the swamp. It is thought that Mammon built this city as a challenge to Asmodeus, who then shifted the plane to it's current state. Undeterred Mammon constantly builds upon his city, using thousands of slaves to shore it up. Description: This massive fiend has the lower body of a brown-spotted serpent and the upper body of a muscular humanoid with two powerful arms. He stands 10 ft tall, but is easily 20 ft in length. The creature’s bestial head is terrifically monstrous, with a black-lipped maw filled with pointed teeth and a pair of serpent’s fangs. His eyes are pale white, without irises or pupils, yet he seems to see perfectly</p><p></p><p>Malcanthet rules over the realm of Shendilavvri, a seeming paradise of sensual pleasures. As Queen of the Succubi Malcanthet is a major provider of souls to Asmodues' armies and her realms is a popular destination, either for those who do not care to lose their souls or those who cannot. It is common to find portals into the realm, but difficult to find portals to other layers of the Abyss. The Succubus and their Queen are also Asmodues' greatest spies and he has ordered them to tempt the Demon Lord Graz'zt and keep an eye on him. Description: Malcanthet is an incredibly beautiful human-like female with bat-wings, horns, and a long prehensile tail tipped with a spike-like stinger. However, her shapeshifting and her telepathic abilities mean that few if any see her true form, instead she takes a form pleasing to the viewer</p><p></p><p>Levistus is the ruler of Stygia, the 5th layer. Stygia is an arctic ocean, with swirling black depths and giant ice floes. Levistus is the most openly defiant of the Archdukes, once seeking to steal Asmodeus' bride and chief consort and turn her against him. The plot ended in the Queen of Hell's death and Asmodeus punished the Archduke by imprisoning him deep within a floating glacier. Since then Levistus has focused all his attention on freeing himself and preventing another from conquering his realm. Description: This tall (7 foot) creature has pale skin, dark hair, and a goatee. He seems human except for his coal-black eyes and pointed teeth.</p><p></p><p>Glasya is the lady ruling over Malbolge, the sixth layer of the Abyss. Glasya is Asmodeus' daughter and her appointment so close to her mother's killer is no accident. Malbolge has changed hands many times, but Glasya rules with iron-fisted surety in her power. The realm has shaped itself to suit her, becoming a massive cadaver of cavernous rib cages and organs. Her palace is a giant skull, with ten fingers rising before it as towers. Glasya loves torture and political unrest, but is completely loyal to her father. Description: Glasya looks exactly like an exceedingly beautiful human, with luscious mahogany hair—except for her copper skin, wings, forked tail, and horns that betray her true nature</p><p></p><p>Baalzebul rules the ruins of Maladomini, the 7th layer. Baalzebul is obsessed with perfection and has forced his slaves into building the perfect city. However, Baalzebul is never satisfied with the work and constantly has his realm scrapped and rebuilt. Baalzebul is a powerful archduke with constantly shifting alliances and loyalties. In one of his schemes the Lord of Flies attempted to betray Asmodeus, in retaliation Asmosdeus transformed him into a massive, disgusting slug. Still Baalzebul plotted, biding time and power. Finally, Baalzebul gathered enough power to change his form in defiance of Asmodeus' curse, though he needed an alliance with the ancient Dagon to achieve the feat. His glorious return was short lived though, as expending that much power has left Baalzebul once again weakened and vulnerable, and deals with ancient forces such as Dagon are rarely without cost. (Note: If Baalzebul's new body is destroyed or severely damaged the Demon Lord's true form will be revealed. Dagon's magics have twisted Baalzebul into a gargantuan worm of destruction, nearly 200 ft in length. Asmodeus is aware of this potential, and has prepared counter measures to remove Baalzebul from the Nine Hells if this event should occur) Description: In his new body Baalzebul stands 10 ft tall with skin of flawless alabaster. No crack, crevice, or other imperfection mars his new skin. From his head rise two beautifully spiraling horns.</p><p></p><p>Mephistopheles rules the frozen realm of Cania, the 8th layer. Though much of the surface of Cania is a massive sheet of ice, Mephistopheles has created the substance “Hellfire” for his followers. Mephistopheles' lair is a massive city with a visible bonfire of Hellfire in the center. This is much like The Lord of No Mercy himself, exterior coldness hiding a raging temper that few see and fewer survive. Description: This diabolical fiend is a nine-foot-tall, has crimson skin, with handsome yet diabolical features that include a set of massive red leathery wings, curling horns, his eyes are white with red irises and pupils, and long, straight black hair. He has huge muscles that befit his great strength, and his speech is whispering wind. Swathed in a flowing black cape, he is the vision of evil.</p><p></p><p>The 9th layer of Nessus is the darkest and most treacherous of all. The seat of Asmodeus' power Nessus is a landscape of pitfalls and endless ravines. Here Asmodeus holds court, keeps his most powerful artifacts, and plots his various schemes. Description: Asmodeus appears human, 13 feet tall, he has lustrous dark skin and black hair, handsome and dangerous, his crimson eyes shine with infernal power, a pair of small sharp horns crown his forehead. He dresses in regal finery of red and black robes studded with black diamonds and fiery rubies. Beneath his clothing, Asmodeus' body is covered in bloody wounds which he sustained when he created the Nine Hells. His wounds ooze blood daily, logically sapping his strength as he attempts to recover from his ordeal. However, seeing as his power is nearly god-like already, it is inconceivable how strong he would be if he ever truly recovered. [/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Divine Realms, Elemental Chaos, and Important Elemental Figures</p><p></p><p>[sblock]Note: The divine realms are very, very sparse at the moment. Every god should logically have a realm, with every pantheon perhpas existing in the same space. Seeing as these are the least likely places for a party to go without a direct plan I've decided to work on these details at a later date. One thing I would like to figure out are the Pillars of Creation I mentioned earlier, cool concept but no idea what it will end up looking like.