Planar Configurations; How Do You Design The Multiverse?
mrpopstar
Sparkly Dude
Me too! Although, I am particularly enamored with the fey and have lured my players into their world more than once.
The simplicity of these models speaks to me.
EDIT: In the trifold model, I like that you associated the fey with life. I also view the axis of life vs death in that way (the fairy between being life and the ghostly beyond being death). Divorcing the celestial above (good) and the infernal below (evil) from the life/death dichotomy offers a cool opposition to the feywild and shadowfell.
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Gradine
The Elephant in the Room (she/her)
My (admittedly limited) understanding was that the roots were actually comprised of the realm of the dead, which makes sense; natural cycles of decay and decomposition would nourish the roots. If it were me, I would place the Abyss/Hells (if I were to include them at all) below the roots, a constant threat to the world-tree and thus all of existence, held at bay only by the armies of the dead. Would certainly give death and mortality in general a different feel than a typical world.
Hexmage-EN
Legend
To elaborate on my previous post, I use the Ethereal Plane as the "spirit world".
Though there is one Ethereal Plane, most beings experience only its borders with other planes. Everything in existence has an animus inseperably linked to the Ethereal Plane and empowered by either the Positive or Negative Energy Planes, with a connection to the Positive Energy Plane being the default.
The seat of consciousness of a creature without a soul, such as most animals, lies in the animus. Upon death the unique animus becomes one with the Ethereal Plane, specifically where it borders the plane it died. In contrast, a creature with both an animus and a soul, like a human, has the soul as its seat of consciousness instead of the animus. Upon death the soul leaves to its destination while the animus lingers for a time before becoming one with the Ethereal.
Magic can cause a dissipated animus to temporarily reform, and some entities tied to a particular Ethereal border, like the nature spirits of the Material world, only exist when their animus is invoked to form.
Though there is one Ethereal Plane, most beings experience only its borders with other planes. Everything in existence has an animus inseperably linked to the Ethereal Plane and empowered by either the Positive or Negative Energy Planes, with a connection to the Positive Energy Plane being the default.
The seat of consciousness of a creature without a soul, such as most animals, lies in the animus. Upon death the unique animus becomes one with the Ethereal Plane, specifically where it borders the plane it died. In contrast, a creature with both an animus and a soul, like a human, has the soul as its seat of consciousness instead of the animus. Upon death the soul leaves to its destination while the animus lingers for a time before becoming one with the Ethereal.
Magic can cause a dissipated animus to temporarily reform, and some entities tied to a particular Ethereal border, like the nature spirits of the Material world, only exist when their animus is invoked to form.
Thank you. I can't claim all the credit, it's basically an amalgam of many things I've been influenced by over the years. I just tried to create a coherent framework for them.
A few of the influences I can remember:
The Primal Order
Roger Zelazny's the Chronicles of Amber
The Great Wheel cosmology from 1e and 2e.
The concept of demons "corrupting" the environment around them.
The desire to have a more detailed explanation for demons and devils to covet mortal souls
Hexmage-EN
Legend
I was inspired by both Caliban's awesomely detailed cosmology and further reading into various New Age spiritual beliefs to revise my own cosmological model.
The Sphere of Foundational Planes - These border each other, as well as every other plane.
The Plane of Undying Light - The source of light and radiant energy, but also the home of the Elder Evil known as Ragnorra.
The Plane of Endless Night - The source of darkness and necrotic energy, and also the home of the Elder Evil known as Atropus.
The Plane of Patient Spirits - The ethereal plane where radiant and necrotic energy compete to fill each animus with vitality.
The Sphere of Planes Above
The Soul Font - A stable portal to the Plane of Undying Light, it is the source of the radiant energy souls are formed from. It is like a sun to the Heavens.
The Heavens - The destinations of souls chosen by those gods dwelling here. Mortals who attempt to enter the Heavens without authorization will arrive in whichever Heaven they are destined for, with those not destined for a Heaven instead falling to Limbo. Gods reign supreme in this plane.
The Astral Deep - The realm of coherent thought not focused on the divine. It is said that portals to the mindscapes of most conscious beings in the multiverse (other than the gods, of course) are located here, but there is no known way to reliably reach them. Ascended masters of psionic magic are the powers that be here.
Limbo - The realm of incoherent thought and purest chaos, those stricken by madness are said to have their mindscapes linked to this plane rather than the Astral Deep. The chaotic energies shorn from the Elemental Planes by the Prime Architect were concentrated here. The slaad lord Ygorl, theirself the dimished shade of Ssendam, lurks within Limbo as its greatest power.
