Outer Planes

The Outer Planes are an uncountably large and diverse group of worlds that lie away from the center of the Universe in the branches and roots of the World Tree. There the strand-like Elemental Planes mix and intertwine and habitable worlds have formed at the focal points where multi-elemental Matter is concentrated.

More than 99 % of all the worlds of the universe are found in the region of the Outer Planes. Most worlds of the Outer Planes were born spontaneously during the creation of the universe at the dawn of time but powerful planar creatures have also artificially created planar domains for themselves. Many godlike beings dwell in the Outer Planes, governing their private worlds as they please, and many of such gods squabble with one another; for dominance, for resources, for space; out of spite, boredom and hatred. Their reasons for war are myriad -- and why wouldn't they be? They are gods after all.
A handful of sheltered worlds lie around the trunk of the world tree. These are known as the Inner Planes and they fall within the domain of the Empyreal Gods of Ulthgard. At the very center of the universe lies Midgard, also known as Amanor.

by CraniumBeaver

Above: The universe divided into the Inner and Outer Planes.

The political powers of the Outer Planes war not only with each other but also with the Empyreals. An unending, millenia-long war known as the Divine Conflict has raged in the universe since its creation. It is a war of conquest and supremacy were the raging fires of wrath and zealotry burn through all. The life of an individual creature is insignificant and entire worlds are laid to waste in displays of divine wrath.

Political regions

The Outer Planes are divided into four notable political regions based on the balance of power between the various sides of the Divine Conflict. The Celestial Worlds and the Infernal Worlds -- the domains of the angels and the demons -- lie at opposite ends of the bipolar world tree. At the center of the cosmos are the Empyreal Worlds controlled by the gods of Ulthgard. These are comprised of a few dozen worlds of the Outer Planes around the Inner planes as well as the Inner Planes themselves. The largest political region are the Fringe Worlds: a toroid-shaped volume of the cosmos that encircles the axis of the world tree.

Celestial Worlds

The lawful celestials of the Heavenly Adherence spread their interplanar empire ever outwards from their homeworld of Alfheim at the top of the world tree. Alfheim is the Plane of Order and its location at the top of the world tree has a profound impact on the surrounding worlds. Most worlds found near Alfheim are composed in equal parts from all five elements making them equally easy to colonize. The core region of the Celestial Worlds contains dozens of worlds ruled by the angels, the peoples and industries of which are used to fuel the war machine of the Heavenly Adherence.

Infernal Worlds

The League of Baator, an alliance of powerful demon lords from the Nine Hells, claims its domain in the roots of the world tree. Their current territory is roughly the same size as that of the celestials -- their eternal opponents -- but contains much fewer settled worlds. Below the Nine Hells lies the Plane of Chaos which makes the composition of surrounding worlds wildly varied and unpredictable. Few Infernal Worlds in the region's core are hospitable to life without magical intervention. The further the demons have expanded from the Nine Hells the more hospitable worlds they have found.

Below: Political regions of the Outer Planes.

by CraniumBeaver

Empyreal Worlds

The Empyreal Worlds are the domain of the Empyreals of Ulthgard. The Inner Planes at the center of the cosmos are seen as the original domain of the Empyreals but they have expanded their territory to a few dozen worlds beyond. The outer regions of the Empyreal Worlds function as a defensive perimeter for the Inner Planes; these worlds have been largely converted to the Empyreal Faith and their resources directed to aiding the Divine Conflict. The oversight of these worlds is given to titans known as planetars; the Empyreals themselves tend to dwell on the world of Ulthgard in the Inner Planes.

Fringe Worlds

The Fringe Worlds are literally defined as the worlds that are not part of the Celestial, Infernal, or Empyreal Worlds. It is the largest sector of the Outer Planes and indeed the cosmos, home to any and all planar powers besides the angels, the demons, and the Empyreals. Illithid, gith, slaadi, goblinoids, and undead -- to name but a few -- vie for supremacy in the Fringe Worlds, warring endlessly with each other. Other peoples and civilizations are less bloodthirsty, wishing for nothing more but to dwell within their small domains in peace but still forced to take up arms in defense of their territories.

Navigate in Universe

Type

Planar Sphere/Grouping

Included Locations

• Alfheim
• Nidavellir

Related Traditions

• Wild Hunt

Articles in this category

outerplanes