The Cosmology of Elendor is the science of the origin and development of the plane. Schools of cosmology for a long time ran off the older
Great Wheel planar structure, but in the recent scientific boom of the
Discovery Age the theory has been refined into a new
World Network Model - A World Axis Model which allows for the idea of parallel mortal planes. There are currently two schools of thought surrounding Elendor's creation and the cataclysmic event known as the rupture: Zro theory and Primordial Theory. Each of the two theories do not dispute the rupture as an event but they do pull into question differing opinions of the origins of the gods themselves.
Creation Theories and Age Mythos
The Void Age
The Void age is the name given to the time before the rupture, an inky nothingness without form and devoid of light but far from empty. This pocket in the center of the planes is described as the planar core by Primordial Theory and the Zro in Zro Theory. It is believed in both theories that the immense power within this void weakened suddenly and collapse in on itself and then the walls between it and the inner planes collapsed - beginning the creation era.
Primordial Theory
In Primordial Theory, it is believed that the void in the location where Elendor formed was known as the Planar Core - a place where much of the spent energy of the Inner and Outer planes was channeled to. It was this energy that reacted into a cataclysmic event, theorized to be a storm of wild magic, that weakened the cores wall and began to spill energy out into the inner planes. The Primoridals of the inner planes then used this weakening in the wall to expand their domains of fire, earth, water and air. Whilst this theory does both portray answers to the formation of Dostrum and where Wild Magic comes from - it leaves many questions unanswered, such as where did the inner and outer planes come from.
Zro Theory
The recently revitalized Zro Theory is the theory that within the void lived a great being name
Zro. Zro was the overgod of all the planes and in fact, long before any of the planes there was only Zro and it was Zro who made the planes and the beings within them - including the gods. Zro surround themselves with what they had created and let the planes grow themselves. The rupture in this theory is surmised to be the death of Zro and the lessening in his power and control weakened the walls of the planes and allowing for the creation of Elendor. The existence of Zro was forgotten, as many of the gods themselves didn't know their name and mortals even fewer. However, scripture written by
Celestian was recently discovered in
The Kai-Tengian Empire theorizing his existence. Since then the intellectual community has been abuzz with this new theory that combines Cosmology and Theological fields.
The Creation Era
The Creation Era is the time span in which the Primordial of the inner planes reigned supreme in Elendor. The combination of the Elements of Fire, Water, Earth and Air with nowhere else to ventilate the emitted magical energy eventually formed a scarred and jagged land. This land was
Dostrus, A super continent in a sea of elemental flux. It is estimated this Era lasted roughly 55,000 mortal years, but with of mortals that existed in this time, it is only a theory surmised from the existing geological evidence.
As the continent formed, More weaknesses in the planar walls emerged - A connection to the lower planes formed. Demons and devils spilled forth and continued their never ending blood war in this new arena. Much of the Creation Era despite its hopeful sounding name, is marred by darkness and waring.
Its also in this period, that
Corellon brough fourth his creations the
Tel'Quessir from his plane of Arvandor through a rift directly in his plane of Avrandor, marking the first influence from the Upper plane to make its way to Elendor. It is possible that Corellon and his allies helped return the elemental to their natural planes.
The War of the Heavens
The War of the Heavens is the Era in which the Upperplanes finally came to Elendor and when the cosmological theory becomes history. The War of the Heavens finally came to an end when a Mortal general known to most simply as the Hero rallied mortality against its planar overlords ending with
The Great Summit and "The First Green and Pleasant Day"
The World Network Model
The World Network model (sometimes called the spiderweb model) is the current theory of understanding the planes and how they work. It is believed that there are multiple layers of planes which are interconnected with a spiderweb of plane network pathways. Elendor is simply one destination in the planar zone known as the
Prime Mirror Planes. Each Prime Mirror Plane has its own associated cosmic entities (such as Elendor and its three celestial bodies/moons) as well as access to its affiliated Feywilds and Shadowfell. Discovered
Mirror Planes include:
- Eberron
- Toril
- Oerth
- Exandria (First Discovery)
Surrounding this
Prime Mirror zone are planes of fundamental energy, sometimes called the Elemental Chaos. These are Transitive planes that contain the elements in their rawest forms - its power is often drawn upon by wizards to cast their elemental powers. Beyond that you find
The Celestial Dominions & The Stellar Chaos which contain the various realms of the gods.
