The Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia
The Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia, or Arcadia, was the Outer Plane representing the alignments between lawful neutral and lawful good in the cosmology of Aetheus.
Arcadia connected to Seven Heavens, Nirvana, and Concordant Opposition by portals made of either white ivory or black steel, shaped like flower trellises. These portals were few in number but rested at fixed locations in the first layer. Little is known about the other two layers. ABELLIO This was the first layer of Arcadia. An endless stretch of orderly plains dotted with a few mountains and hills. The large flat expanse of Abellio was a land of plenty. There were abundant forests, lakes, rivers, and open fields. In the harmonious ecosystem, even wild beasts contributed to the common good. Abellio was a well-ordered place with well-tended crops, orchards, and cities all laid out in regular geometric shapes. Properly shaped and arranged flowerbeds of every colour were always in bloom and never needed a gardener, nourished by gentle rains. Night and day were provided by a huge rotating sphere, half radiant, half dark, set into the highest mountain in the plane. The trees of Abellio grew in straight orchard rows or tidy forests. They had bark of iron, copper, silver, or gold, depending on the type of tree. The leaves resembled those of Prime Material Plane trees but were coloured dark green to fire red and never fell to the ground. Each type of tree constantly produced a particular fruit that had magical properties like a potion when consumed. The main trade post of Abellio was the district of Mercantus, the portion of the city of Mandible that was above ground. It welcomed traders and travellers to its markets and inns. Mandible was a highly militaristic hive-city inhabited by celestial humanoid ants known as the Formians, and the layer's main trading post. Ruled by a Queen Mother. BUXENUS This was the second layer of Arcadia. Although similar to the first layer, Abellio, with its orderly plains dotted with mountains, hills, forests, lakes and streams, Buxenus was also a highly organized war camp, training site and mustering ground for armies bent on reconquering Nemausus (the former third layer of Arcadia before it was absorbed into Mechanus). The training grounds were run by the Harmonium. Besides mustering forces to recover Nemausus from Mechanus, their secondary goal was to convert creatures of chaotic tendencies into their vision of the harmonious nature of the plane itself. By doing so forcefully, the Harmonium's success rate was very low, to the point that many of the captured creatures perished. This persistent harmful effect of the training camps slowly permeated into the plane itself, gradually shifting its identity towards neutrality. Unwittingly, the Harmonium's efforts were helping to destroy the second layer of the plane instead of recovering the already lost third layer. NEMAUSUS Sometimes called Menausus, was the former third layer of Arcadia before it was absorbed into Mechanus. Nemausus had rich forests and verdant fields, all perfectly organized and aligned. No cities existed in the realm, but modron fortresses and abandoned training camps could be found scattered in the otherwise pristine landscape. The realm could still be reached by gates from Buxenus, but access through those gates was extremely restricted by the Harmonium. Officially, the faction did not want to worsen the situation of the former layer's separation from Arcadia. Moreover, Nemausus was the site of the faction's most bitter defeat, which was sufficient reason for the Harmonium to want to keep it as secret as possible Before it was separated, Nemausus was the most beautiful of the three layers of Arcadia. Nemausus had been separated from Arcadia for millennia. The reason for this was due to the large expansion of its Formian inhabitants and their ruthless adherence to law. However, others maintain the real reason was the training camps of the Harmonium. Designed to convert creatures of chaotic tendencies forcefully to their harmonious view of the universe, the Harmonium fouled the good nature of the layer and pushed it into neutrality. When it separated, the imprisoned chaotic creatures broke free, also mingling their natures into the plane. For that reason, Nemausus retained a level of disorganization and recklessness unlike the rest of Mechanus. THE ORB OF DAY AND NIGHT The Orb of Day and Night was a great sphere perched atop Arcadia's highest peak, with one-half glowing and the other half dark. It rotated evenly and continually, at all times illuminating one half of the infinite plane and leaving the rest in natural darkness. This caused day and night in Arcadia, though there was no twilight, just day and night.
Many woodland creatures roamed the mountains, hills, forests, and fields of Arcadia. They resembled Prime Material creatures except for their colouring, which was metallic like the trees, and their eyes, which were white without iris or pupil. Examples included copper coloured rabbits, golden foxes, and sheep with silver wool. Organized, hive-dwelling insects such as ants, bees, and wasps were also found in this plane. None of the animals could speak but all were peaceful in nature and native to the Outer Planes so they were unaffected by magics that usually worked on Prime Material creatures. In addition, their eyes allowed them to see through any illusion and the more intelligent animals could be trained into superb watch beasts. The primary inhabitants of Arcadia were the spirit legions formed from the souls of good and lawful warriors, much like their evil counterparts in Acheron. Other sentient creatures that dwelled in Arcadia included hollyphants, planetars, foo creatures and the occasional deva. It was not uncommon to see creatures from neighbouring planes visiting: shedu, greater and lesser lammasu, and ki-rin for example.
