Outer Plane


In the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, an Outer Plane is one of a number of general types of planes of existence. They can also be referred to as godly planes, spiritual planes or divine planes. The Outer Planes are home to beings such as deities and otherworldly creatures such as demons, celestials and devils. Each Outer Plane is usually the physical manifestation of a particular moral and ethical alignment and the entities that dwell there often embody the traits related to that alignment.
The intangible and esoteric Outer Planes—the realms of ideals, philosophies, and gods—stand in contrast to the Inner Planes, which compose the material building blocks of reality and the realms of energy and matter.
All Outer Planes are spatially infinite but are composed of features and locations of finite scope. Many of these planes are often split into a collection of further infinites called layers, which are essentially sub-planes that represent one particular facet or theme of the plane. For example, Baator's geography is reminiscent of Hell as depicted in Dante's The Divine Comedy. In addition, each layer may also contain a number of realms. Each realm is the home to an individual deity, or occasionally a collection of deities.

Publication history

The Outer Planes were presented for the first time in Volume 1, Number 8 of The Dragon, released July 1977. In the article "Planes: The Concepts of Spatial, Temporal and Physical Relationships in D&D", Gary Gygax mentions that there are 16 Outer Planes and describes the Seven Heavens, the Twin Paradises, and Elysium as "Typical higher planes", Nirvana as the "plane of ultimate Law" and Limbo as the "plane of ultimate Chaos ", and the Nine Hells, Hades' three glooms, and the 666 layers of the Abyss as "Typical lower planes". Other Outer Planes mentioned by name in the article include the Happy Hunting Grounds, Olympus, Gladsheim, Pandemonium, Tarterus, Gehenna, Acheron, and Arcadia. The Outer Planes were presented again in an appendix of the known planes of existence in the original AD&D Players Handbook, published in June 1978. This appendix included an abstract diagram of the planes, and mentioned the same 16 Outer Planes: The Seven Heavens of absolute lawful good, the Twin Paradises of neutral good lawfuls, the planes of Elysium of absolute neutral good, the Happy Hunting Grounds of neutral good chaotics, the planes of Olympus of good chaotics, the planes of Gladsheim of chaotic good neutrals, the planes of Limbo of neutral chaos, the Planes of Pandemonium of chaotic evil neutrals, the 666 layers of the Abyss of absolute chaotic evil, the planes of Tarterus of evil chaotic neutrals, Hades' "Three Glooms" of absolute evil, the furnaces of Gehenna of lawful evil neutrals, the Nine Hells of absolute lawful evil, the nether planes of Acheron of lawful evil neutrals, Nirvana of absolute lawfuls, and the planes of Arcadia of neutral good lawfuls.
In 1993, TSR wanted to do a series of books about the Outer Planes. Zeb Cook, creator of the Planescape universe, describes it this way: "So there was this huge collection of over ten years of stuff that was just kind of quietly ignored with no sense of logic to it, and we figured that 'Oh, we don't need to explain it—it's enough to say "It came from The Outer Planes. So said, 'Let's do this series of books, one about each Plane,' which would have been about 10 million books, so TSR said, 'Well, that's a good idea, but 10 million books is not such a great idea. We'd rather create a campaign world that's set in the Outer Planes,' because they had figured out by that point that worlds sold. And so they came to me, the senior designer with a huge gaping hole in my schedule, and wanted me to take this idea and execute it. 'Make us a campaign world that's completely different from all of the ones we have....

