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in: Great Wheel planes, World Tree planes, Transitive planes, Planes of existence

Ethereal plane

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The Ethereal plane, sometimes referred to as the Misty Shore or the Waveless Sea,[1] was one of the planes of existence in various models of cosmology.

Geography[]

“
It is a plane out of phase.
It is a place of ghosts and monsters.
It is right next to you, and you don't even see it.
”
— Manual of the Planes[11]

Cosmology[]

Great Wheel[]

In the Great Wheel cosmology model, the Ethereal plane existed adjacent to the Prime Material Plane and connected it to the Inner planes (the Elemental planes plus the Energy planes). The Ethereal touched the Prime at all points that were located within crystal spheres through what was called the Border Ethereal. It was unknown whether the Border Ethereal touched the Prime in the phlogiston.[7][14]

The non-Border region was called the Deep Ethereal. While in the Border Ethereal, a traveler could still see into the adjacent plane but only dimly and not very far, whereas those on the bordering plane could not see the traveler without magical detection. Verbal communication was not possible between the Border Ethereal and the bordered plane. The Ethereal was unique among the many planes in that an individual could exist in two planes simultaneously: the Border Ethereal and the adjacent plane.[7]

Ethereal-map-2e

A diagram representing the relative locations of the Border and Deep Ethereal, the Prime Material plane, and the Inner planes.

When travelers crossed into the Border Ethereal, they and all their possessions were converted to their Ethereal equivalents—metal became ethereal metal, flesh became ethereal flesh, and so on[15] —allowing free movement (in most cases) in any direction through the solid matter of the adjacent plane.[7] Since everything was permeated with ethereality, an air-breathing creature could breathe ethereal air and could not drown in an ethereal lake nor be crushed by an ethereal rock. However, not all in the adjacent plane was insubstantial. Living things larger than one-celled animals generated an aura that radiated around them and prevented passage to their interior, so an ethereal traveler could not place a weapon inside a living creature where it would materialize and cause damage. A jungle would be an extremely torturous maze to navigate; it would be much easier to float above the vegetation or pass below its roots. Dense metals such as lead or gold also prevented passage of ethereal matter. And finally, some magic spells and alchemical mixtures could form an effective barrier.[15]

Travel in the Ethereal and Border Ethereal was accomplished by force of will—you wished to go somewhere and you did, at your normal rate of movement. There was a sense of up and down but no real gravity existed. Objects released from possession would hover where they were dropped; it was impossible to fall in the Ethereal plane.[16] To get to another plane, one had to pass through a curtain of vaporous color into the Deep Ethereal, then traverse that region until reaching the curtain that demarcated the Border Ethereal of the destination plane. Each Inner plane and demiplane had a curtain with a unique color. The Prime Material plane's curtain was turquoise.[15] If the (usually magical) ethereal effect wore off while a traveler was in the Deep Ethereal, he would immediately be forced through a random curtain at a random location in the Border Ethereal and deposited on the plane which it bordered.[16]

By use of magic—or by the natural ability that some creatures, like phase spiders, were thought to have—one could fade into the Ethereal and travel at will. Gravity gave a sense of up and down, but movement in any direction was equally easy, and objects released hovered in place.[7] The proto-matter swirling about the Ethereal plane could be used to create demi-planes, either through natural fluctuations in the medium or by the actions of powerful beings. Some known demi-planes included the Demi-Plane of Shadow, the Demi-Plane of Time, the Demi-Plane of Electro-Magnetism, and the possibly legendary Demi-Plane of Imprisonment.[17] The Demiplane of Nightmares was also sometimes said to reside within the Ethereal plane,[18] as was the Region of Dreams.[19] There also existed a series of demiplanes in the Deep Ethereal known as the "mazes", sections of the city of Sigil spun off into the plane, that were created by the Lady of Pain to imprison all those who opposed her.[20][21][22]

