I’m going to attempt to run a “paladin in hell” esque campaign. Unfortunately I’m having a difficult time conceptualizing how the River Styx runs through the lower planes, mainly the abyss and the nine hell’s.
is there any literature out there that can help me? Mordenkainens tome of foes has some but I need more help.
I'm not really sure where your confusion is. It is a river that flows through different planes the way a normal river flows through different countries.
This is just my own personal opinion on how I would rationalize it and has no real bearing on what may or may not actually be "canon".
Pre-Spellplague, the Planes were, for all intents and purposes, affixed. When the Spellplague occurred, the planes were plunged into the Astral Sea and set adrift amongst the void with the various planes sometimes coming into contact with each other, overlapping in places. I personally like the "water" analogy between the Astral Sea and the River Styx. What was once an actual river between the two domains, the River Styx is now a chaotic convergence of the Astral Sea between the two planes. This convergence causes violent bursts of wild magic, whirlpools, and void pockets. One can simply travel between the two planes via boat, but this is exceptionally dangerous.
You could create a skill challenge traversing the River Styx, maybe even have intense moments where a boat travels in front of you and plunges into the Astral Sea, flickering out of existence for just a moment, then reappearing on the other side smoldering and abandoned.
My understanding of the River Styx is that it is not easily traversed or mapped because it isn't a simple going from here to there to there situation. It is more of a visualizing the concept of where you are wanting to go to and having the knowledge/skill to traverse the River Styx in order to pull it off. That is why so very few are capable of navigating it and there really aren't maps of it, because it isn't truly mappable. This may just be me interpretation from the info I've heard though.
Hello all,
I’m going to attempt to run a “paladin in hell” esque campaign. Unfortunately I’m having a difficult time conceptualizing how the River Styx runs through the lower planes, mainly the abyss and the nine hell’s.
is there any literature out there that can help me? Mordenkainens tome of foes has some but I need more help.
Thank you!
I'm not really sure where your confusion is. It is a river that flows through different planes the way a normal river flows through different countries.
This is just my own personal opinion on how I would rationalize it and has no real bearing on what may or may not actually be "canon".
Pre-Spellplague, the Planes were, for all intents and purposes, affixed. When the Spellplague occurred, the planes were plunged into the Astral Sea and set adrift amongst the void with the various planes sometimes coming into contact with each other, overlapping in places. I personally like the "water" analogy between the Astral Sea and the River Styx. What was once an actual river between the two domains, the River Styx is now a chaotic convergence of the Astral Sea between the two planes. This convergence causes violent bursts of wild magic, whirlpools, and void pockets. One can simply travel between the two planes via boat, but this is exceptionally dangerous.
You could create a skill challenge traversing the River Styx, maybe even have intense moments where a boat travels in front of you and plunges into the Astral Sea, flickering out of existence for just a moment, then reappearing on the other side smoldering and abandoned.
My understanding of the River Styx is that it is not easily traversed or mapped because it isn't a simple going from here to there to there situation. It is more of a visualizing the concept of where you are wanting to go to and having the knowledge/skill to traverse the River Styx in order to pull it off. That is why so very few are capable of navigating it and there really aren't maps of it, because it isn't truly mappable. This may just be me interpretation from the info I've heard though.
PC: Sven Gard Lvl 2 Fighter LMOP OTR