Astral Plane

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

## Geography

> It is the space between everything.
> It is the road that goes everywhere.
> It is where you are when you aren't anywhere else.
>
> Manual of the Planes

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.

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### Geographical Features

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## 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.

### World Tree

 File:Astral Plane.jpg
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 indefinetly long tails as indicator for an origin elsewhere.

Brain collectors, dhour and foo creatures all can be found in some numbers here.

All manner of fiends, celestials, slaadi and other planars used the Astral as short-cuts 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, bebilith 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. ↑ 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

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1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). *Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. {{#regex:46–48|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-0786965622.
2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `MotP3e-47`
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `MotP1e-60`
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 63. ISBN 0880383992.
5. ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). *Player's Handbook 5th edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 215. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 61. ISBN 0880383992.
7. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 62. ISBN 0880383992.
8. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 75. ISBN 0880383992.
9. ↑ 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.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `PGtF-139`
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). *Player's Guide to Faerûn*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 164. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
12. ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). *Player's Guide to Faerûn*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 165. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). *Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 62. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
14. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `FRCG-60`
15. ↑ Thomas M. Reid (July 2009). *The Crystal Mountain*. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-78695235-9.
16. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). *Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 64. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
17. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). *Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
18. ↑ Monte Cook (January 1996). *A Guide to the Astral Plane*. Edited by Miranda Horner. (TSR, Inc.), p. 68. ISBN 0-7869-0438-0.
19. ↑ Monte Cook (January 1996). *A Guide to the Astral Plane*. Edited by Miranda Horner. (TSR, Inc.), pp. {{#regex:44–46|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 0-7869-0438-0.
20. ↑ Monte Cook (January 1996). *A Guide to the Astral Plane*. Edited by Miranda Horner. (TSR, Inc.), p. 54. ISBN 0-7869-0438-0.
21. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). *Manual of the Planes 1st edition*. (TSR), p. 72. ISBN 0880383992.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Monte Cook (January 1996). *A Guide to the Astral Plane*. Edited by Miranda Horner. (TSR, Inc.), pp. {{#regex:68–77|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 0-7869-0438-0.
23. ↑ Allen Varney, ed. (June 1994). *Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix*. (TSR, Inc.), p. 128. ISBN 978-1560768623.
24. ↑ Allen Varney, ed. (June 1994). *Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix*. (TSR, Inc.), pp. {{#regex:40–41|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-1560768623.
25. ↑ Monte Cook (January 1996). *A Guide to the Astral Plane*. Edited by Miranda Horner. (TSR, Inc.), pp. {{#regex:34–38|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 0-7869-0438-0.
26. ↑ Monte Cook (January 1996). *A Guide to the Astral Plane*. Edited by Miranda Horner. (TSR, Inc.), p. 39. ISBN 0-7869-0438-0.
27. ↑ Colin McComb (1996). *On Hallowed Ground*. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc), p. 166. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
28. ↑ Steven Schend (1995). *Blood Wars*, "Sardior". TSR, Inc..
29. ↑ Steven Schend (1995). *Blood Wars*, "The Ruby Palace". TSR, Inc..
30. ↑ Wolfgang Baur (February 1995). “Mount Celestia”. In Michele Carter ed. *Planes of Law* (TSR, Inc), p. 21. ISBN 0-7869-0093-8.
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 31.6 31.7 31.8 Monte Cook (January 1996). *A Guide to the Astral Plane*. Edited by Miranda Horner. (TSR, Inc.), p. 38. ISBN 0-7869-0438-0.
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 32.6 32.7 32.8 Colin McComb (1996). *On Hallowed Ground*. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc), p. 182. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
33. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc), p. 27. ISBN 978-0786903849.
34. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc), p. 36. ISBN 978-0786903849.
35. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc), p. 45. ISBN 978-0786903849.
36. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (1997). *Powers and Pantheons*. (TSR, Inc), p. 102. ISBN 0-7869-0657-X.
37. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc), p. 71. ISBN 978-0786903849.
38. ↑ Dale Donovan (January 1998). *Cult of the Dragon*. (TSR, Inc), p. 120. ISBN 0-7869-0709-6.
39. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (1997). *Powers and Pantheons*. (TSR, Inc), p. 35. ISBN 0-7869-0657-X.
40. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc), p. 93. ISBN 978-0786903849.
41. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc), p. 119. ISBN 978-0786903849.
42. ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). *Faiths & Avatars*. (TSR, Inc), p. 124. ISBN 978-0786903849.
43. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (1997). *Powers and Pantheons*. (TSR, Inc), p. 62. ISBN 0-7869-0657-X.

### Connections

Cosmologies of the Realms

The Great Wheel

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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
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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
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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