An Introduction to the Planes

Pay attention apprentice, today we will begin your studies into the Art of Conjuration. No, you will not be summoning an Archdevil or a Solar, though I understand the excitement. My master Tobias caught me sneaking into the Summoning Chamber more than once. Oh the lectures I received.

     I digress, we will begin with an overview of the planes of existence. Seeing as how I recruited you from a farming village, I would assume that you are not familiar with the term? Calm yourself apprentice, that was not an insult. Allow me to fill you in on a secret: I was raised born to a blacksmith. I understand entering a world so different than what you are used to.

     But in essence, a plane of existence is a connected, yet separate reality. Some mages speak of bodies moving at certain speeds, but all you need to know for today is that no matter how far you travel, you will never get there by walking or sailing. The only way to travel to another plane is through magic, and even so no one in living memory has done so.

     As a starting point, there is our Material Plane. Everything and everyone you know exists on the Material Plane. Its inhabitants range from as mundane as cows and chickens to as fantastical as dragons and koup’ira. Its environments are as varied as crystal blue oceans, fetid swamps, ancient forests, and mighty mountains.

     The only other plane that you have been to, though not physically, is the River of Dreams. As the name suggests, it is the source of all dreams. Our Material Plane as well as all other planes rests within the River of Dreams like sandbars in the Black Ash River. The first entity that you conjure will come from the River of Dreams as they are the easiest to summon. Small water elementals may not be as exciting as a lantern archon or an imp, but it involves less strain, fewer materials, and the smallest water elementals cannot do more than wet your boots.

     Our nearest planar neighbor in the River is Urzalak. Urzalak, or the Hells if you prefer, is the home to all manner of fiendish creatures. Two primary factions war with each other for control over the plane: demons and devils. Demons form a loose alliance between seven demon lords that rule from their seats of power much like the alliance between Glastig, Chor Kolav, and Argoport. The devils are part of an empire ruled over by five archdevils that are part of a ruling council, almost like the hobgoblins if there were five emperors rather than one. The first natives of Urzalak that you will learn to summon are earth elementals.

     In many ways Urzalak’s opposite is Yinnola: where we know much about Urzalak we know little of the home of angels and archons. For some reason demons and devils are much more willing to sit down and have a discussion with mortal mages than angels and archons. What is known is that where Urzalak is dark Yinnola is light, in every sense of the words. The only inhabitants of Yinnola that regularly consent to being summoned to the Material Plane by mages are air elementals.

     The last of the planes some would argue is not a plane at all. Your uncle Yaroab belonged to a mystery cult of Zarth correct? When Erb slew Zarth during the latter’s attempted coup, Zarth’s remains were deposited within the River of Dreams. Erb then placed a metaphysical tether linking the Material Plane to Zarth so that any that died would have a destination to go. Before becoming the god of death, Zarth was the god of fire, and even to this day fire elementals surround his body.

     Any questions? Why am I not surprised you asked about them? The seven demon lords are Lekorch, Zorutsok, Ergunras, Napedach, Othalaz, Olgash, and Berzogol. The five archdevils are Eovas-och, Vadol-och, Kimniaz-och, Greluud-och, and Aesuim-och. The reason that their names all end in “-och” is because it is a title that roughly translates to “Cunning Lord that Defeated Seven Thousand Foes”. I said roughly, there are a lot of nuances that are lost in the translation.

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