Editing Hades (section)

==Layers==
Like and utterly unlike Elysium, Hades has an all-pervading aura that causes visitors to be ensnared by its nature. In this case the removal of anything joyous or worthwhile.

By merely stepping onto the plane, non-evil individuals will be subjected to harsh penalties to their mental faculties, which makes colors appear dull and sounds seem muted. Emotions seem more alien, and visitors find themselves less empathetic or caring than they used to be.

Not only that, but the plane is also home to a unique malady known as '''"The Grays"''', which affects all visitors, including evil ones and even if they are outsiders. This steadily causes those afflicted to lose their mental faculties for every day spent abroad in Hades as they become more detached from reality and hope. In rules terms this forces their wisdom score to drop for each failed attempt to resist the condition, bringing their ability to think ever downwards until they lose their sensibilities altogether and go mad. Of course, this is more dangerous for non-evil people since their senses have already been assaulted by the bleak nature of the plane, meaning they are more likely to be overcome unless they have wills of steel. The only immunity is offered to those who have high enough levels of spell resistance. However, the cure is simple: get them away from Hades and their melancholy clears itself naturally.

The last defense of the plane is its entrapping nature, with every week spent on the plane slowly bringing visitors down to its level. This is the plane exerting itself on the better natures of mortals (Outsiders such as Demons and Devils are immune), making them forget happy memories, or distorting their feelings into something twisted and spiteful. This of course is coupled with the influence the plane has on the senses ''and'' the affliction of the Grays, meaning the minds of people who come here will eventually crack. In time they forget what it means to have hope and joy as they become trapped in the plane, unwilling to leave and are more likely to descend further into madness if the Grays has not gripped them already.

As for the plane itself; it fits its nature quite well. Despite the fact that sounds and colours are already drained, there simply ''is'' no color, the sky is gray, the dirt is gray, and the inhabitants and structures tend to the gunmetal ranges.

There is no sun, moon, or stars; just an impenetrable grey sky that goes on forever.

===Oinos===
The first layer (also referred to as a "Gloom") is pretty much a wasteland. There is not much here other than craters, the occasional husk of a tree, the forgotten detritus of ancient wars and a whole bunch of rotting corpses. If you need more inspiration, the realm probably resembles no-mans-land in WWI with all the colour and depth of a black and white photograph.

Oinos is the stage of the Blood War and thus you don't want to roam here too often, otherwise, you'll find yourself running into Demons or Devils or worse.

But not only that, you'll have to look out for the [[Yugoloth]]s, the Neutral evil faction of outsiders much like Devils and Demons.
The seat of the Yugoloths' power in Hades rests in Oinos, where there is a tower, twenty miles high called the '''Khin-Oin'''. The tower is said to be the spinal column of a long-dead god that came to rest on the plane. At the top of the tower is a throne, called the ''Siege Malicious'' where the ruler of the tower may sit. It should be noted that the temporal ruler of the Yugoloths is the ''General of [[Gehenna]]'', though his power only extends as far as his ability to enforce it, and since he's on another plane the Yugoloths here pretty much serve themselves.

The throne of the ''Siege Malicious'' gives the user the ability to create or modify any disease with just a thought. It comes with its own price, as any ruler who sits on the throne is cursed to have their skin slough off and be disfigured. But this is nothing compared to usurpers who sit on the throne without the right to do so, who are inflicted with a particularly severe case of the '''[[AIDS|Gray Wasting]]''' which is ''yet another'' disease inherent to the plane, but unrelated to '''The Grays''' or the entrapment effect.

It is often said that Oinos is the [[Nurgle|original source of all disease]] in the multiverse. So you not only have to watch out for the Grays and the spiritual weakening that comes with Hades, but you'll also have to prepare for the smorgasbord of pestilence and corruption that exists on this layer as well.

===Niflheim===
This gloom is all the worst environmental features of Hades made claustrophobic. 

The grey aura actually closes in on you like a fog, meaning your visibility is reduced significantly, as well as muffling sounds to near in-audible levels and the level of moisture in the air creates a sense of uncomfortable dampness.

The topography is of a thick forest filled with carnivorous creatures and roving monsters. So while you are less likely to walk into a battalion of devils or demons, you are more likely to be stalked by a predator that you cannot see.

However, the layer is probably more habitable than Oinos since it is not a perpetual battleground, and it is much easier to hide here; thus there are settlements here and there. Most notable is '''Death of Innocence''', which is a small town of mortals where the inhabitants at least attempt some semblance of decency. For some reason the Grays and the entrapping nature of the plane have no hold here, so the town ''could'' be likened to anywhere else in the prime material plane if not for the fact that the wood that the houses are built from ooze blood instead of sap, and the fact that anyone who ''actually wants'' to eke out a living in the plane of ultimate evil probably don't make for fantastic neighbours.

===Pluton===
The final gloom of Hades would appear the most peaceful. It is a realm of withered forests and dusty olive groves. It's not ''quite'' terrible, but the aura of the place is one of impending doom and of being on the brink of apocalypse. There actually is not a lot of activity here and you could probably cross the layer relatively unmolested. 

Pluton is really the dumping ground for its entrapped mortals and [[petitioners]]. It is that "classical" afterlife of despair and self-pity. Unlike the more imaginative punishments of [[Baator|Hell]], those who end up here are generally left to wallow in their own suffering in the desolate landscape... At least until a third party comes along. Devils and Demons come here looking for souls to conscript for the Blood War, whilst Hags occasionally herd [[petitioners]] together for use as currency.

Pluton is also at the bottom of Mount Olympus due to its connection with the Greek pantheon; therefore, if you're clever, just find a hill and keep walking upwards. If you're fortunate, you might eventually end up in [[Arborea]], but you're more likely to go mad while trying, as this place, for all of its relatively quiet and peaceful nature, still remains part of Hades and will still suck you dry of emotion and goodness.