Chthonic

Chthonic describes deities and spirits of the "underworld," or Lower Planes of Existence, known for their intensity of malevolence. While traditionally chronicled as "evil" or "chaotic," a more precise delineation is to view the ideology and philosophy pervating the chthonic realm is one of dark, infernal hatred and ongoing resentment. The tradition of torturing the souls of the wicked in an eternal afterlife of torment is familiar to most; but the greater scheme is to wreak the same torment upon the virtuous as well. Since only a narrow boundary exists between the lower planes and Prime Material, or even with the upper planes, it requires constant vigilance by the righteous to maintain the status quo, lest the life world be harrowed as a field of wheat.

Power

Hard as it may be to grasp, the substance of the chthonic universe and the beings which inhabit it are immutable; the lower realms can never be destroyed or brought to heal; the power within them is as great as the power of the "Apollonian" realm, that of decency and righteousness. The balance is maintained by the center — the living beings of the Prime Material whose belief, manifested as religion, gives power to each side of the eternal struggle. As a consequence, beings in the Prime Material may obtain their power as easily from the Chthonic as from the Apollonian ... and should enough beings seek power from the former, then the gates will be opened, the world will collapse into torment and the new line of siege will be established at the gates of the Upper Planes of Existence, rather than where the line stands now.