</p><p></p><p>The Divine Realms of the Gods are somewhat more simple than their counterparts, but much less is known to be true. What can be confirmed is that each pantheon hosts it's own realm, and each god has their own domain within that realm. The chosen of the gods and the celestials also live in the Divine Realms, some within the realm of specific pantheons and others in the spaces between them. Their is also a treaty preventing direct war amongst the gods as they struggle against the Abyss, The Nine Hells, and the Far Realms. Within the mortal planes much of a god's work is done by the mortals, and powerful mortal agents are more likely to confront great powers than their divine patrons.</p><p></p><p>Within the astral sea thought begins to turn to matter, and this basic matter takes the form of the four primary elements. The seething cauldron of the Elemental Chaos is broken by four massive planes, where similar elements have coalesced together. Within the Chaos itself nothing rules and few things survive, though immensely powerful beings made be found there, having made their homes far from the conflicts of their native plane.</p><p></p><p>Within the Elemental Planes reside three factions. There are the Elemental Lords, who rule over the planes with supreme power but take little interest in the doings of other beings. These include: Akadi, Queen of Air, Grumbar, the Earthlord, Istishia, The King of Water, and Kossuth, the Lord of Fire. Each takes a form appropriate to their element, with only the vaguest hints of mortal features. Opposing these beings are the Elemental Princes who, seeking more power, have started cults in the mortal lands. Their goal is all the same, though each works in opposition to the others, they wish to destroy all things, and leave existence in the purity of their element. They are Yan-C-Bin, Prince of Air, Ogrémoch, Prince of Stone, Olhydra, Princess of Water, and Imix, Prince of Flames.</p><p></p><p>The final faction is that of the Genies, beings of enormous power born from the combination of mortal souls and elemental might. They are aristocrats, wish-makers, and slavers, but even the worst of them are more acceptable than the full brunt of the elements.[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Ancient Evils, unclassified and not placed</p><p></p><p>[sblock]Before moving on it is important to note that there are many beings that defy or do not fit into the structures of the world, many ancient threats and powers which were banished or locked away by Gods, Demon Lords, or Archdevils.</p><p></p><p>First is Ghaunadar, known as That Which Lurks or the Elder Eye. Ghaunadar is a being of ancient evil and rage, some believing he came to this reality after destroying his own. The Elder Eye has cults across the planes feeding him power, though his purpose remains a mystery. Most likely his mad mind is bent upon the destruction of reality itself. No adequate description of this being exists, the very few which have seen it describe an inconceivably massive dark, writhing form with a malevolent orange glow at its center.</p><p></p><p>Next is Tharizdun, the Chained God, a being of immense power Tharizdun tried to destroy everything once. The gods banded together and stopped his scheme, sustaining massive causalities in the process. Unable to kill him, they instead sealed him away in a secret location, hopefully for all eternity. Tharizdun is not cut-off from the world though, and his worshippers seek to locate him and free him from his bonds. No record remains of Tharizdun's appearance and the most visions of him reveal is a massive adamant box, bound in heavy chains, with a hellish glow emanating from the cracks.</p><p></p><p>Dendar, The Night Serpent, is a being said to have been born when the first dream was dreamed. A massive snake, Dendar devours the lost and forgotten nightmares of kings and gods alike. She plans, it is said, to unleash all these horrors at once and end the world. However, if she stops eating nightmares then all beings would remember those horrors in perfect detail and the world would be plunged in destruction and despair anyways. An alternative mythology can be found below with the Snake gods of the Yuan-ti.</p><p></p><p>Zargon, The Returner, calls itself a god but it is something else entirely. Born of slime and ooze Zargon feeds on sacrifices brought by his followers, growing in strength until he threatens gods and devils alike. Many times Zargon was slain, taking a heavy toll on his opponents, but each time he has risen again, forming around the spiral horn which grows from his forehead. In his most recent with Asmodeus Zargon was sealed within a great stone, but his followers still sacrifice and he will arise once more.</p><p></p><p>Dagon is an ancient being, older than many of the gods. Portals to his domain appear in many places, sometimes seemingly at random, other times they are permanent entrances to whatever place Dagon resides. Dagon's age is matched by his knowledge, many forgotten and forbidden secrets are his and his alone. Whatever goals he may have Dagon never gives anything away for free, even if it may first appear so, and his schemes span aeons of time.</p><p></p><p>Only two other groups wander between the Astral Sea and the Elemental Chaos: The alien and deadly Slaad and the wandering Gith.