Beyond Phantara
Phantara is rich with magic, that much is clear and evident. Where that magic comes from, and how it gains that magic can be found outlined in the books of theory and practicums in libraries of mage’s guilds and Toeveass halls of records. The evidence of extra planar existence is overwhelming and can be characterized by the individuals that frequent them as well as their definitive features. While there is intermingling between them, all planes are tied to Phantara in some fashion – direct or otherwise. These planes can be broken down into two overarching categories, but their exact intricacies tend to have differing perspectives amongst experts and theorists. Whether you are seeking to explore or travel these spaces, it is best to know the individual realms within each plane and the respective entities that govern them. While these individuals tend to embody the focus of their region, it becomes evident that they can sway how their impact plays upon Phantara itself.
Inner Planes
The planes have been primarily categorized and are experienced in three facets based on their planar positioning and impacts of the fundamental aspects that influence Phantara. The following planes exhibit the most direct adjustment to environments, often times enriching the minerals around them, providing life giving water, changing the local temperatures, and even
Air
Air is the most chaotic of the elements and is volatile and unpredictable. Air may signify change, chaos, freedom, alteration, sustaining force, quickness, or simply wind.
Realms within this plane tend to be fleeting, unstable, and difficult to navigate. The volatility of storms is the most dangerous, even if the most consistent of them all.
Earth
Earth represents a base; it is the foundation for all living things. Earth is associated with life, durability, living beings, toughness,
but also the inanimate.
The realms within this plane tend to be steady but also suffocating as there is nearly no room for anything else. Least of all, air.
Fire
Fire is dynamic and destructive, as well as strong and difficult to control. Fire can be death, destruction, cleansing, consumption, rage, strength, or simply heat.
It can be said the realms of fire can be very welcoming and warm in their hospitality as much as they are to be hazardously harmful. Some too much so, should you not come prepared.
Water
The nature of Water is to control and purify. Water also represents enhancement, nurturing, or mental prowess. Spells are littered with charms and counter charms, controlling the battle field directly and indirectly.
Realms of this region contain a depth not clearly visible. While some can be warm and nurturing, others can be as dark and foreboding.
Outer Planes
The intermixing of the inner planes and the inter playing concepts of existence take hold and change the way in which things operate.
From the brilliant lights of the new found Plane of Radiance, to the darkest antithesis of shadow, each of these hold counterbalance to one another.
Exploration of each takes as much care as any of the inner planar locations, but come with their own unique set of intermixed challenges.
Chaos
All things out of place. Intentionally unorganized, misplaced, and bewildering. This plane does not clearly have a set of rules from one realm to another. Each requires an adequate amount of understanding and forgetfulness to survive. While the armed forces of this land are numerous, it is a challenge to direct them in any meaningful fashion.
Order
Rigid, contextual, structure of all aspects. Physical, social, magical, material, and progression all are lain out within the guided requirements of this plane.
Realms hold great security within its many gates, equally so its requirements to pass. Their armed forces can be efficient and effective, except when it comes to chaos – a challenge of its own magnitude.
Radiance
A new addition to the re-balancing of the planes of Phantara. Light unbound and unbridled emanates from everything, everywhere. While it is taking some time for those connected here to begin to understand or share what is present, the realms certainly hold no deception – simply pure justifiable clarity that can be painful to hold.
Shadow
Wreathed in complete darkness, directness is abated. Pulling attention our dissuading the subtlety of each place that persists here can cost you deeply. Every shadow is a hiding place, holds something or someone hiding, and can often times be someone or something hiding in and of itself. Step carefully.
Void
Records indicate an entire Plane of existence one resided here. After a cataclysmic event, it no longer exists. Instead, a vast emptiness is present only dotted by the presence of small, unique survivors of long lost eras.
Of recent, the arrival of The Hunger has cleared many of the existing realms that were known.
Wyld
Unrelenting primal powers grow and expand here. Growth, adaptation, and ferocity are the laws of the land – beast or plant.
Realms here are difficult to communicate with due to the primitive tendencies. Seldom are humanoid creatures here seen that maintain senses of any civility.
Intrinsic / Cyclic Planes
These planes hold a particular place between and tied to the other planes. Their interposition often appears at the juxtaposition of the other planes, or are rooted in a particular set of them. Often times the traversal of these planes require specific knowledge to access and traverse. Accessing them often times causes immediate affects upon its travelers.
Life
The origin of all sentient entities. From the stars to the smallest plant, everything that grows begins here. Well guarded and often attributed to other places, it was once long forgotten by more common perspectives that life began from a place in and of itself.
Death
Finality, ending, and the collective resolution to all things that journey through existence. After assisting in the ending of the most recent great disaster known as The Hunger, Death and its sentinels have become more available and known to the world of Phantara.
Dream
All of the inner and outer planes touch upon the Dream. Fueled by the desires, hopes and whims of creatures that slumber, this landscapes shifts and changes constantly with those. While these connections are not mono-directional, they can radically impact in both directions should the right memory be shaken loose.
Fae
Tied to the cycle of existence, the Realms of the Fae sit outside them and mirror them immutably. Each court holds its sway over dedicated ideals in their time of reigning, though never are their rules outright given attribution to the impacts it might necessarily show directly.