Table of contents

Cosmology

The Hard Lands do not follow the Standard D&D cosmology. All planes (barring the Outside) are finite, because they represent a planet. The following planes exist:

Land of the Living (aka Material Plane)

Traits: Standard D&D material plane.

Shadow World (aka Ancestral Realm)

Traits: As per standard D&D cosmology, it is coterminous and coexistent to the Material Plane. It is magically morphic, with enhanced shadow magic and impeded light/fire magic.

“The Plane of Shadow is a world of black and white; color itself has been bleached from the environment.” Manual of the Planes p. 59

Spirit World

Traits: Normal gravity, timeless (no hunger, age or thirst), coterminous & coexistent to the Material Plane. All animist divine magic is extended and empowered in the Spirit World.

“The Spirit World is a realm brought into sharp focus. Colors are brighter, sounds more distinct and every sense is more keenly aware of its surroundings. Some of its denizens say that the Material Plane is just a pale reflection of the Spirit World’s vibrancy… The Spirit World is where the spirits of all things… make their homes.” Manual of the Planes p. 206

The terrain of the Spirit World echoes that of a material plane, but more vibrantly.

The Outside

Nobody knows exactly who, what, when, where or why this is. But this is where those Outside come from. One suspects that going there would lead to madness.

Planar Travel

The Spirit World and the Shadow World are neither coterminous or coexistent with each other. You need to go through the Land of the Living to get from one to the other.

Barring the hypothesized Realm of the Guardian and Realm of the Ancestors, there are no other planes in the Hard Lands that mortals can get to.

Celestial Animals

Revered by Animist, celestial animals are perfected animals that dwell in the Spirit World.

Creating a Celestial Animal

Apply the Celestial Creature template with the following modifications.

Environment: Spirit World.