Arcadia (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy role-playing game
, Arcadia or more fully, the Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia, is a lawful neutral/lawful good-aligned plane
of existence. It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Plane
s that form part of the standard Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) cosmology, used in the Planescape
, Greyhawk
and some editions of the Forgotten Realms
campaign settings.
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 orchard
s and streams snake across the perfectly flat plain
s 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.
and the Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus
; travel is possible between Arcadia and these planes at certain locations. Travel between Arcadia's two layers is possible via numerous portals present on both layers, as well other magical means such as spells.
A third layer, called Menausus was once part of Arcadia, but has since merged with Mechanus
when populations of lawful-aligned Formian
s increased in numbers there, shifting its alignment
away from good and toward law. This third layer was known as Nemausus in the Planescape setting. According to the boxed set, Planes of Law, it also merged with Mechanus due to the Harmonium's attempts to forcefully convert other beings into being lawful good. This act placed more emphasis on law rather than good, causing the whole layer to fall into Mechanus.
Mount Clangeddin, the realm of dwarf
deity Clangeddin Silverbeard is located on Abellio. It is a perfectly shaped conical mountain rising over 30,000 ft. 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.
The Formian
hive-city of Mandible is also located here.
A number of godly realms exist on Abellio, including The Bastion of Law, realm of Saint Cuthbert
; the Anvil of Creation, realm of Reorx; Cherry Blossom, the realm of Izanagi and Izanami; Marduk, the realm of Marduk
; and The Ministry of Rewards, realm of Lu Hsing.
.
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.
Heliopolis, a separate plane in the 3rd-Edition Forgotten Realms
cosmology occupies a part of Buxenus. Here it is hot and covered with sand-filled deserts dotted with vast pyramid
s and obelisk
s. A single life-giving river
flows through its centre and it is home to the gods of the Mulhorandi Pantheon. In 2nd-Edition cosmology, this realm was occupied by Ra
, Isis
, Osiris
, and Horus
.
Azuth, a realm of magic and wizards is hidden on Buxenus. Only wizards can see through the illusions that protect its cave-entrance. Once inside, a great staircase suspended in space leads down to the city of Mage's Rest at the bottom. Naturally, the god Azuth
lives here.
The reclusive goblinoid
deity of the mongrelfolk, Meriadar
makes his realm, The Hand of Peace, on Buxenus.
of Peloponnesian Greece and the writings of Virgil
, where it was a place of pastoral happiness and simplicity.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, Arcadia or more fully, the Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia, is a lawful neutral/lawful good-aligned plane
Plane (Dungeons & Dragons)
The planes of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game constitutes the multiverse in which the game takes place.In the earliest versions of Dungeons & Dragons, the concept of the Inner, Ethereal, Prime Material, Astral and Outer Planes was introduced; at the time there were only four Inner Planes...
of existence. It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Plane
Outer Plane
In the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, an Outer Plane is one of a number of general types of planes of existence. They can also be referred to as godly planes, spiritual planes or divine planes. The Outer Planes are home to beings such as deities and otherworldly creatures such as...
s that form part of the standard Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) cosmology, used in the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
, Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
and some editions of the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign settings.
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 orchard
Orchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
s and streams snake across the perfectly flat plain
Plain
In geography, a plain is land with relatively low relief, that is flat or gently rolling. Prairies and steppes are types of plains, and the archetype for a plain is often thought of as a grassland, but plains in their natural state may also be covered in shrublands, woodland and forest, or...
s 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
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
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
Dawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of the twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, while the sun itself is still below the horizon...
or dusk
Dusk
Dusk is the beginning of darkness in the evening, and occurs after twilight, when the sky generally remains bright and blue. Civil dusk is when the earth has rotated enough that the center of the sun is at 6° below the local horizon...
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. It has normal gravity and normal time. Arcadia’s first layer, Abellio, shares borders with the neighbouring planes of the Seven Mounting Heavens of CelestiaMount Celestia
In Dungeons & Dragons, the fantasy role-playing game, Mount Celestia or more fully, the Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia, or even the Seven Heavens is a lawful good-aligned plane of existence...
and the Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus
Mechanus
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Mechanus, also known as The Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus is a purely lawful aligned plane of existence...
; travel is possible between Arcadia and these planes at certain locations. Travel between Arcadia's two layers is possible via numerous portals present on both layers, as well other magical means such as spells.
