The Planes: Energy Planes
Our next stop in The Planes series are the Energy Planes
- the building blocks of life and death.
What are the Energy Planes?
Player’s Handbook, 2014 WotC
Known as the Negative Energy Plane and the Positive Energy Plane, these two planes are at extremes from each other and act as the boundaries of the multiverse. The Negative Energy Plane is the source of all death, all matter and energy is nullified within its boundaries, while the Positive Energy Plane is the source of all life, vibrating energy is on full, brilliant display within its boundaries. These two planes are the most basic of the building blocks to life in the multiverse and are the deadliest.
The two planes border the major Inner Planes; Air, Earth, Fire, and Water, on opposite sides from each other. Where the two planes meet those Inner Planes, they form the Quasi-Elemental planes. The Positive Energy Plane helped create the positive quasi-elemental planes of Lightning, Mineral, Radiance, and Steam while the Negative Energy Plane helped create the negative quasi-elemental planes of Ash, Dust, Salt, and Vacuum.
The elemental planes are the cornerstones of the foundation of the multiverse, from them all things can be built, but it is only from the Energy Planes that life is breathed into them, and then taken away.
The Inner Planes, 1998 WotC
History
The Energy Planes are first introduced in the 1st edition’s Manual of the Planes (1987) though it is quite brief. While the information provided on the two planes is somewhat limited, being expanded on in the 2nd edition The Inner Planes (1998) and the 3rd edition Manual of the Planes (2001), there is still enough information to know that these two planes are highly dangerous for any creature. Those who decide to inhabit either of these planes are often thought to be mad and to die very soon. Only a handful of creatures can visit these planes and have any hope of returning unless they go very well prepared and have a very specific goal to accomplish.
An Outsider’s Perspective
Inhospitable. Extreme danger. Certain death. No matter where an adventurer might go, these words are sure to follow any information they find about the planes. The Energy Planes are pure and it is near-impossible to have anything exist in a plane for any length of time before the energy of that plane simply destroys it. A few brave travelers have managed to carve out an existence in this unforgiving planes, but it takes a monumental will and powerful magic to help accomplish such a goal.
Negative Energy Plane
Travelers are first greeted with a night so black that many might swear they had been struck blind, but even that darkness can’t compare to the Negative Energy Plane. It is often described as a darkness so pure that it is like standing on a barren world in the pitch blackness of night with no stars or moons shining, while you have your eyes closed, a thousand miles beneath the ground, and in a darkness spell. This void isn’t empty though, for there is a greedy nature of the plane that sucks out all life of anything and everything. Heat and life are drawn out, matter decays, and energy is removed.
This plane is known for its non-stop hunger for everything. It is a dark and empty plane, uncaring and intolerant of all life. It truly is the most hostile of all the planes, though that doesn’t mean everything within it is destroyed. Undeath and those who seek it claim home within its darkness.
Positive Energy Plane
Many travelers don’t expect a plane of life and positive energy to be inherently hostile, but it is because this plane is so full of energy and limitless life that it is so. When a traveler visits this plane, they quickly begin filling up with such brilliant energy that they are blinded by the radiance of the plane. Their body begins filling up on life, healing any cuts, wounds, scars, or other anathemas to life until their body is so full of positive energy that they simply explode out, their body and possessions becoming part of the plane and its radiant energy.
This plane can’t help but exude life and churning energy, overbrimming with radiance, it causes all visitors to flood with such powerful energy that their mortal body is unable to hold it all within until they finally succumb to the pure life of this plane. Only a few creatures can truly claim this plane as their home, even though hundreds of gods claim control over life and healing.
A Native’s Perspective
It is unknown if either of these planes could actually produce life, though there are a few creatures who make their home on these planes. Often, these creatures are based on extremes and may even be outside the mortal understanding of creatures. Even the gods won’t make their home on these planes as the energy, or lack thereof, is enough to cause them uneasiness. It is unknown if a god could be killed by one of these planes and it isn’t something anyone has been able to test.
Negative Energy Plane
Monstrous Compendium - Planescape Appendix 3, 1998 WotC
This plane is relatively empty and devoid of anything that might resemble life or being. While the plane is considered to be part of the Inner Planes, it is not a true elemental plane, meaning that it doesn’t even create elementals aligned with itself. Outsiders that survive this plane are few and only found in specific locations, clinging to life, or unlife as it happens to be. Unlike the Positive Energy Plane, this plane does have a thriving population of undead.
