Nainoxia
The vast majority of stories and history recorded in these chronicles are in the Material Plane , the cradle of civilization, and the home of the vast majority of mortals. The material plane however is simply one of the many planes of Nainoxia, as depicted in the Great Wheel, and it at first glance does not significantly differ from any other plane at a fundamental level.
As the name implies, it is the planar home of the Fey, magical creatures with a connection to nature, and chaos. Magic in the Feywild becomes unpredictable, and produces many unwanted effects, as the laws of the plane are chaotic and everchanging to the whims of its ruler, the Archfey. Points of connection between the material plane and the Feywild are large groves and strange trees.
Its inhabitants are creatures of shadow born of the emotions of pain and hopelessness, and seek to only create those emotions more when they can. Magic in the Shadowfell becomes muted and less powerful, as the magical weave is weakened by the essence of the plane. The plane is ruled by secluded tyrants that are so consumed by the emotions of the plane that they do not seek out anything and anyone. Points of connection between the material plane and the Shadowfell become barren, and any inhabitants of the Shadowfell that slip through become dangerous and need to be dealt with.
Like all the elemental planes there are pockets of other elements that take the form of air bubbles, floating rocks of varying sizes, and toxic streams of chemicals. For the mortal travelers, underwater breathing is a necessity, but as there is no gravity, there is also no pressure in the water, and most of the sea-life is harmless animals like fish. The most interesting place one can visit is the City of Glass, a large metropolis built on rock, with a glass dome and artificial gravity. It is one of the largest cities in Nainoxia, it gathers people of dozens of species with exotic and magical goods, and houses many portals to other important locations and planes in Nainoxia.
They can be reached through the Astral Sea through naturally created portals, and they also connect to one-another as shown on the wheel, with the exception of Mechanus and Limbo, which are not connected and separate the upper and lower planes. The separation of planes into upper and lower is not only done on the basis of Good against Evil, but also to separate the planes under the influence of the plane of positive and negative energy.
Despite that, there are a number of races that call it their home, such as the Gith and the Tohorai Makutu. It is also the perfect place for someone to hide, as the impossible size of the plane, without being infinite, renders location spells ineffective. When a demiplane is created, it appears at a point in the Astral Sea. This is also the case for the demiplanes used by the gods, and powerful Archmages.
The River Oceanus ends in the base of the World Tree, and it is thought that it empowers the tree with good and magic. The Tree itself is said to lead into any plane in Nainoxia, though the Eladrin only show the way to those who wish to fight the demons of the Abyss.
The layers can be sprawling jungles and grasslands, or even a single room, the only consistent factor is that every layer is ruled over by a Demon Lord that rules over one or multiple layers. Some of the layers are crossed by the River Styx, which originates from Hades, and is where the freshly spawned demons crawl out from. The demons often launch invasions of the Nine Hells through the river, which are part of the eternal Blood War. They are also often attacked by forces of the Upper Planes, which the demons enjoy.
The plane itself is made up of nine layers, each ruled by an Archdevil who holds dominion of all the inhabitants of each layer. The layers are also crossed by the River Styx, which is where new devils come from, but also where the demonic invasions are launched from. The battles that are fought in the Blood War are apocalyptic in scale, with hundreds of thousands of combatants for each side. The regimented legions of Devils have been successful in holding back the endless tides of demons, for now.
