Elysium (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, Elysium, or more fully, the Blessed Fields of Elysium, is a strongly 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.
or chaos
. Elysium is home to many celestial creatures, predominantly the guardinal
s, a race of celestials native to the plane.
Here colours become more vibrant, with the land itself working to remain as peaceful and alive as possible. Extended visits to Elysium causes one to lose interest in leaving, eventually becoming petitioners to the plane (similar to the effect that its evil counterpart, the Gray Waste
, has on visitors). Other hazards include angering the plane's natives, who are surprisingly formidable.
The appearance and conditions of Elysium differ between each layer of the plane between beautiful forests and lakes to rugged mountains and watery swamps. The River Oceanus, its side channels and contributories dominate many areas of the plane with its headwaters located in the fourth layer of the plane. The river itself continually splits and recombines at many points throughout its course across Elysium.
One of the Planescape factions, The Transcendent Order, also maintains a large presence here. Although they don't keep an official headquarters, they can be found throughout the plane, following their hearts and generally striving for greater harmony with their surroundings.
and the Twin Paradises of Bytopia
; travel is possible between Elysium and these planes at certain locations.
s. It closely resembles the Material Plane
with many town settlements along the banks of the River Oceanus. Amoria is the most populated layer of Elysium, with many residents utilising boats to travel around the layer. It has very mild seasons, with gentle winters and comfortable summers.
The rulers of the guardinals reside on this layer, their first is Prince Talisid, the most powerful leonal. He has command over the Five Champions, Duke Lucan, Duchess Callisto, Duke Windheir, Lord Hwyn, and Lord Rhanok. They have power comparable to the archdukes of Baator
or the demon princes of the Abyss.
Amoria is the location of a number of godly realms, including, Pelor
's realm of Light's Blessing, Majere's realm of Contemplation, Savitri's realm of Domain of the Day-Long Sun, Mishakal's realm of Healer's Home, Isis
' realm of Quietude, Kuan-ti's realm of Valorhome, Ishtar
's realm of City of the Star.
The godly realms located on Eronia include, Enlil
's realm of Great Mountain of the East, Bragi
's realm of HarpHearth, Tsukuyomi's realm of Mirror of the Moon, halfling
deity Urogalan
's realm of Soulearth, and giant goddess Hiatea
's realm of Woodhaven.
Homes of several Forgotten Realms
deities exist on Eronia in previous editions of Dungeons & Dragons, including Mystra
's realm of Dweomerheart, Chauntea's realm of The Great Mother's Garden, which she shares with Liu and Lathander's realm of Morninglory, which he shares with Ushas.
This layer is supposedly the prison of some unknown dangerous entity, possibly a large creature, or denizen, of the lower planes. What is known is that it is not uncommon for evil creatures to be sighted here and the guardinals are constantly fighting back attacks by evil forces here.
The goddess Nut
lives on Belierin in her realm of The Refuge of Night.
Godly realms on this layer include, O-Wata-Tsu-Mi's realm of Citadel of the Sea, Belenus
and Brigantia's
shared realm of Isles of the Blessed, selkie deity Surminare
's realm of Selkies' Grotto. Trishina
can be found wandering on Thalasia when not with her consort, Deep Sashelas
.
of Greek mythology
.
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
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
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...
, Elysium, or more fully, the Blessed Fields of Elysium, is a strongly good
Alignment (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, alignment is a categorization of the ethical and moral perspective of people, creatures and societies....
-aligned plane 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.
Description
Elysium is a plane of idyllic good and the destination of the souls who sought always to further the cause of good without regard to lawAlignment (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, alignment is a categorization of the ethical and moral perspective of people, creatures and societies....
or chaos
Alignment (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, alignment is a categorization of the ethical and moral perspective of people, creatures and societies....
