The Elemental Planes
Most consider the elemental planes to be four separate planes, water, earth, fire, and air. However, these planes are, to those with the perspective to see, a single plane with four different “cores.” These cores blow out across the elemental plane and clash at the borders. In the center of the elemental plane is something known as “the maelstrom” or “the elemental chaos,” where all four of the distinct elements collide together in full force.
The elemental planes are the homes of elementals and other creatures whose nature comes from the power of the elements filling as their beating heart. The most powerful of these creatures in the elemental planes are the genies, pure and powerful elemental energy given shape and personality.
The Plane of Air
The plane of air is a maelstrom, a place of movement, inspiration, and animation. Air is the breath of life, the winds of change and the breeze that clears the fog and stiffness.
The plane of air is a vast expanse with constant winds. Here and there, chunks of earth drift in the expanse, miniature crumbling versions of the Skylands of the material plane, eroded by the constant wind. These small chunks of earth serve as the homes of the plane of air’s few residents. Other creatures occupy magical clouds that can support the weight of entire castles.
Drifting clouds float across the plane of air and storms are common, nearly constant. Thunderstorms are frequent, but these storms can grow to tornadoes and hurricane winds. Flowing through the plane of air is a twisted network of air currents that can enable any traveler to navigate the plane of air.
The Plane of Water
The plane of water is the deepest ocean. Water flows, smooth, steady and inexorable. Water is the rhythm of a tide, the drink of life, the bitter tears and the cool balm.
There are frequent rainstorms on the plane of water, feeding into the vastness of the deep ocean. The lost ships of countless civilizations drift across the ocean with little hope of returning home.
Life flourishes in the sunlit top of the ocean, aquatic creatures occupy coral reefs and sea caves that seem endless.
The deep, pitch-black regions of the ocean are murky and dark, horrid creatures that have never seen sunlight live down there, living off the vents of molten heat that pours in from the depths.
Any land that rises above the surface of the sea is hotly contested by the few air-breathers that live on the plane. Fleets of rafts and ships lashed together serve as a solid ground where nothing else is available
The Plane of Earth
The plane of earth is a solid mass of stone and soil, a plane of impossibly high mountains and deep extensive networks of caverns. The highest mountains stretch beyond any air and few things live on the surface of the plane of Earth.
Earth is an element of stability, rigidity, stern resolve, and long tradition, it is the element of long memories and solid stoicism.
Jewels are abundant here, and larger than any that could be found on the material plane. Minerals and metals are common and they are ever regenerated at the font of creation that sits at the plane’s border. Every so often, some people will concoct a scheme to mine the plane of earth, to harvest the vast mineral wealth.
The Plane of Fire
Fire is an element of vibrancy, passion, and change. It can be cruel and destructive, but also nourishing and warming. Without fire, civilization is impossible. Fire is the warmth of compassion, the flame of desire, and the inferno of anger.
The plane of fire is a place of blazing sun and heat that burns like a furnace. At noon, the light from its powerful sun burns so brightly it blinds anyone who sees it.
There are a few patches of water within the plane of fire, but they do not last long, and gradually become rarer as one passes deeper into the plane of fire.
The Borders
Between the elemental planes are admixtures of the two bordering elements. Strange mergings of the two distinct elements forming something powerful and new.
Sirocco Straights
Air & Fire The sirocco straights are a place of ash and wind. Hot winds blow motes of ash far and wide and fuel the great conflagration.
The Great Conflagration
Admixture plane The great conflagration is a towering inferno of flames constantly stoked by the winds of the plane of air. This is a place that burns without end.
The Sea of Fire
Fire & Air A vast expanse of flame, flickering and burning as it flows from the great conflagration to the core of the plane of fire, where all the fuel has been burned away.
Molten Rivers
Fire & Earth Bubbling flows of molten magma that flow down from the fountains of creation and delivers their core of heat to the plane of fire.
The Fountains of Creation
Admixture plane Places where volcanoes rise from the earth, spewing lava and ash into the sky and causing new earth to rise out of the powerful eruptions.
The Furnaces
Earth & Fire The furnaces are places of roiling magma, they are cavernous funnels and the seats of great forges. The magma of the furnaces seeps endlessly outwards.
Mud Hills
Earth & Water Hills of mud and muck that drift away from the plane of earth. Constant landslides of mud erode the mountains and send cascades of dirt and stone.
Swamp of Oblivion
Admixture Plane A swamp of twisted trees and gnarled vines, stagnant lakes and pools. It is believed that anything cast in the swamp cannot be found again for at least 100 years.
Silt Flats
Water & Earth A place of muck and sludge, of odd grasses and sands. The edges of this place are buffered by dunes and sedge grasses.
Sea of Ice
Water & Air A place of icebergs and frigid water, the place is choked by sleet and cold. The drifting icebergs occasionally carry its inhabitants deeper into the oceans.
Frostfell
Admixture Plane The frostfell is a place of solid ice and cold, a vast glacier with raging blizzards and deep caverns of ice. This is a place that demands strength for survival.
Mistral Reach
Air & Water The mistral reach is a place of snow and rain, fueled by the ice of the frostfell and the waters of the plane of water.