While many might believe that all undeath comes from the Shadowfell, even the Shadowfell gains much of its power over undeath from the Negative Energy Plane. Not every type of undead can be found on this plane though as even they find it difficult to live out their death here. Those undead who suck the essence from other creatures finds a welcoming respite on this plane, wraiths, specters, wights, vampires, and liches make their home on the sucking and ever-hungry plane of negative energy.
The only creature that can be thought to be a true native of this plane is the xeg-yi, a sentient form of energy of an alien mind and body. No one is sure where, or what they truly are, but they go about this plane as if on some task known only to them.
Positive Energy Plane
This plane is so full of life and boundless energy of creation that no creature can live here but for a select few. Mortals who travel this plane unprepared explode with life, literally, and their body torn about by the brilliant light of this realm. As black and dark as the Negative Energy Plane, the Positive Energy Plane is just as bright if not brighter - though anywho gaze more than a few seconds into this plane find themselves permanently blind. To gaze upon the energy of creation is too much for even the gods who travel to this plane.
There are a few outposts on this plane, though they take special precautions and have poured vast wealth into maintaining their fortresses on this plane. The inhabitants are mortals who are studying life and cures to draining afflictions that would end life and energy. It’s said that a hospital of sorts has been set up in a portion of this plane where paladins bring in the most grievously injured and cursed, that the plane might cure them of their ails and restore them back to peak life.
Much like the Negative Energy Plane, this plane holds a mysterious and alien creature known as xag-ya, a sentient being of energy. While no one truly knows anything about these creatures, they know enough to give them a wide berth. These creatures, probably with no ill intent, can simply cause a creature to explode in energy and life, their forms so attuned to this realm that waves of energy roll off of them.
Monstrous Compendium - Planescape Appendix 3, 1998 WotC
Atmosphere
The Energy Planes are devoid of anything that might be considered an atmosphere. Each plane is so attuned to its own energy that no other mineral, element, or creature could exist inside of the plane. Those who must breathe have to bring their own air with them or bring with them magic to help them breathe in the vacuum. Certain spells, like water breathing fail on these planes as there is nothing for the spell to transform.
Of course, being able to breathe is only a secondary concern when it comes to traveling these planes. As soon as a creature arrives they are submitted to the raw energies of these planes that can kill them before they run out of air.
Negative Energy Plane
Devoid of life and energy, this plane drains 2d6 hit points per minute spent on the plane. If this reduces a creature to 0 hit points, they immediately die, their soul consumed by the plane - which is impossible to ever restore even with the most powerful magic or by the intervention of a god - and their body is animated into a form of undeath. To survive this process, a creature must gain access to a negative energy protection spell before arriving on this plane or the spell has no effect as its energy is immediately drained from it by the plane.
Pure black is all that can be seen on this plane with any light immediately extinguished by the plane, no matter how powerful the spell. Any damage spell that is cast on this plane does its maximum amount of damage, while any healing spell is reduced to the least amount that it can heal. This plane hates any form of life or energy, be it a living creature or object. Any objects on a creature stay formed while the creature lives, but as soon as it is let go or the creature dies, the objects fall apart and disintegrate as if subjected to aging from eons of years unattended. Even powerful magical artifacts will eventually succumb to this plane’s death.
Positive Energy Plane
Bursting with energy and life, this plane grants 2d6 hit points per minute spent on the plane. These special hit points first heal any missing hit points and then beginning increasing a creature’s maximum hit points, if this total ever exceeds double their normal hit point maximum, they explode in an orb of light as their body can no longer handle the excessive amount of energy in them. If they leave for another plane with this increased hit points, they slowly fade over 2d10 days or if the creature takes damage. Some warriors, sages, and paladins have been known to take advantage of this plane before going into battle, though they don’t always survive such a dangerous endeavor. To survive this process, a creature must gain access to a positive energy protection spell before arriving on this plane or the spell has no effect as its energy is immediately pulled into the plane. A creature under the effects of the spell do not gain any additional hit points or can benefit from the healing energy of this plane.
