Structure of the Planes
Millenia of research by post-Cataclysm arcanists and scholars has given us our current "Shell" model of the planar system. The concept of the planar shells is an abstraction for the way the other planes 'orbit' Tuern.
The other planes exist in shells, the distance of the shell represents the energy required to tunnel to and from that plane to Tuern, the further shells requiring exponentially more energy.
Beyond the shells, religious scholars have categorized a subset of the planes as either 'upper' or 'lower' planes, denoting their perceived relationship to Schon and Schaed respectively. The belief is that the light from Schon is what gives the 'upper' planes their heavenly qualities and is the reason they are home to the varieties of beings known as celestials. Conversly, the darkness of Schaed is believed to have infected the so called 'lower' planes, turning them hellish and spawning the devils and demons that reside there.
Some arcanists theorize that are planar shells beyond what we have discovered, but the energy required is beyond what mortals are capable of, and that is where the gods reside.
The Aether
The connective tissue of the planes. The Aether itself is reported, by those who manage to return, as a featureless void, dimly lit in all directions. It is not unheard for planar travel mishaps to result in the travelers stranded in the Aether. Magic functions strangely, if at all, in the void, which makes any escape or rescue attempts difficult for all but the most powerful of mages.Actual planar travel involves using magic to 'tunnel' through the void toward your intended destination. The longer the journey, the more energy required and the greater the risk of accidents. Shorter trips, however, are fairly safe, and even teleportation magic within a plane uses incredibly short tunnels through Aetherium
Tuern
Home of Thora , and thus Mithlonde. The name is a Sarkhanized form of the Derkomai word for origin and birth, although outside of scholarly circles it is usually just referred to as the material plane, if the speaker is even aware of the existence of other planes.Inner Planes
The pair of planes 'closest' to Tuern. These planes are nonetheless dangerous to travel to due to their nature.Schon
A plane of blinding light, bursting with the energy of life. Mortals traveling there without sufficient protection will be immediately blinded and the energies of the plane will flood their bodies. For a second the surge of life energies is euphoric, but that does not last long as the mortal's frame cannot contain so much power and they literally burst as the energy erupts from them. Magi with the strength to linger claim they have seen vast creatures swimming in the light like the great sea predators of Mithlonde.Schaed
An endless pitch black void, Schaed is a plane of death and entropy. Unprotected travelers have their life drained from them, rapidly aging and witnessing their limbs decay before their very eyes. Those with the protection and light to explore have found crumbling ruins of totally unknown design filled with undead that rise again and again if struck down.Elemental Planes
The second closest shell is filled with planes dominated by elemental energies. It is from these planes that conjurers call forth elementals to serve them.Hakki
The plane of fire, Hakki is dominated by oceans of lava, punctuated by volcanic islands. The sky looks to be aflame and anything flammable entering the plane quickly will be. Fire elementals dance across the sky, salamanders build impenetrable fortresses on what land exists, and magma wyrms swim the molten seas. It is understandably incredibly dangerous to travel to this plane, even with fire resistance spells.Trysa
The elemental plane of earth, filled with endless mountain ranges, fields of boulders, and deep craggy ravines. Surprisingly safe to travel to, provided you bring enough food and water, as no water exists and nothing grows here. Earth elementals tend to boulder gardens while bullettes glide beneath the ground.Awyn
As the plane of air, Awyn hosts no solid ground. Everything floats, pushed around by the endless gusts of wind. Massive Rocs fly through the endless skies and air elementals congregate among the clouds. Travelers without wings can find it difficult to traverse the plane but it is otherwise largely benign.Saen
The plane of water is an infinite ocean. Teeming with sea life of all kinds, with sharks, whales, and cephalopods larger than any seen on Tuern. Merfolk grow cities along the sea floor and water elementals meld with the currents, occasionally playfully cresting the surface as a rogue wave.Outer Planes
For a millennia this shell was believed to be the outermost shell, and while the Distant Planes have been known about a few centuries now, the name of Outer Planes has stuck. More varied in nature than the shells beneath, these planes feel more like another worlds than the comparatively one-note elemental and inner planes.
Rhoki
Rhoki is a wet and weather blasted plane. Rarely does it stop raining there and the flora and fauna have adapted to that fact. Vast marshlands transition into dark seas. Rivers cut deep ravines in eroded mountains and constantly flood. Artificial constructions quickly weather away, so what sapient beings call this place home tend to practice a migratory lifestyle.Hish'sa
Jagged mountains littered with volcanoes dominate the plane of Hish'sa. Between the lava flows the rich soil produces verdant fields and forests. Metals of all sorts are abundant and easy to find. The sapient denizens construct iron fortresses, tapping into the lava flows to power great forges.Sirovish
The great windblown desert of Sirovish is a hard place to survive. Few plants are hardy enough to withstand the frequent sandstorms, and great sandworms stalk the dune seas. The rare rocky oases are home to great cities, the only places where the many sapients are able to scrape out a living.Roro'ima
A plane bursting with life, Roro'ima is a vast and untamed woodland. Flora and fauna of all kinds are here in abundance. Apex predators stalk the towering trees. Carnivorous plants thrive on the plentiful insects and smaller birds and animals. Considered sacred by many druids, what sapients there are here are forced to coexist with the wildlife or be overwhelmed by it.Akmos
An 'upper' plane, Akmos is a gentle sky dotted with floating islands. Winged celestials fly between quaint villages nestled on and under the floating land masses. Storms are rare, though rain is common, and the temperatures are generally moderate. The denizens find life there to be easy, and simple.Bothar
Ever shifting, wracked with quakes, and seemingly entirely underground, Bothar is considered a 'lower' plane. If there is a surface no planar travel has found it. Massive spiked devils stalk the caves and caverns. Permanent settlements are hard to maintain, with more than one suddenly finding itself swallowed up by a sinkhole.Rivul
Gentle flowing rivers, babbling brooks, and sunny beaches make this one of the 'upper' planes to religious scholars. Tall and statuesque celestial spend their time lounging along the waters. Towns and cities are common along the coasts, catering to the many travelers and pleasure cruises that are common on the seasSchmaur
A desolate wasteland of constant war. A 'lower' plane, the flaming demons of Schmaur have been at war for as long as there's been recorded history. Any terrain that might have existed in the distant past is now scorched earth and trenches. Stone fortresses rise and fall and smoke blots out the sky. Alliances dissolve as quickly as they are formed. Some scholars believe that the war itself is the point and the demons there do not want a victor or resolution.Distant Planes
Relatively recently discovered, the planes of this shell are incredibly difficult to travel to and from, and thus poorly explored.Vanaya
A plane of roiling chaos. A 'lower' plane, isolated islands are constantly buffeted by a sea of endless storms. Winged demons ride the storms from island to island. It is unknown if there exists any permanent settlements.Salios
One of the 'upper' planes, Salios is extremely bright, almost too bright for many. With protective eye wear, golden fields and small villages can be seen. Amorphous celestials wisps dart from place to place.Sturmaz
Another 'lower' plane, lightning strikes the rocky, metallic fields. Bony and hunched devils stalk between the jutting rocks. Tall lightning rods protect dense and stacked cities. No traveler has been able to gain entrance to these settlements.Palorae
An 'upper' plane, rolling hills and pastoral views define Palorae. Grazing animals are shepherded by diminutive celestials. No settlements or predators have been encountered, and the shepards do not acknowledge the questions of what explorers have reached this plane.
Type
Dimensional plane