The Mirror Realms
The Mirror Realms, also known as the “Hall of Many Mirrors” was first discovered by Cosmology Specialist and Dunamancer
Marcius Flux who broke through to Elendor from the world of Exandria by accident, getting stuck here for 23 years. It also turned out, that in his original miscast spell, Marcius switched places with another person on the plane of Elendor - An adventurer by the name of
Roland Autumnfallow, who informed Flux of his transfer to Exandria by leaving a note in Flux’s once home there; apologising for the intrusion and accidentally breaking a vase. Despite trying, Flux is yet to find this Autumnfallow and does not know if they yet live. Flux now resides in the Kai-Tengian capital on Elendor after starting a family and life there during his entrapment.
The Hall of Mirrors is the area in which mortal planes exist. They are inhabited by the mortal empires and often vied for by Gods as a source of their power. These planes often include a finite amount of Celestial bodies; such as planets and moons - with often only one such body inhabited.
The Mirror Theory
After its accidentally discovery, the theoretical became less of a scientific and magical white whale and research became a priority in meany scholarly and arcane circles. Flux theorises that their could in fact be infinite amount of planes; or rather an infinite set of planes that could come into existence. It is dubbed as unlikely that there are infinite at least as of yet - as various experiments communing with the gods has only unveiled a select umber that they know about.
It is currently theorised that this inner area - this Hall of Mirrors is held together by an arcane fabric or weave and in the pockets and gaps between; mortal planes exist side by side, as parallels (sometime called reflections). Within these reflections there are often similarities - for example in all of the worlds thus far discovered by Flux and his team, the common tongue has developed the same interplanarly despite differing linguistic backgrounds and structures. Also most of these worlds are influenced by similar extraplanar means, as the Gods own planes do not seem to fall to the rule of mirrors (Hense why the elemental planes and beyond are often outside of the Hall of Mirrors in diagrams) which is why similar architecture, religious groups and even conflicts have emerged plane to plane.
Why this net of arcana exists and how these planes are created within its weave however is still a subject of debate as the gods themselves do not seem to be able to manifest the creation of these mirror planes, they must all form under their own creation theory. This is another reason why
Zro Theory has had a resurgence in recent years within Elendor as some have begun theorising that a power above the gods - an Overgod or God of Gods must exist or must have existed for this weave to form.
Creation of Planes within Mirror Planes
Whist its not possible for Gods themselves to outright create a plane within the Hall of Mirrors, it is far from impossible to do. In fact many Mortals within the various mirror planes have been able to create Demi-planes or planes of their own inside of them. Indeed, many theorise that only those born of the weaves mirrored halls have the ability to control it - also reinforcing why it was possible for mortals to travel between them.
Many questions are still to be answered about the Hall of Mirrors and its winding corridors. On the plane of Elendor, research continues at the
Collage of Cosmology and Arcane Study with Flux as it’s departmental head. Some of the other nations of the various mirrors have also begun research of their own.
The House of Elements
Surrounding the weave of the Hall of Mirrors, is an area known in World Network Theory as the House of Elements. In older theories this zone was known as the inner planes - where elemental energy is at its rawest. Many mages absorb their elemental powers from this plane. There are 4 main planes within the House of Elements;
Fire, Water, Air & Earth. The House of Elements also contains some bridging planes where the various Elements collide to form
Energies. The House of Elements is surrounded by an area known as the Elemental Chaos, in which Energies and Elements all flow freely.
The Stellar Chaos
Whether it is beyond the Elemental Chaos or hidden deep within it is uncertain, but stirring and lurking way beyond is
The Stellar Chaos - The Outer Realms in which either Evil has taken control, or the Chaos is too strong to be domianted.
Limbo
Limbo was the plane of chaotic neutral, home of the Githzerai and the Slaad.This plane was supreme chaos: a twisting, quicksilver place filled with bits and pieces of rocks, trees, the four elements, entire landscapes, strong winds, and random pockets of liquid, solid, or gas. Intelligent beings could subjugate the environment around them, causing the chaos to settle into forms of his or her desire. It was believed Limbo had five layers but they were all generally the same. Leira, Tempus, and Fenmarel Mestarine made their home here.
