Arcadia (/ɑːˈkædiə/)
LN / LG Plane of Law
The Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia (pronounced: /ɑːrˈkeɪdiɑː/ ar-KAY-dee-a listen) was the Outer Plane representing alignments between lawful neutral and lawful good in the Great Wheel cosmology model. Some characteristics of this plane were ascribed to the World Tree cosmology planes of Dwarfhome, House of the Triad, and even Dweomerheart when that cosmology became popular. Dwarfhome and the House of the Triad (which became known as Celestia) survived the Spellplague and became part of the World Axis cosmology. Dweomerheart was destroyed at the start of the Spellplague.Arcadia
Arcadia was between lawful neutral and lawful good in alignment, known for its trees. The trees of Arcadia grew in neat forests and regimented orchards. The bark was either copper, gold, silver, or iron, and the never-falling leaves ranged from dark green to fire red. The fruit from these trees had magical properties like potions when consumed. Arcadia had three layers, Abellio, Buxenus, and a third layer of which very little is known, including its name. Great Wheel Cosmology
"Birds in the forests, flowers in the meadows, and everything is in its place—why argue with perfection?"
Realms
- Azuth the High One, Patron of Magic Users, once had a realm sharing his name on the layer of Buxenus.
- Clangeddin Silverbeard, the dwarven Father of Battle once commanded an impenetrable fortress carved out of a mountain located near the peak that held the sphere of day and night. It was said that this mountain redoubt was big enough to house all the dwarves on the Prime Material Plane.
- Marduk the Valiant of the Untheric pantheon once made his home also named Marduk in Arcadia in a simple but well-ordered large city.
- The three Mulhorandi deities Horus-Re (and Ra before him), Isis and Osiris shared a realm called Heliopolis on the second layer, Buxenus.
- Savras the All-Seeing resided in the caverns called the Eye on Buxenus.
Geography
Abellio
Abellio was the first layer of Arcadia in the Great Wheel cosmology. An endless stretch of orderly plains dotted with a few mountains and hills, it contained the divine realms of Clangeddin Silverbeard and Marduk.Buxenus
Buxenus was the second layer of Arcadia in the Great Wheel cosmology. It contained the divine realms of Azuth and Savras, as well as Heliopolis, the shared divine realm of Horus-Re, Isis, Osiris, and Ra of the Mulhorandi Pantheon.Heliopolis
Heliopolis was a plane that across cosmologies was considered the home for a number of Deities within the Pharaonic and Mulhorandi pantheons. Under the Great Wheel model, Heliopolis was said to be a single divine realm that resided on Buxenus, the second layer of the plane of Arcadia. Jointly ruled by Ra, Isis, Osiris, and Horus (later known as Horus-Re, following his father Ra's death at the hands of Gruumsh during the Orcgate Wars). While under the World Tree model, it was considered to be one of the Neutral Planes that were connected to the World Tree and the home of all members of the Mulhorandi Pantheon. Under the Great Wheel cosmology, this realm was said to be an immense burning desert of bright sand that was laid out like a triangle, divided into three equally sized domains. It was touched at every corner by a scorching Sun, which was guided across the sky by Ra's solar barge Manjet. This was in contrast to the rest of Arcadia, which received light from the Orb of Day and Night, though the time of day for both coincided. When the time for day to end came Ra's barge became a funeral barge, referred to as Mesketet, and briefly provided light to the realm of Osiris. Whenever the Sun faded in Heliopolis the temperature would drop dramatically. However, the overall temperature varied between the three domains that each deity governed. The domain of Ra was the hottest of three, the heat striking even indoors and in shadowed area. Fauna were almost never seen out during the day in his realm, due to the unbearable heat of the Sun. The valley that Osiris presided over was the coolest of the three, even when standing beneath the Sun. And the sloping domain of Isis between them was moderate in temperature. With its moderate temperature, this domain was where all wildlife and most Plants were found, being spread over with thick grass and dotted with fig and palm trees. Creatures that were known to inhabit Heliopolis included lions, camels, serpents, and scorpions.Realms
Ra and Osiris were considered to be the dominant powers of Heliopolis, while Isis and Horus held secondary realms. They shared the role of leader depending upon what pressing business they had to attend to. Horus wandered between all three realms, rather than having a realm of his own, at least up until his change in station. The Great Wheel model also claimed Heliopolis to once be home to the Pharaonic Deities Set, Geb, and Nut. The former was banished for his transgressions, while the latter two chose to leave after the god Shu forbade their marriage.- Thekele-Re, the First Realm of Heliopolis, was the domain of Ra. Following the death of Ra's Mulhorandi incarnation Re, his son Horus received both his powers and divine realm, taking up the new name of Horus-Re.
- Gizekhtet, the Second Realm of Heliopolis, was the domain of Isis.
- Memphiria, the Third Realm of Heliopolis, was the domain of Osiris.
