The Plane Above: Secrets of the Astral Sea: A 4th Edition D&D Supplement

161 Pages·2010·43.75 MB·English

by  Rob Heinsoo

THE PLANE ABOVE

Secrets of the Astral Sea™
ROLEPLAYING GAME SUPPLEMENT
Rob Heinsoo • Ari Marmell • Eric Scott de Bie
CRED1TS

Design
Art Director

Rob Heinsoo (lead),
Mari Kolkowsky

Ari Marmell, Eric Scott de Bie,

Robin D. laws, Matthew Sernett, Rodney Thompson
Cover Illustration

William O'Connor (front), Ralph Horsley (back)

Development

Stephen Radney-MacFarland (lead),
Graphic Designers

Peter Schaefer, Stephen Schubert
Keven Smith, leon Cortez, Emi Tanji

Editing
Additional Graphic Design

Cal Moore (lead),
Soe Hemmi

Joanna G. Hurley, Jenny lockington, lynnette Struble

Interior Illustrations

Managing Editing Dave Allsop, Kerem Beyit, Zoltan Boros & Gabor

Kim Mohan Szikszai,Julie Dillon, Vincent Dutrait, Wayne England,

Jason A. Engle, Ralph Horsley, Howard lyon,Jim Nelson,

Director of D&D R&D and Book Publishing William O'Connor, Adam Paquette

Bill Siavicsek
Cartographer

D&D Creative Manager jason A. Engle

Christopher Perkins
Publishing Production Specialist

D&D Design Manager Erin Dorries

James Wyatt
Prepress Manager

D&D Development and Editing Manager Jefferson Dunlap

Andy Collins
Imaging Technician

D&D Senior Art Director Ashley Brock

Jon Schindehette
Production Manager

Cynda Callaway

Game rules based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS'"

mles created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and the

later editions by David "Zeb" Cook (2nd Edition);Jonathan

Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter

Adkison (3rd Edition); and Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, and

James Wyatt (4th Edition).

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1: ASTRAL ADVENTURING ...... . 4
Avernus, the Burning Wastes... . . 68
Eldregaard .............. ....... 124

The Astral Sea ......... .. .. .. ... . .. 6
Adventure: Hell's Bonds .. .. .... 70
The Forgotten Sanctuary.... .... 125

Geography ......... .. . ....... ..... 8
The Outer Torments:
Frostburn............. ....... .. 125

Campaign Themes .. .. . .... . . ...... 9
Hell's Border Islands .. . .. ...... 76
Kar'ka Dun ........... ......... 126

Explore the Infinite Sea ..... . ..... 9
Tytherion .. .. ... ..... . .... .. . ... . 80
Mutas ...... . ... .. ............. 126

Crawl Astral Dungeons .......... 11
Tiamat's Realm: Azharul ......... 80
Pluton, the Gray Waste ......... 126

Fight Astral Pirates . ............. 1 2
Samaragd,
Shivering Spires ................ 126

Fight the Gods of Evil ............ 14
the Serpent's Kingdom ........ . 82
The Triad Islands .... .. ..... .... 127

Join Heaven's Order .... ........ . 16
The Scales:
Zulkolosz.............. ........127

Overcome Heaven's Flaws . . . .. .. 17
Tytherion's Archipelago . ... .... 88

Adventure into Myth . ....... . . .. 18
4: ASTRAL DENIZENS .........128

Traveling the Astral Sea ....... .. . . 19
3: THE DEEP ASTRAL SEA . . ... 90
Abomination . .. .... ....... . ..... 130

Ship-to-Ship Combat
Astral Render ... .. .... .........130

in the Astral Sea .. .. ... ....... . 20
RACES OF THE ASTRAL SEA .. 92
Hundred-Handed One..........130

Astral Vehicles . .. .. ............. 20
Couatls ........ .. ... . ............ 92
Malediction....................131

Dominion Ships ....... .......... 21
Outlook and Interaction ....... .. 92
Nullifier ......... . ........ . .. . . 132

Navigating the Astral Sea . ... . ... 25
C1oudlands ............... .. ... . 93
Voracia . ... .. .... ..... .... . .... 133

Adventures on the Astral Sea . .. .. 27
life and Culture ......... .. . . . . .. 93
Banesworn.................. . . . . 134