Concerning the Planes
These planes are all places that have their own rules and geographies, with laws and systems that officially or unofficially govern them, and places within the good/evil and law/chaos alignment. However, the material plane does differ in the fact that it is not inherently a place within the alignment of the planes. It is and always has been a melting pot, where elemental chaos collides with the emptiness of the Astral Sea. A location where the cosmic influences of Gods, Demons, and devils smash together like crashing waves. Centralization of the material plane is key to understanding the fundamental forces of the Nainoxian Universe, and why its major players act the way they do. All the planes and forces have some impact on the material plane, and in different ways help shape it. But not all planes are charted and the current understanding of the planes is merely one of many, expressing the beliefs and knowledge of the material plane inhabitants. In addition to the planes, there are many demiplanes in the astral sea, small planes made by gods or powerful creatures that want to separate themselves from the planar structure. They exist as separate bubbles within the astral sea that can be encountered but not entered without permission.The Inner Planes
The inner planes are the planes inside the Divine Seal. Points of connection between them are rare, but not impossible. They are all finite, and protected from the outside planes by the power of the Divine Seal.Feywild
The Feywild is a bright and colorful mirror of the material plane, where everything is livelier, prettier, shinier, and more emotive. It represents the life and powerful emotions of the material plane, like happiness, joy, love, but also sadism and rage. The plane is overtaken by nature, with huge indomitable oaks, grasses that change colors, trees that produce different types of fruit, and wildlife that resembles or even mirrors that of the material plane, but adapted to life in the unpredictable nature of the Feywild.As the name implies, it is the planar home of the Fey, magical creatures with a connection to nature, and chaos. Magic in the Feywild becomes unpredictable, and produces many unwanted effects, as the laws of the plane are chaotic and everchanging to the whims of its ruler, the Archfey. Points of connection between the material plane and the Feywild are large groves and strange trees.
Shadowfell
The Shadowfell is a muted and depressing mirror of the material plane, where everything is less lively, uglier and miserable. It represents the slow overshadowed emotions of the material plane like misery, loneliness and cowardice, but also hope and acceptance, however the state of the material plane has led the negative emotions to vastly overtake the positive ones. The Shadowfell is almost devoid of life, its landscapes are vast salty deserts and mountains.Its inhabitants are creatures of shadow born of the emotions of pain and hopelessness, and seek to only create those emotions more when they can. Magic in the Shadowfell becomes muted and less powerful, as the magical weave is weakened by the essence of the plane. The plane is ruled by secluded tyrants that are so consumed by the emotions of the plane that they do not seek out anything and anyone. Points of connection between the material plane and the Shadowfell become barren, and any inhabitants of the Shadowfell that slip through become dangerous and need to be dealt with.
The Divine Seal
The Divine Seal is not a plane, but it is an important part of the cosmology of Nainoxia. It was created by the Empire Gods after the Schism, as a way to safeguard the material plane from any powerful outsiders that would destroy it. It is effectively a barrier that stops any powerful enough creature that does not originate from the material plane. The effect itself is complex and not understood by scholars, though its effect can be seen by the fact that the material plane is not constantly invaded by demons, angels and evil gods.The Elemental Chaos
scholars
Elemental Plane of Water
The elemental plane of water is an infinite expanse of water, with no surface, floor or gravity. The water itself is crystal clear and sweet to the taste, and the temperature is always pleasant, no matter the creature experiencing it. The plane of water is known as the most welcoming of all the elemental planes, and it is a commonly traversed plane for those coming in or out of the material plane. The level of danger of the plane varies wildly depending on the location, as some waters are inhabited by societies of water elementals that just want to be left alone, and some waters are home to krakens or other aquatic monsters.Like all the elemental planes there are pockets of other elements that take the form of air bubbles, floating rocks of varying sizes, and toxic streams of chemicals. For the mortal travelers, underwater breathing is a necessity, but as there is no gravity, there is also no pressure in the water, and most of the sea-life is harmless animals like fish. The most interesting place one can visit is the City of Glass, a large metropolis built on rock, with a glass dome and artificial gravity. It is one of the largest cities in Nainoxia, it gathers people of dozens of species with exotic and magical goods, and houses many portals to other important locations and planes in Nainoxia.
