Atlas   Rules   Resources   Adventures   Stories       FAQ   Search   Links



The Plane of Helheim

by Håvard

Related threads: Svartalfheim, Swergheim, Jotunheim, Vanaheim, Asgard, Muspelheim, Niflheim, Helheim, Alfheim, Midgard, Bifrost, Yggrdrasil
The Planes of Mystara: Plane of Fire, Plane of Air, Plane of Earth, Plane of Water, The Inner Planes, The Outer Planes, The Plane of Fairie, Limbo

HELHEIM (Outer Plane of)
Note: This is my interpretation of the Outer Plane of Helheim as introduced in Gaz7: The Northern Reaches.

Helheim is an ancient realm created by the Immortal Hel to be her Home Plane. It is a plane of cold and undeath, only reachable from the plane of Niflheim and a few other hidden tunnels.

Planar Statistics

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Death Magic: Clerics of Hel and Necromancers (Gaz3) regain spells twice per day while on this plane. Sunrise and Sunset).
Bastion of Undead: All undead get a saving throw to avoid being turned and can add a +2 bonus to the ST.
Eternal Hardship: Cure spells and healing potions only restore half Hit Points.

Geographical Features
This plane is an underground network of tunnels connecting enormous caverns and underground halls. Heavy mists will often descend upon the realm and mighty rivers roar through the terrain. The largest caverns are big enough to be mistaken for above ground fields, and are lit by pale flourescent light from the distant ceiling above. Not all of these lands are realms of pure terror. Rather, they are often similar to the lands of the Northern Reaches with homesteads and grown fields where the dead continue to live as they did in their past lives. However, the fields yield few crops and livestock are sickly and malnourished. Humans, dwarves, giants and other creatures are ressurrected the next morning to continue their tasks for eternity.

 
GJALLARBRÚ - THE ROARING BRIDGE
Travelling to Helheim from Niflheim will take you to this fortified bridge. The bridge is protected by giants under the leadership of a female giant named Móðguðr . The bridge leads across an incredibly noisy river, The River Gjöll. Visitors must pass through the fortress of the giants before accessing the bridge. On the other side of the bridge, travellers can access the Helvegr, the road to Helheim.

SILDR VALLEY
This valley is shaped by the River Sildr which runs from the glaciers of the far north. Below the water of the river axes and blades are said to piece those who try to enter the river.

 
HELVEGR - THE ROAD TO TO HELHEIM
This winding road leads north and downwards. Travellers are often struck with a sense of gloom. At times, hordes of undead locked in eternal battle can be seen on battlefields alongside the road. Eventually this road leads to Helgrindr Fortress.

 
HELGRINDR FORTRESS
This fortress guards access to the wider realm of Helheim. This is where the halls of Hel herself are found. The fortress is a city which is home to giants, undead and the dead.

VALGRINDR FORTRESS - HALLS OF THE DEAD
This fortress is home to the non-corporeal undead such as wraiths, specters, phantoms and ghosts. The city is lead by the Wraith Council. This is also a place of learning for dark witches and necromancers. Liches (although corporeal) also wander the streets here. Many of these liches were once Northman Clerics.

 
NAGRINDR FORTESS - CITY OF CORPSES
The lands surrounding this fortress are filled with corporeal undead such as ghouls and zombies. Giants control the city and command the undead to do their bidding.

NÁSTROND - The CORPSE SHORE
This shore is said to be the afterlife of those guilty of murder, adultery, and oath-breaking. Along the shore, mountains rise and these mountains house caverns that are home to a number of dragons. The Mighty dragon Níðhöggr has its lair here, guarding the only access point from Helheim to Yggdrasil.

 
THE SVARTALFAR TUNNELS
These tunnels lead to Svartalfheim, the plane of the Dark Elves.

 

Denizens

HUMANS AND DEMIHUMANS
Humans and demihumans (mostly dwarves) are reincarnated souls of the dead followers of Hel. They continue on with the same tasks they did when they were among the living and are brought back to life every morning for eternity. Although miserable, most will not express any desire to leave and have come to terms with this being their existence from now on.

DEMONS
Demons/Fiends are found all over this plane. Most of them can be found near Helvegr fortress. Many of these demons take on the shape of giants.

GIANTS
All kinds of giants can be found in Helheim. Many appear gaunt and of poor health. Others are ambassadors from Niflheim or Muspelheim and are treated as honored guests.

HELLKYRIES
These are corrupted servitors of Odin who have joined the forces of Hel centuries ago. Stats for these exalted level creatures can be found here. These are tasked with bringing chaotic souls of the dead to Helheim.

UNDEAD
Hordes of undead can be found on Helheim.

SVARTALFAR
Svartalfar visit from Svartalfheim. Use Sidhe stats for the Svartalfar.

 
Monsters
ANIMALS AND UNDEAD ANIMALS
Wild animals are typically found in undead form. Living livestock can be found at farms, but often appears famished and sickly. These animals will be ressurrected the next day even if killed, consumed or die from natural causes.

 
MONSTERS
Many monsters found on Mystara will appear in undead form.

DRAGONS
Chromatic Dragons can be found all over this plane with Black, White and Red being the most common in addition to undead dragons (AC9).

NEW MONSTERS

Gates to Elsewhere
Gates lead to:

NPCs

Additional Reading:

More thoughts on this later.