Cosmology of Prakaethion

The Planes and Navigation

There are uncountable planes, some which are “closer” than others, though such a term does not refer to distance, and refers only to the difficulty in traversing to these planes from ours, the Material Plane.  All other planes are connected by the Astral Plane, so in a sense, this is the space which "contains" all other planes, though the truth is more complex.  The distance between the planes is in large part determined by the similarities between the ideas and concepts that the planes embody, among other unknown factors. Planes drift, but tend to stay close to other planes with which they share common elements. The Feywild and Shadowfel are both most similar to the Material Plane, and the Feywild in turn has common elements with Creation's Forge, the Elemental Planes of Wood and Water, and (it is theorized) even the outer planes belonging to Cidedrol and Rolom.

The Astral Plane

The plane of thought, the sea of stars, the transitive plane. The astral plane connects all others, and is where souls venture after death. Largely vacant, the astral plane serves as the highway and neutral ground for plane traveling entities.  

The Material Plane

This is where we exist and where the vast majority of people will spend their entire lives. The laws of physics are mutable only through magic, and time flows as we know it.

Inner Planes

Inner planes have the closest relationship to the material plane. They can generally be accessed directly from the Material Plane through magic or special access points.  They can affect the material plane even without magic or other intervention.

The Feywild

The plane of wilderness, the fey, life and color. The Feywild is more vibrant and unpredictable than the material plane. Primal forces are stronger here, time and space can sometimes react strangely and magic can be more powerful and difficult to control here. Beasts grow to greater size and the man-made constructions are eroded more quickly.  Creatures such as the Fey and Giants live here.

The Shadowfell

The plane of shadow, the black sky, death and decay. Life is still possible here, but wounds are more difficult to staunch and healing magics are less powerful. The Shadowfell is a bleak reflection of the material plane cast in a near greyscale. Plants grow slowly and creatures of all kinds must struggle to carve out a life for themselves. The constructs of mortals loom here, timeless and imposing.   Various undead spawn here, and beings such as Fetchlings, Owbs, D'xiriak, and Caligni live and originate from here.

The Ethereal Plane

The plane of dreams, ghosts and the spirit. The ethereal plane is as a window to the material plane (as well as the Feywild and Shadowfell,) and those on one side can rarely affect the other without magical intervention, but those in the ethereal plane can see (and with great effort, be seen in) the material plane. All dreams are accessible through the Ethereal plane and emotion gains power here.

The Elemental Planes

The planes of fire, earth, air, water, wood and metal as well as Creation's Forge (sometimes called the Plane of Vitality) and the Void are near the inner planes, and influence them. These eight planes contain the building blocks of the other planes, and are relatively inhospitable to life from the material plane without preparations. This does stop the existence of life, even civilizations, that may barely even be recognized as such. The homeland of elementals of all kinds, genies, and creatures stranger still.  The planes of Vitality and Void are very closely related to the Feywild and Shadowfell, respectfully.

The Outer Planes

Homes to the gods and their heralds, these are where the souls of the living come to rest. Little is known about these planes, as no one has ever returned from an expedition to visit one. All information that is known about these places is either speculation or gleaned from the rare visits of the heralds of the gods. These events inspire fear and precede massive, frequently destructive events in Prakaethion, as occurred in the most recent cataclysm.  It is theorized that each god has their own plane or demiplane, and some with similar values and purviews may instead (or also) have shared planes.

Type

Universe