Elemental Plane of Air
The elemental plane of air is an infinite expanse of air, where gravity depends on the perception of the individual. Where one might fall upwards, someone else falls to the side. There are even stories of monks who can bend this property of the plane to their will, and fly with their minds. There are pockets of other elements such as floating rocks and clouds. Very little is known about the plane as its unpredictable gravity makes it almost impossible to explore and chart, and the air elementals that inhabit it are very territorial. Mortals require nothing to survive here, as the air is breathable and colliding with rocks is relatively rare.Elemental Plane of Earth
The most uncharted of the elemental planes, the elemental plane of earth is made up entirely of rock and minerals, with pockets of air, magma, and toxic gas. The ability to earth glide or burrow and breathe earth are necessary here, and any who teleport into the plane unprepared may be immediately crushed. A number of species and empires have tried to set up mining colonies, as the abundance of rare minerals and gems make it an incredibly lucrative prospect. However they usually end badly as the elemental inhabitants of the planes are used to dealing with invaders and savagely attack from all directions using their earth gliding abilities.Elemental Plane of Fire
The elemental plane of fire is a very hostile and dangerous place, the only reason some information is known about it is because the elementals are very regimented and have a large city that serves as their capitol known as the City of Brass. The city itself is made entirely of scolding hot brass and is the only part of the plane that is known. It serves as the seat of the Efreeti Sultan, who rules with an iron fist. The empire is built on slavery, and there are a number of fire-born races that are slaves to the Efreeti. Mortals who reach the city are in danger of being killed or enslaved at any moment, but there are many treasures to be found, and the weapons and armor made in the City of Brass are some of the best in Nainoxia.The Outer Planes
The Outer Planes are planes of existence that are located in the Astral Sea. They are difficult or impossible to reach directly from the material plane, and as a result some of them are completely uncharted. There are however some outer planes that a lot is known about, as they have had extensive history with the material plane. The Outer Planes are also where most souls of the dead go, each to their respective alignment, with the exception of true worshippers of gods, who go to the demiplanes of their respective gods.They can be reached through the Astral Sea through naturally created portals, and they also connect to one-another as shown on the wheel, with the exception of Mechanus and Limbo, which are not connected and separate the upper and lower planes. The separation of planes into upper and lower is not only done on the basis of Good against Evil, but also to separate the planes under the influence of the plane of positive and negative energy.
Astral Sea
The Astral Sea is not a plane, but the space between planes where one can travel between planes. It is a strange and dangerous place, and to the uninitiated a wrong step could lead to death, as many weird aberrations stalk the vast emptiness. The Astral Sea also connects to the Deep Astral Sea, a place where physical matter loses its meaning, and only one's mental fortitude can help, and the Far Realm, a place where both time and matter lose their meanings, and the laws of the universe are not followed. This connection is what leads to the strange creatures and things that exist in the void.Despite that, there are a number of races that call it their home, such as the Gith and the Tohorai Makutu. It is also the perfect place for someone to hide, as the impossible size of the plane, without being infinite, renders location spells ineffective. When a demiplane is created, it appears at a point in the Astral Sea. This is also the case for the demiplanes used by the gods, and powerful Archmages.
Mechanus
The plane of Mechanus is the pinnacle of Order and Law in Nainoxia. All its inhabitants have specific roles and levels, and are almost completely mechanical. The plane itself is not fully understood, because visitors are unwelcome, as they do not obey the incredibly strict rules imposed by the inhabitants. Mechanus itself acts almost like a collective, solely interested in its own continued work, what that work is and if it will ever end is unknown.Mount Celestia
The Seven Peaks of Mount Celestia were designed to be climbed only by those pure of heart. Those with the highest levels of bravery, courage, and power. It served as the launching platform for the coming of the Gods into the material plane. After the schism however, it serves as a bastion and watchtower, where those who fought for good stand watch over Nainoxia, alongside the native angels, ready to fight off any who would attack the material plane. The fortresses and warriors of Mount Celestia are the line of defense between the Astral Sea and the material plane, as the Divine Seal is not as effective with creatures outside the Outer and Inner planes.Bytopia
Nothing is known about this plane, and nobody in known history has visited it. There are rumors that a horrific event happened there at some point before the Golden Age of Magic.Elysium
The plane of Elysium is a plane of pure Good, its inhabitants are the souls of those who lived peaceful and modest lives, and they live the rest of eternity in small villages along the rivers, with plentiful crops to grow and harvest, and kind leaders. It is one of the smallest planes, as this type of soul is rare in the material plane, but existence here is as close to paradise any mortal could get. The plane is also the source of the river Oceanus, the positive counterpart to the River Styx. Oceanus blesses the fields and villages of all the souls of Elysium, it also crosses through the Beastlands and ends in Arborea, feeding the World Tree.The Beastlands
The Beastlands are the plane of Chaotic Good, where the souls of those who would do anything for good go. The plane is mostly comprised of forests, with large clearings where honorable duels and battles are fought. Those who find themselves there can hunt and roam the wild forever, or if they still wish to fight for good, join in bands and travel down Oceanus into Arborea and the World Tree, where they can be taken to any place in the Outer Planes.Arborea
Arborea is entirely made up of the World Tree, a massive tree with branches and roots that make up the homes of the Eladrin, the souls of dead good aligned elves, and those good souls that value nature over all. The Elven Myths say that this is where they came from, and that Selene and Solis were merely mortal leaders, so powerful that they became gods, though it is not possible to tell truth from myth. Whether the Eladrin originated from Arborea or they are the souls of dead elves is impossible to tell now, and the Eladrin seem content to investigate their origins, leading lives of quiet meditation and love.The River Oceanus ends in the base of the World Tree, and it is thought that it empowers the tree with good and magic. The Tree itself is said to lead into any plane in Nainoxia, though the Eladrin only show the way to those who wish to fight the demons of the Abyss.