[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Feywild, Realm of Faerie</p><p></p><p>[sblock]Past the Elemental Chaos and through the Etheral Layer lies the Feywild and the Shadowfell as well as the mortal plane, also known as the Material Plane.</p><p></p><p>The Feywild is a reflection of the material plane that is more than its source. Instead of a normal wood you could find an ancient forest, or one made of fiery crystals. A pond may have unknown depths or a mountain be seven times higher with strange beasts roosting within. Most residents of the Feywild are known as the Fey or Faeries, but not all fall under this category. The Feywild is generally ruled by the Sidhe and their courts, but opposing factions do exist. It is important to note that some beings carry a close connection with the Feywild, like Gnomes, Elves, Goblins and some Giantkin, but these are not “true Fey” as they are not bound by the Three Laws. These Laws are: Do not speak that which is not true. Always return kindness, and ill-will in kind, but never leave a debt unpaid. Honor the Laws of Hospitality.</p><p></p><p>As there are Three Laws which bind the Fey, there are three courts which rule them. The Seelie Court is ruled by Titania, also known as the Summer Queen. The Seelie Fey are generally the most even-tempered and kindly of the Fey, they are most concerned with natural beauty and can be fierce in defending it. The Seelie can also be the most raucous of partiers, enjoying music, dance and fine drinks and wine. Dryads, Sprites, Pixies, and Satyrs often fall under the Seelie courts sway.</p><p></p><p>Titania's consort and lover is Oberon, Leader of the Wild Hunt and Lord of the Wild Fey. The Wild Fey are much more disorganized than the other two courts, and Oberon is their leader only because it allows them to claim neutrality in the wars between the courts. Many of the Wild Fey do participate, choosing sides based on a fickle mood or favors owed, due to this mixed position they count many creatures among their number.</p><p></p><p>The Final court is the Unseelie Court, ruled by The Queen of Air and Darkness. The Unseelie fey are terrible forces, taking pleasure in pain and evil curses. They also count many varied and dark-hearted creatures among them, the Queen employs several shadows in her service for example. Few beings remember, and fewer speak openly, that the Dark Queen is Titania's sister and that she was once bright and lively. It is said that the Crystal Titania wears around her neck once had her sister's name upon it, and that the Queen must also carry somewhere a crystal upon which Titania's name is writ. Proof of their eternal bond. However, one day she returned from a trip into the forest, the light gone from her eyes and her name unspeakable. None know for certain what transpired, all that is known is that The Queen of Air and Darkness wars upon her sister, and that she is a cold and unfeeling being. With one exception, if blood is spilled in her presence the Queen's rage is unleashed, destroying he who spilled the blood and sometimes the bleeder as well.</p><p></p><p>There are other powerful and important figures in the Feywild: The Princess of Thorns, The Prince of Frost, Cait Sith, and Puck to name a few. It is also important to recognize the two other races commonly found in the Feywild. The twisted, giant Fomorians who were once Sidhe and the Hags who are Fey but stand apart in many respects. [/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Shadowfell</p><p></p><p>[sblock]Where the Feywild is the material world reflect with more, the Shadowfell is reflected with less. Light rarely shines, and much of the realm is an endless expanse of gray shrubs, hills, and dank water. It is colorless, empty. The Shadowfell is the birthplace of many dark things and foul hungers. Most notably are the undead which are the majority of its inhabitants. Many beings seek a foothold here, most notably Orcus, who seeks to claim all undead under his dominion. To this end Orcus has established “The City of Ghouls” from which he constantly sends forces to increase his reach, though they are commonly decimated by the nominal rulers of The Shadowfell: The Lords of Shadow.</p><p></p><p>Among their number is the first vampire, an ancient creature who was the first to take the title “Lord of the Shadows.” Being the first to claim lordship within the Shadowfell this being, known as Lord Abaddon to those foolhardy enough to name him, is feared and respected by many powerful forces, though he seems content with the power he has gathered. Amongst Abbadon's court are many dark lords and ladies, some of the most notable being Abbadon's ancient children such as Lady Priscilla and Lord Bartholomew.</p><p></p><p>Another powerful group in the Shadowfell is the Queen of the Night and her Deathknights. Lady Gabriella and her right-hand Sir Nikolai The Mournful were once in charge of an ancient kingdom. Lady Gabriella, in a quest to remove all evil from her lands, went too far, slaughtering entire villages and destroying her country from within with her zealotry. Sir Nikolai turned a blind-eye to his Lady's atrocities, love leading him to follow her without question. When they died, both rose as Deathknights, but Lady Gabriella refused to see her sins, instead blaming the gods for cursing her and vowed to continue working towards creating the perfect kingdom. Amongst her current knights are Lady Constance, who was cursed for pursuing power at the cost of her soul, Sir Damien and Sir Augustus, both whom fell for pride.</p><p></p><p>The next of the Shadow Lords is Judax'Kîsar, an ancient dragon of indeterminate type. Somme say he was the first dracolich, self-rising from the bleak desert of the Shadowfell. Others that he was the first shadow dragon, and that his name is now the title all leaders of the Shadow Wyrm Court hold. For whatever the truth of Judax is,his methods are clear, stealing eggs, hatchlings, and young dragons of all color and bringing them to the shadowfell to be reborn as shadow dragons under his command. No one is sure how he controls the dragons, known for fierce independence, but however the method the Court is a powerful and dangerous force.