Located entirely underground in a seemingly endless cave system, the air in Hellreach is cold and the environment dark and unwelcoming. The main source of light is a pale, faintly glowing mist that stretches across the stony underground floor, though additionally ones eyes tend to adjust to the darkness after spending some time here. Hellreach is divided into five main sections, each place highly distinct from the others, to the point where they could almost be seen as entirely different regions.

Tayleon

The place you are first greeted with upon arriving to Hellreach, Tayleon is the place every soul is drawn to after death. Here, you make your choice about where you want to spend your afterlife, the three afterlife options all being highly different from each other, yet with their own benefits and appeals. Visually, Tayleon is the place in Hellreach with most structures and buildings, despite the fact that no one is meant to stay here for long. Neighbouring to Alverton, but divided by the dark, deadly waters of the Cursed river, the main attraction of Tayleon is the three large gates located at the far-stretching bridge by the river. Leading up to these gates is a tall, black staircase made of cold marble and adorned with detailed engravements and decorations. The gates, standing impossibly tall at the end of the staircase and made of a deep ruby-shaded stone, are visually identical - yet each radiate distinctly different magical energies, making it impossible to mistake one for another. By walking through one of these gates, you step onto the bridge and simultaneously commit to your choice of afterlife, each gate leading to a different location - Alverton, Gardens of solitude, or Ironhaven. All dead souls here are in ghostly forms, with the exception of a few disciples or other servants of Vex.

Alverton

The ghostly town of Alverton is seen as the "standard" choice for your afterlife by most people within Aymenia. Very similar to Tayleon in functionality, all inhabitants remain in the ghostly form you transform into upon death. As the ghosts are unable to interact with the world, structures and buildings in this place are a rare sight and the area mostly consists of plain, stony land with occasional dead bushes or trees. The ghostly life is plain and quiet, most people waiting to see how their bloodline and otherwise loved ones lived. They’re usually satisfied after meeting with their great-grandchildren and then naturally fading away as their soul becomes at peace. Alverton consists of a few, large islands separated by the Cursed river flowing through the area. The ghostly inhabitants can safely travel through the river to the other islands as long as they do not submerge their entire body in the river, just like any other non-ghostly beings. Additionally it serves as an alternative for a painless, instant death for ghosts tired of their afterlife.

Twinfall rupture

At the border between Alverton and Ironhaven you’ll find a massive rift in the ground, a seemingly endless hole of cave-walls running far down into the distant darkness. From the side of Alverton runs the Cursed river, cascading down the mountainside in a dark waterfall - and on the other side, the Ironhaven lava river does the same, eternally flowing down the stone in a deadly but gorgeous lava-fall. The two never meet, but the boiling lava often splashes over towards the water, creating a strange, iridescent steam as they meet. As the temperature of the steam drops, it materializes into small crystals known as ashglass crystals, a highly rare material due to its inaccessibility - but also highly sought after to use for potions, rites and enchantments.

With the many years that have passed, the unpredictable outbursts of lava have created small, hidden holes and caves in the walls behind the waterfall. This collective of naturally occurring hollows, found deep below the ground of Hellreach are known as the Cindervein, though no one knows exactly where they are located. The area, not intended to be accessible when created, is a strange pocket in Aymenia where similarly to Crownhawk, magic in any forms do not function at all - but here, in these small and hidden hollows at the edge of the world, it is said that not even the gods can reach you.

The Twinfall Rupture, though a breathtaking sight, is one not many have laid their eyes upon. Being so close to an unpredictable and deadly force of nature, with nothing to gain from the territory, the inhabitants of Ironhaven tend to keep their distance from both there and the lava rivers in general. The ghosts of Alverton, though not threatened by the environmental danger, remain largely limited by their eyesight being so adjusted to the darkness that the light from the lava burns in their eyes.

Ironhaven

The least commonly chosen of the afterlives, Ironhaven is a brutal and dangerous option most often sought out by the strongest warriors or powerful mages, not yet wanting to give up on their life. Here, the dead walk once more, though not as ghostly beings or the gentle souls of the gardens, but instead as reborn echoes of who they were in the Overworld. Their body restored to right before their death, Ironhaven comes with the temptation of eternal life; though only for as long as you can survive it. A land haunted by stalking beasts, flowing rivers of lava, and killers hiding around every corner, the people here are burning with determination and a deep refusal to fade away. Those who fall are forgotten, and to stand is to deserve; the weak are quickly replaced by those able to stand in their place.

The environment here is as dangerous and harsh as its inhabitants, the rocky terrain containing way more highs and lows than the rest of the region. Mountains, cliffs and cave-ins are usual, while trees and other natural life is still highly scarce. Here you will find the occasional buildings and strongholds of the inhabitants, though few dare to publicly disclose their location. The contrasts here are very high, the majority of the region shrouded in shadow like elsewhere, but with rivers of lava running through some parts of Ironhaven, casting bright, flickering light as the lava bubbles and fizzles, your eyes need to be able to adjust quickly so you don’t get caught off-guard and end up as someone’s dinner.

Gardens of Solitude

A place so wonderful and bright that it’s hard to believe it’s located in the underground cave-system of Hellreach, the Gardens of solitude are a heaven within hell. From outside, the gardens have clear borders, but from inside the wonderland, the softly swaying grass seems to extend eternally. An even bigger mystery of the gardens is the bright blue sky accompanied by the sun - physically impossible to be visible from underground, yet shining and warming even more than in the overworld. The experience and nature will vary a bit between individuals and their preferences, some meeting other souls within the gardens while others simply revel in their own company and the comforting nature. Upon entering the gardens, your body is restored to physical in a way that is meant to preserve your identity - as similar as possible to your body before death, though without any potential pain, injury or discomfort. There is no hunger here, no danger nor urgency, no worries from your past life to weigh down your mind.

Inside the gardens you will always be greeted by a sense of peace and comfort that is found nowhere else. The softest, greenest grass adorned with colorful flowers, tall trees reaching towards the sky, their branches heavy with fruits that never spoil, and rivers of the clearest waters that is always cold, refreshing and safe to drink. The air is fresh and clean, the temperature comfortably warm and always accompanied by distant bird-song. Here you’ll find no man-made buildings, but the nature will magically change to fit your needs and desires. You’ll always find your favorite fruits hanging from the trees, and should you wish to rest, the grass under your feet will be softer than any bed you’ve laid in before. Due to the nature of the gardens, it is the afterlife which the average individual will spend by far the shortest amount of time in - the magical, gentle nature being fast to comfort one’s soul. Because of this, the people who choose to go to the gardens will never know how the lives of those they cared for went, making it undesirable for many as they often want to hear of their children’s lives and stories.

Vierfort

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur placerat, turpis in gravida tempor, justo diam congue lectus, eu porta dui nunc sit amet quam. Nunc est dolor, lobortis eu porta ut, commodo porttitor dolor. Suspendisse tincidunt volutpat lorem eget ullamcorper. Curabitur in scelerisque neque, in varius nibh. Cras ultrices, tellus vel vehicula feugiat, neque quam porta est, vel elementum enim orci a nunc.