Planar Cosmology

This section describes the cosmology of the Known Lands Campaign Setting, including game mechanics related to the various planes.

General Nature Of The Planes

Despite the fact that a number of planes are detailed herein, this list is by no means finite. The universe is a large and vast place, with alternate dimensions known as planes scattered about, in constant motion with relation to one another. The medium through which they travel is the Grey Mysts, a swirling sea of silvery grey clouds that connect to other planes, allowing the studious and adventurous to journey from one to another.

There are two natural means by which planes interact, allowing individuals to move back and forth between them, and two artificial means. All four means of travel between planes are defined here:

• Malignancy: A malignancy is a rip in the fabric of reality, in which two planes mingle, the traits of one often overcoming the traits of another. The malignancy's origins may be natural or the result of a magical catastrophe. A malignancy sometimes occur when planes are in close proximity within the Grey Mysts.
• Mingling: A mingling is a bond between two planes that allows creatures from one plain to travel to another using non-magical means. Such bonds are sometimes described as "crossroads between worlds", particularly ones connecting the Faerie Courts and the Plane Prime.
• Spells: Sentients that have mastered magic in one or more of its three forms (arcane, divine or psionic) often use spells to temporarily bridge the gap between worlds.
• Gateways: When more permanent connections are desired, sentient races may use magic to forge an artificial connection between worlds. Before their fall at the hands of the Dragon Lords, the Dendradi were masters of gateway construction, using them to explore their own plane and adjacent ones.

The Plane Prime

The home dimension of the Known Lands, the Plane Prime is considered by planar scholars and sages to be the center of the universe, and defines what is considered normal. All other planes are evaluated using the Plane Prime as the basis for comparison.

Alternate Primes

Other realms similar to the Plane Prime, these Alternate Primes number roughly a third of those planes the Dendradi encountered. The Dragon Thronelands, home of the Dragon Lords, was one such plane. Most alternate primes do not differ significantly in terms of planar traits, although they may be significantly different in other regards. Planar scholars note that alternate primes have different Patrons, whose clerics have power in those realms, but have no power in the Plane Prime. Many scholars use this point to justify their stance that the Plane Prime is the center of the universe.

The Grey Mysts

The Grey Mysts are a transitive plane of swirling grey mists which connects the various other planes together.

Chorus of the Four Winds

A realm dedicated to the element of air.

Deepmantle

A realm dedicated to the element of earth.

Emberrealms

A realm dedicated to the element of fire.

Everysea

A realm dedicated to the element of water.

The Faerie Courts

The natural realm of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, this plane seems closely affiliated with the Plane Prime.

The Lands of Light

A plane of spiritual ascension, the Lands of Light are marked by the presence of saintly Servitors and spirit creatures dedicated to selfless deeds and the protection/preservation of others. The Lands of Light are the common gateway to more good-aligned planes.

The Lands of Light is a world of bright light and enhanced color; little of darkness and shadow can be found in this well-lit realm. It is otherwise appears similar to the Plane Prime. All light sources have their ranges doubled in the Lands of Light. Many spiritual and celestial plants, animals, and humanoids call the Lands of Light home.

The Lands of Light has the following planar traits:

• Realm of Light. All light sources have their ranges doubled. Shadows are rarely found.
• Magically morphic. Certain spells modify the base material of the Lands of Light. The utility and power of these spells within the Lands of Light make them particularly useful for explorers and natives alike.
• Timeless. Age, hunger, thirst, poison, and natural healing don't function in the Lands of Light, though they resume functioning when the traveler leaves the plane.
• Mildly good-aligned. Evil creatures suffer a -2 on Charisma-based skill checks.
• Enhanced magic. All spells and spell-like abilities with the light or good descriptor used within the Lands of Light may be employed as if they were improved by the Quicken Spell feat. Already quickened spells and spell-like abilities are unaffected, as are spells from magic items. Spells so quickened are still prepared and cast at their unmodified level. As with the Quicken Spell feat, only one quickened spell can be cast per round.
• Impeded magic. Spells of a dark or vile origin may fizzle when cast on the Lands of Light. A spellcaster attempting a spell with the darkness or evil descriptor must succeed on a Spellcraft check (DC 20 + the level of the spell). Spells that produce darkness or shadow are less effective in general, as their ranges are halved on the Lands of Light.

The Shadowlands

A realm of restless spirits, trapped herein upon their death by the more vile Servitors and tormented by the twisted creatures that call this realm their home. The Shadowlands are the common gateway to more evil-aligned planes, such as the myriad of demi-planes known as the Ten Thousand Hells.

The Shadowlands is a dimly lit dimension that is both coterminous to and coexistent with the Plane Prime. It overlaps the Plane Prime much as the Grey Mysts do, so a planar traveler can use the Shadowlands to cover great distances quickly.

The Shadowlands is a world of black and white; color itself has been bleached from the environment. It is otherwise appears similar to the Plane Prime. All light sources have their ranges halved on the Shadowlands. Despite the lack of light sources, various plants, animals, and humanoids call the Shadowlands home.

The Shadowlands is magically morphic, and parts continually flow onto other planes. As a result, creating a precise map of the plane is next to impossible, despite the presence of landmarks.

The Shadowlands has the following planar traits:

• Realm of Darkness. No color exists; everything is black and white. All light sources have their ranges halved.
• Magically morphic. Certain spells modify the base material of the Shadowlands. The utility and power of these spells within the Shadowlands make them particularly useful for explorers and natives alike.
• Mildly evil-aligned. Good characters suffer a -2 on Charisma-based skill checks.
• Enhanced magic. Spells with the shadow descriptor are enhanced on the Shadowlands. Such spells are cast as though they were prepared with the Maximize Spell feat, without regard to the usual level limitations for using the metamagic feat.
  Furthermore, specific spells become more powerful on the Shadowlands. Shadow conjuration and shadow evocation spells are 30% as powerful as the conjurations and evocations they mimic (as opposed to 20%). Greater shadow conjuration and greater shadow evocation are 70% as powerful (not 60%), and a shades spell conjures at 90% of the power of the original (not 80%).
• Impeded magic. Spells that use or generate light or fire may fizzle when cast on the Shadowlands. A spellcaster attempting a spell with the light or fire descriptor must succeed on a Spellcraft check (DC 20 + the level of the spell). Spells that produce light are less effective in general, because all light sources have their ranges halved on the Shadowlands.
  Despite the dark nature of the Shadowlands, spells that produce, use, or manipulate darkness are unaffected by the plane.

The Ten Thousand Hells

A collective name for countless vile demi-planes typically coterminus with the Shadowlands, the Ten Thousand Hells are the home realms of the evil-aligned Servitor races. Each plane is distinctive from the others, but their inhospitable environments do not support easily support life normally associated with the Plane Prime, causing them to be classified together by sages when the need for generalization arises.

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