. Elysium is home to many celestial creatures, predominantly the guardinal
Guardinal
Guardinals are a type of celestial from the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role playing game.-Publication history:Guardinals debuted as several cards in the Blood Wars Card Game in 1995, including the Avoral, Cervidal, Equinal, Leonal, Lupinal, Ursinal, Duchess Callisto, Duke Lucan, Duke Windheir, Lord...
s, a race of celestials native to the plane.
Here colours become more vibrant, with the land itself working to remain as peaceful and alive as possible. Extended visits to Elysium causes one to lose interest in leaving, eventually becoming petitioners to the plane (similar to the effect that its evil counterpart, the Gray Waste
Gray Waste
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Gray Waste is a strongly evil aligned plane of existence...
, has on visitors). Other hazards include angering the plane's natives, who are surprisingly formidable.
The appearance and conditions of Elysium differ between each layer of the plane between beautiful forests and lakes to rugged mountains and watery swamps. The River Oceanus, its side channels and contributories dominate many areas of the plane with its headwaters located in the fourth layer of the plane. The river itself continually splits and recombines at many points throughout its course across Elysium.
One of the Planescape factions, The Transcendent Order, also maintains a large presence here. Although they don't keep an official headquarters, they can be found throughout the plane, following their hearts and generally striving for greater harmony with their surroundings.
Structure
As an outer plane, Elysium is spatially infinite, further consisting of four infinite layers (or sub-planes). Elysium’s first layer shares borders with the neighbouring planes of the Wilderness of the BeastlandsBeastlands
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Beastlands is a neutral good-aligned plane of existence...
and the Twin Paradises of Bytopia
Bytopia
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Bytopia, also known as the Twin Paradises or more fully, the Twin Paradises of Bytopia is a lawful good/neutral good aligned plane of existence...
; travel is possible between Elysium and these planes at certain locations.
Amoria
Amoria is the topmost layer of Elysium and is supposedly one of the most hospitable places in all of the Outer PlaneOuter 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. It closely resembles the Material Plane
Prime Material Plane
The Prime Material Plane is the central plane of existence in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
with many town settlements along the banks of the River Oceanus. Amoria is the most populated layer of Elysium, with many residents utilising boats to travel around the layer. It has very mild seasons, with gentle winters and comfortable summers.
The rulers of the guardinals reside on this layer, their first is Prince Talisid, the most powerful leonal. He has command over the Five Champions, Duke Lucan, Duchess Callisto, Duke Windheir, Lord Hwyn, and Lord Rhanok. They have power comparable to the archdukes of Baator
Baator
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Baator, also known as the Nine Hells of Baator or the Nine Hells, is a lawful evil-aligned plane of existence...
or the demon princes of the Abyss.
Amoria is the location of a number of godly realms, including, Pelor
Pelor
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Pelor is the god of the Sun, Light, Strength, and Healing. Pelor is also a prominent member of the third edition of the game's default pantheon, and is a popular choice among player character clerics because he...
's realm of Light's Blessing, Majere's realm of Contemplation, Savitri's realm of Domain of the Day-Long Sun, Mishakal's realm of Healer's Home, 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...
' realm of Quietude, Kuan-ti's realm of Valorhome, Ishtar
Ishtar
Ishtar is the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, war, and sex. She is the counterpart to the Sumerian Inanna and to the cognate north-west Semitic goddess Astarte.-Characteristics:...
's realm of City of the Star.
Eronia
Eronia is a rugged mountainous layer of hills and jagged peaks. On this layer, the weather is much more severe with violent windstorms and lightning being common. The seasons are more extreme with bitter winters and hot summers.The godly realms located on Eronia include, Enlil
Enlil
Elizabeth Barrett Browning was one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era. Her poetry was widely popular in both England and the United States during her lifetime. A collection of her last poems was published by her husband, Robert Browning, shortly after her death.-Early life:Members...
's realm of Great Mountain of the East, Bragi
Bragi
Bragi is the skaldic god of poetry in Norse mythology.-Etymology:Bragi is generally associated with bragr, the Norse word for poetry. The name of the god may have been derived from bragr, or the term bragr may have been formed to describe 'what Bragi does'...
