Arcadia
| Greyhawk Plane | |
| Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia | |
|---|---|
| |
| The layers of Arcadia. | |
| Type | Outer Plane |
| Layers | Two |
| Alignment | Lawful Good (Lawful Neutral) |
| Native Inhabitants | Formians, buxeni |
| Greyhawk Powers | Saint Cuthbert, Clangeddin Silverbeard, Meriadar |
Arcadia or more fully, the Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia, is the plane of existence where Lawful Good blends with Lawful Neutral. It is one of a number of alignment-based outer planes.
Description
Arcadia is a peaceful harmony between law and good and is noted for its tranquility and strict discipline. Everything on Arcadia has its specified place and everything functions as intended. Trees naturally form tight rows in orchards and streams snake across the perfectly flat plains in complex mathematical routes. Large geometric cities are perfectly laid out with efficient roads and beautiful architecture.
The Orb of Day and Night is a huge sphere that sits atop the tallest mountain in Arcadia, one side is illuminated and the other dark. The orb rotates at a constant speed so that exactly half of the plane is in darkness while the other half is illuminated. There is no dawn or dusk on Arcadia, but a sudden sharp change. The weather on Arcadia is always pleasant and seasons are of exactly equal length, which like the days, change abruptly when it is time.
Structure
As with other outer planes, Arcadia is spatially infinite, consisting of two infinite layers or sub-planes. Arcadia's first layer, Abellio, shares borders with the neighboring planes of the Seven Heavens of Celestia, the Outlands, and the Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus; travel is possible between Arcadia and these planes at certain locations.
Arcadia's portals are arched trellises of white ivory or black steel, with a color pool open within them 10% of the time. If the portal within is black it leads to the Outlands, if it's white it leads to Mount Celestia, and silvery pools lead to Mechanus.
Inhabitants
Arcadia is the origin of the antlike beings of law known as the formians. The formians of Arcadia are more peaceful and less expansionist than those on other planes.
The shapeshifting, ebon-skinned buseni guard the passages between Abellio and Arcadia's second layer, Buxenus.
Arcadia is also the home of numerous angelic races, such as devas, planetars, and solars, and the souls of those mortals who were between lawful good and lawful neutral alignment in life. As these souls advance in knowledge and wisdom their physical forms appear to grow older, and they move to deeper planes. The oldest once dwelled in the third layer, Nemausus, but the recent loss of that layer has upset the path of spiritual progression that they once tread.
Monastic, rhinocerous-like humanoids called the rhek have been brought to Arcadia by the Harmonium faction in great numbers from one of their colony worlds.
Layers
As with other outer planes, Arcadia is spatially infinite, consisting of two infinite layers or sub-planes. It has "normal" gravity and "normal" time. Arcadia’s first layer, Abellio, shares borders with the neighboring planes of the Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia and the Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus; travel is possible between Arcadia and these planes at certain locations. Travel between Abellio and Buxenus, Arcadia's second layer, is possible via numerous portals present on both layers, as well other magical means such as spells.
A third layer, called Nemausus was once part of Arcadia, but has since merged with Mechanus when reeducation camps of the planar faction known as the Harmonium bent the plane too far away from the ideals of Good.
Abellio
Abellio is a mostly flat layer, but does contain mountains and hills at various points. There are numerous large forests, lakes, streams and fields. One notable settlement on Abellio is the formian hive-city of Mandible.
A number of godly realms also exist on Abellio:
- The Anvil of Creation, realm of Reorx, a deity from the Dragonlance setting.
- The Bastion of Law, realm of Saint Cuthbert.
- Cherry Blossom, realm of the Japanese deities Izanagi and Izanami.
- Marduk, realm of the Babylonian deity Marduk.
- The Ministry of Rewards, realm of the Chinese deity Lu Hsing.
- Mount Clangeddin, the realm of the dwarven deity Clangeddin Silverbeard. Mount Clangeddin is a perfectly shaped conical mountain rising over 30,000 feet above the surrounding lands. The mountain itself is full of expertly constructed dwarven halls and galleries. Huge forges are used in the construction of dwarven weapons here.
- Tlalocan, a paradise for those who have drowned in water, was created by Tlaloc, the Olman god of rain. It is described as a land of gentle rain and friendly animals.
Buxenus
In appearance, there are very few differences between Buxenus and Abellio; similar pristine landscapes stretching on endlessly. This layer hosts a more militaristic feel, with large numbers of Arcadian forces congregating in anticipation for future battles with the neighbouring plane of Mechanus.
The Harmonium, a particularly militant sect, have their headquarters in the city of Melodia on Buxenus. The Harmonium run training camps to indoctrinate "borrowed" chaotic mortals in the ways of law and order.
Fewer godly realms exist on Buxenus than Abellio. Among them are:
- The Hand of Peace, realm of the mongrelfolk deity, Meriadar.
- Heliopolis, a hot realm of sand-filled deserts dotted with vast Egyptian pyramids and obelisks. A single life-giving river flows through its center. This realm is occupied by the Eygptian deities Ra, Isis, Osiris, and Horus.
Creative origins
Arcadia is based on the Arcadia of Peloponnesian Greece and the writings of Virgil, which was described as a place of pastoral happiness and simplicity.
See also
Bibliography
- Baker, Richard, and James Wyatt. Player's Guide To Faerûn. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.
- Boyd, Eric L., and Erik Mona. Faiths and Pantheons. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
- Grubb, Jeff. Manual of the Planes. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1987.
- Grubb, Jeff, David Noonan, and Bruce Cordell. Manual of the Planes. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
- McComb, Colin. On Hallowed Ground. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.
- McComb, Colin, and Wolfgang Baur. Planes of Law. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995.
- Niles, Douglas. Maztica Campaign Set. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991.
- Noonan, David. Complete Divine. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.
- Wyatt, James, Darrin Drader, and Christopher Perkins. Book of Exalted Deeds. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003.
