Astral Plane

* 5e
* 4e

## Planar Traits

* Great Wheel
* World Axis
* World Tree

The **Astral Plane**, also known as the **Astral Sea**, was one of the planes of existence in various models of cosmology.

## Geography

“
Time. Or rather the absence of it. In the Astral Plane, everything is eternal.
”
— Gale, on his interest in the Astral Plane.
The Astral could be reached from almost any point in a Prime Material plane or first layer of any Outer plane by spell, psionic ability, or device. It was described as a barren place of other-dimensional nothingness extending in all directions. What little solid substance that floated in the bright, gray void was typically chunks of matter broken off from their original plane. The Astral had no gravity but objects did retain their mass so you could throw small items or push off from large objects to move in the weightless environment.

Time in the Astral flowed at the same rate on a Prime Material plane but the *effects* of time were slowed almost to a stop―a thousand years in the Astral plane felt like only a day to the traveler. Creatures did not go hungry or age while in the Astral plane. For that reason, its mortal inhabitants needed to return to the Material Plane in order to have children or to reach adulthood.

Entering the Astral plane could be accomplished in one of two ways: projecting your astral form into the plane via the *astral projection* spell, or by physically entering the plane. *Astral projection* was the safest way to travel but still involved risk because you left your physical body behind on the traveler's plane of origin. The astral body would be accompanied by the astral forms of any items and clothing that were magical or radiated a magic aura. While projecting, your astral self was connected to your physical body by a silver cord that stretched out behind you for about 10 feet (3 meters), or 1 foot (30 centimeters) depending on the version of the spell, and then became invisible and intangible. Very few things could sever this silver cord: a powerful psychic wind, a githyanki *silver sword*, or the will of gods. The physical body left behind appeared alive but did not require food, water, or air and did not age. It could be moved and was vulnerable to damage and death. If the traveler's physical body was slain, death followed the projection some minutes later. If the astral self was slain, the traveler then returned to his or her physical body in a coma. Physically entering the Astral plane required a spell such as *plane shift* and brought travelers wholly into the Astral with no silver cord to anchor them to their plane of origin.

### Geographical Features

Upon entering the Astral plane, travelers saw a silvery *color pool* nearby—a portal to the location on the Prime Material plane from which they originated. *Astral projecting* travelers saw their silver cord leading back to this pool. Color pools appeared as two-dimensional circles about 10‒60 ft (3‒18 m) in diameter and only visible from one side unless they had some way to detect invisible objects. Pools of different colors were portals to the different Outer planes. Each Outer plane had its own unique color, but the traveler's home portal was always a metallic silver, rippling like mercury in a pan. Color pools could be used to view the destination plane before stepping through by mentally concentrating on the nearby pool until it became transparent. A viewer could also move (with some limitations) the portal's viewpoint by concentration. *Astral projecting* travelers formed a new physical body (with silver cord attached) when they stepped through a color pool to their destination plane. The new body was formed out of local materials so the greater the similarity between one's home plane and the destination, the more one's new body looked like the original one.

## Cosmology

### Great Wheel

According to the Great Wheel cosmology model, the Astral plane connected the Prime Material Planes to the first layers of the Outer planes.

In some versions of the Great Wheel cosmology held in the late 15th century DR, it was possible to travel to the Astral plane directly from wildspace aboard a spelljammer. In this cosmology, wildspace was a region where the Prime and the Astral overlapped. Moreover, upon exiting a wildspace system such as Realmspace, a ship would leave this overlapping region and fully enter the Astral. The border between wildspace and the Astral Sea had the appearance of a silvery haze.

Once in the Astral, spelljamming captains could steer their ships in the direction of other wildspace systems or specific locations in the Astral in the same way that individuals would traverse the plane: by concentrating their thoughts on the destination.

This view was in contrast with the prevailing Great Wheel cosmology of the 14th and earlier centuries DR, according to which a ship would encounter a crystal sphere at the edge of its system and, if capable of traversing it, would enter the phlogiston.

### World Tree

In the World Tree cosmology, the Astral plane was described as a shapeless cloud that surrounded *all* the other planes (including the Inner Planes which were not accessible via the Astral in the Great Wheel model). The World Tree cosmology model interpreted the Astral plane as tree-shaped, touching nearly all planes, and overlapping the World Tree as well. The ramification of this was that travel between planes was not easily accomplished without going through the "trunk" of the tree (the Material plane). Direct connections between separate dominions of the gods was only possible by cooperation between the deities in question.

