The Astral Plane
From Vanathul Wiki
| The Astral Plane The Astral Sea, Hyperspace[T] | |
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Description
The Astral Plane, or The Astral Sea, is so called due to a feature that defines it. Throughout the plane there is a universal pull towards a gravitational plane in it's "middle". On this bisecting plane myriad debris gather, and at certain angles, slow eddies can give the impression of it being a sea.
Involvement with the Planesmiths
The Astral was expanded upon as a medium, or a canvas of sorts on which the other planes were "arranged", and where they could anchor their planar experimentations. As was the Ethereal Plane
Sectioning off areas from the material plane or other planes is certainly possible, as demonstrated by Venidem Cuun, but doing so limits the ways the burgeoning plane can be developed. Like one sectioned of from the material plane having normal gravity, time, alignment, etc.
One solution was to section off the new plane from the astral plane as it is less limiting on size, energy, gravity, etc. That is not to say that these properties can not be influenced in a plane broken off from an existing one, but it is significantly easier when utilizing the Astral. This method of demi-plane creation was preferred by many Planesmiths as soon as its basics had been determined, only rivaled by the Ethereal Plane.
Role in the death of mortals
The astral plane is the primary medium connecting the material planes, including the fey wilds and the Triumph, with the planes of the Outwards facing gods, and other deific realms. Consequently it is a plane the souls of the dead travel through on their way to their gods.
History
Many of the known planes were created during the period preceding and the decades after The Ordering, but The Astral Plane is not one of these. It was present when the first magicians explored their metaphysical surroundings. Just how long it has existed and how large it is is unknown.
Along with The Ethereal Plane, the Astral Plane plays a large part as conduit between many of the known planes, and plays a part in the journey of the souls of mortals described above. For scholars of cosmology, or for planesmiths, the astral is a resource of space and time. In other words a source of the medium used to fill a new plane. It is not the only possible medium, but certainly one of the most useful.
About
Properties
Bordering
The Astral Plane border upon a vast amount of demiplanes, and what has become the elemental planes. It also serves as a connector to the realms of The Outwards Facing Gods.
Spells that rely upon the astral plane require the plane in which the spell is cast to be bordering upon the astral plane. Normally this is not an issue, as the astral plane borders almost everything, but in rare cases a demiplane may be cut off from it.
Stats
Denizens
Unknown, presumed no intelligent life beyond the visitors going to and from the many connected planes, but reports of several different weird creatures suggest it is not as empty as one might think.
Deities
None
Outsiders
Among others:
- Shining Children
Petitioners
Traveling on a separate path to that of mortal visitors, future petitioners usually only visit the Astral Plane on their way to their destination. In some rare instances these souls leave their path either due to interference or accident. They then become untethered.
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