Standard ''D&D'' cosmology

The standard Dungeons & Dragons cosmology contains seventeen Outer Planes. Cosmologically, they are arranged in a ring of sixteen planes with the Good-aligned planes, or Upper Planes at the top, and the Evil-aligned planes, or Lower Planes at the bottom. Depictions usually display the Lawful planes to the left, and the Chaotic planes to the right. Between all of these sit the Neutral planes, or the Planes of Conflict. One further plane sits in the centre of the ring, the Outlands, being neutral in alignment. At the center of the Outlands is a Spire of infinite height; the city of Sigil floats above the Spire's pinnacle. The standard D&D cosmology is the official cosmology used in the Planescape and Greyhawk campaign settings. Many of the alternative names derive from the 1st-edition Manual of the Planes, and the in-game explanation given in the Planescape setting is that these names are used by the "Clueless", or characters from the Prime Material unfamiliar with the planes.
NameAlternative NameAlignmentDescriptionNotable native inhabitants
ElysiumBlessed FieldsNeutral goodThe plane of peace and unadulterated goodness.
  • Guardinals: noble immortal humanoids with bestial features
  • Pelor: The sun-deity
The BeastlandsHappy Hunting GroundsNeutral good/Chaotic goodThe plane of idealized nature.
  • Animal lords: archetypal rulers of the various animal species
  • Ehlonna: Goddess of forests
  • ArboreaArvandor, Olympus, Olympian GladesChaotic goodFey realm of passion, abundance and nature's caprice.
  • Eladrin and The Court of Stars
  • Titans & gods of Greek mythology
  • The Seldarine pantheon of Elven gods
  • YsgardAsgard, Gladsheim, Heroic DomainsChaotic neutral/Chaotic goodThe eternal battleground where true heroes prove their valor.
  • Gods of Norse mythology
  • Kord: God of strength
  • Olidammara: God of rogues
  • LimboPlane of Ever-Changing ChaosChaotic neutralAn alien, anarchistic and unpredictable plane.
  • Slaad: frog-like creatures
  • Githzerai: human-like monks
  • PandemoniumPlane of Windswept DepthsChaotic evil/Chaotic neutralAn infinite network of pitch-black catacombs, with winds that drive men mad.
  • Erythnul: God of hate and slaughter
  • The AbyssPlane of Infinite LayersChaotic evilEvil lands of shocking perversity and unpredictable horror.
  • Tanar'ri Demons: Mortal enemies of the Baatezu
  • Obyrith Demons: Lovecraftian ancestors to the Tanar'ri
  • Loumara Demons:Newest race of demons born by the dying dreams of evil gods
  • Lolth: Spider Goddess of the Drow
  • Demogorgon:Beastly Prince of Demons
  • Graz'zt: The Dark Prince
  • Orcus: The Demon Lord of the Undead
  • Iggwilv: Witch Queen of Perrenland, Mother of Demigod Iuz. Infamous author of the blasphemous Demonomicon. The true identity of Tasha, member of the infamous adventuring group known as the Company of Seven.
  • CarceriTarterus, TartarusNeutral evil/Chaotic evilLiars, cheats and traitors are imprisoned here by their own deceptions.
  • Nerull: God of murder and darkness
  • Titans exiled from Olympus
  • Demodands
  • Yugoloths: presence largely confined to Othrys
  • The Gray WasteHadesNeutral evilHere, all emotion and compassion is drained away, until only hopelessness, selfishness and apathy remain as baatezu and tanar'ri meet and clash in a colorless expanse.
  • Yugoloths
  • Tanar'ri and Baatezu fight the Blood War on this plane
  • Abbathor: God of dwarven greed.
  • Grey Sisters
  • Hades: Greek god of death and the underworld. Believed to be the most powerful deity on the plane.
  • Hel: Norse goddess of death.
  • Mydianchlarus: Current Oinoloth of Khin-Oin.
  • Hordlings
  • GehennaPlane of Bleak EternityNeutral evil/Lawful evilVolcanic realm of evil schemes and merciless cliffs.
  • Yugoloths
  • BaatorHell; The Nine HellsLawful evilA realm of oppression, torment, and diabolical plots.
  • Baatezu : mortal enemies of the Tanar'ri
  • Tiamat: The Chromatic Dragon
  • Kurtulmak: God of Kobolds
  • Asmodeus: Lord of the Ninth. Previously believed to have used the name Satan as one of numerous aliases.
  • AcheronThe Infernal BattlefieldLawful neutral/Lawful evilA plane of constant, pointless war, where identity is forever lost.
  • Gods of the goblins and orcs, such as Gruumsh and Maglubiyet
  • Wee Jas: Goddess of death and magic
  • Hextor: God of Tyranny
  • MechanusNirvanaLawful neutralThis clockwork plane is the ultimate in order; scholars and constructs live here.
  • Modrons, orderly geometrically-shaped beings
  • Inevitables, mechanical enforcers of all law
  • ArcadiaThe Land of Perfect Order, Plane of Peaceable KingdomsLawful neutral/Lawful goodA peaceful world of wildlands and kingdoms where all live in harmony.
  • Saint Cuthbert: God of Retribution and Common Sense
  • Mount CelestiaThe Seven HeavensLawful goodCountless paladins and saints have ascended here.
  • Aasimons, Archons and Devas
  • Bahamut: The Platinum Dragon
  • Heironeous: God of Valor
  • Moradin: God of Dwarves
  • Yondalla: Goddess of Halflings
  • BytopiaTwin ParadisesNeutral good/Lawful goodGnomes and other industrious folk dwell here.
  • Garl Glittergold and other Gods of the Gnomes
  • The OutlandsPlane of Concordant OppositionTrue NeutralThe plane between all other Outer Planes.
  • Rilmani: Metallic skinned humanoids
  • Boccob: God of Magic
  • Obad-Hai: God of Nature
  • The Lady of Pain: Protector of Sigil
  • Forgotten Realms cosmology