Pure, brilliant white light is all that can be seen around a creature. Unless a thick blindfold is pressed tightly against the eyes, a creature will go blind from the radiance, even through squeezed shut eyelids. With a thick blindfold, darkened forms against a brilliant white light can be seen for there is no true darkness on this plane. No darkness, even if cast by powerful magic, can survive. This plane infuses everything with energy, be it a living creature or object. Any objects on a creature stay formed while the creature lives, but as soon as it is let go or the creature dies, the objects overload and disintegrate into pure energy. Even powerful magical artifacts will eventually succumb to this burning radiance.
Traits
Travel to the Planes
Of all the planes, the Energy Planes may be the hardest to travel too as not many have an interest in visiting such hostile locations. Even dangerous places like the Abyss, the Plane of Fire, Baator, and others see a steady stream of visitors and so portals to such planes are well documented. For the Energy Planes, even if a portal is stumbled across, travelers will ignore it as it is incredibly difficult to find someone willing to pay for information on those portals.
There is at least one permanent portal known by certain factions of Sigil for each plane, though gaining access to those portals are quite difficult. The Dustmen jealously guard their portal to the Negative Energy Plane as the portal leads to their Fortress of the Soul where their factor resides in the bliss of undeath. On the Positive Energy Plane are the clerics and paladins who oversee Hospice, a fortress focused on healing any ailment no matter how difficult. No one is quite sure where their portal on Sigil is, but Sigil has a portal everywhere somewhere in the city so it stands to reason there is one.
A traveler can also journey across the quasi-elemental planes and hope to stumble across the boundaries between planes, though that can take months or years to complete such a journey unless you have an elemental guide - though even that might take weeks to accomplish. A faster way of traveling from one plane to an Energy Plane is to go into the Ethereal Plane and simply find the color curtain for the plane you want to travel to. Of course, there is no telling where you might end up on the Border Ethereal and, while most Border Ethereals are safe, those that border the Energy Planes are so infused with life or death, that many travelers succumb to that Energy Planes’ effects even though they are just gazing at it from across the planes.
Traversing the Planes
The Inner Planes, 1998 WotC
Traveling across the Energy Planes is difficult for those unprepared, and even for those prepared. The Energy Planes hold no atmosphere, meaning there is nothing to walk, fly, swim, or move against. Birds released on the planes, who don’t somehow immediately die, have no purchase against the air as there is no air to flap their wings through unless they are using a fly spell or similar magic to propel themselves forwards. Creatures can try to walk or swim through the nothingness of the planes, but it’s all in vain unless they can mentally put their minds to it. The act of moving is similar to that of the Astral Sea which relies on willing yourself to move forward. The Negative Energy Plane is often thought to be ‘thicker’ of the two planes, making it easier to move there though the Positive Energy Plane allows creatures to simply think of where they want to go and instantly teleport there.
Either because both planes are simply devoid of stuff or because every creature is immediately blinded, either by piercing light or pitch blackness, it's difficult for any creature to get their bearings in the Energy Planes. No landmarks exist, and even if they did no one could see them, and the energon inhabitants are more likely to ignore you than even kill you. Traveling the Energy Plane is simply about luck when it comes to finding anything out there, and with the planes being considered infinite, creatures must be very lucky to find anything without direction or thought of what they are looking for.
Doldrums - Negative Energy Plane
In rare regions across the Negative Energy Plane are points where life can find a way. These areas are, for whatever reason, less infused with death and the draining of all life and so these areas are relatively safe such that structures and cities can be built at their locations and settlements can grow. While these places might seem like bright spots of life in an otherwise deadly plane, they are constantly overrun with the undead that gravitates towards these spots, hoping to feed on anyone they can devour. Many settlements that have been created here are now just cities of the undead with hordes of zombies roaming their streets in search of life to devour.
Edge Zones - Positive Energy Plane
Quiet spots throughout the plane like islands dotting a sea of magma. These regions are the only safe locations in the Positive Energy Plane where citadels and settlements can spring up for creatures powerful enough to stand against the very nature of this plane. It’s a constant struggle to keep such places intact as waves of positive energy can wash over them constantly, threatening to drag these quiet spots into the boiling mass of raw life and boundless energy.