A third layer, called Menausus was once part of Arcadia, but has since merged with Mechanus
Mechanus
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Mechanus, also known as The Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus is a purely lawful aligned plane of existence...
when populations of lawful-aligned Formian
Formian
In the fictional world of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, formians are extraplanar insectoid outsiders.-Publication history:...
s increased in numbers there, shifting its alignment
Alignment (role-playing games)
In some role-playing games, alignment is a categorisation of the moral and ethical perspective of the player characters, non-player characters, monsters, and societies in the game....
away from good and toward law. This third layer was known as Nemausus in the Planescape setting. According to the boxed set, Planes of Law, it also merged with Mechanus due to the Harmonium's attempts to forcefully convert other beings into being lawful good. This act placed more emphasis on law rather than good, causing the whole layer to fall into Mechanus.
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.Mount Clangeddin, the realm of dwarf
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
deity Clangeddin Silverbeard is located on Abellio. It is a perfectly shaped conical mountain rising over 30,000 ft. 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.
The Formian
Formian
In the fictional world of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, formians are extraplanar insectoid outsiders.-Publication history:...
hive-city of Mandible is also located here.
A number of godly realms exist on Abellio, including The Bastion of Law, realm of Saint Cuthbert
Saint Cuthbert (Dungeons & Dragons)
In some versions of the Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying game, Saint Cuthbert of the Cudgel is the combative deity of Wisdom, Dedication, and Zeal...
; the Anvil of Creation, realm of Reorx; Cherry Blossom, the realm of Izanagi and Izanami; Marduk, the realm of Marduk
Marduk
Marduk was the Babylonian name of a late-generation god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of the city of Babylon, who, when Babylon became the political center of the Euphrates valley in the time of Hammurabi , started to...
; and The Ministry of Rewards, realm of Lu Hsing.
Buxenus
In appearance there are very few differences between Buxenus and the first layer 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 MechanusMechanus
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Mechanus, also known as The Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus is a purely lawful aligned plane of existence...
.
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.
Heliopolis, a separate plane in the 3rd-Edition Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
cosmology occupies a part of Buxenus. Here it is hot and covered with sand-filled deserts dotted with vast pyramid
Egyptian pyramids
The Egyptian pyramids are ancient pyramid-shaped masonry structures located in Egypt.There are 138 pyramids discovered in Egypt as of 2008. Most were built as tombs for the country's Pharaohs and their consorts during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods.The earliest known Egyptian pyramids are found...
s and obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
s. A single life-giving river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
flows through its centre and it is home to the gods of the Mulhorandi Pantheon. In 2nd-Edition cosmology, this realm was occupied by Ra
Ra
Ra is the ancient Egyptian sun god. By the Fifth Dynasty he had become a major deity in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the mid-day sun...
, Isis
Isis
Isis or in original more likely Aset is a goddess in Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. She was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife as well as the matron of nature and magic...
, Osiris
Osiris
Osiris is an Egyptian god, usually identified as the god of the afterlife, the underworld and the dead. He is classically depicted as a green-skinned man with a pharaoh's beard, partially mummy-wrapped at the legs, wearing a distinctive crown with two large ostrich feathers at either side, and...
, and Horus
Horus
Horus is one of the oldest and most significant deities in the Ancient Egyptian religion, who was worshipped from at least the late Predynastic period through to Greco-Roman times. Different forms of Horus are recorded in history and these are treated as distinct gods by Egyptologists...
.
Azuth, a realm of magic and wizards is hidden on Buxenus. Only wizards can see through the illusions that protect its cave-entrance. Once inside, a great staircase suspended in space leads down to the city of Mage's Rest at the bottom. Naturally, the god Azuth
Azuth
Azuth is a fictional deity in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of D&D. He is the god of mages. His alignment is lawful neutral. The appearance of Azuth seems to be somewhat indistinct, he often manifests simply as an elderly voice or shimmering blue luminescence.Azuth is known as the god of...
lives here.
The reclusive goblinoid
Goblinoid
Goblinoids are a category of humanoid legendary creatures related to the goblin. The term originated in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, in which goblins and related creatures are a staple of random encounters. Goblinoids are typically barbaric foes of the various human and...
deity of the mongrelfolk, Meriadar
Meriadar
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Meriadar is a deity of patience, tolerance, meditation, and arts and crafts...
makes his realm, The Hand of Peace, on Buxenus.
Creative origins
Arcadia is based on the ArcadiaArcadia
Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...
of Peloponnesian Greece and the writings of Virgil
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid...
, where it was a place of pastoral happiness and simplicity.