</p><p></p><p>Outside of these “heavy-hitters” are many, many lesser powers. Hags, wights, wraiths, necromancers, and even revenants claim what land and titles they can before being subsumed by some greater power.[/sblock]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Chaosmancer, post: 6734399, member: 6801228"] Cosmology of Arista I spent a lot of time here, because while every DM advice column I have ever seen says start small and build, I find it difficult to build if I do not have the larger context figured out. Also, I know very, very little of DnD planar lore. I've mostly just looked at the 3.X and newer core books, so details of who some of these names and their plots are have escaped me. This was a great opportunity not only to learn and condense this information from the Internet, but also to change stuff and make it more mine. I'll admit, most of the details of the Demons and Devils is just copied and pasted, not all, but a lot. My true pride though comes in with the Faerie and the Shadowfell, because I could find next to nothing published so I started painting and plotting for myself. This section is not easily divided, I wrote it like a history in some respects, so bear with me. Opening and Astral Sea [sblock]A note: I wanted to set the original world as diametrically oposed. Looking at the lore, demons live in an infinite realm and spawn naturally within it. The origins of the gods are unknown. From this and the concepts of positive planes and negative planes I had an idea. The original cosmology was quite simple. An infinite, ever-expanding realm for the gods and their forces, and an infinite shrinking realm for the demons. Like an ever-expanding cosmos, with a super massive black hole at one "end". It felt thematically appropriate. To understand the cosmos it is sometimes best to begin at the end, the farthest reaches. The Far Realms are alien places, home to Elder Evils, such as the Great Mother, and insane monstrosities. Opening a portal to this realm could spell doom and destruction for countless cities, and possibly the world. Next in is the Astral Sea, the home of the Outsiders: The Gods, angels, demons, devils and their kin. The divine realms of the Gods are infinitely large and each god has their own personal domain. Celestial beings usually make their homes in either a god's realm or in minor dominions found between realms where they can watch the world and defend it from outside threats. The Abyss is infinitely small, vanishing into a speck at the end of the Astral Sea. The demons who spawn in its depths gain power through destruction and the Demon Lords who rule within seek to tear down everything in existence. Some do this from insanity, others with the belief that once everything is destroyed they will have power beyond imagining. The Divine Realms and the Abyss have been at war since time immemorial, each working their own agenda with regards to the mortal plane. The conflict moved in the favor of the divine forces when the first mortals appeared from the elemental chaos. These beings held tremendous potential power, and by seeking them as worshippers the gods grew powerful enough hold the demons at bay and away from the foundations of the world. Seeing this a young being, some say a demon some say something else, sought out a mortal and struck a bargain. From this meeting came Asmodeus who forged the Nine Hells from the Abyss and the Elemental Chaos. From here he has gathered power, drawing in lost mortals, special demons and errant celestials to form a new army, an army which countered the gods new strength but also crushed the demon hordes. This three-way tie has persisted until the present day and most likely will continue until the end of days.[/sblock] Figures of the Abyss [sblock]Demogorgon and Orcus are two of the most powerful Demon Lords within the Abyss. Demogorgon is an insane being of destruction; split nearly in half in an ancient battle, it is possible that if his two sides were ever recombined his power would become unstoppable. Demogorgon is clever and cunning, but constantly squabbles and plots against himself. He is also a being of ravenous hungers and endless destruction which even puts other demons to shame. Description: The demon towers a full eighteen feet in height, his body at once sinuous like that of a snake and powerful like that of a great ape. Two baleful baboon heads leer from atop his lumbering shoulders, from which writhe two long tentacles. His lower torso is saurian, like some great reptile with an immense forked tail. Orcus is a Demon Lord obsessed with the undead, and was the creator of the Ghouls and other foul creatures. Orcus has no qualms about using his power as a hammer to crush others despite his clever and intelligent nature. Orcus despises the living and his goal is to kill everything and rule the corpse-world which would follow. Description: Orcus is typically described as having the head and legs of a goat (with massive fangs), although with ram-like horns, a bloated blood red body, bat-like wings, and a long tail. He stands 14 ft tall. The Demon Lords Yeenoghu, Baphomet, and Vaprak are the next most powerful demons. While each is probably individually weaker than Orcus or Demogorgon they are unique in that each has a race of mortal creatures created in their own image to augment their own power. Yeenoghu created the Gnolls, and his highest worshippers can create more of their kin by feeding their kills to hyenas. Known as the Beast of Slaughter, Yeenoghu pushes these followers into slaughtering everything they can, spreading filth, disease and terror with a massive horde. Description: Yeenoghu combines the worst features of a gnoll and demon