The Astral Plane had the following traits in the World Tree cosmology model:

* **Subjective Directional Gravity**: a traveler picked a "down" direction and "fell" in the direction until a new direction was chosen.
* **Timeless**: the effects of time were suspended until the traveler exited the Astral Plane, whereupon the effects retroactively occurred.
* **Mildly Neutral-Aligned**: no circumstance penalties.
* **Enhanced Magic**: Spells and spell-like abilities required less time to be cast.

Color pools still existed in this model, but an Astral traveler had to choose the destination plane before setting out and would only encounter pools that lead to the chosen plane. To change destinations, the traveler had to reenter the Material plane and then begin the journey anew.

Toril's Material plane actually linked to several other Astral planes, each of which connected Toril to the outer-planer homes of a different set of deities. They were based on the geographical areas of control held by the different pantheons. As such, there was an Astral Plane for the Maztican and Zakharan pantheons (even though many of the Zakharan deities resided on the Material Plane). The Kara-Turan faiths were not connected to their own astral plane, as instead their deities connected to the Spirit World. Very little was known in Faerûn about these other astral planes, but it was theorized that Ao supervised them just as he adjudicated the conflicts between the pantheons.

### World Axis

According to the World Axis cosmology, the Spellplague set the dominions adrift—they were no longer linked to a tree-shaped Astral plane but floated aimlessly in the Astral Sea.

The Astral Sea was described as being "above" the Prime Material plane and its two reflections, the Feywild and the Shadowfell. The Spellplague destroyed the World Tree and set the dominions of the gods adrift to wander about in the silvery void. Access to the Astral Sea was accomplished through passages found in the world or using the proper ritual. Once in the Sea, travel was initiated by thought and was very similar to flying.

In addition to the astral dominions, the Astral Sea could be used by powerful beings to create demiplanes by focusing on an idea and applying a strong will. Each demiplane had its own traits and physical laws as dictated by the one who created it, and was always smaller than an astral dominion. If abandoned, it would break apart and fade from existence just like an astral dominion.

## Inhabitants

On this plane of thought, the existence of true natives was doubtful. The githyanki, however, had been a dominating presence for long ages, ruled from their great city of Tu'narath but mostly spread about innumerable fortresses.

Astral searchers, astral streakers, astral whales, the mighty astral dragons, and the tiny kodragons inhabit the Silver Void. The dreaded astral dreadnoughts are believed by some to be a manifestation of the Astral Plane itself, while others point to their indefinitely long tails as an indicator for an origin elsewhere.

Brain collectors, dhours, and foo creatures can all be found here.

All manner of fiends, celestials, slaadi and other planars used the Astral as shortcuts to their business elsewhere, but both astral devas and shedu patrolled the plane regularly to keep evil in check. Despite their connection to the Abyss, bebiliths were thought to be at home on the Astral plane.

Spectral hounds are usually found with githyanki communities as guard animals.

## Deities

The Astral Plane was the graveyard of the gods. If a deity, which could be considered among the greatest of concepts, died, its remnant were cast into this realm of thought. Here it remained as a floating "god-isle", a piece of solid matter within the endless empty void, with only a fraction of residual energy left.

An exception to these rules was the god Celestian from Oerth. This deity of travellers kept no permanent realm, but wandered the Astral (and sometimes beyond).

Sardior's Ruby Palace also rested in the Astral Plane between its travels through the planes.

Known dead deities drifting in the Astral Plane (at least temporarily) were:

* Amaunator
* Bane
* Bhaal
* Enki
* Gilgeam
* Ibrandul
* Kalzareinad
* Karsus
* Kiputytto
* Leira
* Moander
* Myrkul
* Ulutiu

## Appendix

### Notes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Manual of the Planes 3rd edition states on page 47 that the Astral Plane had the **No Gravity** trait but the Player's Guide to Faerûn says on page 142 that the Astral plane functioned as described in the Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5 and differed only in shape.

### External Links

* The Astral Plane article at the ***Eberron Wiki***, a wiki for the *Eberron* campaign setting.

