Cosmology

The Material Plane that holds the world of Toril is one of many planes of existence. Beyond Toril lie the Elemental Planes, the Positive and Negative Energy planes, and many realms of the deities, demons and devils (collectively called the Outer Planes). The Ethereal and Shadow planes overlap the the Material, with the Astral Plane connecting to all of them. The Deity Gargauth dwells on the Material Plane.

The Elemental Planes
The Elemental Planes embody the four basic elements in nature, air, earth, fire and water. The planes are extremely inhospitable except for natives of the plane, such as elementals, genies, mephits and other outsiders. Each Elemental Lord also make their home in the elemental planes.

Akadi rules the Elemental Plane of Air. Grumbar rules the Elemental Plane of Earth. Kossuth rules the Elemental Plane of Fire. And [Istishia]] rules the Elemental Plane of Water.

The Energy Planes
The Negative and Positive Energy Planes are no less extreme than their elemental counterparts, and very few beings are native to these planes. No dieties make their home in either plane.

The Ethereal Plane
The Ethreal Plane is a misty continuum that coexists with the Material Plane. Individuals within the Ethereal Plane can see into the Material Plane, but not vice versa. It is accessed by spells such as etherealness and ethereal jaunt, as well as various portals scattered through the Realms and the planescape.

The Shadow Plane
The Shadow Plane is coexistent with the Material Plane, but all colors are drained from the world, everything appearing in gray-tones, the other senses of hearing and touch are also dulled when in this eerie plane. The most common way of accessing the plane is through spells and abbilities like shadow walk, most often used for covering great distances on the Material Plane undetected and unhindered, although the strange Shadow Plane may provide hinderences of its own. Mask and Shar both make their homes within the Shadow Plane.

The Astral Plane
The Astral is an open empty plane, it has no directional gravity so travelers are weightless. The few bits of matter scattered throughout the wast plane are mostly portals leading to every plane in the cosmology. Spells like astral projection and gate access the Astral Plane in one form or another. The deity Ulutiu is suspended in a voluntary stasis within the plane, slumbering unaware that Auril is draining his divine powers ever so slowly.