Locations
Negative Energy Plane
A realm of death and its ever-hunger for the consumption of life force, locations in this plane are focused on the exploration of death - or are completely overrun by the undead. Despite the deadliness of this plane, there are still a few locations that have somehow survived against the draining influence of this realm.
Death Heart
This spired city is located in one of the largest doldrums in the plane and is constructed on the inside of a hollow metal sphere about a mile in diameter. Inside the sphere, the normal extremes of the plane are almost completely free of the negative energy of the plane, allowing the dimmest of lights to illuminate the city. While the negative energy couldn’t penetrate past the shell, the city’s original inhabitants couldn’t survive the plane.
It was supposed to be a school of thinking and free ideas, though the life of this city quickly attracted the undead of this plane who eagerly attacked in massive waves. Eventually, the city would succumb to the plague of undead, the flesh and souls of its inhabitants devoured by the plane. All that remains of the city are the undead who choke its streets and spill out from the buildings as factions of undeath begin to spring up. Vampire lords war against liches who war against ghouls and ghasts - fighting to secure control over the city.
Many believe that a vampire is well on their way to winning the struggle, and will eventually turn their sights on how the sphere works and how they might transition it to another plane to unleash their undead armies against its inhabitants.
Fortress of the Soul
Through great difficulty, the faction known as the Dustmen keep up a citadel functioning in this plane. They are even helpful to outsiders seeking shelter from the deadliness of the plane, though they don’t allow long term visitors - instead, they send the creatures through a portal to their Mortuary on Sigil that functions once a week. For the Dustmen, this plane and citadel are a holy site and represent their idea of the True Death. They see the ending energies of the Negative Energy Plane as the answer to their existence in the afterlife and the key to move on to the next worlds, hoping to truly enter their version of the afterlife in a True Death.
Those that can reach this citadel find the Dustmen and the undead existing side-by-side as the Dustmen have some natural control over the undead. The citadel is largely used to be a place of quiet meditation and the Dustmen don’t take kindly to adventurers and travelers using their citadel as a tourist destination.
The Inner Planes, 1998 WotC
Positive Energy Plane
Energy and life flood through this plane, creating and churning in the brilliant white light of creation. This plane is responsible for all life in the multiverse, the gods channel this divine wellspring of life and breathing it into their creations. Despite the burning energy of this plane, there are a few locations that can survive against the burning energy of this realm.
Fortress of Life
Feadal Didam-Hurus is responsible for this location in the Positive Energy Plane, somehow she pushed back the life of this plane and created a place of study for her and several ravid who have decided to help her. She is studying the limitless energies of the plane and is safeguarding a valuable orb of life known as Lifepearls. These concentrated orbs of the plane are thought to be the seeds of creation and they form in sporadic locations across the plane.
Feadal has made it her life mission to travel the plane in search of these strange pearls, bring them back to her fortress, and safeguard them from those who would try to abuse the power of these pearls as they are incredibly potent at healing magic. Along with her are the ravid who seem to hold the lifepearls with equal measure, helping to keep outsiders from accessing the vault and assisting in her studies.
The Inner Planes, 1998 WotC
Hospice
Hospice is a floating citadel protected from the hostile energies of the plane by thick rocks that act as a shield for all those inside the citadel. Paladins, holy knights, clerics, and healers who have dedicated themselves to the healing arts make their home in this citadel, studying the healing energies of life as well as taking care of the badly wounded. They see a wide variety of individuals, not just those who have been in fights, but those with incurable ailments, horrible curses, and more - they work diligently to restore them to health and to unlock the secrets of healing and life.
Because the order of healers is worried about attracting the wrong attention from necromancers and others, the location of Hospice as well as how to get to this citadel is carefully safeguarded. While Hospice has no problem with healing evil creatures, they go to great lengths to try to rehabilitate them and keep them secured in the citadel during their visits.
Imprisoning Cells
Both Energy Planes are often used to trap and lock away great evil or great good, banishing powerful artifacts, demi-powers, and more. While the planes may not be enough to truly destroy them, at least for eons to come, they can be locked away in iron chests, coffins enchanted against all entry, and more. Evil creatures and items are tossed into the endless brilliance of the Positive Energy Plane, while champions of good and their powerful weapons are left behind to rot in the Negative Energy Plane. Sometimes travelers might stumble upon such items, opening and releasing their contents - this might release a mighty paladin or unleash a foul lich of death.