    The Forgotten Realms cosmology was originally the same as that of a standard Dungeons & Dragons campaign. The cosmology for the 3rd edition of D&D was altered substantially so that it contained twenty-six Outer Planes, arranged in a tree-like structure around the central 'trunk' of the material plane of Toril. Unlike the Outer Planes of the standard D&D cosmology which were heavily alignment-based, the Outer Planes of the Forgotten Realms cosmology were faith-based. The planes of the Forgotten Realms were retooled in the 4th edition to match the new default cosmology, with many of the planes or realms being relocated to the Astral Sea, and a handful now located in the Elemental Chaos.
    The Barrens of Doom and Despair plane is designed to be inhospitable to Dungeons & Dragons players. Even though there is little light or water, other characters from the franchise can be found here. Five deities make their homes here, including Bane, Beshaba, Hoar, Loviatar, and Talona. The Barrens of Doom and Despair consist of a single infinite plane, with no constituent layers. It links via the Astral Plane to the planes of the Prime Material and a number of portals directly connect it with Hammergrim and the Blood Rift. Beshaba's realm, the Blood Tor, links directly to the Abyss.

    Eberron cosmology

    This is a description of the Eberron Cosmology prior to the Eberron fourth edition rules. For 4th edition cosmology information, please see World of Eberron.
    The Eberron cosmology, used in the original Eberron campaign setting, contained thirteen Outer Planes in 3rd edition, and gained at least two for 4th edition under the new cosmology. They exhibit traits similar to those of the standard D&D cosmology but also some appear more like Inner Planes. The cosmology was unique in that the Outer Planes orbited around Eberron through the Astral plane. As they orbited, their overlap with the material plane changed and access to those planes became easier or restricted.
    NameAlignmentEnhanced magicImpeded magicCoterminous / Remote / Orbit
    Daanvi, the Perfect OrderLaw LawfulChaotic100 years / 100 years / 400 years
    Dal Quor, the Region of Dreams-Illusion-never / always / off orbit
    Dolurrh, the Realm of the Dead--All1 year / 1 year / 100 years
    Fernia, the Sea of FireEvilFireCold1 month / 1 month / 5 years
    Irian, the Eternal Day-Positive energyNegative energy10 days / 10 days / 3 years
    Kythri, the Churning ChaosChaos ChaoticLawfulerratic / erratic / erratic
    Lamannia, the Twilight Forest-Druidic-7 days / 7 days / 1 year
    Mabar, the Endless Night-Negative energyPositive energy3 days / 5 days / 5 years
    Risia, the Plane of IceEvilColdFire1 month / 1 month / 5 years
    Shavarath, the BattlegroundVariesWeapon-relatedPacifying, charms1 year / unknown / 36 years
    Syrania, the Azure SkyGood GoodEvil1 day / 1 day / 10 years
    Thelanis, the Faerie Court-Arcane-7 years / 14 years / 225 years
    Xoriat, the Realm of MadnessEvil--unknown / unknown / millennia
    Thelanis, the Feywild-
    Dolurrh, the Shadowfell-