Environmental Hazards . ... .... .. 28
Githyanki . . .. .............. .. .... 94
Banesworn Warrior ... . .. _..... 134

History of the Githyanki .. . . .. . . . 94
Banesworn War Priest. .. .......134

2: D1V1NE DOMINIONS . .. .... . .. 30
life and Culture.. .. ...... ....... 96
Juggernaut of

The World of the Gods . .. ......... 32
Outlook and Interaction ......... 96
the Black Hand . .............. 135

The Gods... . .. . ..... . .......... 32
Maruts.......... ... .............. 98
Banesworn Iron Bulwark ........ 135

Exarchs..... .. . .... .. ..... ...... 32
life and Culture . .. .. ... ... ...... 98
Banesworn Lore................ 135

Angels ............. . . .. ....... . 32
Outlook and Interaction ..... . ... 99
Encounter Groups.............. 135

Exalted . . .. .. ............ . . ..... 34
Major Sites ................ .... 100
Devil .. ...... .............. ..... 136

Outsiders. . . . .............. ... . . 35
Quom .. .. . .. ............. . . . . . . 101
Burning Devil ...... .. ..... .. ... 136

Dominions and Border Islands .. . 36
History of the Quom ... . . . _.... 101
Indwelling Devil .... . . ... . . .... 137

Arvandor ........................ 37
life and Culture ... ... ..... ..... 102
Pillager Devil ......... . .. ......138

The Glorious Hunt . . .... ........ 38
Outlook and Interaction ... ..... 102
Warder Devil .... .. . ... . . ......139

Major Areas ........ . . . ......... 40
Exalted of Erathis . . ... . .......... 140

Adventure Hooks . .............. 41
SHATTERED DOMINIONS......104
Exalted of Kord .................. 141

Encounter Groups . .. .. .... .. . .. . 41
Carceri. . .. ... . ....... ... ........104
Githyanki ... . . . .. ......... ......142

The Green Isles: Arvandor's
The Isles of Carceri ....... .. .. .. 105
Ch'r'ai Inquisitors .......... .... 142

Archipelago ............. ...... 42
Adventures . .... ......... .. .. .. 106
Duthka'gith ............... .... . 142

Celestia . ..... . ............. . .. ... 44
Environmental Features .... . .. . . 107
Githyanki Far Wanderer ... .. ... 143

Major Areas ..... ..... .... . ..... 45
Erishani ............... .... ...... 108
Githyanki Blackweave . .. .. . .... 144

Gods of Celestia ................ 45
Adventure Hooks ........ ...... 109
Githyanki Ghustil ....... .......144

The Game of Mountains . ........ 46
Environmental Features ..... ....109
Githyanki Pyroclast. .. . . . .. ..... 145

The Foothills:
Encounter Groups. . . ...........109
Githyanki Sword Stalker ........ 145

Celestia's Archipelago .......... 47
Adventure: lihe Monolith Stirs ... .110
Gul'othran Marauder ......... .. 146

Chernoggar . . ................ ... . 51
Kalandurren.................. ... 114
Gul'othran Dragon Raider .... ... 146

Gods of Chernoggar .... .. .. ..... 52
Environmental Features ... ... . .. 11 5
Tu'narathi Dragon Rider ...... . . 147

Major Areas ................. . .. 53
Encounter Groups........ . _.... 115
Osyrimon ................ .. ... 148

Adventures ..................... 55
Pandemonium ........ .. .. .. .... 116
Vlaakith .......... .. ...........149

Between War and Destruction ... 56
Adventure Hooks .......... ....117
Gruumsh ...... ....... .. ... ..... 150

The War Expands .. ...... . . ..... 58
Environmental Features . .... ....118
Battlesworn of Gruumsh .... .... 150

The Shrapnels:
Encounter Groups .... . ....... .. 118
Exarchs of Gruumsh ... . ..... ... 152

Cnernoggar's Islands .. . ..... . . 59
Shom ....... . ..... . . . ..... . .... .119
Quom .......................... 156

Hestavar ..... .. ... ........ .. ... . . 61
Death of a God,
Quom Fanatic .... . ............ 156

