Beastlands (plane)

*This article is about the Outer plane. For the region in Southeast Faerûn, see Beastlands.*

The intelligent species of the Beastlands wander the vast grounds.

## Basic information

### Natives

Animals, solars, hollyphants, planetars, foo creatures, agathia, baku, devas, mortai

## Outer plane

### Magic trait

Limited (by the mortai): air and weather spells

### Layers

Krigala
Brux
Karasuthra

The **Wilderness of the Beastlands**, also known as the **Happy Hunting Grounds**, was the Outer plane representing alignments between neutral good and chaotic good in the Great Wheel cosmology model. Some characteristics of this plane were ascribed to the World Tree cosmology planes of Arvandor and the House of Nature when that cosmology became popular. Arvandor survived the Spellplague while the House of Nature split in at least two parts, one of which became the Deep Wilds and the other merged with the Green Fields as described by the World Axis cosmology model.

“
The beast within finds expression without here on the Beastlands.

”
— The Wylder Lysander.

## Description

The name Happy Hunting Grounds was given to this plane by those that first scried it, assuming the abundant and varied game and wildlife would be a sportsman's paradise. But the native inhabitants of this plane were all capable of speech and comparable to humans in range of intelligence. Some of the most intelligent creatures could even wield magic. All natural creatures and their giant versions from the Prime Material Plane, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and invertebrates, excluding enchanted creatures and monsters, were represented here, and they called their home the Beastlands.

The Beastlands had three layers, all heavily forested with normal and giant trees, plants, moss, and fungi. Each layer had its own time of day which never varied. Weather was regionally distributed and provided all manner of conditions for the habitats of all creatures. Weather in one region did not affect adjacent regions, so an arid desert could exist next to a snowy winter region for example. Any attempt to control the winds, weather, or atmosphere was countered by those airborne creatures who lived in the region.

Yggdrasil, the World Ash, extended its branches to all layers of the Beastlands. The reason was unclear, since there were no realms of the Norse pantheon anywhere in the plane. Some speculated that the wilderness and life-giving properties of the plane were sufficient to root the tree there.

### Krigala

*Main article: Krigala*
Krigala was the upper layer, connected to the Astral Plane by *color pools* and to Elysium, Arborea, and the Outlands by portals disguised as large holes in hollow trees. The river Oceanus flowed in a relatively straight course from Amoria in Elysium through Krigala on its way to Arborea. The sky was perpetually lit by a noonday sun directly overhead regardless of distance traveled.

### Brux

*Main article: Brux*
The second layer of the Beastlands was constantly in dusk or dawn due to two suns on opposite ends of the horizon, hovering there and turning the sky a reddish hue. The landscape of Brux was similar to that found in Krigala. Brux was the location of the Library of All Knowledge.

### Karasuthra

*Main article: Karasuthra*
The bottommost layer was the land of starlight. Above any clouds or fog that might exist in a region was a clear night sky full of wandering stars. The stars moved randomly such that all attempts to map them into constellations were unsuccessful.

## Inhabitants

In addition to the myriad species from the animal kingdom were the usual Upper plane sentient creatures, such as hollyphants, planetars, solars, devas, foo creatures, agathia, and baku.

Another form of life unique to the Beastlands were the mortai, also known as the "faces in the clouds". They appeared as cumulus clouds with large humanoid faces and could communicate with anyone if they so wished. The mortai were considered very wise and could converse on most any subject. They also had complete control over the air and weather. Their origin was unknown but it was thought they might be collections of good and somewhat chaotic spirits.

## Realms

* Balador, the benevolent lord of werebears, maintained his realm of Ursis in Brux.
* The Cat Lord, and other Beast Lords, once held territory on this plane.
* Deneir, Lord of All Glyphs and Images, had a realm called the Library of All Knowledge on Brux.
* Eagle, the great spirit worshiped by the green elves, made his home in the demiplane called the Upper World, but spent much of his time in the Happy Hunting Grounds.
* Ferrix, the playful goddess of weretigresses, had no permanent realm but freely roamed the layer of Brux.
* Haela Brightaxe, Lady of the Fray, was the the dwarven goddess of battle and luck. She resided on Brux in her realm Findar Endar, a pleasant grotto hidden by unending mists deep within the surrounding forests. Her personal dwelling there was a simple cave protected by seven of her "Guardians", einheriars of her favored fallen dwarven warriors.
* Mielikki, Lady of the Forest, established her realm, the Grove of the Unicorns, on Krigala around 1369 DR.
* Milil, God of Poetry, Eloquence, and Song, shared his realm, the Library of All Knowledge, with Deneir.
* Nobanion the Lion King, once held sway over the *Pridelands*, his realm in Krigala.
* Quorlinn, the kenku deity, resided in Filchnest in Krigala.
* Remnis, the great lord of eagles, nested in his realm of Goldenroost in Krigala when he was not flying the planes on some mission.
* Rellavar Danuvien, the Frost Sprite King of the Seldarine, made his realm named the Ice Plain in Karasuthra.
* Shiallia, patron of pregnant forest creatures and planter of trees once had a realm in Krigala called the *High Glade*.
* The *Seelie Court* of the Faerie Queen Titania, including Oberon, Caoimhin, Damh, Eachthighern, Emmantiensien, Fionnghuala, Nathair Sgiathach, Sqeulaiche and Verenestra, often visited the Beastlands on its wanderings.
* Skerrit the Forester, god of the centaurs, had a realm called Skerrit's Glade in Krigala consisting of a string of glades and meadows.
* Stronmaus, the giant deity of Sun, Sky, Weather, the Seas, and Joy, lived in the Beastlands in a realm named *Stormhold* in Karasuthra, whenever he did not stay near his father's home on Ysgard.
* Thard Harr, god of the jungle dwarves, stayed on the *Forbidden Plateau* in Krigala between his wanderings.
* Ubtao, Father of the Dinosaurs and Creator of Chult, once had a realm called the *Forbidden Plateau* in Krigala.