Inhabitants
According to the Great Wheel model, the realm of Heliopolis was home to petitioners from all many worlds across the Prime Material Plane. The World Tree model, being more Torilian-centric, was said to only host petitioners that were Mulhorandi in origin. These petitioners appeared as they did in life, but at their healthiest and most robust. Additionally, in both models the petitioners of Osiris wandered his realm as undead of good alignment, who were treated as no different from the Living by the realm's other petitioners. Beyond petitioners, one could find the pantheon's unique divine minions throughout Heliopolis. Some angels and lillends served the good Deities of the plane. And a diverse array of horrible creatures could be found in Set's plane of Ankhwugaht.Rumors & Legends
Some legends claimed that the great serpent Apep was buried beneath the sands of Heliopolis. Others claimed that the Draconic goddess Tiamat had a home on this plane and maintained a portal to another home on the plane of Dragon Eyrie. But when members of the Twisted Rune one day sought her lair they discovered this to be a ruse, finding in Heliopolis only a cave with a disturbed lichnee Netherese archwizard spellbound inside, known as the Listener of the Fiveheaded.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.The Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia
Layers and their Realms
| Abellio | Buxenus | Nemausus |
|---|---|---|
| Marduk | Azuth | |
| Mount Clangeddin | The Eye | |
| Heliopolis |
Ecosystem
Natives
hollyphants, planetars, foo creatures, devas, peaceful animalsInhabitants
Many woodland creatures roamed the mountains, hills, forests, and fields of Arcadia. They resembled Prime Material creatures except for their coloring, which was metallic like the trees, and their eyes, which were white without iris or pupil. Examples included copper colored 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 neighboring planes visiting: shedu, greater and lesser lammasu, and ki-rin for example.Realms
- Azuth the High One, Patron of Magic Users, once had a realm sharing his name on the layer of Buxenus.
- Clangeddin Silverbeard, the dwarven Father of Battle once commanded an impenetrable fortress carved out of a mountain located near the peak that held the sphere of day and night. It was said that this mountain redoubt was big enough to house all the dwarves on the Prime Material Plane.
- Marduk the Valiant of the Untheric pantheon once made his home also named Marduk in Arcadia in a simple but well-ordered large city.
- The three Mulhorandi Deities Horus-Re (and Ra before him), Isis and Osiris shared a realm called Heliopolis on the second layer, Buxenus.
- Savras the All-Seeing resided in the caverns called the Eye on Buxenus.
Sources
Source(s):
- Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 86. ISBN 0880383992.
- Jeff Grubb (April 1987). “Plane Speaking: Tuning in to the Outer Planes”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #120 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 42–43.
- Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 62. ISBN 0880383992.
- Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 49. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
- Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 47. ISBN 978-0786965622.
- Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 73. ISBN 0880383992.
- Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 75. ISBN 0880383992.
- Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 130–132. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
- Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 25.
- Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 58. ISBN 978-0786965622.
- Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 151. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
- Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 159. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
- Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 152. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
- Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 62, 63. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 74. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- Colin McComb (February 1995). “Arcadia”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Law (TSR, Inc), p. 2. ISBN 0786900938.
- Colin McComb (February 1995). “Arcadia”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Law (TSR, Inc), pp. 12–17. ISBN 0786900938.
- Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 130–132. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
- Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 172. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
- Colin McComb (February 1995). “Arcadia”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Law (TSR, Inc), pp. 18–24. ISBN 0786900938.
- Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 173, 181. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
- Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 47. ISBN 978-0786906574.
- Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (August 1987). “Cyclopedia of the Realms”. In Karen S. Martin ed. Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-472-7.
- Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 15. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
- Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 34. ISBN 978-0786903849.
- Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 87. ISBN 0880383992.
- Gary Gygax (August, 1985). Unearthed Arcana (1st edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 110. ISBN 0880380845.
- James Ward, Robert J. Kuntz (August 1980). Deities & Demigods. Edited by Lawrence Schick. (TSR, Inc.), p. 24. ISBN 0-935696-22-9.
- Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 65. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
- Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 86. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
- Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 109, 114, 120. ISBN 978-0786906574.
- Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 86, 88–90. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
- McComb, Colin, and Wolfgang Baur. Planes of Law. Arcadia, pp. 18-21. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995
- Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 47. ISBN 978-0786906574.
Alternative Name(s)
Plane of Harmony, The Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia
Type
Plane of Existence
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Inhabiting Species
5E Statistics
Arcadia
Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia
Plane of Law
Basic Information
| Natives | hollyphants planetars foo creatures devas peaceful animals |
| Color Pools | Saffron |
| Tuning fork | Gold, C♯ |
Outer Plane
| Shape & Size | Three infinite layers |
| Gravity | Normal |
| Time | Normal |
| Morphic trait | Divinely |
| Alignment trait | LG / LN |
| Magic trait | Limited: spells that affect animals, otherwise normal |
| Layers | Abellio Buxenus |
Arcadia (Plane of Harmony)
Corellon Larethian, the Elven god of magic
Sehanine Moonbow, the Elven goddess of the moon
Silvanus, the god of the wild
Obad-Hai, the god of nature
Chauntea, the goddess of agriculture
Inhabitants
Inhabitants of Arcadia
Creatures of Arcadia
Deities of Arcadia
Divine realms of Arcadia
Locations of Arcadia
Organizations of Arcadia
Settlements of Arcadia
Roads of Arcadia
Mountains of Arcadia
Forests of Arcadia
Bodies of water of Arcadia
Items of Arcadia
Food and drink of Arcadia
Events of Arcadia
Maps of Arcadia
Images of Arcadia
See Also: Elysium on Forgotten Realms Wiki