Factions & People
The Powers
While no power claims a domain in one of these planes, many travel to these planes for one reason or another. Those who travel to the Positive Energy Plane do so to gather up the raw essence of life to become the catalyst for a new creation of theirs. Those who travel to the Negative Energy Plane do so to realign themselves to undeath, find a few undead creatures and drag them out to fulfill some foul deed.
It is rumored that there is one power who resides in the Negative Energy Plane, but no one has survived a visit with the entity. Many claim that the entity goes by the name of Siva, but few know what the power wants or if it is even a true being but rather the idea of destruction and endings.
Ravid
The ravid is a strange and curious creature who is native to the Positive Energy Plane, though no one is quite sure where it originally came from or if it was spawned there. While it is on the Positive Energy Plane, no one is likely to notice it as it just exists as part of the plane itself. As soon as it leaves the plane, it is given a strange form of a long serpent with no mouth and a spindly arm that grows from its head. Gleaming with a golden light, it pushes back all darkness and burns with an energizing radiance.
Undead
Hordes of undead move through the Negative Energy Plane, causing the plane to be even more dangerous than before. Clerics who channel the divine power of their gods to turn or destroy them find themselves quickly surrounded as the undead despise any positive energy in their plane. These undead are largely mindless, but powerful individuals can rise up and lead armies of these shambling creatures. Because the plane kills creatures and then forces the bodies of those creatures to rise as undead, their armies continue to swell in size as more travelers attempt to explore this plane.
Xag-ya / Xeg-yi
Manual of the Planes, 2001 WotC
Little is known about these energons and what is known is largely rumors and whispers. These beings are proof that any plane of existence, known or unknown, can support life for the Energy Planes are considered to be the least conducive to life. The xag-ya move through the Positive Energy Plane, though no one is entirely sure what they are doing or what mission they might be conducting. The xeg-yi can be found in the Negative Energy Plane similarly, its strange alien mind incomprehensible by outsiders.
These beings appear as orbs of blue light, in the case of the xag-ya, or orbs of orange light, in the case of xeg-yi, both have tentacles on their underside. They hover through the air and use the orbs like their heads, gazing at other creatures with some interest, though due to their attunement to their Energy Plane, it often causes harm to living creatures. Many think they don’t quite understand that their very being is harmful to others, but no one can be sure of their motivations.
They sometimes escape their Energy Plane and travel the multiverse, gazing curiously at everything around them. They are known to be quite curious, and while they may not appear especially dangerous, can shoot out beams of energy that either burn with radiance, for the xag-ya, or rot all materials, for the xeg-yi. If the two ever see each other, they immediately slam into one another, exploding violently in a wave of destructive energy.
Encounters
Curious Friends - After the group is attacked by a horde of undead in some far off world, a strange orb appears filled with a blue radiant light that strikes out at the undead, obliterating them in blinding light. It turns to the party, gazing at them curiously, and seems to desire something. It’s looking for life, for energy.
Dusty Jobs - The Dustmen in the Mortuary located in Sigil are having an issue. A creature of life and energy has somehow made it into their Fortress of the Soul and it's refusing to leave. They’ve tried reasoning that existence is futile and that it is stopping the True Death from taking everyone, but it is refusing to listen. The Dustmen don’t want to lose the fortress to some agent of light, but they have trouble gazing on such a radiant creature - they need someone to sort out the issue for them.
Entombed - Traveling the Energy Planes a strange tomb appears exuding an energy that is opposite and an anathema to the plane it is on. Whispers and pleas escape the iron tomb, rewards and promises urge the travelers to open it.
Who Watches the Watchers? - Rumors that a minotaur vampire has taken over Death Heart are beginning to surface and several of the factions are gathering up adventurers to investigate what might be happening in the city of the dead. It’s a dangerous task, but for many, it is a holy calling to destroy such abominations and mockeries of life.
Resources & Further Reading
Manual of the Planes (1st edition)
For more information on the introduction of the Energy Planes.
The Inner Planes (2nd edition)
For more information on the locations in the Energy Planes and traveling through them.
Manual of the Planes (3rd edition)
For more general information on the Energy Planes.
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