DnD Locations: THE ABYSS

About this episode

This episode explores the chaotic evil plane of The Abyss in Dungeons & Dragons, detailing its lore, demon hierarchy, and iconic locations.

The Abyss is the infinite chaotic evil plane of Dungeons & Dragons — home to demon lords, the Blood War, and 50 years of D&D lore that has grown weirder with every edition. In this episode we map out the essential reading list (from 1977's Monster Manual through 2006's Fiendish Codex I to 2018's Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes), explain the demon hierarchy from larvae and dretches up to balors and demon lords, and break down what demons actually want — which turns out to be less "conquest" and more "metaphysical infection." We tour iconic layers including Pazunia and its iron fortresses, Demogorgon's Gaping Maw, Baphomet's shifting Endless Maze, Orcus's frozen palace city of Naratyr on Thanatos, Graz'zt's deceptively hospitable Azzagrat, and the corpse-cathedrals of Zionyn where the obyrith Obox-ob broods over losing his title as the original Prince of Demons. Plus: the Blood War, the obyrith backstory, and why the Abyss can never have a real king. Dungeons and Dragons, D&D, DnD, The Abyss, demon lords, Demogorgon, Orcus, Graz'zt, Baphomet, Obox-ob, Blood War, Planescape, Fiendish Codex, Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, Out of the Abyss, D&D lore, tabletop RPG, TTRPG…

People in this episode

Host: Sean McDonnell

Topics covered

• Dungeons & Dragons
• demon lords
• D&D lore
• the Abyss
• Blood War
• demon hierarchy

Keywords

• D&D
• DnD
• The Abyss
• demon lords
• Blood War
• tabletop RPG
• TTRPG
• D&D cosmology
• planes of existence

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Monster Manual, Fiendish Codex I, Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

Places: Pazunia, Naratyr, Thanatos, Azzagrat, Zionyn, The Abyss

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