Astral Shelf Cosmology

The Astral Shelf Cosmology is a theory of planar alignment unique to Yshivia. It stipulates that all of the planes are aligned in a sort of row, some closer than others, but in a way that, depending on how they are viewed, results in overlap. Like books on a bookshelf, when viewed from the front, the spines of the books are all visible, but when viewed from the side, you are only able to see the first-most book. Unlike other cosmological theories, such as the Great Wheel, planes aligned on the Astral Shelf have no inherent alignment. They have, however, been shaped by the beings that exist upon them. To maintain the theory, if the planes are represented by books upon the shelf, the shelf itself would be The Material Belt, both supporting the planes and influencing them evenly. Likewise, the wall behind the shelf would be akin to the Ethereal Realm, and beyond the drywall would be the Astral Sea.

Demiplanes

Demiplanes may be created in any plane in the Astral Shelf Cosmology, and would be similar to adding a bookmark between the pages of that particular plane, completely encompassed and only accessible from the plane in which it was created. They do not stand alone.

The Creation of Planes

While the creation (or removal) of planes from the shelf is possible, it is not something that happens with any regularity. Since the creation of mortal souls, only one plane has ever been created: Sommnuria. The addition or removal of a plane would have significant consequences to the stability of the Astral Shelf, and is not something that is taken lightly by the creatures that approach the sort of power necessary for the task.

The Planes

Entrokas, The Chaotic Sea Of	Entrokas The birthplace of arcana, The Chaotic Sea of Entrokas serves as a primordial soup of the components necessary for the creation of magic. After the ascension, Helmedeus's revelation of balance required a way for mortal creatures to access their own form of magic, and he chose to provide a plane that could serve as the resource for such magic. Thus, he bore Entrokas, carved out of his own flesh. To the mortal eye unfortunate enough to gaze upon it, Entrokas is a labyrinth of intense stimuli, overwhelming each and every sense to insanity. Helmedeus continues to reside within Entrokas, but some wonder if even he has fallen into intellectual chaos.
Avarjia, The Endless Battlefield of	Avarjia The home to Infernal creatures, both demon and devil, the Endless Battlefield of Avarjia is a scarred landscape pockmarked with nine walled cities, known as The Infinite Towers or sometimes The Nine Hells. Outside of these fortresses lies the Withering Wastes, a landscape devastated by constant lightning strikes and incredibly harsh winds. Two deities make their homes here and they are the masters of the constant fighting between devils and demons known as The Blood War. The Infinite Towers Bastions of security within the inhospitality of Avarjia, there are nine walled cities ruled by nine Infernal Princes. Unable to expand outward due to the constant pressure from demons, the towers instead rise to incredible heights. The King of Hell, Adezik, enforces a strict class system, making it difficult for lesser devils to rise in the ranks. The bottom of the towers, the least safe position, are akin to slums with poor living conditions, where as the upper levels of the towers allow for luxury among the infernal elite. The Withering Wastes The home of Sarmora, the Abyssal Maw and mother of demons, the Withering Wastes serve to the birthplace of demons. No plants grow here, instead leaving demons to cannibalize each other or wayward devils to survive. Ravaged by relentless wind and constantly struck by lightning, it is among the most inhospitable places amongst all the planes. Unfortunate are the souls that venture here.
Yshivia, The Material Plane of	Yshivia Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. Ut auctor felis aliquet lacus pharetra, et aliquet quam facilisis. Proin tempus consectetur tempor. Sed tempor turpis in ultrices pulvinar. Phasellus turpis lorem, venenatis et velit nec, aliquam condimentum metus. Cras sodales lacus eros, sed aliquam lectus blandit vitae. Nullam urna eros, vestibulum eget nisi volutpat, finibus fringilla nisi. Quisque malesuada volutpat augue, sit amet cursus leo aliquet suscipit. The Wandering Grove Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. The Feywild Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. The Underdark Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. Cirryx Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at.
Sommnuria, The Realm of Dream and Nightmare	Sommnuria Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. Ut auctor felis aliquet lacus pharetra, et aliquet quam facilisis. Proin tempus consectetur tempor. Sed tempor turpis in ultrices pulvinar. Phasellus turpis lorem, venenatis et velit nec, aliquam condimentum metus. Cras sodales lacus eros, sed aliquam lectus blandit vitae. Nullam urna eros, vestibulum eget nisi volutpat, finibus fringilla nisi. Quisque malesuada volutpat augue, sit amet cursus leo aliquet suscipit.
The Beastlands, The Infinite Hunting Grounds of	The Beastlands Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. Ut auctor felis aliquet lacus pharetra, et aliquet quam facilisis. Proin tempus consectetur tempor. Sed tempor turpis in ultrices pulvinar. Phasellus turpis lorem, venenatis et velit nec, aliquam condimentum metus. Cras sodales lacus eros, sed aliquam lectus blandit vitae. Nullam urna eros, vestibulum eget nisi volutpat, finibus fringilla nisi. Quisque malesuada volutpat augue, sit amet cursus leo aliquet suscipit.
Zefyrius, The Mirrored Skies of	Zefyrius Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. Ut auctor felis aliquet lacus pharetra, et aliquet quam facilisis. Proin tempus consectetur tempor. Sed tempor turpis in ultrices pulvinar. Phasellus turpis lorem, venenatis et velit nec, aliquam condimentum metus. Cras sodales lacus eros, sed aliquam lectus blandit vitae. Nullam urna eros, vestibulum eget nisi volutpat, finibus fringilla nisi. Quisque malesuada volutpat augue, sit amet cursus leo aliquet suscipit.
Holithilee, The Blinding City of	Holithilee Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. Ut auctor felis aliquet lacus pharetra, et aliquet quam facilisis. Proin tempus consectetur tempor. Sed tempor turpis in ultrices pulvinar. Phasellus turpis lorem, venenatis et velit nec, aliquam condimentum metus. Cras sodales lacus eros, sed aliquam lectus blandit vitae. Nullam urna eros, vestibulum eget nisi volutpat, finibus fringilla nisi. Quisque malesuada volutpat augue, sit amet cursus leo aliquet suscipit.