When you passed through a curtain into the Deep Ethereal, time slowed down to one tenth the rate it flowed in the Border Ethereal and the plane that it bordered. For every ten hours spent in the Deep Ethereal only one hour passed on the other side of the curtain. Metabolic and other natural processes slowed down also, so it did not feel like ten hours, when you crossed back through a curtain into a Border Ethereal you were only an hour older and an hour hungrier.[15]

The Deep Ethereal swirled with large blobs of protomatter (imagine a cosmic lava lamp) which could form a demiplane when a critical size was reached. Powerful wizards, technologists, or demigods could also bend the proto-matter to their will and create a demiplane.[23] These nascent planes might exhibit some of the characteristics of the Inner planes or the Prime, but with their own rules of gravity, material make-up, etc., and even support life. Most demiplanes eventually collapse into themselves and break up or merge with another Inner or Prime Material plane.[17]

World Tree[]

In the World Tree cosmology model, the concept of the Border Ethereal was dropped and the Ethereal Plane became one of the transitive planes that coexisted with the Prime Material Plane.[24] The Ethereal Plane was no longer viewed as connected to the Plane of Shadow, though was coexistent with it,[13][25] and formed a border region between the Prime Material and the Spirit World.[26]

The Ethereal Plane was mainly accessed by spells such as blink, etherealness, and ethereal jaunt. A phase door spell could be used to create a passage through the Ethereal, and Leomund's secret chest could temporarily stash a container in the Ethereal.[27]

The Ethereal Plane had the following traits in the World Tree cosmology model:[9][10][13][note 1]

  • No Gravity: but with a definite "down" direction. Travelers could move along surfaces just as if they were on the Prime Material Plane, but could also move in any direction by willing it so.
  • Normal Time: same as the Material Plane.
  • Alterable Morphic: if you can find anything to alter.
  • Mildly Neutral-Aligned: no circumstance penalties.
  • Normal Magic: spells and abilities worked as usual, but could not affect the Material Plane.

Certain creatures primarily lived on the Ethereal Plane, whilst others possessed an ability shift between it and the Material Plane virtually at will. Examples of these include ghosts,[28] ethereal marauders,[29] thought eaters,[30][31] thought slayers,[31] and phase spiders.[32] Like the Great Wheel model the multiverse, ethereal creatures and travelers could see into the Prime, though not the other way around. But unlike the Great Wheel version, it was believed could pass through all solid objects in the Ethereal Plane, including living creatures, and that you could hear into the Material plane.[33]

Notable Locations[]

  • Al-Azid's Ghostly Palace, a cursed planeshifting palace that typically resided within the Ethereal.[34]
  • Freehold City, a large town that resided on a chunk of stable ether, springing up around the headquarters of the Etherfarer Society. The landmass it stood on was referred to as either Farer's Freehold or simply Freehold and generated a field of gravity comparable to most Prime worlds.[35]
  • The Radiant Citadel, a city-sized locale that served as a multiplanar hub of commerce and culture.[36]

Notable Inhabitants[]

  • Ptah, a god of creation and creativity in the Pharaonic pantheon. He did not keep a permanent divine realm within the plane, but rather wandered the Ethereal.[37][38]

Appendix[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Player's Guide to Faerûn states that Toril's Ethereal Plane, as envisioned by the World Tree cosmology, is identical to the description given in the Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5, so that source should be considered canon for this plane unless contradicted by a Forgotten Realms source.

Appearances[]

Adventures

Tomb of Annihilation • Storm Lord's Wrath • Sleeping Dragon's Wake • Divine Contention
Referenced only
Lords of Darkness 1st edition: "Ghosts" • Dungeon #18, "Irongard" • Dungeon #20, "The Ship of Night" • Halls of the High KingDungeon #38, "A Blight On The Land" • Dungeon #69, "Sleep of Ages" • Candlekeep Mysteries: "Mazfroth's Mighty Digressions" • Candlekeep Mysteries: "Zikran's Zephyrean Tome"