The Sphere of Material Planes
The Sun - An unusual stable portal to both the Plane of Undying Light and the Sea of Fire. No being has ever been known to use this portal (or, at least, to try to without being destroyed). A pure portal to the Undying Light was once located here, from which radiant energy flowed equally to the ancient Astral Sea and the primeval Elemental Chaos. During the Dawn War the gods were able to redirect much of the radiant energy to their own realm, empowering them and weakening the deprived primordials.
The Moon - Formed from the elemental earth of the Pillars of Creation and placed to to fulfill a special purpose of watching over the Sphere of Material Planes. The Moon simultaneously exists in the Feywild, the World, and the Shadowfell, though which plane it is most strongly connected to varies. A full moon represents a connection with the Feywild, waxing and waning reveals a primary connection to the world, and a new moon represents a connection to the Shadowfell. The full moon is ruled by the archfey known as the Maiden of the Moon, while the new moon is the domain of a coven of powerful night hags.
The Feywild - An echo of the World closer to the Undying Light. The unauthorized apotheosis of the nymph queen Titania to godhood in the Heavens also made this plane closer to Limbo.
The World - The axis of the multiverse. It also has an unusually strong connection to the Ethereal Plane; entities such as the godlike nature spirits called the Great Elders sometimes manifest in the Ethereal border of the World.
The Shadowfell - An echo of the World closer to the Endless Night. The imperfect apotheosis of the Raven Queen also made this plane closer to the Nine Hells.
The Sphere of Elemental Planes
The Elemental Chaos - An unusual plane that once had far more influence in the multiverse before the end of the Dawn War. It is linked to not only the other Elemental Planes, but also to Limbo and the Underdark. Some primordials are still imprisoned here, but genies and elder elementals now have the most authority.
The Sea of Worlds - The Plane of Water. Controlled by the evil archomental Olhydra, yielded by the good archomental Ben Hadar for reasons unknown. The Frostfell, a realm of elemental ice ruled by the archomental Cryonax, is contained within.
The Labyrinth Winds - The Plane of Air. Controlled by the good archomental Chan, contested by the evil archomentals Yan-C-Bin and Alu Kahn Sang. A realm of thunder and lightning controlled by the free primordial Ty-h'kadi is contained within
The Sea of Fire - The Plane of Fire. Controlled by the evil archomental Imix, contested by the good archomental Zaaman Rul. A realm of smoke and ash ruled by the archomental Ehkahk is contained within.
The Pillars of Creation - The Plane of Earth. Controlled by the good archomentals Sunnis and Emtemoch, contested by the evil archomental Ogremoch. This plane features the most archomentals, including Bwimb II, Chilimbia, Uzrith, and Crystalle.
The Sphere of Planes Below
The Underdark - An unusual plane connected to the deepest reaches of the World, the Feywild, and the Shadowfell. It is also affected by the cosmic influence of the Pillars of Creation, the Elemental Chaos, the Nine Hells, and the Abyss. The god Torog dwells here, though his son Uguendenk has also been known to intrude.
The Nine Hells - Once merely a barrier between the Abyss and the rest of the cosmos, the archangel Ashmodai abandoned his post here, returned to his Heaven and slew the god he was sworn to dutifully serve in a bid to achieve godhood himself. The act transformed Ashmodai into the god of the archdevils and caused the former Heaven to fall here, the Nine Hells, trapping rebellious angels within it to become devils. Ashmodai rules the Hells alongside subordinate archdevils.
The Abyss - At the end of the Dawn War a number of primordials fled to a remote region of the Elemental Chaos. The followers of the gods stood watch in case these primordials would surface again, unaware that the godlike elementals' instense desperation to unmake the world would transform them into the first demon lords. Within the Abyss the elements are corrupted by the necrotic influence of the Void; fire gives way to cinders, water to acid, air to miasma, earth to dust, and pure chaos to the Void itself. Because of this a number of archomentals and primordials are also present alongside the demon lords, though they do not control layers of the Abyss.
The Void - A stable portal to the Plane of Endless Night that lies just beyond the bottom of the Abyss. A few entities of evil lurk here, somehow avoiding complete annihilation. These include the primordials Entropy and Iktha Lau, the god Zehir, and the archomental Sun Sing.
