The Traveler's Guide to the Underworld

A Note from the Author:

How do I Know all of this Information, you may ask? Well, let's just say a Person gets around... the Rivers of this region have their Secrets, and they Trust only Me enough to tell!

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~ A Briefing on Locations ~

- The city of Asphodel, where most of our heroes reside, is situated on Earth. Thanks to the vapors of the surrounding River Lethe, it appears to any human as the abandoned town that used to exist in its place. Started by Phoebe and Dallas with the Forever Young Night Club, this city has been converted over the past couple centuries by the pair and their devoted guests. Most of its residents have left behind their past lives under the strict rule of Elysium and Tartarus to exist here with more freedom and independence.

- Elysium & Tartarus are the two realms of the dead, respectively ruled by Knox, who rightfully gained her power, and Slade, who took it by force from the previous queen, Rhiannon. The two are both equally evil - or so it appears to any outsider. Truthfully, however, there is a lot more going on between these three than it seems.

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~ PUT A NAME TO THE SPECIES: Who's Who in this Land? ~

- ANGELS -

- All angels have some sort of given power that is blessed upon them.

- There is only one archangel currently known to exist. Quite some time ago, long before any mortal could remember, there were two, who ruled Heaven together, the lady Knox and her dear husband... until something terrible happened, Knox withdrew into herself, and the husband vanished. Many believe him to be dead, but others theorize that he came back into power after a long hiatus as Hell's Queen. Some even believe that there is another, lesser known archangel named Zephyros, who is the couple's son.

Although very few have seen and let alone met an archangel, those who have been lucky enough say their appearances differ from regular angels. Allegedly, archangels have uniquely decorative halos and their wings may not always be on their backs.

- Guardian angels are given the principle task of watching over someone or something, whether that be a person, a place, or one of nature's ecosystems. This is a mission that must not be taken lightly, and any angels who are caught skipping out on their duties will be punished accordingly.

- DEMONS -

- Lesser demons carry out the bidding of the great king and his middlemen.

-->MAIN FEATURES: inhuman skin tone, a pair of horns matching their skin, fangs, pointed ears, no wings or tail

- Greater demons are assigned to a greater purpose: to blend in, branch out, and overtake various villages and towns of the Earth.

-->MAIN FEATURES: human skin tone, a pair of horns resembling an Earth animal, human ears, no wings or tail

- Concubi... (more research required)

-->MAIN FEATURES: human skin tone, a pair of horns matching their skin, fangs, dark sclera, pointed ears, feathered wings, no tail

- Devils... (more research required)

-->MAIN FEATURES: inhuman skin tone (usually a shade of red), a pair of horns matching their skin or a shade of brown, fangs, pointed ears, no wings or tail

- Imps have an odd way of carrying out their duties - through the use of practical jokes.

-->MAIN FEATURES: inhuman skin tone, a pair of horns matching their skin or a shade of brown or any color(?), fangs, pointed ears, bat-like wings and tail but may be able to have other types as well. The traits of this species are not well-known; more research is required.

- CREATURES UNAFFILIATED WITH THE POWERFUL REALMS -

- Vampires are plentiful around the city and make great neighbors. But if you happen to catch one who has not made the complete transformation into their immortal form, watch out - their behavior can be quite unpredictable.

-->MAIN FEATURES: human skin tone, fangs, no wings or tail. When still transforming, their eyes can change from their natural color, their nails sharpen dramatically, and their sense of judgment is impaired by heightened emotions. If they smell blood in this state, especially when angered, take extreme caution.

- Humans are occasional visitors to the area, and very few decide to stay. After all, why would a human want to live in a place where they are surrounded by demons? Only they can answer that question.

- Those who leave their positions in the hierarchy behind decide to take a chance at another kind of life; they set new goals to make friends who they see as equals, and many even open their own shops, proving that Heaven does not turn all hearts to ice, and Hell's fire is not eternal.

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~ A Guide for the Tourist: Things to do in Asphodel ~

- The Forever Young Night Club is the first destination of most visitors to the city.

- Claire's Eclairs is not far away. This bakery's decorations and desserts have a fun Halloween theme that makes it a great place to stop for a treat.

- Nessie's Bakery & Breakfast Nook is just down the street from Claire's. It's a combination of a diner and a bakery with a cute, love-based theme. I don't mean to gossip, reader, but just between us... the owners of these two bakeries seem sweet on each other!

- The Library is at the epicenter of the plaza and thus the entire city. The family that owns it treats their collections and their visitors with great respect.

In the Monsters' Square lie many other small shoppes...

-- Baba Yaga's Inn for Weary Travelers wears its heart on its sleeve - who it's for is right in the name. Although it has mixed reviews, the elderly owner pays close attention to detail to make sure every guest feels recharged to continue on their journey.

-- The Spooktacular is perfect for fans of humankind's scariest holiday, stocking candy and costumes year-round. And it's easy to find too - just look next to the other Halloween-themed location in town, Claire's Eclairs.

-- The Blood Bank is the place to go for drinks to-go, specializing in multiple types of blood in nearly any flavor imaginable.

-- Saha's Sashes is a tailor shop for monsters of all kinds to have their fashions fitted, modified, glammed up, adjusted, and tinkered to their every wish and need.

-- Man-eater Perfumes stocks scents and beauty products from throughout the centuries for monsters of all ages. 

-- The Nature Sanctuary houses no less than two of every species found in the area. Many of the creatures native to Asphodel and its neighboring regions can not be found elsewhere, for reasons yet unknown.

-- Adelaide's Tricks & Trades is home to a mysterious wizard who, although for a hefty price that racks up quickly, can tell you anything from your fortune of the day to a rumor she's heard about you on the street. They also offer tarot readings and appearance-altering spells.

-- The Snake Eyes Casino won't let you in with empty pockets, and won't let you leave with them, either. If you're feeling lucky, give it a try - but even if not, you won't be disappointed. Strangely, however, multiple strangers gave me directions to a bar at the exact same address. Maybe the casino is new in town.