Comics

Tantras

Gamebooks

Referenced only
Knight of the Living Dead

Video Games

Referenced only
Planescape: Torment • Baldur's Gate III

Organized Play & Licensed Adventures

A Goodly Apple • Kuril's Tomb • The Messengers • Assault on Maerimydra
Referenced only
Foreclosure • Cat and Mouse • The Copycat • A Ticket to Midnight • Three Coins in a Well • Stone and Steel • Herald of the Moon • The Marionette • The Seer • Streams of Crimson • Beneath the City of the Dead • Liar's Night • Burying the Past

Further Reading[]

External Links[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bruce R. Cordell (1998). A Guide to the Ethereal Plane. Edited by Michele Carter, Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), p. 5. ISBN 0-7869-1205-7.
  2. ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
  3. ↑ Jeff Grubb (April 1987). “Plane Speaking: Tuning in to the Outer Planes”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #120 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 42–43.
  4. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 62. ISBN 0880383992.
  5. ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 49. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
  6. ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 47. ISBN 978-0786965622.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 11. ISBN 0880383992.
  8. ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), pp. 18–20. ISBN 0880383992.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams (July 2003). Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 147. ISBN 0-7869-2889-1.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams (July 2003). Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 151. ISBN 0-7869-2889-1.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 53. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
  12. ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 54. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 142. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
  14. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (1998). A Guide to the Ethereal Plane. Edited by Michele Carter, Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 7–8. ISBN 0-7869-1205-7.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 12. ISBN 0880383992.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 13. ISBN 0880383992.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 21. ISBN 0880383992.
  18. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (1998). A Guide to the Ethereal Plane. Edited by Michele Carter, Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), p. 47. ISBN 0-7869-1205-7.
  19. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (1998). A Guide to the Ethereal Plane. Edited by Michele Carter, Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 9, 55–56. ISBN 0-7869-1205-7.
  20. ↑ David "Zeb" Cook (1994). Planescape Campaign Setting, A Player's Guide to the Planes. Edited by David Wise. (TSR, Inc), p. 6. ISBN 978-1560768340.
  21. ↑ David "Zeb" Cook (1994). Planescape Campaign Setting, A DM Guide to the Planes. Edited by David Wise. (TSR, Inc), p. 47. ISBN 978-1560768340.
  22. ↑ Wolfgang Baur, Rick Swan (June 1995). In the Cage: A Guide to Sigil. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 8. ISBN 978-0786901111.
  23. ↑ David "Zeb" Cook (1989). Dungeon Master's Guide 2nd edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 132. ISBN 0-88038-729-7.
  24. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 256. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  25. ↑ Richard Baker, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan, Matthew Sernett, James Wyatt (March 2007). Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 72. ISBN 978-0-7869-4119-3.
  26. ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 206. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
  27. ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 206, 227, 228, 247. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  28. ↑ Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 116–118. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  29. ↑ Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 105. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  30. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (1998). A Guide to the Ethereal Plane. Edited by Michele Carter, Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), p. 72. ISBN 0-7869-1205-7.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Bruce R. Cordell (April 2004). Expanded Psionics Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 211–213. ISBN 0-7869-3301-1.
  32. ↑ Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 207–208. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  33. ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 206. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  34. ↑ Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 60. ISBN 978-1560766476.
  35. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (1998). A Guide to the Ethereal Plane. Edited by Michele Carter, Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), p. 82. ISBN 0-7869-1205-7.
  36. ↑ Ajit A. George, F. Wesley Schneider et al. (July 2022). Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel. Edited by Judy Bauer, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 6–11. ISBN 978-0-7869-6799-5.
  37. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (1998). A Guide to the Ethereal Plane. Edited by Michele Carter, Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), p. 57. ISBN 0-7869-1205-7.
  38. ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 90. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.