Gods of Hestavar................ 61
Rise of the lIIumians ......... .119
Quom Enforcer .. ......... ... .. 156

The Daybreak Islands:
The Shattering of the Word ... .. 11 9
Quom Harpoonist. . ...... . . .. .. 156

Hestevar's Archipelago ..... . . . . 64
Adventure Hooks ......... . .... 121
Quom Desperate ... . . . ... . .... 157

The Nine Hells ...... . . ... . . ...... 65
Environmental Features . .. ... ... 121
Durud Fragment Mage . . ........157

Asmodeus's Fall and
Encounter Groups..............121
Durud Healer... ..... .. .... .... 158

the Foundation of Hell . . . . .. ... 65
Encounter: Purifiers of Shom ....122
Durud Slayer . . . . ... .. .. ..... .. 158

Devilish Motives
Motes in the Astral Sea ........... 124

and Adventures . .. ............ 66
Archanus ......................124
MONSTERS BY LEVEL ..... . ... 159
EXPERIENCED PLAYERS and Dungeon
Masters might be familiar with previous descrip­
tions ofthe Astral Sea as an infinite silvery plane. In
the world ofthe 4th Edition D&D®g ame, the Plane
Above is that and more-it also serves as the place
where many of the deities of the D&D multiverse
reside.
This new view of the Astral Sea includes other
aspects that haven't been part ofthe cosmology
before, such as the border islands that surround the
divine dominions. Suffice it to say that the amount of
interesting territory and beings that characters might
interact with in the Plane Above has been expanded.
Those border islands are covered in full later in this
book along with the dominions themselves.
Chapter 1, however, is designed to help you get the
most out ofthis book for your campaign. The chapter
presents seven campaign themes that weave together
the rest ofthe elements of this book. These themes
range from the predictable (Fight the Gods ofEvil)
to the unexpected (Overcome Heaven's Flaws) to the
world-shaking (Adventure into Myth).
"Traveling the Astral Sea" at the end ofChapter 1
revisits the earlier discussion ofgeography, providing
mechanics for navigation, vessels, and astral hazards.
The following sections ofthis chapter create a
framework for adventures on the Astral Sea.
+- The Astral Sea: The Plane Above has many facets
to its nature and its history, any ofwhich can come
into play. This summary highlights each of those
facets.
+- Geography: Essential physical concepts that play
into all the areas the Astral Sea encompasses.
+- Campaign Themes: Seven diverse approaches
to running a campaign that uses the Plane Above.
Most of the themes are complementary rather
than exclusive, meaning that you can incorpo­
rate elements from more than one to create a
unique campaign experience.
+- Traveling the Astral Sea: How to move
around in the Astral Sea, and a look at some of
the hazards that visitors and natives alike can
encounter as they traverse the Plane Above.
CHAPTER I Astral AdventurinB

Welcome to the world above the world ofmortals, Realm took advantage of the devastation wrought

an infinite silver expanse dotted by countless small by the Dawn War to pry a hole into reality through

shards orland, scattered larger islands, and the which they could enter. And as always, many hor
­
dominions of the gods. Here are some key highlights rible echoes ofthe Dawn War are poised to enter

to keep in mind as you prepare to use the Plane the Astral Sea unless capable paragon and epic tier

Above in your campaign. characters can set things right and create something

better in the scars left over by the war.

The Astral Sea is a former battlefield still ravaged
by the cosmic conflict known as the Dawn War. The Astral Sea is the horne ofthe gods.

The deities were the original inhabitants of the Most ofthe deities who survived the Dawn vVar main­

astral rcalm when the world was newly created by tain mighty dominions on islands scattered Widely

the primordials and the mortal races had yet to find through the Astral Sea. Chapter 2 details each ofthe

their final forms. Along with shaping and refining functioning divine dominions, as well as the border

the creation of the world, the gods had grand plans islands that cluster around each dominion. (The shat
­
for a single realm that would link all their domin­ tered dominions are discussed in Chapter 3.)

