Manual of the Planes

Illus. by A. Swekelhe Inner Planes are places of raw power and pureelements, of ultimate states and extreme conditions.They are the building blocks of the rest of theuniverse and represent matter and energy in theirprimal states. As destinations go, the Inner Planes arethe most inhospitable to creatures from the MaterialPlane. Unprepared travelers are at best helpless beforesuch power, and at worst they’re snuffed out like candlesin a tornado.Within the D&D cosmology, the Inner Planes consistof four Elemental Planes (Earth, Air, Fire, and Water)and two Energy Planes (Positive, the moving spirit of alllife, and Negative, the force of decay and entropy).Each of the Inner Planes is a region of roughly similarenvironment. The Elemental Plane of Earth, for example,is mostly solid matter, while flames overwhelm the ElementalPlane of Fire. On each of the planes are bits ofother elements and substances, existing like islands inthe otherwise overwhelming element or energy. Outsidersand visitors gravitate toward the comfort theseislands provide. The City of Brass, on the Elemental Planeof Fire, is the best-known locale of this type.Inner Planes may or may not be part of your cosmology.The lack of Inner Planes does not deny theexistence of elements and energies, only of extraplanarrealities that have these materials and energies attheir heart. Elemental creatures can exist even if theElemental Planes do not, but the denizens of thoseplanes need new homes unless you’re dispensingwith them entirely.INNER PLANES TRAITSThe Inner Planes have a variety of unique qualitiesdescribed under their individual entries.Even given the general similarities of the InnerPlanes, movement, vision, and combat can varyradically from plane to plane. The individualplanar descriptions cover such situations.Otherwise, the Inner Planes share the followingtraits.• Normal, Heavy, or Subjective DirectionalGravity: The Inner Planes have a variety ofgravity traits. The Elemental Plane of Firehas the normal gravity trait, the ElementalPlane of Earth has the heavy gravity trait,and the mostly “empty” Elemental Planes ofAir and Water have the subjective directionalgravity trait, as do the Negative andPositive Energy Planes.• Normal Time.• Infinite Size.• Alterable Morphic.65