Manual of the Planes

CHAPTER 6:THE INNERPLANESsimilar fashion (see Combat in Three Dimensions inChapter 1).FEATURES OF THE ELEMENTAL PLANEOF EARTHFor the traveler, the greatest danger on the ElementalPlane of Earth is being accidentally caught and suffocatedwithin solid earth. Travelers who manifest in thecaverns and other “clear areas” of the plane are safe fromthat danger (unless a cave-in occurs), but a traveler whosuddenly manifests randomly on the plane runs the riskof suffocation and speedy burial.Even creatures that do not need to breathe may stillfind themselves trapped in the rock and soil, unable toextricate themselves. In such cases they must wait forrescue by an outside source, and they may fall prey tostarvation and dehydration.At the DM’s discretion, those who wind up buried inan area of relatively loose soil on the Elemental Plane ofEarth can start digging a chamber for themselves (takingabout 10 minutes to clear a 5-foot cube). From there theyhave to choose a direction and start digging, hoping tofind an open cavern.A spellcaster trapped in solid earth can use only spellsthat do not require a somatic component, and the onlyfoci and material components that may be used are thoseat hand. Verbal components are unaffected.For those trapped on a long-term basis, starvation anddehydration become threats. The elemental life forms arepart of the plane itself and thus inedible. The outsidernatives of the Elemental Plane of Earth that requirenormal sustenance often have their own permanent communitiesto draw upon. Except in such areas, the evergrindingmotion of the plane’s soils prevents anythingfrom taking root long enough to blossom—even if it hadenough light to do so.Travelers trapped in the rocky state of the plane areeffectively blind until they can reach a space large enoughto cast a spell or light a torch. Even then, the ElementalPlane of Earth is by its nature as dark as the deepestcave—there is no sky or sun here at all. Darkvision functionsnormally in the twisting passages of the ElementalPlane of Earth, but those without it must provide theirown light source.There are luminous gems and crystals found naturallywithin the plane that may provide light (usually as brightas a candle, large deposits are the equivalent of a torch).Such discoveries are usually signs of recent or presentoccupation of the area by other inhabitants.Special DiscoveriesFor every 8 hours (at most) that a character or group ofcharacters spends digging through the plane, there is a10% chance of coming across something of interest. If thed% roll indicates a discovery sometime in the next 8hours, then roll 1d10 to determine what the discovery is(see the table below) and roll 1d8 to determine how manyhours pass before the discovery.1d10 Discovery1–4 Elemental pocket5–8 Metal seam9 Gem seam10 FossilElemental Pocket: Most adventuring on the ElementalPlane of Earth takes place in the clear spaces of theplane, those parts that are not earth itself but the intrusionsof other planes onto the Elemental Plane of Earth.Most common are caverns worn by nonnative water andtunnels carved by living things. The plane itself movesslowly, like a thick batter, and it eventually fills these in.A more durable kind of clear space is an elementalpocket from another plane, a place where another planeemerges onto the Elemental Plane of Earth. Theseregions are dangerous if broken into, because they cansurge wildly into the surrounding areas, immersing themcompletely with that element. An elemental pocket ofwater floods an area, while an elemental pocket of firesubjects those within to the dangers of being on the ElementalPlane of Fire.pqqqqrs72DIGGING YOUR WAY OUT1d10/1d20 Strength Progress perAs an optional rule, the DM may choose to aid or limit the Roll Kind of Earth DC 10 Minutesamount of earth a character can dig. For travelers who appear1–3 Soil 15 10 feet4–6 Very soft rock 17 5 feetunexpectedly on the Elemental Plane of Earth, roll 1d10 to7–8 Soft rock 19 4 feetdetermine the kind of soil or rock they arrive in (see the table9 Hard rock 21 2 feetbelow). Then each character must make a Strength check to 10 Very hard rock 23 1 footsee whether he can extricate himself sufficiently to start 11–17 Same as previous As above As abovedigging in the first place. In addition, the various kinds of earth 18–20 Clear space — Normal movementaffect how far an individual can dig in a round.For every 10 minutes of digging, make a new roll to determinethe kind of earth, but from now on roll 1d20. Subsequentrolls represent changes in the kind of rock being dug through,and they offer a chance that the traveler breaks through to aSoil is equivalent to Material Plane soil—the kind you’d find ina farmer’s field. Very soft rock is chalk or limestone. Soft rockincludes sandstones and gravel deposits. Hard rock is granite,and very hard rock is marble or basalt.clear space—a cavern, tunnel, lair, or other open area.pqqqqrs