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The Astral Plane is unique in that it touches every one of the Inner Planes and the topmost layers of the Outer Planes. It is the glue that holds the universe together and allows creatures skilled in the arts of sorcery to travel far and wide through dimensions as well as time and space. Many creatures use this plane as a highway making it the most dangerous of all the planes due to the traffic that moves through it.

There are no buildings or natural structures, no lakes or rivers, and no places as such in the Astral Plane. To move within it one must use intelligence and free thought. The greater ones intelligence the faster you will move. It is a conceptual plane. Distance means nothing; the sorcerer merely focuses on a destination and thinks himself there. Although there is no sensation of actual movement it is possible (in fact it is highly likely) that the traveller will interrupt another beings movement.

There is one exception to the reach of the Astral Plane. Only one plane – Limbo – has no contact with it. Due to historical events Limbo was severed from any contact with the outer planes and can only be reached by mastery of The Void.

In respect to the Outer Planes the Astral Plane touches only the first layer of each particular plane.

There are only eight outer planes. Some of them are multi-layered (the Abyss has 666 for instance) whilst others are just single entities. When Promethius created the universe he had to balance the power of the Prime Material plane (see the Inner Planes). Some scholars believe that the failed experiments of those early days of the Age of Creation were dumped into regions that later became the Outer Planes. This theory is incorrect.

The Outer Planes play a significant role in the development of the universe and act as a counterbalance to the most powerful plane – Grayhawk (or Prime Material Plane). Each plane will be dealt with individually as each is different. Overall the eight planes signify the eight aspects of the universe.

Those aspects are:

Good

Evil

Law

Chaos

Air

Earth

Fire

Water

Promethius believed that these aspects were the key to the creation of a universe. With these elements in place any universe would thrive. The Prime Material Plane was the embodiment of each of the eight aspects (supposedly in equal measures) and as long as that fundamental balance was maintained then the universe would thrive. Each one of his universes contrived to create a Mother (Nature) who monitored this universal balance.

This is the final universe and the Great Mother is gone, the universe now left to her chosen guardians (the gods?). Each one of the Outer Planes embodies one aspect of these universal constants. The Abyss, for instance, is clearly the chaotic aspect. The planes are dealt with in more detail later.

Chael – Promethuis’ First Wizard – created the Layers of Magic. A way of ordering and systemising sorcery so that as magicians increased in power they could reach higher up into the more powerful upper levels. There are outer planes where the magical layers do not intrude (and therefore a sorcerer would be rendered powerless). The Layers of Magic pervade the Inner Planes, the Astral Plane and most of the Outer Planes but they are not classed as a planar…this distinction is important. Many sorcerers believe that they can reach travel within them. That is impossible.

The universal aspect of Good.

This plane has seven distinct layers and almost all religions past and present cite this as their resting place, panacea or sanctuary. In the First Millennium of Grayhawk this was the location of the Old Gods. Many of them built towers or palaces on the various layers of the Seven Heavens some of which lie empty even now.

It is full of incredible landscapes, beautiful gardens and monumental cities full of life and pleasure. The legacy of the Old Gods lives on even after four thousand years – whole societies exist within its immense landscapes.

The universal aspect of Evil.

The home to many of the most evil creatures in the universe. Many devils, vampires and other undead infest the nine planes of torment, its roads and valleys have been well trodden by brave adventurers. Necromancers are the scourge of this realm. The great devil lords and arch rulers are constantly plagued by the persistent Grayhawkians who insist on summoning their minions for nefarious tasks.

It is worth noting that a devil (or any other creature indigenous to Hell) is ten times more powerful on its own plane. A devil slain on Grayhawk is banished for one hundred years but one slain in Hell is destroyed forever.

The Ninth plane of Hell is the deepest and where the most powerful of the devil rulers dwell. The mantle of greatest devil changes constantly, the struggle for power means that any devil that grasps control of the Iron Fortress gains control of all of Hell.

The universal aspect of Law

A single layered plane was the resting place of Donblas and where Sirath Urikk ascended to after his adventures with Kiruk. The palace of the Old Gods still stands as a monument to lawfulness in the universe, it sits at the centre of the massive layer on an island surrounded by an ocean of fresh water.

The spirits of every single lawful priest (of Sirath, Donblas etc) roam free. Since this plane was exclusively controlled by these powerful gods little is known of it in the last three thousand years.

The universal aspect of Chaos.

See here for a more in depth guide to the layers of chaos.

The universal aspect of Air.

The resting place of all the lost souls in the universe. Until the Reapers death he was the vehicle that would carry souls to their final resting place. Now Hoqar – Lord of Balance – resides in the forlorn plane to gather and channel souls to their final destination. The story of the ascension of Jarik Saal and Hoqar can be found here.

The universal aspect of Earth.

This is where the spirit of elves go when they depart Grayhawk and their influence is no longer in the minds of others. Historically it is the home of all the elven gods – Andurien Willowstar has a palace in the centre of the plane in a forest fifty times the size of the Elenorian Forest.

There are five layers to Elysium. Each has four separate continents to represent the twenty races of elves. (The observant amongst you will realise that according to the manual there are twenty one elven races. In actual fact one of them is fake).

The universal aspect of Water.

Nirvana has three planes. Each is ruled by a lord and there are constant battles between the three layers. Little is known about these three individuals or about the armies they command. Historically Nirvana was a haven for the persecuted races of the universe.

The universal aspect of Fire.

Home to a most honourable and powerful race. The Echeron plane is more like a sprawling continent connected by massive cities. Its highly developed culture and intuitive, brilliant sorcerers make it a place where knowledge and learning are held in high regard.

The Echeron lords produced a rogue. Muziel stole the secret arts and committed murder – unheard of on Echeron – he followed this crime by an even greater one. He left Echeron and was drawn to Grayhawk, drawn to its power and its potential. The kings and mages of Echeron could not stop him and Muziel cut free from the constraints of his honourable bonds…he became a maverick. A powerful sorcerer who displayed an uncanny ability for manipulation.