Manual of the Planes

everything within a ten-mile radius just as a lesser deitycan, plus an intermediate deity can apply the enhancedmagic or impeded magic trait to up to four groups(selected by school, domain, or descriptor) of spells.Many deities apply the enhanced magic trait to theirdomain spells, making them maximized (as the MaximizeSpell feat) within the boundaries of their realm. Theimpeded magic trait doesn’t affect the intermediatedeity’s spells and spell-like abilities, but the deity can takeadvantage of enhanced magic within the realm.In addition, the intermediate deity can erect buildingsas desired and alter terrain within ten miles to becomeany terrain type found on the Material Plane.Greater Deity: The power to transform part of an OuterPlane expands further; a greater deity affects everythingjust as an intermediate deity does, but out to a hundredmileradius. Within this area, the greater deity can also doany one of the following:• Change or apply an elemental or energy trait of the area.• Change or apply a time trait within the area.• Change or apply a gravity trait within the area.• Apply the limited magic trait against a particularschool, domain, or spell descriptor within the area. Thegreater deity’s own spells and spell-like abilities are notlimited by these restrictions.Using power to divinely morph a plane in such dramaticfashion is time-consuming and involves a great deal ofthe deity’s divine power. As a result, a greater deity oftenuses major trait changes to cement his or her hold over arealm Such places are not given up lightly.In the D&D cosmology, deities cannot affect the alignmenttraits of their native plane, change the size of theplane, or alter the morphic nature of the plane. They alsocannot lift the effects of the limited magic trait on theirplane. But if you’re designing your own cosmology, youcan grant these powers to greater deities.THE NATURE OF THE DEADCosmologies can use the Outer Planes as the “final reward”or “eternal punishment” for the mortal creatures of theMaterial Plane. The nature of this reward/punishment isup to the individual Dungeon Master; it’s one of themost basic questions you’ll answer when you create yourown cosmology.In the D&D game, characters can be restored to life.Their spirits or souls go elsewhere for a while, but canreturn to the body if the right spell is cast. Where this“elsewhere” is depends on your cosmology.In the D&D cosmology, when characters die, theirsouls drift toward the Outer Plane that matches theirnature most closely. Souls that in life were lawful goodtend to drift toward Celestia, while those that relished eviland chaos wind up in the Abyss. Once there, they enjoythe fruits or suffer the punishments of their alignments,eventually forgetting their past lives (this is why spellsthat restore life may fail if a long time has elapsed). Ingame terms, dead characters are considered to have goneonto their great reward unless there is a way to restorethem to life. If the surviving characters visit the OuterPlanes and encounter the dead spirit of a former comrade,their old ally may or may not remember them.Here are a few other options for what happens to thespirits of the dead.Judgment: Dead characters pass through the OuterPlanes, where they are judged by their deities. Thosewho fail are retained on the Outer Planes (in which casethey are called petitioners) or returned to the MaterialPlane for reincarnation. Those who are judged worthyjoin with the essence of the plane itself, transform intoservants of their deity, or pass onto a new level of realityunknown to even the deities themselves. In every case,dead characters who are not brought back from thedead, regardless of their final destiny, become nonplayercharacters (NPCs).Joining: The spirits of the dead join with their deities,as they are all shards of the deity’s greatness. Spiritsrestored to life split off from the deity suddenly andreturn with no memory of the intervening time betweendeath and resurrection.Fusion: The spirits of the dead join the Outer Planesthemselves, becoming part of the morphic landscape.Unknown: No one knows what happens to the spiritsof the dead, not even deities (or perhaps the deities knowbut aren’t telling). Death remains a great mystery.Pick the option you like, or come up with an option ofyour own that fits with your style of play. If the spirits ofdead warriors engaging in eternal battle works for yourcampaign, do it. If dead rivals live in peace, drinking andtrading stories, that is equally good. Your choice dependsentirely on your cosmology and your game.Regardless of your choice, some spirits lose their wayin transit, others suffer violent deaths, and some victimsdie at the hands of the undead. These souls becomeundead monsters such as ghosts, wraiths, or vampires.CHAPTER 7:THE OUTERPLANESpqqqqrsOPTION: THE PANTHEON THAT MORPHSTOGETHERDeities sometimes gather into related organizations calledpantheons. The less powerful members of the pantheon gainsafe haven beneath more powerful brethren while their energyfuels dramatic changes to the divinely morphic landscape.A pantheon of deities can band together to create a singlemeeting place for all its members, despite their alignmentdifferences. Within such an area, the plane’s alignment traitis suppressed so that deities of opposing alignments withinthe same pantheon can meet on what is literally “neutralground.”pqqqqrs89