in one immense form. Standing 12-foot-tall, his body is gaunt and lanky, and patches of yellow fur stained with brown spots cover him. Leprous gray skin and suppurating wounds mar his body, revealing the corruption of his flesh and spirit. His head is a large, anthropomorphic hyena’s, with glowing red eyes and a toothy maw from which spills strings of drool. Baphomet created the Minotaurs, twisting mortals seeking freedom into monstrous flesh-eating beasts. Minotaurs are massive, ferocious monsters who instill terror by hunting mortals in twisting mazes that they have memorized and following only their base animal lusts. Cults to Baphomet perform dark rituals where humanoids are twisted into Minotaurs by devouring the flesh of other humanoids. Description: Baphomet had the appearance of a 12' tall humanoid with a bull's head, a bovine tail, and broad, stubby hands and feet. His body was covered with coarse black hair. His horns curved downward and outward. Vaprak, the weakest of the three, actually created his race by accident. Though Vaprak has incredible regenerative powers he is a cowardly being at heart, and during one great battle he fled, leaving behind pieces of himself. These pieces eventually grew into trolls, who created more of their kind when their dismembered parts grew new bodies. Description: Vaprak has a humanoid form, 22 feet tall, and colored an exceedingly horrid mottled brown and green, with massive claws, fangs, and a drooping nose. Amongst the Demon Lords there is one more of note, Graz'zt The Dark Prince. Graz'zt is on the same level as Orcus or Demogorgon in terms of raw might, but his mind and demeanor more closely resemble Asmodeus. Graz'zt seeks to unite all evil beings under him, to create an unstoppable army that will destroy the Divine Realms. He also seeks, much like Asmodeus, to control a multi-layered realm instead of a single layer as his peers do. Graz'zt currently holds three layers under his name, gained through conquest and alliance. While his plans are very similar to Asmodeus' it lacks two things. First, Graz'zt relies on demons and other creatures, he has not created his own powerful beings to rule over. The reason for this is tied closely to the second point. Asmodeus' plan came at great personal cost, nearly killing the Arch-devil and leaving him with grievous wounds which persist to this day. Graz'zt will not take this personal risk, nor will he bind himself to truth as Asmodeus has done. He sees these things as the weakness of a brash being, and unnecessary to achieve his goals. Asmodeus sees Graz'zt as a coward who is unwilling to sacrifice for his plans, but Graz'zt is also the closest rival Asmodeus has within the demon hordes so he watches him closely. Carries an acidic greatsword. Description:Standing nine feet tall, Graz'zt appears as a lithe, muscular humanoid. His skin shines like polished obsidian, and his eyes glitter with malevolent green light. He has yellowed fangs, pointed ears, and six slender fingers decorating each hand. He is sometimes described as having six small black horns half-hidden amid his thick black hair.[/sblock] The Nine Hells [sblock]Asmodeus' realm is divided into nine layers, eight of which are ruled by his immediate subordinates, The Archdukes and Duchesses. Asmodeus himself rules from the Ninth layer. The eight Archdevils are named Zariel, Dispater, Mammon, Makanthet (Queen of the Succubi), Levistus, Glasya, Baalzebul, and Mephistopheles. Each layer is only accessible from the layers above and below it, with the exception of Shendilavvri, which has many portals connecting to its pleasure houses. Zariel rules the wastelands of the First Layer, Avernus, which act as the frontlines of the Nine Hells where many battles are fought. It is common to see armies of Celestials or Demons teeming across the barren fields, waging war on Asmodeus. In the center of the Plane sits the Bronze Citadel, the seat of Zariel's power. Deep within this massive complex, which is filled with demons and war machines, lies the portal to the second layer. Zariel has always been the Archduchess of Avernus, but she was deposed by her lover Bel for thousands of years. Bel ruled and kept power by devouring Zariel's flesh, but in recent times Zariel escaped and deposed her lover. She locked him in the same torture chamber in which she herself was locked and daily enacts her revenge against him. Zariel's body shows the scars inflicted by Bel, and she has yet to regain her full power, but she rules once more and is more deadly than ever. Zariel was actually the first being corrupted by Asmodeus. She was a powerful Angel, and Asmodeus placed her as Gatekeeper of the Abyss both to show his power to his enemies and because her strength was necessary to give him time to build his armies. Description: Due to her scars Zariel often keeps herself covered with a thick crimson cloak. Her face is unmarred, with small golden horns curling under her ears, and long red hair falling down her back. Underneath her cloak are two bone wings, remnants from her fall. Dispater rules the Iron City of Dis, which is a major gathering point for powerful beings. Dispater is incredibly paranoid and his city is a mass of secret police and and surveillance as well as back room deals. These are useful for his long term convoluted plans, which he executes with calm precision. It is said that the tower in the center of the city acts not only as a hub for these activities but also as a powerful artifact, which as long as Dispater remains within he cannot be killed. Description: This dark-haired, red eyed figure stands just over seven feet tall with gray skin and small horns protruding from his brow. Dressed in regal finery, he carries a long rod capped with a macelike head Mammon rules over Minauros, a vast swampy realm of endless muck and fog. Within this bog, where corpses are often found, lies the Golden City, a testament to Mammon's vast wealth which constantly sinks