## Appendix

### Appearances

Video Games
**Referenced only**
*Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition*
### References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 91. ISBN 0880383992.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 92. ISBN 0880383992.
3. ↑ Jeff Grubb (April 1987). “Plane Speaking: Tuning in to the Outer Planes”. In Roger E. Moore ed. *Dragon* #120 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 42–43.
4. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 62. ISBN 0880383992.
5. ↑ 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.
6. ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). *Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 47. ISBN 978-0786965622.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 73. ISBN 0880383992.
8. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 75. ISBN 0880383992.
9. ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). *Player's Guide to Faerûn*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 143. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
10. ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). *Player's Guide to Faerûn*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 158. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
11. ↑ 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.
12. ↑ 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. 63. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
13. ↑ 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.
14. ↑ Dale Donovan (December 1995). “*Liber Benevolentiae*”. In Michele Carter ed. *Planes of Conflict* (TSR, Inc.), p. 10. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.
15. ↑ Dale Donovan (December 1995). “*Liber Benevolentiae*”. In Michele Carter ed. *Planes of Conflict* (TSR, Inc.), p. 6. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc.), p. 54. ISBN 978-0786903849.
17. ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). *Monster Manual II 1st edition*. (TSR, Inc), p. 75. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
18. ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). *Monster Manual II 1st edition*. (TSR, Inc), p. 101. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
19. ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). *Monster Manual II 1st edition*. (TSR, Inc), p. 111. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
20. ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). *Monster Manual II 1st edition*. (TSR, Inc), p. 43. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
21. ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). *Monster Manual II 1st edition*. (TSR, Inc), p. 65. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
22. ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). *Monster Manual II 1st edition*. (TSR, Inc), p. 9. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
23. ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). *Monster Manual II 1st edition*. (TSR, Inc), p. 12. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Colin McComb (October 1996). *On Hallowed Ground*. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 176. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). *Powers & Pantheons*. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 41. ISBN 978-0786906574.
26. ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). *Monster Manual II 1st edition*. (TSR, Inc), p. 22. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
27. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (August 1987). “Cyclopedia of the Realms”. In Karen S. Martin ed. *Forgotten Realms Campaign Set* (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-472-7.
28. ↑ Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). *Forgotten Realms Adventures*. (TSR, Inc), p. 17. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
29. ↑ Anne Gray McCready *et al.* (March 1994). *Elves of Evermeet*. (TSR, Inc), p. 78. ISBN 1-5607-6829-0.
30. ↑ James M. Ward and Troy Denning (August 1990). *Legends & Lore (2nd edition)*. (TSR, Inc), pp. 15, 23. ISBN 978-0880388443.
31. ↑ Carl Sargent (May 1992). *Monster Mythology*. (TSR, Inc), p. 114. ISBN 1-5607-6362-0.
32. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). *Demihuman Deities*. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 67–68. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
33. ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 1990). *Dwarves Deep*. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 24–25. ISBN 0-88038-880-3.
34. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc.), p. 112. ISBN 978-0786903849.
35. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (August 1987). “Cyclopedia of the Realms”. In Karen S. Martin ed. *Forgotten Realms Campaign Set* (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-472-7.
36. ↑ Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). *Forgotten Realms Adventures*. (TSR, Inc), p. 27. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
37. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc.), p. 116. ISBN 978-0786903849.
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Colin McComb (October 1996). *On Hallowed Ground*. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 177. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
39. ↑ Carl Sargent (May 1992). *Monster Mythology*. (TSR, Inc), p. 92. ISBN 1-5607-6362-0.
40. ↑ Chris Perry (December 1996). “The Seldarine Revisited”. In Pierce Watters ed. *Dragon* #236 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 11–17, 25.
41. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). *Powers & Pantheons*. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 55. ISBN 978-0786906574.
42. ↑ Carl Sargent (May 1992). *Monster Mythology*. (TSR, Inc), p. 119. ISBN 1-5607-6362-0.
43. ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). *On Hallowed Ground*. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 137, 175. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
44. ↑ James Ward, Robert J. Kuntz (August 1980). *Deities & Demigods*. Edited by Lawrence Schick. (TSR, Inc.), p. 106. ISBN 0-935696-22-9.
45. ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). *On Hallowed Ground*. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 175. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
46. ↑ Ray Winninger (September 1995). *Giantcraft*. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 47. ISBN 0-7869-0163-2.
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48. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). *Powers & Pantheons*. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 88–90. ISBN 978-0786906574.

### Connections

The Wilderness of the **Beastlands**
Layers and their Realms

**Wandering:** Seelie Court

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