Aumus, often just called "the Battlefield" by Abyss denizens, was the first layer of the Abyss. It was geographically connected to the Outer Ring, Pandemonium, Carceri, the Shadowfell, and the Elemental Planes of Stone and Fire. It also had an extensive coast on the Sea of Worlds, and access through The Pit into the Material Plane.

Features

Constant battle between all kinds of factions, including individual demonic alliances, was Aumus' defining trait: accordingly, the plane had no ruler. Often, it was dominated by two or three large alliances of demonic lords who were trying to mount an army and go on extraplanar expeditions; however, invading armies, including especially celestials, fire elementals, and Shadowfell denizens, often also controlled parts of the land.

The plane had very few notable aesthetic aspects. Its skies were constantly dark and overcast; most landscapes consisted of uneven plains of rock or bare, jagged mountains. There were small, foul streams, and occasional patches of extremely rugged vegetation.

Points of Interest

Along the coast, The Pit was a direct physical connection to the Material Plane, and many creatures attempted to use it. Stealthy ships could make it through; however, huge fleets assembled in the large arsenal complex known as Pitfall would try to make it through, and face assaults from the elemental planes on either side. As for the southern coast with the Sea of Worlds, due to its strategic importance for the Planar War, it was lined by numerous fortresses known as the Cliff-Kerns. It was also there where demon lords built planar invasion fleets, though the Abyss was not known for its navy. However, due to infighting and enemy attacks, the Cliff-Kerns were rarely staffed by a coherent force; while some demon lords might defend the fortresses against extraplanar attacks, other fortresses would be abandoned smoking ruins, while still others would be occupied by enemies.

The Beltetar Bastion was the single most resilient location on Aumus: established by celestials before the Dictation, it was an eternal bastion of celestial power in the Abyss. Being near to the sea, the impregnable fortress received constant supplies and reinforcements from beyond, while fanatic celestial fighters known as Penitents managed to ward off the constant attacks by demonic hosts.

Geopolitical Situation

Aumus, as the surface layer of the Abyss, was of huge importance in the multiverse: the infinite conquering legions of demons had to pass through it to reach other planes, its numerous open borders facilitated interplanar warfare and guaranteed constant conflicts with neighbors, and its Fastened location on top of the multi-layered Abyss meant the numerous enemies of demons simply had to occupy Aumus to entrap all demons.

The vast but stateless planes of Pandemonium and Carceri were ideal battlefields for demonic hosts, but were rarely the staging grounds for invading forces. The nearby Fountains of Creation and Bolmeranda were a different matter, however; the elementals repeatedly formed alliances with certain demon lords, or celestial warlords, and invaded. Even the Outer Ring's presence, nearly splitting Aumus in two, was propice to warfare: every now and again, a demon lord would scale the high cliffs and attempt to invade the Ring, leading to huge clashes against the supernatural Krynn and their allies. The Shadowfell, finally, was no peaceful ally: demons and wraiths constantly attempted to invade one another.

The Abyss's coasts served merely as another entry or exit point for warfare.