The spirit world is a realm brought into sharp focus. Colors are brighter, sounds more distinct, and every sense is more keenly aware its surroundings. Some of its denizens say that the material plane is just a pale reflection of the spirit world's vibrancy. It is a dimension of ultimates.
The spirit world is a transitive plane. It is both coexistent and coterminous to the material plane, matching its terrain. A valley on the spirit world corresponds to a valley on the material plane, and where there is a waterfall in one, there is a waterfall in the other. In the case of the spirit world, however, the waterfall is higher, its water more pure, and its sound more pleasing than that of its equivalent on the material plane. The spirit world's waterfall would likely be the home of a water elemental that serves as the spirit of the waterfall. Living creatures and their structures do not necessarily have direct analogs, but may.
Traits
- Normal Gravity
- Timeless: In the spirit world, creatures do not age, hunger, or thirst. Days and nights pass within the spirit world as they do on the material plane. However, the nights are ebony black and set with brilliant stars, while great clouds arching across a sky of purest blue dominate the days.
- Finite Size: Unless the Material Plane has the infinite size trait, in which case the spirit world does too.
- Alterable Morphic: Changing things in the spirit world does not directly affect the material plane, and changes on the material plane aren't necessarily reflected in the spirit world right away.
- No Elemental or Energy Traits: However, particular locations within the plane may have those traits. A smith's forge on the Material Plane, for example may have an equivalent in the spirit world with the fire-dominant trait.
- Mildly Neutral-Aligned: Specific locations may have other alignments; the spirit world equivalent of a haunted graveyard might be mildly evil-aligned, for example.
- Enhanced Magic: All divine spells are extended and empowered on the Spirit World. Arcane magic, which comes from knowledge as opposed to proper veneration, is unaffected.
Links to Other Planes
- The Spirit World is coexistent with the Material Plane, and movement on one is equal to movement on the other. A traveler who enters the Spirit World, walks three miles north, and then returns to the Material Plane is three miles north of the walk's starting point.
- The Plane of Shadow does not connect to the Spirit World, so spells that use the Plane of Shadow do not function in the Spirit World.
- The Spirit World leads to other planes, in particular the homes of whatever great powers oversee the operation of the known universe. A traveler through the Spirit World finds portals to the great palaces of these deities, as well as unique heavens and hells. A traveler seeking the Duke of Storms, for example, would find a portal to his palace occupying the same general location as storm-wracked peaks on the Material Plane.
Inhabitants
The Spirit World is home to a variety of creatures, including fey, elementals, undead, outsiders, and dragons. Those with access to the plane shift spell visit the Material Plane under their own power, and spellcasters use summoning spells to bring other Spirit World creatures to the Material Plane. Still other Spirit World creatures find natural portals between the planes.
Features
Settled areas of the Material Plane are particularly dangerous in the Spirit World, because these places are where the spirits of ancestors dwell. These spirits are extremely protective of their descendants; an assassin who pops into the Spirit World to infiltrate a local duke's reception hall will be confronted by one or more ghosts of the duke's predecessors. This is one reason that rulers live in the same palace for generations: They enjoy the protection of their ancestors.
In Other Campaign Settings
- In the Sky Islands: New World Order Campaign Setting, the spirit world does not enhance or impede any kind of magic.