into the swamp. It is thought that Mammon built this city as a challenge to Asmodeus, who then shifted the plane to it's current state. Undeterred Mammon constantly builds upon his city, using thousands of slaves to shore it up. Description: This massive fiend has the lower body of a brown-spotted serpent and the upper body of a muscular humanoid with two powerful arms. He stands 10 ft tall, but is easily 20 ft in length. The creature’s bestial head is terrifically monstrous, with a black-lipped maw filled with pointed teeth and a pair of serpent’s fangs. His eyes are pale white, without irises or pupils, yet he seems to see perfectly Malcanthet rules over the realm of Shendilavvri, a seeming paradise of sensual pleasures. As Queen of the Succubi Malcanthet is a major provider of souls to Asmodues' armies and her realms is a popular destination, either for those who do not care to lose their souls or those who cannot. It is common to find portals into the realm, but difficult to find portals to other layers of the Abyss. The Succubus and their Queen are also Asmodues' greatest spies and he has ordered them to tempt the Demon Lord Graz'zt and keep an eye on him. Description: Malcanthet is an incredibly beautiful human-like female with bat-wings, horns, and a long prehensile tail tipped with a spike-like stinger. However, her shapeshifting and her telepathic abilities mean that few if any see her true form, instead she takes a form pleasing to the viewer Levistus is the ruler of Stygia, the 5th layer. Stygia is an arctic ocean, with swirling black depths and giant ice floes. Levistus is the most openly defiant of the Archdukes, once seeking to steal Asmodeus' bride and chief consort and turn her against him. The plot ended in the Queen of Hell's death and Asmodeus punished the Archduke by imprisoning him deep within a floating glacier. Since then Levistus has focused all his attention on freeing himself and preventing another from conquering his realm. Description: This tall (7 foot) creature has pale skin, dark hair, and a goatee. He seems human except for his coal-black eyes and pointed teeth. Glasya is the lady ruling over Malbolge, the sixth layer of the Abyss. Glasya is Asmodeus' daughter and her appointment so close to her mother's killer is no accident. Malbolge has changed hands many times, but Glasya rules with iron-fisted surety in her power. The realm has shaped itself to suit her, becoming a massive cadaver of cavernous rib cages and organs. Her palace is a giant skull, with ten fingers rising before it as towers. Glasya loves torture and political unrest, but is completely loyal to her father. Description: Glasya looks exactly like an exceedingly beautiful human, with luscious mahogany hair—except for her copper skin, wings, forked tail, and horns that betray her true nature Baalzebul rules the ruins of Maladomini, the 7th layer. Baalzebul is obsessed with perfection and has forced his slaves into building the perfect city. However, Baalzebul is never satisfied with the work and constantly has his realm scrapped and rebuilt. Baalzebul is a powerful archduke with constantly shifting alliances and loyalties. In one of his schemes the Lord of Flies attempted to betray Asmodeus, in retaliation Asmosdeus transformed him into a massive, disgusting slug. Still Baalzebul plotted, biding time and power. Finally, Baalzebul gathered enough power to change his form in defiance of Asmodeus' curse, though he needed an alliance with the ancient Dagon to achieve the feat. His glorious return was short lived though, as expending that much power has left Baalzebul once again weakened and vulnerable, and deals with ancient forces such as Dagon are rarely without cost. (Note: If Baalzebul's new body is destroyed or severely damaged the Demon Lord's true form will be revealed. Dagon's magics have twisted Baalzebul into a gargantuan worm of destruction, nearly 200 ft in length. Asmodeus is aware of this potential, and has prepared counter measures to remove Baalzebul from the Nine Hells if this event should occur) Description: In his new body Baalzebul stands 10 ft tall with skin of flawless alabaster. No crack, crevice, or other imperfection mars his new skin. From his head rise two beautifully spiraling horns. Mephistopheles rules the frozen realm of Cania, the 8th layer. Though much of the surface of Cania is a massive sheet of ice, Mephistopheles has created the substance “Hellfire” for his followers. Mephistopheles' lair is a massive city with a visible bonfire of Hellfire in the center. This is much like The Lord of No Mercy himself, exterior coldness hiding a raging temper that few see and fewer survive. Description: This diabolical fiend is a nine-foot-tall, has crimson skin, with handsome yet diabolical features that include a set of massive red leathery wings, curling horns, his eyes are white with red irises and pupils, and long, straight black hair. He has huge muscles that befit his great strength, and his speech is whispering wind. Swathed in a flowing black cape, he is the vision of evil. The 9th layer of Nessus is the darkest and most treacherous of all. The seat of Asmodeus' power Nessus is a landscape of pitfalls and endless ravines. Here Asmodeus holds court, keeps his most powerful artifacts, and plots his various schemes. Description: Asmodeus appears human, 13 feet tall, he has lustrous dark skin and black hair, handsome and dangerous, his crimson eyes shine with infernal power, a pair of small sharp horns crown his forehead. He dresses in regal finery of red and black robes studded with black diamonds and fiery rubies. Beneath his clothing, Asmodeus' body is covered in bloody wounds which he sustained when he created the Nine Hells. His wounds ooze blood daily, logically sapping his strength as he attempts to recover from his ordeal. However, seeing as his power is nearly god-like already, it is inconceivable how strong he would be if he ever truly recovered. [/sblock] Divine