    See also Chapter 5 of the Eberron Campaign Setting
    Like most other D&D campaign settings, in 3rd edition D&D Eberron has a number of planes. Besides the Prime Material Plane, the Ethereal Plane, the Plane of Shadow, and the Astral Plane, the Eberron Campaign Setting has thirteen relatively unique planes. Gates or portals to any of the planes are very rare. These thirteen planes metaphysically orbit around Eberron, and depending on their current location are considered in one of four states.
    In the 4th Edition, most of the Outer Planes have been replaced by Astral Domains in the Astral Sea. Known Astral Domains include Celestia and the Nine Hells. The Abyss is an exception; it is now located in the Elemental Chaos.

    Descriptions

    Abyss

    In a critical review of Planes of Chaos for White Wolf Inphobia magazine, Keith H. Eisenbeis described the danger of adventuring in planes such as the Abyss, especially for low- and mid-level characters: "Sure, it's possible to design a situation in which first-level characters can accomplish something important and survive in the Abyss, but the immensity and power of the planes is undermined. In addition, on planes such as the Abyss, negotiating with evil creatures is frequently necessary, possibly making these planes useful to only neutral and evil characters."
    Ken Denmead of Wired described a number of aspects of the Abyss as psychedelic, calling the doors on one layer of the Abyss similar to the "loony corridor scene from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band."

    Acheron

    Acheron, also known as The Infernal Battlefield of Acheron, is a lawful neutral/lawful evil-aligned plane of existence.

    Arborea

    Arborea or more fully, the Olympian Glades of Arborea, is a chaotic good-aligned plane of existence. It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Planes that form part of the standard Dungeons & Dragons cosmology, used in the Planescape, Greyhawk and some editions of the Forgotten Realms campaign settings.
    Arborea is also referred to as "Olympus" or "Arvandor", though technically those names describe separate realms within the plane. Arborea is stylised as a peaceful plane of natural beauty with a multitude of thriving environments. Much of the plane is dominated by vast tall forests, but also includes glades of wildflowers and fields of grain. As a plane that also embodies chaos, it has a wild and often sudden nature. The weather can change drastically at short notice, changing from warm sunshine to raging winds and back again in just a few minutes.

    Publication history

    The plane known as Olympus was mentioned for the first time by name in the article "Planes: The Concepts of Spatial, Temporal and Physical Relationships in D&D", in The Dragon #8, released July 1977. The plane was mentioned again in an appendix of the known planes of existence in the original AD&D Players Handbook, published in June 1978, where it was described as "The planes of Olympus of absolute good chaotics".

    Inhabitants

    The eladrin, powerful elf-like celestial creatures are the protectors of Arborea, the most common of which is the Ghaele. Lillends are also common on the plane. Many types of celestial and anarchic version of common animals, natural creatures suffused with tendencies of good or chaos, are found in Arborea. Also, primitive Orc-Baboon hybrids known as Losels dwell in its wilderness, occasionally migrating between it and the Beastlands.
    Arborea has two main types of petitioner, the first of which are the spirits of the elven dead. Some take the form of celestial creatures or others simply merge with the plane itself, as a final reward after death. The second main type are the bacchae, drunken revellers who perpetually indulge in wild celebrations, enticing visitors to join with them.

