Manual of the Planes

CHAPTER 7:THE OUTERPLANES134ChroniasJovarMertionSolaniaVenyaMercuriaLuniaSilver SeaYetsiraEmpyreaCelestiaBahamut’sPalaceSilver SeaMost petitioners of Celestia are lantern archons. Moreso than most petitioners on other planes, they are gracedwith both knowledge and power. Every petitioner’s goalis to ascend through the layers of Mount Celestia andevolve into a more glorious archon type. Other archonstreat lantern archons like children, forgiving their errorsand guiding them onto paths of virtue. Lantern archonsappear as floating balls of light that glow like a torch.Lantern archon petitioners have the following specialpetitioner qualities:Additional Immunities: Electricity, petrification.Resistances: None.Special: Hit Die d8, Improved Initiative feat.Other Special Qualities: Damage reduction 20/+1;light ray; spell-like abilities, celestial qualities, no planarcommitment.Light Ray (Ex): A lantern archon can attack with twolight rays as +2 ranged touch attacks that deal 1d6 pointsof damage each, with a range of 30 feet.Spell-like Abilities: At will—aid, continual flame, detect evil.These abilities are as the spells cast by a 3rd-level sorcerer.Celestial Qualities: Aura of menace (save DC 11), magiccircle against evil, teleport, tongues, +4 racial bonus onsaves against poison.No Planar Commitment (Ex): Unlike most other petitioners,lantern archons can leave their home plane.FEATURES OF CELESTIAFrom the seashore at the bottom of the first layer to theheights of the seventh, paths wind up the many peaks,ridges, canyons, and passes of Mount Celestia. Somehow,every incline looks up to the next layer, which shines likethe sun on the layer below. Each rift eventually leadsdown past arching waterfalls and rushing brooks to theSilver Sea. Even from many layers above, the ringingchimes of each wave breaking on the shore of Lunia arefaintly, reassuringly audible.LuniaThe first and lowest layer of Celestia is also called theSilver Heaven. Portals from other planes connect toLunia at the edge of the wine-dark Silver Sea, a vast gulfof holy water. The Silver Sea is salt-free and contains allmanner of aquatic life, from tiny schools of silvery fishesto leviathans moving in the depths.Lunia’s sky is dark but filled with silvery stars brightenough to illuminate the shore of the Silver Sea where itruns up against the base of the mountain. The shore isdotted with citadels and redoubts of polished white stoneof various architecture and inhabitants. Many are open totrade from sea elves from the Material Plane.Castle Mahlhevik: The wonders of Lunia offer much,even for a chaotic evil wizard committed to learning thepaths of goodness. Calling in favors from variousdemideities and revealing his sincerity to highly placedarchons, the wizard Mahlhevik built his castle on theshore of the Silver Sea in peace. While he’s sincerelyattempting to reform, he’s got a long way to go, andretains many instincts and notions of his former lifestyle.Mahlhevik welcomes visitors and allows travelers of anyalignment to stay in Castle Mahlhevik. Some of Mahlhevik’s“old friends” such as Sytris, once called the Soul Reaver,and Japheth, formerly known as Lifeleech, visit from timeto time. Arriving onto the plane waist deep in the holywater of the Silver Sea has a way of scarring and frighteningaway Mahlhevik’s old friends, so they don’t visit often.Interesting trades and even more interesting stories can behad at Mahlhevik’s castle, and travelers who don’t want todeal directly with archons regard it a good place to stay.MercuriaThe second layer of Celestia is also called the GoldenHeaven. It is a place of thin air and high hopes, wheregolden light suffuses everything. Here, the slopes aretame, the valleys lush, and the streams fast-running.Plateaus and passes provide spaces for small settlementsof archons and other goodly beings.Great tombs and wondrous mausoleums on Mercuriagrant eternal rest to the noblest of fighters. Here, theinhabitants of Celestia honor their deeds during anannual Day of Memory.Bahamut’s Palace: This glittering wonder is builtentirely from the treasure hoard of Bahamut the PlatinumDragon, ruler of good dragons and a paragon of wisdom,knowledge, prophecies, and song. The palace’s windowsare gemstones in settings of gold and silver, its walls areinlaid with copper and jade, and its floors are beatenmithral. Within, seven great wyrms attend Bahamut