ions together with an all-powerful astral connection Although the deities wield much influence in the
known as the Lattice of Heaven. mortal world and its echo planes, the Feywild and
When the gods intervened to prevent the primor­ the Shadowfell, the gods' influence has been limited
dials from destroying the world and starting a new due to the ravages of the Dawn War and the forceful
creation, the primordials responded by invading the intervention ofthe primal spirits. But in the Plane
Plane Above. Gods died, dominions crumbled, and Above, the deities are the most powerful agents,
the incomplete Lattice ofHeaven was shattered into taking direct actions and choosing paths that shape
fragments. The astral world that had nearly become a the history ofthe plane.
fantastic interlocked mesh ofdivine dominions blew Momentous divine events that have acquired
apart into an infinite silver sea. Much later, when the mythic force did not end after the Dawn War. Epoch­
gods had eked out a narrow victory in the Dawn War, shaping events since that conflict have included
only a few of the divine dominions that survived the Asmodeus's rise to power and manipulation ofthe
devastation still functioned for their deities, hinting gods (page 65), Gruumsh's invasion of Bane's domin­
at the glory that died forever when the primordials ion ofChernoggar (page 51), the destruction of the
destroyed the Lattice. god Amoth and his dominion ofKalandurren by
Since that time, shattered dominions (those that three demon princes (page 114), and Erathis's more
no longer have a deity), ruins, corpses offorgotten recent determination to restore the dominions of the
gods and primordials, and war magic left over from gods and rebuild the Lattice ofHeaven (page 61).
the Dawn War still linger within the Astral Sea, Depending on the scope and interests ofyour cam­
whether on shards ofmatter scattered throughout paign, the player characters might be able to reshape
the astral realm or floating freely through it. Dra­ the Plane Above, including the agendas and life spans
matic examples ofsuch remnants include the Golden ofthe deities that reside there. The campaign themes
Monolith ofErishani (page 108), the floating corpse beginning on page 9 explore these possibilities in
ofthe primordial Haemnathuun (Open Grave: Secrets more detail.
ofthe Undead, page 120), and the primordial energy
bubble known as Frostburn (page 125). The Astral Sea is the setting for many separate
The player characters will most likely have already afterlives for mortal worshipers ofthe gods.
met the free-willed servitors that have a preference Each ofthe functioning divine dominions has its
for killing known as abominations-one of the worst population constantly refreshed by a small number of
consequences ofthe great rituals employed during exalted, the spirits ofdead mortals restored to life in
the Dawn War. In the prison realm ofCarceri (page new physical bodies known as soul forms. The exalted
104), or perhaps on the Glorious Hunt in the domin­ are generally not the protagonists ofthe great stories
ion ofArvandor (page 37), the characters might of the Plane Above, since they generally maintain
uncover the full story ofthe abominations' origin and their immortality only while they stay within their
the reasons for their increasing attacks centuries after god's dominion. But many exalted do venture beyond
the end of the war they were created to win. the protection of their dominion on pilgrimages,
Gods such as Asmodeus took advantage ofthe Sightseeing voyages, or missions for their deity that
Dawn War to seize power they didn't deserve (see could bring them into conflict or association with the
the Nine Hells on page 65). Threats native to the Far player characters.
CHAPTER 1 I Astral Adventurin8
The exalted most frequently encountered in the a campaign featuring confrontations with astral
wid~r Astral Sea are exalted ofBane (on missions pirates (page 12), the githyanki and their wander­
ofconquest), Gruumsh (on missions ofdestruction), ing city Tu'narath can become the characters' chief
Erathis (pursuing aspects of the Game ofMaking, adversaries.
page 62), and Kord (raising hell or training for the The maruts were originally creations of the dei­
Dusk War, page 45). ties. But they were created to have an impartial
Chapter 2 details the exalted and their less fortu­ perspective to allow them to make detached rul­ LU
:r
nate counterparts, the soulform beings collectively ings that would cut down on the squabbling gods'
r
known as outsiders. After the destruction ofthe tendency to resolve arguments by force. Unless the
Lattice ofHeaven , the divine dominions stopped characters have supreme diplomatic skills and some
