The Planes

Introduction to Planar Cosmology

Welcome to an extraordinary universe where the fabric of reality weaves through numerous planes of existence. This guide introduces a unique approach to planar cosmology, compatible with 5e, offering a fresh perspective that diverges from traditional Fantasy Planar interpretations. Here, we delve deep into the intricate layers of realms, each with its distinct properties, histories, and mysteries, setting the stage for epic adventures and unparalleled storytelling.

The Prime Material Plane

The Prime Material Plane, the anchor of our cosmology, is a complex juxtaposition of cosmic opposites. Here, contrasting forces coalesce under the watchful gaze of an enigmatic higher power. Our Prime Material Plane is a rich tapestry of interconnected realities, where the subtle influence of other planes shapes its destiny and the lives of its inhabitants. This interconnectivity leads to a world brimming with diverse cultures, magic, and untold mysteries, offering a deeper and more vibrant setting than the standard TTRPG landscape.

The Veil

After the Great Cataclysm, the Prime Material Plane was shrouded by a mysterious barrier known as The Veil. This barrier complicates extraplanar travel, making passage from other planes to the Prime Material more challenging and often unstable. The Veil does not affect travel from the Prime Material, allowing adventurers to journey forth unimpeded, but it guards the Prime Material like a vigilant sentinel, altering the dynamics of planar interaction and adding a layer of intrigue and danger to extraplanar entities seeking entry from any plane except The Side Ways.

The Astral and Ethereal Planes

Serving as cosmic bridges, the Astral and Ethereal Planes connect the Prime Material to the higher and lower realms. Higher and Lower don't imply good and evil in this sense, rather they are speaking to the types of planes they connect to. The Astral Plane, with its nebulous and starry landscape, is a gateway to the Ephemeral and Created Planes. Conversely, the Ethereal Plane, a misty and enigmatic realm, leads to the Elemental and Emotional Planes. These planes are not mere passageways but are vibrant realms teeming with unique entities, cultures, and mysteries, each with its own role in the grand tapestry of the cosmos.

The Side Ways

The Side Ways, a realm of near-nothingness, exists parallel to the Astral and Ethereal planes. It's a place where reality thins and the lost things of the universe gather. Here, time flows differently, and the echoes of what once was linger in the void. This realm acts as a bridge to the Ephemeral and the Spirit Planes, a domain outside the normal flow of time, making it a place of great interest to sages, mystics, and those who seek the truly esoteric. This realm is a surreal expanse of near-nothingness. Structures within it appear as strangely wrong echoes of their real-world counterparts, offering a haunting glimpse into what lies between existence and oblivion. Even with all this emptiness, the odds are good you will not be alone long enough to die of hunger or thirst. This is the path the spirits that serve purposes on the Prime Material use to reach there and return back from as needed. Extradimensional holding spaces are subplanes or demiplanes of this plane. Seeking them out from this plane is exceptionally dangerous and difficult as you must cross voids of nothingness of such distance you can't see anything else when traveling between them and the edge of The Side Ways. But it's been said some have made their fortunes this way or so their stories go at least.

Preeminent and Created Planes

Preeminent Planes

Ephemeral: Realms of passage and transformation, like Limbo and Purgatory, where souls journey towards their ultimate fates.
Astral: These are divided into primary, sub, and demi-planes, hosting realms of profound spiritual significance like the Akashic Record and Shambhala, as well as realms far-removed from normal including the Far Realm, the Faewild, and Neverywhere.
Ethereal: These are divided into primary, sub, and demi-planes, hosting realms of Primordial Energies and Existence.
The Side Ways: Strange Space with Strange Time, a realm of the lost and uncanny in size. Also home to the Sub and Demiplanes which makeup all Extraplanar spaces created by magic and Psionic spells and effects.
Spirit: This category includes the animist prime and realms of pure spiritual essence, both benevolent and malevolent.
Elemental: Domains governed by fundamental forces and emotions, where each element and feeling manifests its own unique realm.

Created Planes

Demi-Planes: Born from collective imagination and will, like the glitzy New Vegas Casino and the enigmatic Star Tower of Noble. Also includes The Northern Gardens.
Lost/Hidden: Mysterious and elusive realms such as Avalon, Xanadu, Mu, Atlantis, Maji the plane of magic, and The Room of Infinite Possibilities, shrouded in legend and intrigue.
Greater: Grand cosmic scales including The Infinite Heavens, The Unending Hells, The Great Wyld, The Everweave, and The Eternal Balance, each playing a pivotal role in the cosmic order.
Beyond: Exotic and esoteric dimensions like Arcadia, Ry’leh, Leng, Automata, and the Titan System, each home to wonders and horrors beyond imagination.

Planar Travel Mechanics

Navigating these planes requires knowledge, skill, and often, a dash of luck. Travel to and from the Prime Material Plane varies in difficulty based on the destination. Traversing to the preeminent planes is relatively straightforward, while journeying to the created planes can be unpredictable. The most challenging journeys involve returning to the Prime Material, especially when timelines diverge, risking temporal dislocation.

Conclusion and Implications for Gameplay

This unique cosmology offers endless possibilities for adventure in a 5e setting. Dungeon Masters can weave intricate narratives across these diverse planes, challenging players with not just battles but the complexities of planar existence. We encourage the TTRPG community to integrate these concepts into their campaigns, and eagerly await your input and stories from these realms.