The Sphere of Foundational Planes - These border each other, as well as every other plane.
The Plane of Undying Light - The source of light and radiant energy, but also the home of the Elder Evil known as Ragnorra.
The Plane of Endless Night - The source of darkness and necrotic energy, and also the home of the Elder Evil known as Atropus.
The Plane of Patient Spirits - The ethereal plane where radiant and necrotic energy compete to fill each animus with vitality.
The Sphere of Planes Above
The Soul Font - A stable portal to the Plane of Undying Light, it is the source of the radiant energy souls are formed from. It is like a sun to the Heavens.
The Heavens - The destinations of souls chosen by those gods dwelling here. Mortals who attempt to enter the Heavens without authorization will arrive in whichever Heaven they are destined for, with those not destined for a Heaven instead falling to Limbo. Gods reign supreme in this plane.
The Astral Deep - The realm of coherent thought not focused on the divine. It is said that portals to the mindscapes of most conscious beings in the multiverse (other than the gods, of course) are located here, but there is no known way to reliably reach them. Ascended masters of psionic magic are the powers that be here.
Limbo - The realm of incoherent thought and purest chaos, those stricken by madness are said to have their mindscapes linked to this plane rather than the Astral Deep. The chaotic energies shorn from the Elemental Planes by the Prime Architect were concentrated here. The slaad lord Ygorl, theirself the dimished shade of Ssendam, lurks within Limbo as its greatest power.
The Sphere of Material Planes
The Sun - An unusual stable portal to both the Plane of Undying Light and the Sea of Fire. No being has ever been known to use this portal (or, at least, to try to without being destroyed). A pure portal to the Undying Light was once located here, from which radiant energy flowed equally to the ancient Astral Sea and the primeval Elemental Chaos. During the Dawn War the gods were able to redirect much of the radiant energy to their own realm, empowering them and weakening the deprived primordials.
The Moon - Formed from the elemental earth of the Pillars of Creation and placed to to fulfill a special purpose of watching over the Sphere of Material Planes. The Moon simultaneously exists in the Feywild, the World, and the Shadowfell, though which plane it is most strongly connected to varies. A full moon represents a connection with the Feywild, waxing and waning reveals a primary connection to the world, and a new moon represents a connection to the Shadowfell. The full moon is ruled by the archfey known as the Maiden of the Moon, while the new moon is the domain of a coven of powerful night hags.
The Feywild - An echo of the World closer to the Undying Light. The unauthorized apotheosis of the nymph queen Titania to godhood in the Heavens also made this plane closer to Limbo.
The World - The axis of the multiverse. It also has an unusually strong connection to the Ethereal Plane; entities such as the godlike nature spirits called the Great Elders sometimes manifest in the Ethereal border of the World.
The Shadowfell - An echo of the World closer to the Endless Night. The imperfect apotheosis of the Raven Queen also made this plane closer to the Nine Hells.
The Sphere of Elemental Planes
The Elemental Chaos - An unusual plane that once had far more influence in the multiverse before the end of the Dawn War. It is linked to not only the other Elemental Planes, but also to Limbo and the Underdark. Some primordials are still imprisoned here, but genies and elder elementals now have the most authority.
The Sea of Worlds - The Plane of Water. Controlled by the evil archomental Olhydra, yielded by the good archomental Ben Hadar for reasons unknown. The Frostfell, a realm of elemental ice ruled by the archomental Cryonax, is contained within.
The Labyrinth Winds - The Plane of Air. Controlled by the good archomental Chan, contested by the evil archomentals Yan-C-Bin and Alu Kahn Sang. A realm of thunder and lightning controlled by the free primordial Ty-h'kadi is contained within
The Sea of Fire - The Plane of Fire. Controlled by the evil archomental Imix, contested by the good archomental Zaaman Rul. A realm of smoke and ash ruled by the archomental Ehkahk is contained within.
The Pillars of Creation - The Plane of Earth. Controlled by the good archomentals Sunnis and Emtemoch, contested by the evil archomental Ogremoch. This plane features the most archomentals, including Bwimb II, Chilimbia, Uzrith, and Crystalle.
The Sphere of Planes Below
The Underdark - An unusual plane connected to the deepest reaches of the World, the Feywild, and the Shadowfell. It is also affected by the cosmic influence of the Pillars of Creation, the Elemental Chaos, the Nine Hells, and the Abyss. The god Torog dwells here, though his son Uguendenk has also been known to intrude.
