Gates of the Moon Gates of the Moon was a Celestial plane in the World Tree cosmology model and later an astral dominion in the World Axis cosmology model . Prior to its attachment to the World Tree , it was Selûne ' s realm in Gladsheim / Ysgard as described by the Great Wheel cosmology model . Description . The Spellplague caused the Gates of the Moon to be cast adrift in the Astral Sea and Selûne shared this plane with some allied deities . One thing that all the cosmological models agreed upon was that the Infinite Staircase was based here . Great Wheel Model . On the first layer of Ysgard , magic was altered such that most wizard spells required a school - specific rune to be inscribed on the material components , and if a spell had no material component , the rune had to be incorporated into the verbal component . A visiting wizard would have to learn the correct runes from the local inhabitants , or come by the knowledge some other way , in order to cast any spell other than strength or melee combat spells ( i . e . , " enlarge " , " fly " , " haste " , " jump " , " polymorph " , " stoneskin " , " strength " , etc . all worked as normal without engraved runes ) . Another quirk of this plane was that any " summon monster " spell only summoned einheriar . Divination , necromantic , and wild magic spells were enhanced in Selûne ' s realm , but weather - related spells that could cause the moon to be obscured failed utterly . Divine spellcasters did not have the runic restriction , but started to lose their higher level spells if their deity was far removed from Ysgard . The ever - present moon waxed and waned , causing regular tides in the sea surrounding Selûne ' s palatial hall as well as shifts in the personality of the inhabitants . The brighter the moon , the more happy , friendly , and stable were the natives . As the moonlight faded , the locals became sullen , withdrawn , and even angry or hopeless . World Tree Model . This plane was primarily a seemingly endless ocean of luminous liquid light under an equally boundless night sky full of stars and Toril ' s moon . The moon waxed and waned but was always present . In the middle of the ocean was a island of stone with Selûne ' s magnificent silver acropolis known as Argentil at its crown . Travel to the Gates of the Moon could be accomplished in various ways : World Axis Model . In addition to the island that held Selûne ' s realm , there were other stony islands that floated in the shining sea and in the sky above as earthmote s . Each was naturally beautiful and contained dwellings from rustic cottages to graceful mansions . Sune ' s city of romance , Brightwater , was built around Argentil ' s island . The cycle of day and night was observed here , but the moon was usually visible regardless of its phase even during the daylight hours . The Infinite Staircase survived the Spellplague and connected Argentil to cities across the multiverse , but reportedly most of these allowed travel in only one direction . Selûne was known to keep portals to the astral dominions of Arvandor , the Deep Wilds , Green Fields , and Toril ' s parallel world of the Feywild . Inhabitants . Many celesital beings inhabited the Gates of the Moon . The angelic servants of Selûne were female planetar s known as shards . The lillendi , when not patrolling the Infinite Staircase , also made their home here . Many eladrin dwelt on this plane or the attached demiplane known as the Court of Stars . Most numerous were the petitioners of all the deities that had a realm here . These included the embodied spirits of sailors , female spellcasters , good - hearted lycanthrope s , bards , explorers , wanderers , travelers , and mystics . Many mortals also lived in or visited the Gates of the Moon . In the Year of Sundered Webs , – 339 DR , at the moment of the Fall of Netheril , Selûne rescued the Netherese enclave of Selûnarra by transporting it to this plane , where it has resided ever since . Over the years , the Selûnarrans interbred with Selûne ' s servitors and their descendant aasimar s inherited the floating city . Mortal lycanthropes occasionally made their way to this plane to be relieved of the burden of their condition . Here , by the grace of Selûne , werecreatures had complete control over their bodily changes and their mental state in any form . Chaos dragon s were known to frequent this plane also .