The Material Belt

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. Ut auctor felis aliquet lacus pharetra, et aliquet quam facilisis. Proin tempus consectetur tempor. Sed tempor turpis in ultrices pulvinar. Phasellus turpis lorem, venenatis et velit nec, aliquam condimentum metus. Cras sodales lacus eros, sed aliquam lectus blandit vitae. Nullam urna eros, vestibulum eget nisi volutpat, finibus fringilla nisi. Quisque malesuada volutpat augue, sit amet cursus leo aliquet suscipit. Vespartha Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. Brethoneir Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. Pelanthic Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. Caragast Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at.

Beyond the Material

	The Ethereal Realm Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. Ut auctor felis aliquet lacus pharetra, et aliquet quam facilisis. Proin tempus consectetur tempor. Sed tempor turpis in ultrices pulvinar. Phasellus turpis lorem, venenatis et velit nec, aliquam condimentum metus. Cras sodales lacus eros, sed aliquam lectus blandit vitae. Nullam urna eros, vestibulum eget nisi volutpat, finibus fringilla nisi. Quisque malesuada volutpat augue, sit amet cursus leo aliquet suscipit.
	The Astral Sea Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. Ut auctor felis aliquet lacus pharetra, et aliquet quam facilisis. Proin tempus consectetur tempor. Sed tempor turpis in ultrices pulvinar. Phasellus turpis lorem, venenatis et velit nec, aliquam condimentum metus. Cras sodales lacus eros, sed aliquam lectus blandit vitae. Nullam urna eros, vestibulum eget nisi volutpat, finibus fringilla nisi. Quisque malesuada volutpat augue, sit amet cursus leo aliquet suscipit.
	Elsewhere Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nec molestie quam. In cursus lectus quis rhoncus auctor. Aliquam quam eros, tempor nec turpis a, porta facilisis dolor. Aenean finibus porttitor lacus, ut commodo leo lacinia at. Ut auctor felis aliquet lacus pharetra, et aliquet quam facilisis. Proin tempus consectetur tempor. Sed tempor turpis in ultrices pulvinar. Phasellus turpis lorem, venenatis et velit nec, aliquam condimentum metus. Cras sodales lacus eros, sed aliquam lectus blandit vitae. Nullam urna eros, vestibulum eget nisi volutpat, finibus fringilla nisi. Quisque malesuada volutpat augue, sit amet cursus leo aliquet suscipit.