    Structure

    As an outer plane, Arborea is spatially infinite, further consisting of three infinite layers. Arborea's first layer shares borders with the neighbouring planes of the Heroic Domains of Ysgard and the Wilderness of the Beastlands; travel is possible between Arborea and these planes at certain locations.

    Layers

    The wandering realm of the Seelie Court often appears on the plane of Arborea, always in a different location.
    Arborea has three layers:
    ;Arvandor/Olympus
    In previous editions, this layer was known as Olympus, but the most recent edition of Manual of the Planes refers to it only as Arvandor. Principally, it is the home plane of the Seldarine, the good Elven deities, headed by Corellon Larethian. This layer is mostly endless canopies of forest with huge clearings containing many idealized elven settlements. Arvandor has a day and night cycle matching that of the material plane. The goddess Eilistraee also resides in the forests of Arvandor, despite her banishment.
    The realm of Brightwater, a separate plane in the third edition Forgotten Realms cosmology is located on Arvandor. Four goddesses have domains here, including Lliira, Sharess, Sune, and Tymora.
    The actual realm of Olympus is found here, and is home to many deities of the Greek pantheon, including Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Dionysus, Hephaestus, Hera, Hermes, and the titan Rhea.
    There are several other realms located on this layer, including:
    ;Aquallor/Ossa
    When not with the Seldarine, Deep Sashelas also has his own realm of Elavandor on Ossa.
    Poseidon's realm of Caletto can be found on Ossa.
    ;Mithardir/Pelion
    Nephthys has her realm of Amun-thys on Pelion.

    Fauna

    Historic influences

    Arborea is based loosely on Mount Olympus in Greek mythology. Its name may be borrowed from the medieval Sardinian state of the same name, or may be independently derived from "arboreal".

    Arcadia

    Arcadia or more fully, the Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia, is a lawful neutral/lawful good-aligned plane of existence.

    Baator

    Baator, also known as the Nine Hells of Baator or the Nine Hells, is a lawful evil–aligned plane of existence.
    Baator is stylised as a plane of sinister evil and cruelty. The different types of devils that dwell here obey a strict hierarchical caste-like social structure. Each continually plots to advance their position through treachery and deception. Unlike the demons of the Abyss, the devils are highly organized, with a logical and calculating nature.
    The plane itself is composed of nine different layers, each of which models a differing but no less inhospitable and dreadful environment, from barren plains of ash and rock to frozen wastes of endless ice.

    Publication history

    The plane known as the Nine Hells was mentioned for the first time by name in the article "Planes: The Concepts of Spatial, Temporal and Physical Relationships in D&D", in The Dragon #8, released July 1977. In the article Gary Gygax describes the plane as one of the "Typical lower planes". The plane was mentioned again in an appendix of the known planes of existence in the original AD&D Players Handbook, published in June 1978, where it was described as "The Nine Hells of absolute lawful evil".

    History

    The article "The Politics of Hell" by Alexander Von Thorn in Dragon #28 describes how Hell was originally ruled by Satan, who was usurped by Baalzebul, who was in turn overthrown by Asmodeus.
    The article "The Possessors" by Arn Ashleigh Parker in Dragon #42 follows up on this article by explaining that Selm, a lieutenant of Satan, was made the Prince of Possessors, and remained in that position throughout these various changes in the administration in Hell.

    Beastlands

    The Beastlands is a neutral good-aligned plane of existence.

    Bytopia

    Bytopia, also known as the Twin Paradises, ' or, more fully, the Twin Paradises of Bytopia, is a lawful good/neutral good aligned plane of existence. It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Planes that form part of the standard Dungeons & Dragons ' cosmology, used in the Planescape, Greyhawk, and some editions of the Forgotten Realms campaign settings. Bytopia is a virtuous plane of cultivated beauty, and is home to many of the deities of the gnomish pantheon.

