Planewalkers in Earth (TIP)

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Those traveling to the Elemental Plane of Earth usually plan for a long stay. Rarely do the vortices or portals that bring one here or take him away lie near his final destination. Instead, he must follow a long, winding, and often indirect path of tunnels, or, in some cases, dig his own passages to reach what he seeks.
The dao, villainous slave-traders that they are, cannot be trusted. They often snatch those who come to them, even humble messengers, and throw them into slave-pits. Wise people avoid dealing with the dao altogether. If one must meet them, it should be in battle. At least, that is how the shad feel. (The dao have enslaved many of us through feigned kindness as well as strength of arms.)
Although the quasiplane of Mineral holds much of the multiverse's treasures, the plane of Earth hides great wealth in its heart as well. Much of it is secret, still awaiting discovery. Dogged explorers-many of whom now guard their spoils or have hidden them in such a way as to keep them from others-have found some of this fortune. Treasureseekers are not unknown in the Anvil, and they sometimes walk away with great wealth.
Some outsiders use the endless imperviousness of Earth to hide things they never want found, not because of their value, but because of their danger. Horrible beasts, cursed artifacts, and banes of all sorts rest within tombs of stone. The powerful dwellers of other planes often hire adventurers to bring a dreaded thing here and bury it. Of course, other powerful individuals often hire other adventurers to come here and dig it up again.
Surprisingly, a few great cities lie within huge caverns in the Elemental Plane of Earth. Rianttyr Na-Mecas and Totholia, very different sorts of places, boast populations in the thousands, mostly of outsiders. The former city is full of humans, generally, though it contains a number of mixed races, while the latter city is home primarily to dwarves and gnomes. Those not native to this plane find it comforting to congregate with others of their kind. The plane of Earth is many things, and lonely can be chief among them.
==Spell Keys and Other Necessities==
Although I know little of such things, I have been told that it is possible for a wizard to use spell keys to overcome the restrictions that the Anvil imposes upon his magic, especially that involving the schools of Elemental Air and Fire. In most cases, spell keys for the plane of Earth are physical objects added to material components normally needed for the spell. Almost without exception, these are types of ore, minerals, or elements related to the effect of the spell. For example, a spell key to improve the effect of a fireball might take the form of a fire opal.
If I might make another suggestion for visitors bound for a long-term stay in the plane: Bring tools, light sources, food, water, and anything that might allow one to reinforce stone construction, such as wooden or iron beams or supports. This last suggestion allows an outsider to dig out a place to live and dwell within it without fear of it collapsing right away. In short, I suppose, the same supplies needed for an underground expedition on a prime-material world are needed here, perhaps to an even greater degree.
I hope that my words provide some assistance.