Limbo
The plane of Limbo is a plane of complete chaos, where no and all rules apply at the same time. It is the home plane of the Slaadi, and other, strange and contradictory creatures. The ground is made of large and small rocks and mountains, each with their individual gravity. There are also floating masses of chaotic energy, that mutate and disintegrate anything they come in contact with that is not native to the plane.Pandemonium
Pandemonium is a vast cold desert, where the screaming winds slowly strip the flesh from the bone of any creatures unlucky enough to be trapped there. The plane itself is steeped in madness, and even the most strong-willed will slowly be stripped of their sanity by the winds that scream. The creatures native to the plane are savage and hardy, but it is the least populated of the lower planes.Abyss
The Abyss is the most well-known of the outer planes, as the demons that inhabit it have an extended history of conflict with the material plane, being the main antagonistic forces during the apocalyptic events of the Calamity. The plane itself is made up of infinite layers inhabited by savage and horrible fiends known as Demons. They are as close to a mindless and destructive force as can be found in Nainoxia, and their only goal is to bring destruction and chaos to the entire universe.The layers can be sprawling jungles and grasslands, or even a single room, the only consistent factor is that every layer is ruled over by a Demon Lord that rules over one or multiple layers. Some of the layers are crossed by the River Styx, which originates from Hades, and is where the freshly spawned demons crawl out from. The demons often launch invasions of the Nine Hells through the river, which are part of the eternal Blood War. They are also often attacked by forces of the Upper Planes, which the demons enjoy.
Hades
Very little is known about the plane of Hades. The plane itself has three giant volcanos, and from the center of them flows the River Styx. The inhabitants of the plane are the fiends known as Yugoloths, evil creatures that provide their services as individuals and armies to the highest bidder. They play a small role in the Blood War, but they have no loyalty and will switch sides if a higher offer is given.Gehenna
Nothing is known about this plane, and nobody in known history has visited it. Some say that it is where the survivors of the Schism have taken refuge, but none have dared to enter it or at least they did not return.The Nine Hells
The Nine Hells are the home of the Devils, evil creatures bound by law that live in heavily regimented societies built around slavery and obedience. They form large armies to defend against demonic invasions and further their goals of expansion through contracts for souls and power.The plane itself is made up of nine layers, each ruled by an Archdevil who holds dominion of all the inhabitants of each layer. The layers are also crossed by the River Styx, which is where new devils come from, but also where the demonic invasions are launched from. The battles that are fought in the Blood War are apocalyptic in scale, with hundreds of thousands of combatants for each side. The regimented legions of Devils have been successful in holding back the endless tides of demons, for now.
The Planes of Positive and Negative Energy
None have ever visited the planes of positive and negative energy. They are planes of an assumed vast scale, each larger than all the Outer Planes combined, and their energies feed into the upper and lower planes respectively. From what is known from the gods, the plane of positive energy is a place of uninhibited life and mutation, and the plane of negative energy is the very antithesis of life, and seeks to snuff it out.Image Credit: Wizards of the Coast (modified)
Type
Universe
Included Locations