### References

1. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 65. ISBN 0880383992.
2. ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). *Manual of the Planes 3rd edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 49. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams (July 2003). *Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 154. ISBN 0-7869-2889-1.
4. ↑ Jeff Grubb (April 1987). “Plane Speaking: Tuning in to the Outer Planes”. In Roger E. Moore ed. *Dragon* #120 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 42–43.
5. ↑ Richard Baker, John Rogers, Robert J. Schwalb, James Wyatt (December 2008). *Manual of the Planes 4th edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 88–89. ISBN 978-0-7869-5002-7.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 60. ISBN 0880383992.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 63. ISBN 0880383992.
8. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), pp. 68–70. ISBN 0880383992.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). *Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide*. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, *et al*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 60. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
10. ↑ Richard Baker, John Rogers, Robert J. Schwalb, James Wyatt (December 2008). *Manual of the Planes 4th edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 7. ISBN 978-0-7869-5002-7.
11. ↑ Richard Baker, John Rogers, Robert J. Schwalb, James Wyatt (December 2008). *Manual of the Planes 4th edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 86. ISBN 978-0-7869-5002-7.
12. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). *Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 256. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). *Player's Guide to Faerûn*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 139. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
14. ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). *Manual of the Planes 3rd edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 47. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
15. ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). *Manual of the Planes 3rd edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 48. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). *Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 46–48. ISBN 978-0786965622.
17. ↑ Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. *Baldur's Gate III*. Larian Studios.
18. ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). *Player's Handbook 5th edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 215. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 61. ISBN 0880383992.
20. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 62. ISBN 0880383992.
21. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 75. ISBN 0880383992.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Christopher Perkins, Jeremy Crawford, Ari Levitch (August 2022). “Astral Adventurer's Guide”. In Judy Bauer, Kim Mohan eds. *Spelljammer: Adventures in Space* (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-0-7869-6816-9.
23. ↑ Christopher Perkins, Jeremy Crawford, Ari Levitch (August 2022). “Astral Adventurer's Guide”. In Judy Bauer, Kim Mohan eds. *Spelljammer: Adventures in Space* (Wizards of the Coast), p. 4. ISBN 978-0-7869-6816-9.
24. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Concordance of Arcane Space”. *Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space* (TSR, Inc.), p. 9. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
25. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (1998). *A Guide to the Ethereal Plane*. Edited by Michele Carter, Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), p. 7. ISBN 0-7869-1205-7.
26. ↑ Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams (July 2003). *Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 150. ISBN 0-7869-2889-1.
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). *Player's Guide to Faerûn*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 164. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
28. ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). *Player's Guide to Faerûn*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 165. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). *Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide*. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, *et al*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 62. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
30. ↑ Thomas M. Reid (July 2009). *The Crystal Mountain*. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-78695235-9.
31. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). *Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide*. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, *et al*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 64. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
32. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). *Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide*. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, *et al*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
33. ↑ Monte Cook (January 1996). *A Guide to the Astral Plane*. Edited by Miranda Horner. (TSR, Inc.), p. 68. ISBN 0-7869-0438-0.
34. ↑ Monte Cook (January 1996). *A Guide to the Astral Plane*. Edited by Miranda Horner. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 44–46. ISBN 0-7869-0438-0.
35. ↑ Monte Cook (January 1996). *A Guide to the Astral Plane*. Edited by Miranda Horner. (TSR, Inc.), p. 54. ISBN 0-7869-0438-0.
36. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 72. ISBN 0880383992.
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 Monte Cook (January 1996). *A Guide to the Astral Plane*. Edited by Miranda Horner. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 68–77. ISBN 0-7869-0438-0.
38. ↑ Allen Varney, ed. (June 1994). *Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix*. (TSR, Inc.), p. 128. ISBN 978-1560768623.
39. ↑ Allen Varney, ed. (June 1994). *Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix*. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-1560768623.
40. ↑ Monte Cook (January 1996). *A Guide to the Astral Plane*. Edited by Miranda Horner. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 34–38. ISBN 0-7869-0438-0.
41. ↑ Monte Cook (January 1996). *A Guide to the Astral Plane*. Edited by Miranda Horner. (TSR, Inc.), p. 39. ISBN 0-7869-0438-0.
42. ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). *On Hallowed Ground*. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 166. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
43. ↑ Steven Schend (1995). *Blood Wars*, "Sardior". TSR, Inc..
44. ↑ Steven Schend (1995). *Blood Wars*, "The Ruby Palace". TSR, Inc..
45. ↑ Wolfgang Baur (February 1995). “Mount Celestia”. In Michele Carter ed. *Planes of Law* (TSR, Inc), p. 21. ISBN 0-7869-0093-8.
46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4 46.5 46.6 46.7 46.8 Monte Cook (January 1996). *A Guide to the Astral Plane*. Edited by Miranda Horner. (TSR, Inc.), p. 38. ISBN 0-7869-0438-0.
47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 47.3 47.4 47.5 47.6 47.7 47.8 Colin McComb (October 1996). *On Hallowed Ground*. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 182. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
48. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc.), p. 27. ISBN 978-0786903849.
49. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc.), p. 36. ISBN 978-0786903849.
50. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc.), p. 45. ISBN 978-0786903849.
51. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). *Powers & Pantheons*. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 102. ISBN 978-0786906574.
52. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc.), p. 71. ISBN 978-0786903849.
53. ↑ Dale Donovan (January 1998). *Cult of the Dragon*. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 120. ISBN 0-7869-0709-6.
54. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). *Powers & Pantheons*. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 35. ISBN 978-0786906574.
55. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc.), p. 93. ISBN 978-0786903849.
56. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc.), p. 119. ISBN 978-0786903849.
57. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc.), p. 124. ISBN 978-0786903849.
58. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). *Powers & Pantheons*. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 62. ISBN 978-0786906574.

