Demiplanes

It is possible, through the expenditure of magic, to create a contained space on the Astral Plane which can be used as a storage platform. Since it is critical on the Astral Plane to know one's destination, these locations are effectively unnavigable.
To prevent risk of collision or other such disaster, the demiplane is magically protected by some self sustaining methods. The demiplanes themselves might be expected to appear quite obvious, but the magic that creates them actually causes them to appear as near imperceptible motes of light. In addition, they are sensitive to conscious thought, and the flows of the astral plane, allowing them to subtly avoid any approaching creatures that might pass them by. These combined factors can cause the planes to be nearly (but not quite, with enough magical preparation) impossible to locate and approach. And then you'd need to find a way to enter.

Utility

A demiplane is a completely private area that a mage may store belongings or use as a hide-away (this is not without its risks). The advantages of the demiplane over other methods is that it is nearly entirely free from the influence of the outside world. Anything that needs to be hidden irretrievably can be safely stashed away in an essentially inaccessible safe space and then needs only be thought about on a whim.

Social Impact

The creation of demiplanes has led to an enormous amount of treasure being stashed away in pocket dimensions over the years. Paranoid wizards would stash their most valuable possessions on a demiplane of their own creation and exclusive right to access. Then, when they would be killed by a rival, accident, or simple the inexorable march of time, those possessions would effectively become inaccessible. There is no accurate way to begin to estimate the magical knowledge and wealth of artifacts stored in these myriad chambers, floating forever on the astral plane.

Parent Technologies

• Woldian Magic

Inventor(s)

Grizwold, The Master of Many

Access & Availability

The creation of a demiplane is very accessible to anyone with sufficient magical power and skill (no small feat). It is considered by scholars to be one of the most perfect spells in creation, simple because of its tremendously complex effect, which is achieved with no necessary cost of material expenditure. It is a triumph of magical design which can be performed simply through the speech of the correct Arcane phrases.

Discovery

This technique was discovered by Grizwold, The Master of Many during his studies into Woldian Magic. It is a spell that combines the disciplines of several of the schools of magic, creating (conjuration, evocation) a contained space (abjuration) on another plane of existence (divination, conjuration). It was the kind of magic that was nearly impossible, even for all but the most powerful and experienced creatures capable of magic before Grizwold revolutionized the practice.