    Publication history

    The plane known as the Twin Paradises was mentioned for the first time by name in the article "Planes: The Concepts of Spatial, Temporal and Physical Relationships in D&D", in The Dragon #8, released July 1977. In the article Gary Gygax describes the plane as one of the "Typical higher planes". The plane was mentioned again in an appendix of the known planes of existence in the original AD&D Players Handbook, published in June 1978, where it was described as "The Twin Paradises of neutral good lawfuls".

    Structure

    Bytopia is a spatially infinite plane, consisting of two layers or sub-planes. It is unique in the sense that the two layers are laid facing one another, each looking down at the other. A traveller can look up from one layer and see the other above him looking back down, provided that the sky is clear. To get from one layer to the other, travellers must either climb tall mountains, or fly. Gravity reverses when someone reaches the middle point between the two layers. Bytopia shares its borders with the neighbouring planes of the Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia and the Blessed Fields of Elysium; travel is possible between Bytopia and these planes at certain locations.
    Dothion is a serene pastoral layer of meadows and wild-flowers; it is home to the souls of farmers, craftsmen, honest merchants, and gnomish commoners. The Golden Hills, a separate plane in the 3rd-Edition Forgotten Realms cosmology, is located here, and is home to the gnome deity Garl Glittergold, as well as Baervan Wildwanderer, Baravar Cloakshadow, Flandal Steelskin, Gaerdal Ironhand, Nebelun the Meddler, and Segojan Earthcaller. Flandal shares his Mithral Forge with Ama-Tsu-Mara. The godly realms of Deephome, home of Callarduran Smoothhands, god of the svirfneblin, and Prosperity, realm of Inari, are also located on Dothion.
    Shurrock is the mountainous untamed twin, home of hidden beasts and monsters. The gnomish underground mining city of Quarry that specialises in gemcutting is located here. Rangers often foray into this wilderness to slay creatures that have threatened the folk of Dothion.
    A number of godly realms exist on this layer, including Heart of Justice, realm of Kiri-Jolith, and Windwrath, realm of Tefnut. Martyrdomain was the realm of Ilmater in previous editions of Dungeons & Dragons.

    Carceri

    Carceri is a neutral evil-aligned plane of existence.

    Elysium

    Elysium, or more fully, the Blessed Fields of Elysium, is a strongly good-aligned plane of existence.

    Gehenna

    Gehenna is a plane of existence of neutral evil/lawful evil alignment. It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Planes that form part of the standard Dungeons & Dragons cosmology. It borders the Gray Waste of Hades and the Nine Hells of Baator.

    Gray Waste of Hades

    The Gray Waste is a strongly neutral evil aligned plane of existence. It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Planes that form part of the standard Dungeons & Dragons cosmology, used in the Planescape, Greyhawk, and some editions of the Forgotten Realms campaign settings. Hades is the plane of origin of the yugoloth daemons. Pathfinder's analogue to Hades is the plane called Abaddon.

    Publication history

    The plane known as Hades was mentioned for the first time by name in the article "Planes: The Concepts of Spatial, Temporal and Physical Relationships in D&D", in The Dragon #8, released July 1977. In the article Gary Gygax describes the plane as Hades' three glooms, one of the "Typical lower planes". The plane was mentioned again in an appendix of the known planes of existence in the original AD&D Players Handbook, published in June 1978, where it was described as "Hades' "Three Glooms" of absolute evil".

    Description

    According to Trenton Webb's critical review of Planes of Conflict for British RPG magazine Arcane, the Gray Waste "erodes the sense of purpose that is the hallmark of an alignment-based philosophy. One symptom of this is the place's ability to fade the colour from a character's clothes!" Stang and Trammell called Hades "the realm of the dead", where larvae created by night hags are used as currency.