The Nine Hells - Once merely a barrier between the Abyss and the rest of the cosmos, the archangel Ashmodai abandoned his post here, returned to his Heaven and slew the god he was sworn to dutifully serve in a bid to achieve godhood himself. The act transformed Ashmodai into the god of the archdevils and caused the former Heaven to fall here, the Nine Hells, trapping rebellious angels within it to become devils. Ashmodai rules the Hells alongside subordinate archdevils.
The Abyss - At the end of the Dawn War a number of primordials fled to a remote region of the Elemental Chaos. The followers of the gods stood watch in case these primordials would surface again, unaware that the godlike elementals' instense desperation to unmake the world would transform them into the first demon lords. Within the Abyss the elements are corrupted by the necrotic influence of the Void; fire gives way to cinders, water to acid, air to miasma, earth to dust, and pure chaos to the Void itself. Because of this a number of archomentals and primordials are also present alongside the demon lords, though they do not control layers of the Abyss.
The Void - A stable portal to the Plane of Endless Night that lies just beyond the bottom of the Abyss. A few entities of evil lurk here, somehow avoiding complete annihilation. These include the primordials Entropy and Iktha Lau, the god Zehir, and the archomental Sun Sing.
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That is outatanding and awesome, very well thought out.
Hexmage-EN
Legend
In my personal cosmology it is believed that committing "Good" acts causes the Multiverse to drift closer to the Undying Light (Positive Energy Plane), and "Evil" acts cause it to drift closer to the Endless Night (Negative Energy Plane). "Good" and "Evil" are abstractions of the forces of Radiant and Necrotic Energy.
Good is concerned with protecting life and promoting the desire to live. Evil does not value life and promotes the desire to bring life to an end.
The devils' goal, the reason they need souls, is to collect the Radiant Energy contained within them while also committing acts that bring the Multiverse's inhabitants closer to annihilation by the Negative Energy Plane. The devils can then use the collected Radiant Energy to protect themselves and transform the Hells into a paradise while everything they oppose is destroyed, leaving them free to reshape what's left of the Multiverse to their own ends. The forces of "Good" have a similar goal, except that they want to use the Positive Energy Plane's influence instead and rely on a divine fortress composed of belief to protect them.
I feel this gives philosophies of intentional Neutrality more of a reason to exist. "Good" and "Evil" forces believe in an inevitable apocalypse that they want to be on the right side of, whereas Neutrality wants to try and maintain the status quo.
There are also those who believe that an apocalypse is inevitable, but that there will be no winner in the war between Good and Evil, only mutual destruction. In one view, the Planes Above will taken into the Undying Light, the Planes Below will be absorbed by the Endless Night, and the Planes Between (including the Material Plane) will fall into the Far Realm. Another view holds that the forces of Chaos will be led by Ygorl, Lord of Entropy, to rise again after their ancient defeat and reduce the whole of the Multiverse into unrealizable potentiality, keeping it safe, in a fashion, from the Planes Beyond.
Good is concerned with protecting life and promoting the desire to live. Evil does not value life and promotes the desire to bring life to an end.
The devils' goal, the reason they need souls, is to collect the Radiant Energy contained within them while also committing acts that bring the Multiverse's inhabitants closer to annihilation by the Negative Energy Plane. The devils can then use the collected Radiant Energy to protect themselves and transform the Hells into a paradise while everything they oppose is destroyed, leaving them free to reshape what's left of the Multiverse to their own ends. The forces of "Good" have a similar goal, except that they want to use the Positive Energy Plane's influence instead and rely on a divine fortress composed of belief to protect them.
I feel this gives philosophies of intentional Neutrality more of a reason to exist. "Good" and "Evil" forces believe in an inevitable apocalypse that they want to be on the right side of, whereas Neutrality wants to try and maintain the status quo.
There are also those who believe that an apocalypse is inevitable, but that there will be no winner in the war between Good and Evil, only mutual destruction. In one view, the Planes Above will taken into the Undying Light, the Planes Below will be absorbed by the Endless Night, and the Planes Between (including the Material Plane) will fall into the Far Realm. Another view holds that the forces of Chaos will be led by Ygorl, Lord of Entropy, to rise again after their ancient defeat and reduce the whole of the Multiverse into unrealizable potentiality, keeping it safe, in a fashion, from the Planes Beyond.
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Satyrn
First Post
My planar configuration doesn't include a veil.
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