Pandemonium
Pandemonium was the plane between chaotic neutral and chaotic evil in alignment and had no native inhabitants but many that were either immigrants, exiles, marooned, or prisoners. The entire plane was made of passages and caverns seemingly carved from solid rock by the constant howling wind and wind-driven rivers.Demons and quasits lived or hid here and shadow demons were plentiful. Talos made his home here, and temporary visitors included Loki from Gladsheim and Loviatar of Gehenna. See the main page for more details on Pandemonium and its four known layers: Pandesmos, Cocytus, Phlegethon, and Agathion.
The Abyss
The Abyss was the plane of chaotic evil, home of the demons and a seemingly limitless number of other foul monstrosities. The stronger sought to dominate the weaker and the weaker conspired to overthrow the stronger. It was estimated the Abyss had 666 layers but it could well have been an infinite number.
The first layer was called Pazunia (after Pazuzu, who was most often found there) or the Plane of Infinite Portals, or the Palace of 1,001 Closets. It was a barren land of dusty deserts scorched by a red sun.
Tarterus/Carceri
The plane of Tarterus was located midway between chaotic evil and neutral evil in alignment. Each known layer of Tarterus is described as a chain of glowing scarlet orbs stretching into infinity. Each orb of the top layer is the size of a Prime Material world and the orbs get smaller with each successive layer. The orbs of the "inner" layers can be imagined as nesting within the orbs of the "outer" layers like Matryoshka dolls.
Hades/Gray Waste
Hades, also known as the Gray Waste, was the plane of neutral evil, home of the daemons. The three layers of Hades were Oinos, Niflheim, and Pluton. Pluton is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Hades. The layers of Hades were called glooms for good reason; they were realms devoid of emotion, hope, and peace—grey land and grey sky throughout, with no sun, moon, or seasons to break the monotony. Here Anthraxus ruled in his mighty fortress, the Khin-Oin.
Gehenna
This plane was midway between neutral evil and lawful evil in alignment. Each of the four layers (Khalas, Chamada, Mungoth, and Krangath) were composed of mountains and smoky, burning volcanoes with no bases or peaks—everything was built onto or carved into the sides of these mountains and gravity was at a 45° angle with the ground. Deeper layers had less heat and volcanic activity until you got to Krangath which had no natural light or heat.
Nine Hells/Baator
The Nine Hells, also known as Baator was the plane of lawful evil, home of the devils. The nine layers were: Avernus, Dis, Minauros, Phlegethos, Stygia, Malbolge, Maladomini, Cania (spelling changed in newer sources, and Nessus, and each extended infinitely in all directions and had its own physical laws and properties of matter. The barriers between layers connected the lowest points of the upper layer with points very high above the surface of the next lower layer, regardless if there was a structure (like a mountain or tall tower) there or not. Some infamous and powerful beings made their home in Baator, such as Asmodeus, Mephistopheles, Baalzebul, Belial, Mammon, and Tiamat.
Acheron
Acheron was located between lawful evil and lawful neutral in alignment and was a place where armies of the Outer Planes would come to do battle in the afterlife. The four layers (Avalas, Thuldanin, Tintibulus, and Ocanthus) each consisted of huge blocks of hard black iron-like material the size of countries that floated through air, joining for a time and then parting again. While blocks were touching, a being could move from one block to the next. Gravity pulled toward the center of each block.
The Celestial Dominions
The other half of the balance are the Celestial Dominions. Stabilized realms inhabited by those of good ideals and great power.
Nirvana / Mechanus
Nirvana was the plane of lawful neutral. It consisted of only one layer where everything was in perfect order: equal parts light and dark, heat and cold, and equal measures of the four elements. The entire plane was filled with interlocking wheels 1,000 miles (1,600 km) or more in diameter slowly turning in synchronicity. Each disk had its own gravity extending in a sphere around it, enabling the surface(s) of the wheel to be inhabited. Mystra once made her home here[28] and Helm's realm Everwatch, Psilofyr's realm Mycelia, Amaunator's Keep of the Eternal Sun, and Hoar's Doomcourt were all on this plane.