    Limbo

    Limbo or more fully, the Ever-Changing Chaos of Limbo, is a chaotic neutral-aligned plane of existence.
    The plane known as Limbo was mentioned for the first time by name in the article "Planes: The Concepts of Spatial, Temporal and Physical Relationships in D&D", in The Dragon #8, released July 1977. In the article Gary Gygax describes the plane as the "plane of ultimate Chaos ". The plane was mentioned again in an appendix of the known planes of existence in the original Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Players Handbook, published in June 1978, where it was described as "The planes of Limbo of neutral chaos ".
    Limbo is described as a place of pure chaos where everything is in constant motion and change, especially the landscape, which can shift unpredictably and randomly rolls over upon itself like liquid. Very few places in Limbo are stable enough for normal travel.
    Limbo is home to the slaadi and their lords, and to the githzerai. Very few gods call Limbo home, as the plane is not well-suited to any sort of permanent structures. The shared realm of Tempus and the Red Knight can be found on Limbo, as can Shaundakul's realm. The elven god Fenmarel Mestarine calls this chaotic plane home as well.
    The plane of Limbo is the location of a number of godly realms:
    Fauna include the Chaos dragon.
    Limbo is named after the Limbo of Catholic mythology, where the souls of the dead who died before Jesus's death went, before he descended there to release them, but there is little similarity of philosophy between the two realms. In appearance, it is based on the Abyss in John Milton's Paradise Lost.

    Mechanus

    Mechanus, also known as The Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus is a purely lawful aligned plane of existence.

    Mount Celestia

    Mount Celestia or more fully, the Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia, or even the Seven Heavens is a lawful good-aligned plane of existence.

    Outlands

    The Concordant Domain of the Outlands, also known as the Concordant Opposition, is the Outer Plane where the souls of people of Neutral alignment are sent after death. It is popular as a meeting place for treaties between the powers. The Outlands are also home to the gate-towns. At the center of the Outlands is the Spire, atop which Sigil can be seen. The Outlands are the home plane of the neutral-minded rilmani. The Outlands are part of a series of rings that form the multiverse. Travel between the planes of the Outlands is accomplished via The Great Road.
    In first edition and second edition AD&D before Planescape, this plane is also at the center of the Outer Planes and known by its original name Concordant Opposition. The First Edition Manual Of Planes states that the center of the plane takes various forms at different times and godly powers are lost as one moves toward the center, as well as spells, beginning with the highest levels of spells at the farthest out and then gradually losing the lower ones step by step the further one moves inward. Within of the center, not even chemical reactions take place, and neither man nor deity can get closer than. In Second Edition Outer Planes Monstrous Compendium, under the description of the Mediators of Nirvana, it states that this plane was originally intended for Neutral Powers and created by the Powers of creation, but each Neutral Deity asserted their individual influence causing it to become unbalanced, then were cast out by the powers of creation. It also states that three lights of balance exist at the center of this plane, one for each Mediator in Nirvana. Before Planescape, there is also no mention whatsoever of Sigil being at the Center of this Plane.
    Gate-towns are settlements which are built around a permanent portal to a certain Outer Plane on the Great Wheel. Gate-towns are important strategically because they provide a stable way to enter a desired Outer Plane. The gate-towns reflect the plane that they lead to, for example, Xaos is a town where everything changes from one moment to the next. Even the location of the portal to Limbo changes every day – not that there's any regularity to daybreak and nightfall in Xaos. The character of Xaos mirrors what the plane of Limbo is like.

    Realms

    The Outlands is the location of a number of godly realms, including the following:
    Three dwarven gods, share the realm of The Dwarven Mountain on the plane of the Outlands.
    The Celtic gods share the realm of Tír na nÓg on the Outlands.

    Fauna

    Pandemonium is the Outer plane where Chaotic Evil and Chaotic Neutral petitioners are sent after death. Pandemonium is a large, complex cavern that never ends. Compounding this problem, howling winds drive most of its residents mad. There are few creatures that are native to this plane; those individuals who do live there usually have no choice in the matter.

    Ysgard

    Ysgard is the Outer Plane of Chaotic Neutral / Chaotic Good alignment. It is also called Asgard, Gladsheim or The Heroic Domains.

    Footnotes