functioning at full power and effectiveness. Many knowledge ofhistory, it's likely that the maruts'
mortals who were traveling to their god's dominion literally interpreted contracts will force them into
to become exalted suffered the repercussions ofthat awkward and violent situations rather than making
event, instead waking up on the shores ofthe border their lives easier.
islands surrounding each ofthe dominions. They are The quom are the most straightforward ofthe four
cursed with the name "outsiders" because they are races. A once-peaceful race converted to violence
physically unable to enter the dominion oftheir god. by the accidental death of their god in a Dawn War
The outsiders live as well as they can in the outer battle between Bahamut and a powerful primordial,
islands, sometimes managing a prosperous if not per­ the quom cut the fragments of their dead god out of
fect afterlife (as in the Green Isles around Arvandor, the bodies of anyone who had the bad luck to contain
page 42, and in the Daybreak Islands around Hes­ a piece ofit, no matter how small. The quom rival the
tavar, page 64). In other cases, such as in the island githyanki as fearsome raiders, but where the gith­
chain around Tytherion known as the Scales (page yanki seek plunder and entertaining violence, the
88), outsiders live only by avoiding the hunting par­ quom target random creatures, structures, and magic
ties led by the servants ofthe evil deities they might items. As part ofa campaign, the quom's random
once have worshiped. raids can target the player characters, or those close
Even in the best circumstances, the outsiders and to them. Occasionally, the quom might even target
mortals living on the border islands are cut offfrom the characters' enemies, perhaps forcing the charac­
the full protection ofthe dominions. Player characters ters to choose between enemies to assist.
will often be the only defenders standing between the
inhabitants ofthe border islands and the ravagers of The Astral Sea is most suited to paragon tier and
the Astral Sea: abominations, aberrants, slavers from epic tier adventures.
the Nine Hells, githyanki pirates, quom searchers, and Most of the monsters and threats found in the
servants ofthe evil gods. In turn, the border islands Astral Sea match up well against paragon and epic
and their outsider populations provide points oflight tier adventurers. Exceptions exist, but few heroic
outside the divine dominions where characters can tier characters should count on being able to sail
recuperate and prepare for their next adventure. through the Astral Sea without falling prey to gith­
yanki pirates or devils harvesting souls for the Nine
The Astral Sea is the home ofmany native Hells. Heroic tier characters can use portals to access
mortal races whose goals will shape the charac­ speCific astral locations, but most adventures in the
ters' adventures. Astral Sea are better suited for adventurers in the
The four major independent races ofthe Astral Sea are paragon or epic tier.
covered in detail at the start ofChapter 3. Each ofthe
four races has its own slant on the Plane Above that is
likely to connict with the player characters' goals. OTHER SOURCES
The couatls seem like the most benevolent ofthe Certain aspects of the Astral Sea have been detailed in
four, but their crusade against various forms ofevil earlier D&D~ supplements and in some Dra8on~ magazine
masks a status-oriented society that can turn player articles on D&D InsiderN. Here's a list of Significant sources.
characters into pawns used in the hierarchy contests Manual ofthe Planes"', especially Chapter 5: The Astral
within the couatls' Cloud Court (page 93). Sea.
Ofthe four races, the githyanki have the most "Playing Githzerai" in Dra80n #378.
innuence on events in the Astral Sea. Player char­ "Tu'narath, City of Death" in Dra80n #37Z
acters will probably have encountered githyanki in "Codex of Betrayal: Alloces, the Butcher of Nessus" in
their earlier adventures. The githyanki excel as qUick­ DraBon #373.
sailing raiders and pirates, preying mostly on the "Deities and Demigods: Bane" in DraBon #372.
border islands, on those who sail between the islands, "Masters ofthe Planes" in DraBon #3 n.
a nd on explorers who dare the deep Astral Sea. In "Hestavar" in DraBon #371.
CHAPTER 1 I Astral Adventurin8
The "silver sea" left in the wake of the destruction wanderers or the quom, has a clear idea ofeverything
ofthe original Lattice of Heaven isn't actually a sea, that could be found in the deep Astral Sea-the part of
but rather a fantastic version ofthe space beyond the the plane that surrounds the comparatively small area
world, filled with vast clouds of a luminous silver­ in which most ofthe gods' dominions are located.