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.
Seven Heavens/Mount Celestia
Seven Heavens, also called the Seven Mountains of Goodness and Law, was the plane of lawful good alignment, home of the archons. Its seven layers (Lunia, Mecuria, Venya, Solania, Mertion, Jovar, and Chronias) were joined in such a manner that traveling deeper into the plane became an ascending journey, up mountain after mountain for example. Each layer glowed with its own color of soft light and each was unique in terrain. The Seven Heavens were the home of Bahamut, Yondalla, and Moradin Dwarffather.
Twin Paradises/Bytopia
The Twin Paradises were between lawful good and neutral good in alignment. The two layers (Shurrock and Dothion) were described as hanging upside down from each other about 20 miles (32 km) apart (from sea level to sea level), sharing the same sky. Gravity was normal for each layer but in opposite directions. The Twin Paradises were the home of Garl Glittergold, Baervan Wildwanderer, Segojan Earthcaller, and Flandal Steelskin of the gnomish pantheon.
Elysium
Elysium was the plane of neutral good. The wide, slow-moving, and mostly navigable river Oceanus flowed through all four layers (from Thalasia to Belierin to Eronia to Amoria) and then on to the Happy Hunting Grounds. Most habitation was along the fertile banks of the river, diminishing farther away. Isis, Ishtar, and Enlil all made Elysium their home.
Happy Hunting Grounds/Beastlands
Outsiders called it the Happy Hunting Grounds, but the native wildlife, most of which were sentient and capable of speech, called it the Beastlands and didn't take kindly to being hunted. This plane represented the ideals of neutral good but tended toward chaotic good. Each of the three layers (Krigala, Brux, and Karasuthra) was vast and densely forested, but included habitats for all manner of natural creatures: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, invertebrates, and their giant varieties. Skerrit the centaur god made his home here as well as the Beast Lords.
Olympus/Arvandor/Arborea
Occasionally called Olympus, or Arvandor, Arborea was the plane of chaotic good, home of both the Greek and Elvish pantheons. The two realms coexisted on the topmost layer of the plane at the pinnacle of their respective realms. The main feature was Mount Olympus, a huge mountain that linked the Greek part of the plane with the Prime Material Planes where they were strongest. This astral landmark also extended to at least one layer each of Gehenna, Hades, and Tarterus. This plane's three layers were called, in Greek/Elvish, Olympus/Arvandor, Ossa/Aquallor, and Pelion/Mithardir. Tucked away in a corner (so to speak) was the realm of Nephthys.
Gladsheim/Ysgard
Sometimes called Ysgard, Gladsheim was between chaotic good and chaotic neutral in alignment and was the home of the Norse pantheon (of which Tyr was a member) which, despite a tendency to chaotic behavior, effectively seized control of the uppermost of the three layers.Their realm gives the first layer its name, Asgard, followed by Muspelheim and Nidavellir. Like Mount Olympus in Olympus, the main feature of this plane is Yggdrasil, the "World Ash", a tree that has roots and branches in the Prime Material Planes where the Norse gods are recognized as well as Niflheim in Hades. Forgotten Realms deities that made their home here were Selûne, Sharess (in her aspect as Bast), Marthammor Duin, and Eilistraee
Transitive Planes
There does exists a connective tissue between the many planes known as the
Astral Plane. The Astral plane is an infinite nothingness interrupted by small islands of material that have broken off from their native planes and occasional spinning columns of astral conduits (called wormholes or gates and resembling water spouts from a storm at sea). The Astral Plane can be accessed at any level of the planes. Travel in the Astral is usually accomplished by spell, psionics, device, or color pool and involved leaving your physical body behind while your astral self traveled to your destination. During this transit, a nearly unbreakable silver cord connected your astral self back to your physical body. When you arrived at another plane, a new physical body manifested out of local materials. Wormholes linked specific places in the Outer planes to each other and to fixed locations in the Primes—quicker but likely more dangerous because your physical body was transported directly to a terminus that might be inhospitable or guarded. Indeed, Spells that traverse the planes in mere seconds actually project you through arcane pathways within the Astral Plane.
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