Realms, Elemental Chaos, and Important Elemental Figures [sblock]Note: The divine realms are very, very sparse at the moment. Every god should logically have a realm, with every pantheon perhpas existing in the same space. Seeing as these are the least likely places for a party to go without a direct plan I've decided to work on these details at a later date. One thing I would like to figure out are the Pillars of Creation I mentioned earlier, cool concept but no idea what it will end up looking like. The Divine Realms of the Gods are somewhat more simple than their counterparts, but much less is known to be true. What can be confirmed is that each pantheon hosts it's own realm, and each god has their own domain within that realm. The chosen of the gods and the celestials also live in the Divine Realms, some within the realm of specific pantheons and others in the spaces between them. Their is also a treaty preventing direct war amongst the gods as they struggle against the Abyss, The Nine Hells, and the Far Realms. Within the mortal planes much of a god's work is done by the mortals, and powerful mortal agents are more likely to confront great powers than their divine patrons. Within the astral sea thought begins to turn to matter, and this basic matter takes the form of the four primary elements. The seething cauldron of the Elemental Chaos is broken by four massive planes, where similar elements have coalesced together. Within the Chaos itself nothing rules and few things survive, though immensely powerful beings made be found there, having made their homes far from the conflicts of their native plane. Within the Elemental Planes reside three factions. There are the Elemental Lords, who rule over the planes with supreme power but take little interest in the doings of other beings. These include: Akadi, Queen of Air, Grumbar, the Earthlord, Istishia, The King of Water, and Kossuth, the Lord of Fire. Each takes a form appropriate to their element, with only the vaguest hints of mortal features. Opposing these beings are the Elemental Princes who, seeking more power, have started cults in the mortal lands. Their goal is all the same, though each works in opposition to the others, they wish to destroy all things, and leave existence in the purity of their element. They are Yan-C-Bin, Prince of Air, Ogrémoch, Prince of Stone, Olhydra, Princess of Water, and Imix, Prince of Flames. The final faction is that of the Genies, beings of enormous power born from the combination of mortal souls and elemental might. They are aristocrats, wish-makers, and slavers, but even the worst of them are more acceptable than the full brunt of the elements.[/sblock] Ancient Evils, unclassified and not placed [sblock]Before moving on it is important to note that there are many beings that defy or do not fit into the structures of the world, many ancient threats and powers which were banished or locked away by Gods, Demon Lords, or Archdevils. First is Ghaunadar, known as That Which Lurks or the Elder Eye. Ghaunadar is a being of ancient evil and rage, some believing he came to this reality after destroying his own. The Elder Eye has cults across the planes feeding him power, though his purpose remains a mystery. Most likely his mad mind is bent upon the destruction of reality itself. No adequate description of this being exists, the very few which have seen it describe an inconceivably massive dark, writhing form with a malevolent orange glow at its center. Next is Tharizdun, the Chained God, a being of immense power Tharizdun tried to destroy everything once. The gods banded together and stopped his scheme, sustaining massive causalities in the process. Unable to kill him, they instead sealed him away in a secret location, hopefully for all eternity. Tharizdun is not cut-off from the world though, and his worshippers seek to locate him and free him from his bonds. No record remains of Tharizdun's appearance and the most visions of him reveal is a massive adamant box, bound in heavy chains, with a hellish glow emanating from the cracks. Dendar, The Night Serpent, is a being said to have been born when the first dream was dreamed. A massive snake, Dendar devours the lost and forgotten nightmares of kings and gods alike. She plans, it is said, to unleash all these horrors at once and end the world. However, if she stops eating nightmares then all beings would remember those horrors in perfect detail and the world would be plunged in destruction and despair anyways. An alternative mythology can be found below with the Snake gods of the Yuan-ti. Zargon, The Returner, calls itself a god but it is something else entirely. Born of slime and ooze Zargon feeds on sacrifices brought by his followers, growing in strength until he threatens gods and devils alike. Many times Zargon was slain, taking a heavy toll on his opponents, but each time he has risen again, forming around the spiral horn which grows from his forehead. In his most recent with Asmodeus Zargon was sealed within a great stone, but his followers still sacrifice and he will arise once more. Dagon is an ancient being, older than many of the gods. Portals to his domain appear in many places, sometimes seemingly at random, other times they are permanent entrances to whatever place Dagon resides. Dagon's age is matched by his knowledge, many forgotten and forbidden secrets are his and his alone. Whatever goals he may have Dagon never gives anything away for free, even if it may first appear so, and his schemes span aeons of time. Only two other groups wander between the Astral Sea and the Elemental Chaos: The alien and deadly Slaad and the wandering Gith.