DESCRIPTION
Arcadia connected to Seven Heavens, Nirvana, and Concordant Opposition by portals made of either white ivory or black steel, shaped like flower trellises. These portals were few in number but rested at fixed locations in the first layer. Little is known about the other two layers. ABELLIO This was the first layer of Arcadia. An endless stretch of orderly plains dotted with a few mountains and hills. The large flat expanse of Abellio was a land of plenty. There were abundant forests, lakes, rivers, and open fields. In the harmonious ecosystem, even wild beasts contributed to the common good. Abellio was a well-ordered place with well-tended crops, orchards, and cities all laid out in regular geometric shapes. Properly shaped and arranged flowerbeds of every colour were always in bloom and never needed a gardener, nourished by gentle rains. Night and day were provided by a huge rotating sphere, half radiant, half dark, set into the highest mountain in the plane. The trees of Abellio grew in straight orchard rows or tidy forests. They had bark of iron, copper, silver, or gold, depending on the type of tree. The leaves resembled those of Prime Material Plane trees but were coloured dark green to fire red and never fell to the ground. Each type of tree constantly produced a particular fruit that had magical properties like a potion when consumed. The main trade post of Abellio was the district of Mercantus, the portion of the city of Mandible that was above ground. It welcomed traders and travellers to its markets and inns. Mandible was a highly militaristic hive-city inhabited by celestial humanoid ants known as the Formians, and the layer's main trading post. Ruled by a Queen Mother. BUXENUS This was the second layer of Arcadia. Although similar to the first layer, Abellio, with its orderly plains dotted with mountains, hills, forests, lakes and streams, Buxenus was also a highly organized war camp, training site and mustering ground for armies bent on reconquering Nemausus (the former third layer of Arcadia before it was absorbed into Mechanus). The training grounds were run by the Harmonium. Besides mustering forces to recover Nemausus from Mechanus, their secondary goal was to convert creatures of chaotic tendencies into their vision of the harmonious nature of the plane itself. By doing so forcefully, the Harmonium's success rate was very low, to the point that many of the captured creatures perished. This persistent harmful effect of the training camps slowly permeated into the plane itself, gradually shifting its identity towards neutrality. Unwittingly, the Harmonium's efforts were helping to destroy the second layer of the plane instead of recovering the already lost third layer. NEMAUSUS Sometimes called Menausus, was the former third layer of Arcadia before it was absorbed into Mechanus. Nemausus had rich forests and verdant fields, all perfectly organized and aligned. No cities existed in the realm, but modron fortresses and abandoned training camps could be found scattered in the otherwise pristine landscape. The realm could still be reached by gates from Buxenus, but access through those gates was extremely restricted by the Harmonium. Officially, the faction did not want to worsen the situation of the former layer's separation from Arcadia. Moreover, Nemausus was the site of the faction's most bitter defeat, which was sufficient reason for the Harmonium to want to keep it as secret as possible Before it was separated, Nemausus was the most beautiful of the three layers of Arcadia. Nemausus had been separated from Arcadia for millennia. The reason for this was due to the large expansion of its Formian inhabitants and their ruthless adherence to law. However, others maintain the real reason was the training camps of the Harmonium. Designed to convert creatures of chaotic tendencies forcefully to their harmonious view of the universe, the Harmonium fouled the good nature of the layer and pushed it into neutrality. When it separated, the imprisoned chaotic creatures broke free, also mingling their natures into the plane. For that reason, Nemausus retained a level of disorganization and recklessness unlike the rest of Mechanus. THE ORB OF DAY AND NIGHT The Orb of Day and Night was a great sphere perched atop Arcadia's highest peak, with one-half glowing and the other half dark. It rotated evenly and continually, at all times illuminating one half of the infinite plane and leaving the rest in natural darkness. This caused day and night in Arcadia, though there was no twilight, just day and night.
INHABITANTS
Many woodland creatures roamed the mountains, hills, forests, and fields of Arcadia. They resembled Prime Material creatures except for their colouring, which was metallic like the trees, and their eyes, which were white without iris or pupil. Examples included copper coloured rabbits, golden foxes, and sheep with silver wool. Organized, hive-dwelling insects such as ants, bees, and wasps were also found in this plane. None of the animals could speak but all were peaceful in nature and native to the Outer Planes so they were unaffected by magics that usually worked on Prime Material creatures. In addition, their eyes allowed them to see through any illusion and the more intelligent animals could be trained into superb watch beasts. The primary inhabitants of Arcadia were the spirit legions formed from the souls of good and lawful warriors, much like their evil counterparts in Acheron. Other sentient creatures that dwelled in Arcadia included hollyphants, planetars, foo creatures and the occasional deva. It was not uncommon to see creatures from neighbouring planes visiting: shedu, greater and lesser lammasu, and ki-rin for example.
Type
Dimensional plane
