Zhelad Daev (Zhelad Daev, Demonic: [ʒel-ad deiv])
Zhelad Daev or Realm of Demons is a transmortal[1] dimension on the outer reaches of Limbo running parallel to the Mountain of Hymns under the jurisdiction of the Daevek Empire. It serves as a interdimensional sanctuary for refugees and the displaced, especially those driven out of their homes by Pangloss the Usurper God and his inquisitors. As such, most of the life within the realm have no connection to it or the native life wherein. These are called daev or demons, their visages warped by the Will of Zhelad Daev[2] to reflect the home they now inhabit. The lands themselves are divided into various planes, commonly referred to as the Planes of Zhel, once realms their own before the realm and its demons took hold of them.
The realm spreads like a fungus, demonic particles clinging to the flora and fauna like spores spreading everywhere they go. Each conquered land claimed by the empire is fated to one day become one with Zhelad Daev, merging with it as another plane of Zhel. Traversing the realm brings similar consequences on the body and soul as a unique wave of radiation warps the very being before nothing original is left.
History
The history and origin of Zhelad Daev is surrounded by myth, legend, and folklore but there are a few common themes and ideas throughout all interpretations. Its existence predates the Nine Patrons and even the Beasts of Old with the earliest estimations placing it even before Limbo, one of and previously thought to be the oldest planes of existence.
One of the earliest events in the realm's history is the introduction of the fallen apostles that were exiled to Zhelad Daev for rebelling against Pangloss the Usurper god. These apostles would be the first foreign creatures to be localized by the Will of Zhelad Daev as they built the first monuments to themselves and their patron deities. The largest and proudest of all of these monuments was Pandemonium, the capitol of the daev and their future empire.
From there on, the daev continued to expand outwards into neighboring planes of existence and pocket dimensions as they spread their corruption. Some of these early conquests would be claimed by some of Lucifer's most trusted allies, the cardinals, to become the great dominions they are today.
Geography
Zhelad Daev has many different planes, all with their own unique geographical composition with little cohesion with each other. Each plane can, in a purely theoretical sense, be considered their own independent realm but all are connected in a non-Euclidian ocean of Tarr, a thick volatile compound is circulated throughout all of the planes. The majority of Zhelad Daev is comprised of seven major planes referred to as the Dominions of Zhel with many other smaller planes and pocket dimensions saturating rest of the realm.
The dominions offer the most variable and stable locals with many of the lesser planes becoming less cohesive the further from the center.
Footnotes
[1] Transmortal refers to mortal beings altered to the point beyond typical mortality
[2] This process is referred to as "Demonic Localization" and is caused by an, at the time of writing, unknown wave of radiation native to the realm
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