Manual of the Planes

of material and have his life crushed into nothingness,his powdered remains a warning to any foolish enoughto follow.Despite its solid, unyielding nature, the ElementalPlane of Earth is varied in its consistency, ranging fromrelatively soft soil to veins of heavier and more valuablemetal. Striations of granite, volcanic rock, and marbleinterweave with brittle crystal and soft, crumbling chalksand sandstones. Thin veins of gemstones, rough andhuge, can be found within the plane, and these unpolishedjewels often lead the greedy to this plane in thehopes of picking them up with minimal effort. Suchprospectors often meet their match in the natives of theElemental Plane of Earth, who feel extremely attached(sometimes literally) to parts of their home.The Elemental Plane of Earth is a place hostile to lifefrom the Material Plane, but unlike the Elemental Planeof Fire, it is not actively hostile. Rather, it is uncaring,unconcerned about the motes of life that move through itand around it. It is solid stone, as patient as the earthitself. And it has all the time in the universe.ELEMENTAL PLANE OF EARTH TRAITSThe Elemental Plane of Earth has the following traits.• Heavy Gravity: The penalties of the heavy gravity traitapply to all creatures, native and visitor, on the plane.• Normal Time.• Infinite Size.• Alterable Morphic.• Earth-Dominant.• Enhanced Magic: Spells and spell-like abilities thatuse, manipulate, or create earth or stone (includingthose of the Earth domain) are both empowered andextended (as if the Empower Spell and Extend Spellhad been used on them, but the spells don’t requirehigher-level slots). A xorn movement spell would thushave its duration doubled. Spells and spell-like abilitiesthat are already empowered or extended are unaffectedby this benefit.• Impeded Magic: Spells and spell-like abilities that useor create air (including the summoning of air elementalsor outsiders with the air subtype) are impeded. Thisincludes spells of the Air domain. These spells andspell-like abilities can still be used, but a successfulSpellcraft check (DC 15 + level of the spell) must bemade to do so.EARTH INHABITANTSMuch of life on the Elemental Plane of Earth is unknownto travelers from the Material Plane, due at least in part tothe nature of this Inner Plane. Most visitors spend timeonly in the caverns and tunnels that snake through thesolid world of the plane, so creatures that live deep in theheart of the plane are unknown and unguessed-at.Elementals are sentient parts of the plane itself. Theymove effortlessly through the mix of rock and soil thatmakes up the Elemental Plane of Earth. Some creaturesare analogous to those of the Material Plane, while othersreflect the raw power of their elemental form.Earth elementals are uncomfortable with open spaces.On their home plane they will, unless otherwiserestrained or driven off, collapse tunnels, rifts, and cavernsthat snake through their realms.The outsiders who live on the plane oppose this elementaldestruction because they seek trade with otherplanes and want their homes on the Elemental Plane ofEarth to remain hospitable. Dao outposts, for example,are continually vigilant against the natural and sentienthazards of their plane, protecting spaces open enoughto allow them to deal with their fellow genies and othertravelers. Mephits also seek such clear spaces and are ascommon as vermin in settlements on the ElementalPlane of Earth. Creatures that have the ability to movethrough the earth, such as xorn, care neither one way northe other for such open regions within their realms.The Elemental Plane of Earth is also home to creatureswith a natural affinity toward earth and stone, denizenswho are comfortable in tunnels of their own carving.Dwarves and some dragons live here, as do larger creaturessuch as stone giants and the occasional gargoyle(though they rarely get to stretch their wings and fly veryfar on this plane). Such creatures need open spaces to survive,so they often ally themselves with more powerfulnative races.The native tongue of the Elemental Plane of Earth isTerran, a deep rumbling tongue that vibrates through thelistener like a tremor. Those natives who deal with visitorsmay speak additional languages, though most feel noneed to do so.MOVEMENT AND COMBATTwo kinds of movement are possible through the ElementalPlane of Earth: digging and walking through thetunnels and caverns. Digging is a tiring activity, done atthe rate of 5 feet per 10 minutes (but see the Digging YourWay Out sidebar). Moving through passages is likenormal movement and bears all the perils of exploringcaves on the Material Plane.Individuals with the ability to move like a xornthrough solid objects do not become intangible whenthey move this way. Rather, they move like fish throughwater, allowing the earth to close behind them in theirwake. Such creatures do not normally leave a tunnelbehind for others to follow unless digging at the speedand manner above.An astrally projecting traveler whose form manifestson this plane gains the ability to move through the solidrock in the same fashion as an earth elemental. This abilityonly applies on the Elemental Plane of Earth.Earth CombatExcept as noted for the elemental traits, combat is normalon the Elemental Plane of Earth. A traveler using a xornmovement spell or similar ability can be attacked normallyand might face attacks from assailants that can move in aCHAPTER 6:THE INNERPLANES71