gray substance that is not fully a mist and not fully a So far as anyone knows, the only truly fixed
liquid. Thousands ofstars glitter in the distance, as locations in the Astral Sea are occupied by the few
well as the colored veils of the astral dominions, ifa functioning divine dominions that still maintain some
traveler is close enough to see them. Vast expanses of sort ofconnection with the skeleton ofthe original
"open sea" between the drifting clouds of astral mist divine Lattice, such as Celestia, Tytherion, and the
provide travelers with hundreds or miles ofvisibility. Nine Hells. The border islands that spring up around
Inside even the densest astral mist, a traveler can see each ofthe functioning divine dominions don't stay
objects several miles away with ease, since the wispy in fixed positions, but each does tend to remain
clouds of the Astral Sea don't impede vision as much within the orbit ofits source dominion. The rest ofthe
as clouds do in the world. islands, motes, and shattered dominions ofthe Astral
The Astral Sea is not wet or cold; a cool tingle on Sea often change position slightly or drastically every
the skin is the only sensation a traveler gets. Crea­ year as a consequence ofchanges in the astral tide.
tures that breathe do so without trouble. Flying Astral navigators start with knowledge of the
creatures can fly through the astral stuff as if it were basic directions from one functioning divine domin­
air, and natural swimmers can swim through it as ifit ion to the next. But even with that knowledge, the
were water. Other creatures can move slowly through amount oftime it actually takes to sail or fly through
the Astral Sea by sheer willpower (they have a fly the entire Astral Sea from one known dominion to
speed of2 [clumsy] and can hover). More information another varies hugely depending on flows ofastral
on flying and sailing through the Astral Sea is located energy that are largely imperceptible. More details on
in "Traveling the Astral Sea" on page 19. astral travel appear on page 19.
THE ASTRAL HORIZON THE DOMINIONS'
Even though the Astral Sea is a three-dimensional COLOR VEILS
void, it has a distinct horizon that forms something
Great walls of shimmering light known as color veils
like the surface ofan ocean. The mists below this
surround each ofthe functioning divine dominions
surface are darker and denser, while the mists above
(as well as the dominions that have lost their deities).
the surface are brighter and more open. Most crea­
Each dominion has its own color (see Manual ofthe
tures and vessels slowly orient themselves toward
Planes, page 16). Most color veils are semiopaque,
this subtle demarcation, often without realizing it,
offering partial or shifting glimpses ofthe dominion
in order to travel along the "surface" of the Astral
within.
Sea. Vessels in the Astral Sea tend to meet along this
Travel along the horizon of the Astral Sea is often
nominal surface, creating encounters that begin in
sped up considerably by color strands, which are
a space that seems two-dimensional, though it can
wide ribbons oflight related to the color veil oftheir
become three-dimensional as soon as vessels begin
dominion. Whereas crossing an actual color veil
maneuvering for position.
immediately places a traveler inside the dominion,
The functioning divine dominions all rest along
entering a color strand transports a traveler to a posi­
this surface horizon. A vessel approaching an astral
tion on the edge of the corresponding dominion. If
dominion normally does so from the dominion's
the dominion has border islands, travelers entering a
eqUivalent of sea level, or from its equator for those
color strand are transported to the edge of that archi­
dominions that are shaped like globes. It's unusual,
pelago, allowing entrance to the dominion only by
though obViously not impossible, to drop in on a
sailing through the border islands.
dominion from a pole or the zenith of its sky.
A traveler using a color strand to reach a shattered
dominion that no longer has border islands is trans­
ISLANDS IN THE GREAT SEA
ported to a place some miles from the dominion's
Though the Astral Sea is profoundly empty, it is so edge, leaVing enough time for preparations before
unthinkably vast that it has room for divine domin­ reaching the ruined land. Details on each orthe
ions, shattered dominions, countless island motes, dominions' color veils and the rules for travel by way
tumbling wrecks of Dawn War battlefields, and cita­ ofcolor strands appear in the "Navigating the Astral
del islands. No one, except perhaps a few githyanki far Sea" section on page 25.
C HAPTER 1. I Astral Adventudn8
- .--._-.- .--.-.--.-.- --.-.-.--,-.---.- .--,-- --.­
CAMPA1GN THEMES