Connections[]

Cosmologies of the Realms
The Great Wheel
MechanusAcheronNine HellsGehennaHadesCarceriAbyssPandemoniumLimboYsgardArboreaBeastlands (plane)ElysiumBytopiaMount CelestiaArcadiaElemental Plane of AirElemental Plane of WaterElemental Plane of EarthElemental Plane of FirePrime Material PlaneFeywildShadowfellPositive Energy planePositive Energy planeNegative Energy planeNegative Energy planeInner planesOuter planesLower planesUpper planesEthereal PlaneElemental ChaosAstral PlanePlanes-5e-small

Prime Material plane • Feywild • Shadowfell • Fugue Plane
Transitive Planes: Astral Plane • Ethereal plane
Inner Planes: Elemental Plane of Air • Elemental Plane of Water • Elemental Plane of Earth • Elemental Plane of Fire • Elemental Chaos
Para-Elemental Planes: Frostfell • Swamp of Oblivion • Fountains of Creation • Great Conflagration
Quasi-Elemental Planes: Lightning • Radiance • Minerals • Steam • Vacuum • Ash • Dust • Salt
Outlands: Sigil
Outer Planes: Arcadia • Mount Celestia • Bytopia • Elysium • Beastlands • Arborea • Ysgard • Limbo •
Pandemonium • Abyss (Layers) • Carceri • Hades • Gehenna • Nine Hells • Acheron • Mechanus
Energy planes: Positive Energy plane • Negative Energy plane
Planar Pathways: Infinite Staircase • Oceanus • Mount Olympus • Styx • Yggdrasil
Far Realm

The World Tree
TorilFugue PlaneMaterial PlaneCynosureCelestial PlanesGates of the MoonBrightwaterGolden HillsHouse of Knowledge (plane)DweomerheartHouse of the TriadGreen FieldsArvandorDwarfhomeElemental PlanesElemental Plane of AirElemental Plane of WaterElemental Plane of FireElemental Plane of EarthNegative Energy PlanePositive Energy PlaneFiendish PlanesThe AbyssBlood RiftThe Nine HellsBarrens of Doom and DespairClangorThe Supreme ThroneFury's HeartHammergrimNishrekDemonweb PitsDeep CavernsThe Fated DepthsDragon EyrieHeliopolisHouse of NatureWarrior's RestJotunheimEthereal PlanePlane of ShadowThe World Tree cosmological view

Prime Material plane • Cynosure • Fugue Plane
Transitive Planes: Astral Plane • Ethereal plane • Plane of Shadow • Spirit World
Celestial Outer Planes: Arvandor • Brightwater • Dwarfhome • Dweomerheart • Gates of the Moon • Golden Hills • Green Fields • House of Knowledge • House of the Triad
Fiendish Outer Planes: Abyss (Layers) • Barrens of Doom and Despair • Blood Rift • Clangor • Deep Caverns • Demonweb Pits • Fated Depths • Fury's Heart • Hammergrim • Nine Hells • Nishrek • Supreme Throne
Neutral Outer Planes: Dragon Eyrie • Heliopolis • House of Nature • Jotunheim • Warrior's Rest
Inner Planes: Elemental Plane of Air • Elemental Plane of Earth • Elemental Plane of Fire • Elemental Plane of Water • Positive Energy plane • Negative Energy plane
Planar Pathways: Infinite Staircase • River of Blood • World Tree
Far Realm

The World Axis
Prime Material planeSigilThe Astral SeaThe Elemental ChaosThe ShadowfellThe FeywildPandemoniumPlutonTytherionArvandorTu'narathCarceriThe Nine HellsCelestiaThe City of BrassZerthadlunThe AbyssNachturCendrianeMag TureahLethernaGloomwroughtCosmology of the local multiverse, as of the Year of the Ageless One.

Prime Material plane
Fundamental planes: Astral Sea • Elemental Chaos
Astral dominions: Arvandor • Banehold • Celestia • Cynosure • Deep Wilds • Demonweb Pits • Dismal Caverns • Dwarfhome • Eternal Sun • Fugue Plane • Gates of the Moon • Green Fields • House of Knowledge • Nine Hells • Nishrek • Supreme Throne • Towers of Night • Tu'narath • Warrior's Rest
Elemental realms: Abyss (Layers) • City of Brass • Cresting Spires • Fimbulwinter • Hidden Realm • Muspelheim • Root Hold • Sky Home • Steading • Thraotor • Undying Pyre • Zerthadlun
Parallel planes: Feywild • Shadowfell
Anomalous planes: Far Realm

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