[/sblock] Feywild, Realm of Faerie [sblock]Past the Elemental Chaos and through the Etheral Layer lies the Feywild and the Shadowfell as well as the mortal plane, also known as the Material Plane. The Feywild is a reflection of the material plane that is more than its source. Instead of a normal wood you could find an ancient forest, or one made of fiery crystals. A pond may have unknown depths or a mountain be seven times higher with strange beasts roosting within. Most residents of the Feywild are known as the Fey or Faeries, but not all fall under this category. The Feywild is generally ruled by the Sidhe and their courts, but opposing factions do exist. It is important to note that some beings carry a close connection with the Feywild, like Gnomes, Elves, Goblins and some Giantkin, but these are not “true Fey” as they are not bound by the Three Laws. These Laws are: Do not speak that which is not true. Always return kindness, and ill-will in kind, but never leave a debt unpaid. Honor the Laws of Hospitality. As there are Three Laws which bind the Fey, there are three courts which rule them. The Seelie Court is ruled by Titania, also known as the Summer Queen. The Seelie Fey are generally the most even-tempered and kindly of the Fey, they are most concerned with natural beauty and can be fierce in defending it. The Seelie can also be the most raucous of partiers, enjoying music, dance and fine drinks and wine. Dryads, Sprites, Pixies, and Satyrs often fall under the Seelie courts sway. Titania's consort and lover is Oberon, Leader of the Wild Hunt and Lord of the Wild Fey. The Wild Fey are much more disorganized than the other two courts, and Oberon is their leader only because it allows them to claim neutrality in the wars between the courts. Many of the Wild Fey do participate, choosing sides based on a fickle mood or favors owed, due to this mixed position they count many creatures among their number. The Final court is the Unseelie Court, ruled by The Queen of Air and Darkness. The Unseelie fey are terrible forces, taking pleasure in pain and evil curses. They also count many varied and dark-hearted creatures among them, the Queen employs several shadows in her service for example. Few beings remember, and fewer speak openly, that the Dark Queen is Titania's sister and that she was once bright and lively. It is said that the Crystal Titania wears around her neck once had her sister's name upon it, and that the Queen must also carry somewhere a crystal upon which Titania's name is writ. Proof of their eternal bond. However, one day she returned from a trip into the forest, the light gone from her eyes and her name unspeakable. None know for certain what transpired, all that is known is that The Queen of Air and Darkness wars upon her sister, and that she is a cold and unfeeling being. With one exception, if blood is spilled in her presence the Queen's rage is unleashed, destroying he who spilled the blood and sometimes the bleeder as well. There are other powerful and important figures in the Feywild: The Princess of Thorns, The Prince of Frost, Cait Sith, and Puck to name a few. It is also important to recognize the two other races commonly found in the Feywild. The twisted, giant Fomorians who were once Sidhe and the Hags who are Fey but stand apart in many respects. [/sblock] Shadowfell [sblock]Where the Feywild is the material world reflect with more, the Shadowfell is reflected with less. Light rarely shines, and much of the realm is an endless expanse of gray shrubs, hills, and dank water. It is colorless, empty. The Shadowfell is the birthplace of many dark things and foul hungers. Most notably are the undead which are the majority of its inhabitants. Many beings seek a foothold here, most notably Orcus, who seeks to claim all undead under his dominion. To this end Orcus has established “The City of Ghouls” from which he constantly sends forces to increase his reach, though they are commonly decimated by the nominal rulers of The Shadowfell: The Lords of Shadow. Among their number is the first vampire, an ancient creature who was the first to take the title “Lord of the Shadows.” Being the first to claim lordship within the Shadowfell this being, known as Lord Abaddon to those foolhardy enough to name him, is feared and respected by many powerful forces, though he seems content with the power he has gathered. Amongst Abbadon's court are many dark lords and ladies, some of the most notable being Abbadon's ancient children such as Lady Priscilla and Lord Bartholomew. Another powerful group in the Shadowfell is the Queen of the Night and her Deathknights. Lady Gabriella and her right-hand Sir Nikolai The Mournful were once in charge of an ancient kingdom. Lady Gabriella, in a quest to remove all evil from her lands, went too far, slaughtering entire villages and destroying her country from within with her zealotry. Sir Nikolai turned a blind-eye to his Lady's atrocities, love leading him to follow her without question. When they died, both rose as Deathknights, but Lady Gabriella refused to see her sins, instead blaming the gods for cursing her and vowed to continue working towards creating the perfect kingdom. Amongst her current knights are Lady Constance, who was cursed for pursuing power at the cost of her soul, Sir Damien and Sir Augustus, both whom fell for pride. The next of the Shadow Lords is Judax'Kîsar, an ancient dragon of indeterminate type. Somme say he was the first dracolich, self-rising from the bleak desert of the Shadowfell. Others that he was the first shadow dragon, and that his name is now the title all leaders of the Shadow Wyrm Court hold. For whatever the truth of Judax is,his methods are clear, stealing eggs, hatchlings, and young dragons of all color and bringing them to the shadowfell to be reborn as shadow dragons under his command. No one is sure how he controls the dragons, known for fierce independence, but however the method the Court is a powerful and dangerous force. Outside of these “heavy-hitters” are many, many lesser powers. Hags, wights, wraiths, necromancers, and even revenants claim what land and titles they can before being subsumed by some greater power.[/sblock] [/QUOTE]
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