Manual of the Planes

• Impeded Magic: Spells and spell-like abilities thatuse positive energy, including cure spells, areimpeded. These spells and spell-like abilities can stillbe used, but a successful Spellcraft check (DC 15 +level of the spell) must be made to do so. Characterssuffer a –10 penalty on Fortitude saving throws madeto regain negative levels bestowed through energydrain while on this plane, though they may leave theNegative Energy Plane and make their Fortitudesaves somewhere else.NEGATIVE INHABITANTSLike its positive energy twin, the Negative Energy Planeis relatively empty. It contains no true elemental forms orversions of Material Plane creatures, and its outsiders arefew and far between. Unlike on the Positive EnergyPlane, undead thrive in this dark place.The best-known outsider found on the NegativeEnergy Plane is the xeg-yi. These alien, otherworldlycreatures appear to be sentient, though their nature andpurpose remain a mystery for many. Outsiders native tothe Negative Energy Plane (including the xeg-yi) areimmune to the detrimental effects typical of the plane.The Negative Energy Plane is a hospitable home forthe undead, especially undead that drain life energiesfrom their opponents. Wraiths, spectres, and wights areall common, and some powerful vampires and lichesmake their homes on the Negative Energy Plane as well.The only thing that limits such creatures is the availabilityof prey, so the undead may be on their way elsewherewhen encountered.MOVEMENT AND COMBATMovement on the Negative Energy Plane functions likeit does on the Elemental Plane of Air and other subjectivegravity planes. But flight that relies on wings or the presenceof air does not function, though magical flight (suchas a fly spell) does. A bird’s wings have nothing to beatagainst on the Negative Energy Plane, for example, but abeholder’s levitation abilities function normally).Even for a traveler who can move across this desolate,empty plane, the total darkness and lack of landmarksmake this a perilous place to visit. The undead seem asclueless in this matter as other visitors from the MaterialPlane. If a powerful spellcaster can figure out how to dealwith the xeg-yi, these energons can serve as guides.Negative CombatBecause the Energy Planes have the no gravity trait, manyassailants can attack a single target. (See the Combat inThree Dimensions sidebar in Chapter 1.) Combat is otherwiseunaffected on the Negative Energy Plane.FEATURES OF THE NEGATIVE ENERGYPLANEThe greatest immediate danger on the Negative EnergyPlane is the plane itself—its brooding malevolence andsoul-sucking nature are a threat to all who cross it.As with its positive twin, there is no air on the NegativeEnergy Plane. While the environment is not a truevacuum, suffocation is a great peril, and the lack of breathableair tends to keep living creatures away. Similarly, foodand drink do not exist naturally on the Negative EnergyPlane, so a traveler must bring supplies as well.The Negative Energy Plane preys on more than just light.It greedily sucks the energy out of anything that it can.Torches and lanterns last half the normal time. The durationsof spells are unaffected, because the nature of the spellitself counteracts the entropic power of negative energy.Finally, a great danger of the plane is that while it hasmajor negative-dominant and minor negative-dominantareas, the border between the two is indistinguishable.Worse, the border is flexible, and even a stationary travelermay find himself within an energy-draining majornegative-dominant area. Spells such as negative energy protectioncan keep these perils at bay temporarily.The Negative Energy Plane is completely and totallyblack. Even if travelers bring their own light source, theinherent power of the plane drains the color from everything,leaving only gray tones lit by flickering light.Clear vision (including darkvision) is limited to 5 feet.Light sources beyond that range appear as indistinct bitsof radiance glimmering faintly against the deepest night.Distance is impossible to gauge within this oppressiveenvironment.VoidstoneIn some locations on the Negative Energy Plane, the collapsingintensity of the plane is so great that the negativeenergy folds in on itself, stabilizing into solid chunks ofutterly black matter. These chunks of voidstone might bethe building blocks of such items as the sphere of annihilation.Indeed, anything that comes into contact with avoidstone is instantly destroyed. Unlike with a sphere ofannihilation, a character touching a piece of voidstonegets a Fortitude saving throw (DC 25) each round he staysin contact with it. Even natives of the Negative EnergyPlane are vulnerable to voidstones.Also unlike a sphere of annihilation, chunks of voidstonecannot be controlled through mental energy. Voidstonesmay be of any size, ranging from inches across to dozensof feet.DoldrumsCertain regions on the Negative Energy Plane are lessdeadly than others, reducing the negative-dominant traitfrom major to minor or even removing it entirely. Theseareas, called the doldrums, are relatively static on theplane, so towers, cities, and other structures can be builtat their locations.The perils of such places are twofold. The most obviousthreat is the hostile life (and unlife) in the area. Asecond threat is that the borders of a doldrums area mayfail and the deadly tides of negative energy once againwash over the region. Necromancers in particular favorthe doldrums for their lairs.CHAPTER 6:THE INNERPLANES81