### Connections

Cosmologies of the Realms

The Great Wheel

Prime Material plane • Feywild • Shadowfell • Fugue Plane
**Transitive Planes:** **Astral Plane** • Ethereal plane
**Inner Planes:** Elemental Plane of Air • Elemental Plane of Water • Elemental Plane of Earth • Elemental Plane of Fire • Elemental Chaos
**Para-Elemental Planes:** Frostfell • Swamp of Oblivion • Fountains of Creation • Great Conflagration
**Quasi-Elemental Planes:** Lightning • Radiance • Minerals • Steam • Vacuum • Ash • Dust • Salt
**Outlands:** Sigil
**Outer Planes:** Arcadia • Mount Celestia • Bytopia • Elysium • Beastlands • Arborea • Ysgard • Limbo •
Pandemonium • Abyss (Layers) • Carceri • Hades • Gehenna • Nine Hells • Acheron • Mechanus
**Energy planes:** Positive Energy plane • Negative Energy plane
**Planar Pathways:** Infinite Staircase • Oceanus • Mount Olympus • Styx • Yggdrasil
**Far Realm**

The World Tree

Prime Material plane • Cynosure • Fugue Plane
**Transitive Planes:** **Astral Plane** • Ethereal plane • Plane of Shadow • Spirit World
**Celestial Outer Planes:** Arvandor • Brightwater • Dwarfhome • Dweomerheart • Gates of the Moon • Golden Hills • Green Fields • House of Knowledge • House of the Triad
**Fiendish Outer Planes:** Abyss (Layers) • Barrens of Doom and Despair • Blood Rift • Clangor • Deep Caverns • Demonweb Pits • Fated Depths • Fury's Heart • Hammergrim • Nine Hells • Nishrek • Supreme Throne
**Neutral Outer Planes:** Dragon Eyrie • Heliopolis • House of Nature • Jotunheim • Warrior's Rest
**Inner Planes:** Elemental Plane of Air • Elemental Plane of Earth • Elemental Plane of Fire • Elemental Plane of Water • Positive Energy plane • Negative Energy plane
**Planar Pathways:** Infinite Staircase • River of Blood • World Tree
**Far Realm**

The World Axis

Prime Material plane
**Fundamental planes:** Astral Sea • Elemental Chaos
**Astral dominions:** Arvandor • Banehold • Celestia • Cynosure • Deep Wilds • Demonweb Pits • Dismal Caverns • Dwarfhome • Eternal Sun • Fugue Plane • Gates of the Moon • Green Fields • House of Knowledge • Nine Hells • Nishrek • Supreme Throne • Towers of Night • Tu'narath • Warrior's Rest
**Elemental realms:** Abyss (Layers) • City of Brass • Cresting Spires • Fimbulwinter • Hidden Realm • Muspelheim • Root Hold • Sky Home • Steading • Thraotor • Undying Pyre • Zerthadlun
**Parallel planes:** Feywild • Shadowfell
**Anomalous planes:** Far Realm