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The Infinite Staircase, sometimes known to the inhabitants of Toril as the Celestial Staircase[1] or the Celestial Stairway, was a network of pathways linking the Realms with the planes.[1][3][4]

The truth is only visible under moonlight.
— Selenia[5]

Cosmography[]

From various locations, a stairway led to a nexus, which led to the homes of all the gods. The network was used by deities to traverse from the Realms to their home planes.[3][4]

The root or base of the Infinite Staircase was located in Selûne's palace of Argentil in the Gates of the Moon.[1] It only appeared if the moon was full and when the fog from the waters surrounding the palace filled the hall.[6] Multiple roughly carved landings of the stairway were also found on each of the three layers of Ysgard.[7]

Known Entrances[]

Some of the known entrances to the Celestial Stairway could be found:

Description[]

Oh, the River Styx is a putrid stream,

Oceanus is too good for me.
Olympus takes too long to climb,
Yggdrasil is just a tree.
But the Infinite Staircase takes you there.
The Grand Old Stair goes ev'rywhere.

A few short steps will bring us home…
  and fulfill our ev'ry dream.
— Unknown planar poet[10]

The individual stairways, invisible to ordinary people, could only be seen properly by gods or by very powerful mortals potent in magic.[3][4][11] When made visible to others, they appeared to constantly change shape, such as a long wooden spiral staircase, a marble ladder, a pathway of amber and pearl, or stranger forms.[3][11] The goddess Selûne showed it to her friends as a glowing silver ribbon rising into the sky.[4]

History[]

During the Time of Troubles of the Year of Shadows, 1358 DR, the god Helm guarded the Stairway and prevented Waukeen and Lliira from using it to return to the Outlands from Shadowdale. Helm, obviously, was not tempted by Waukeen's bribes.[12] Later that year, the Celestial Stairway appeared on Mount Waterdeep, seemingly in readiness for someone to pass between the planes and the realms, or because someone already had. Luna, avatar of the goddess Selûne, was shocked to see the Stairway and made it visible to her friends Vajra Valmeyjar, Kyriani Agrivar, Onyx the Invincible, and Timoth Eyesbright. Luna thought it signified Lord Ao was planning something.[4]

Rumors & Legends[]

The connection between the Infinite Staircase and the Gates of the Moon was suspected to be a consequence of the presence of Shaundakul in the plane.[6]

Notable Locations[]

Nowhere inn-2e

The Nowhere Inn was a popular waypoint for travelers along the Infinite Staircase.

  • The Nowhere Inn, a community of tents and other structures located on one of the stair's wider landings.[13]

Inhabitants[]

Lillendi lived on and guarded the Celestial Stairway.[1]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Adventures

Novels & Short Stories

Referenced only
Tantras

Comics

Video Games

Referenced only
Neverwinter

Card Games

Organized Play & Licensed Adventures

Referenced only
Stairway to Heaven

Further Reading[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Dale Donovan (May 1998). For Duty & Deity. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 17. ISBN 0-7869-1234-0.
  2. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 58–59. ISBN 978-0786965622.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Scott Ciencin (April 1989). Shadowdale. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 7–8. ISBN 0-8803-8730-0.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Dan Mishkin (September 1990). “Total Eclipse”. In Elliot S. Maggin ed. Advanced Dungeons & Dragons #22 (DC Comics) (22)., pp. 15–16.
  5. Wolfgang Baur and Lester Smith (1994-07-01). “The Travelogue”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Chaos (TSR, Inc), p. 48. ISBN 1560768746.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 154–155. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
  7. Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 91. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
  8. Scott Ciencin (April 1989). Shadowdale. (TSR, Inc.), p. 234. ISBN 0-8803-8730-0.
  9. Troy Denning (July 2003). Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 328. ISBN 0-7869-3111-6.
  10. Dale Donovan (May 1998). For Duty & Deity. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 15. ISBN 0-7869-1234-0.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Troy Denning (July 2003). Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 326. ISBN 0-7869-3111-6.
  12. Dale Donovan (May 1998). For Duty & Deity. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 3. ISBN 0-7869-1234-0.
  13. Dale Donovan (May 1998). For Duty & Deity. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 20–22. ISBN 0-7869-1234-0.

Connections[]




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