's realm of HarpHearth, Tsukuyomi's realm of Mirror of the Moon, halfling
Halfling
Halfling is another name for J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit which can be a fictional race sometimes found in fantasy novels and games. In many settings, they are similar to humans except about half the size. Dungeons & Dragons began using the name halfling as an alternative to hobbit for legal reasons...
deity Urogalan
Urogalan
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Urogalan is the halfling deity of earth and death. His symbol is the silhouette of a dog's head.-Publication history:...
's realm of Soulearth, and giant goddess Hiatea
Hiatea
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Hiatea is the giant deity of nature, agriculture, hunting, females, and children. Her symbol is a flaming spear.-Publication history:...
's realm of Woodhaven.
Homes of several 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...
deities exist on Eronia in previous editions of Dungeons & Dragons, including Mystra
Mystra (goddess)
Mystra is a fictional goddess in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.She is the Mistress of Magic and Mother of Mysteries who guides the Weave of magic that envelops the world. She tends to the weave constantly, making possible all the...
's realm of Dweomerheart, Chauntea's realm of The Great Mother's Garden, which she shares with Liu and Lathander's realm of Morninglory, which he shares with Ushas.
Belierin
Belierin is a layer composed mostly of bogs and marshes, with tangles of mangroves in many places. Only a few settlements exist here on rocky spurs above the level of the swamps, many with a cathedral-like lighthouse, which directs travelers through the mists to safety.This layer is supposedly the prison of some unknown dangerous entity, possibly a large creature, or denizen, of the lower planes. What is known is that it is not uncommon for evil creatures to be sighted here and the guardinals are constantly fighting back attacks by evil forces here.
The goddess Nut
Nut (goddess)
In the Ennead of Egyptian mythology, Nut was the goddess of the sky.-Goddess of the sky:...
lives on Belierin in her realm of The Refuge of Night.
Thalasia
Thalasia is the origin layer of the River Oceanus that flows though the other layers. The layer is dotted with islands, known collectively as the Isles of the Holy Dead, the Isles of the Blessed, the Hills of Avalon, the Islands beyond the World, and the Heroic Isles.Godly realms on this layer include, O-Wata-Tsu-Mi's realm of Citadel of the Sea, Belenus
Belenus
In Celtic mythology, Bel, Belenos was a deity worshipped in Gaul, Cisalpine Gaul, and Celtic areas of Austria, Britain and Spain. He is particularly associated with Cornwall, West Cornwall being anciently called Belerion, the place of Bel...
and Brigantia's
Brigantia (goddess)
Brigantia was a goddess in Celtic religion of Late Antiquity.In the interpretatio Romana, she was equated with Victoria...
shared realm of Isles of the Blessed, selkie deity Surminare
Surminare
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Surminare is the selkie deity of beauty and peace.-Publication history:...
's realm of Selkies' Grotto. Trishina
Trishina
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Trishina is the dolphin deity of love, fidelity, the young, and play...
can be found wandering on Thalasia when not with her consort, Deep Sashelas
Deep Sashelas
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Deep Sashelas is the elf patron deity of aquatic elves. He is also a god of creation, knowledge, beauty, and magic...
.
Fauna
- Elysian dragon
- Leskylorhttp://www.sulerin.com/creatures/creatures.asp?op=open&a=20031105143802
- Moon DogMoon dogA moon dog or moondog is a relatively rare bright circular spot on a lunar halo caused by the refraction of moonlight by hexagonal-plate-shaped ice crystals in cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. Moondogs appear to the left and right of the moon 22° or more distant...
http://www.sulerin.com/creatures/creatures.asp?op=open&a=20030328130553
Creative origins
Elysium is based on the ElysiumElysium
Elysium is a conception of the afterlife that evolved over time and was maintained by certain Greek religious and philosophical sects, and cults. Initially separate from Hades, admission was initially reserved for mortals related to the gods and other heroes...
of Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
.