No book can provide the compelling stories that you EXPLORE THE INFINITE SEA
and the player characters weave together to bring your
Part of the appeal ofthe separate planes ofexistence ~
game world to life. The goal ofthis book is to provide a
is that they offer you a change of pace, allOWing an ex:
compelling backdrop and a rich selection ofelements
all-new style ofadventure with an elaborate context c..
for you to draw upon for your campaign. The seven
campaign themes introduced below help you benefit that you can draw in as you choose. ~
Fundamentally, the Astral Sea establishes an ~
from this book. Several ofthe themes include sug­
otherworldly analog ofseafaring adventures involv­
gested campaign arcs to use as inspiration.
ing relatively rapid but perilous travel between a
succession offamiliar and unexplored islands. Of
The themes discussed in this section are:
course, from the perspective of characters newly
• Explore the Infinite Sea: An infinite ocean
arrived to the Astral Sea, even the friendliest of
opens the option offraming much of a campaign's
the divine dominions count as unknown terri­
points ofinterest as moments in the career ofthe
tory, to say nothing of the border islands, shattered
greatest explorers ofthe cosmos. This theme exam­
dominions, and motes of the deeper Astral Sea.
ines the manner in which rephrasing character
Most campaigns that make use of multiple locations
rewards can turn some exploration into the char­
within the Astral Sea can easily contain a strong
acters' main goal instead ofa step along the way.
element of exploration.
• Crawl Astral Dungeons: Groups that prefer old­ The assumptions ofthe "points oflight" setting for
school dungeon crawl adventures can find what the 4th Edition world translate well to adventures
they're looking for, one island at a time. in the Astral Sea. The gods' dominions are the only
• Fight Astral Pirates: Githyanki, quom, and sla­ truly stable points in an otherwise ever-shifting
vers working for the evil gods make great enemies, environment, and the sole fixed locations that can be
particularly when the characters get to feel like confidently placed upon an astral map. Depending on
pirates. The Astral Incursion campaign arc sug­ the way you treat the island archipelagoes outside the
gests one way ofusing the githyanki as focal dominions, a few ofthe border islands might contain
villains for much of the paragon tier. settlements that qualify as pOints of light where the
characters can seek refuge. Ofcourse, raiders from
• Fight the Gods ofEvil: No enemies exist that are
one ofthe evil dominions or the deep Astral Sea can
more powerful than the evil gods. Make use ofthe
erase such havens at any time. Depending on their
information on the dark dominions in Chapter 2 to
relations with the gods, the characters might need to
infiltrate, assault, and perhaps ultimately destroy
explore large portions ofthe Astra I Sea just to find
the realms ofthe evil gods. The Gods War cam­
locations they can use as safe havens.
paign arc is a campaign that spans thirty levels,
gradually revealing the nature ofthis theme.
THE EXPLORERS' REWARDS
• Join Heaven's Order: Epic tier characters already
In a sense, the Astral Sea is the scene of a perpetual
dabble with demigod status and positions as
age ofexploration. Unlike our own world, which
exarchs. This theme draws the characters into
offers merely two poles for explorers' flags and a
closer connection with the gods ofone or more
finite number ofmightiest rivers and tallest moun­
dominions, or points the way to joining the gods
tains, the Astral Sea perpetually renews itself with
on the characters' own terms.
undiscovered islands and shards of ancient Dawn
• Overcome Heaven's Flaws: The divine system
War battlefields newly swirled into reach by the
hasn't worked properly since the Lattice ofHeaven
astral tides.
was destroyed. The characters attempt to solve the
To motivate the characters to explore wide reaches
tragedy ofthe outsiders, with or without the assis­
of the Astral Sea, draw a clear connection between
tance ofthe deities.
exploration and loot. Fragments of ancient battle­
• Adventure into Myth: This theme offers as pos­ fields that have escaped or defied plunder since the
sible adventures the conflicts ofhistory and myth Dawn War should be rich sources of magic items.
related in this book (and in aJi other supplements). Some come from the original armies of the gods.
Venturing into deep myth makes it possible for the Others come from the forces ofthe primordials.
characters to succeed and change the world for the Given the scope ofthe conflict and its numerous
better or fail horribly and return to a world in worse bizarre alliances, any item you want to introduce into
shape than it was before. It's a delicate balance, but your campaign, or that your players have asked for
an exciting option for demonstrating how epic tier on their wish lists (Dun8eon Master's Guide, page 125),
characters assume the mantle ofcosmic power. could reasonably be found somewhere on an ancient
CHAPTER 1 I Astral Adventurinn