Planes, Valances
and the use of Foci
for Summoning and Travel
by Eredhen i’Larien Faendryl
(first release)
The Canvas
A. Planes
All that exists is made up of the essence of the Elemental, the Spiritual, or both. There exists three major planes, the Elemental, the Spiritual and the Prime. The Elemental and the Spiritual are each separated from the Prime by their own veils.
The Prime Plane is the place where the energies of the Elemental and Spiritual planes merge. It is thought to be the point of origin for the other two. It is also referred to as The Cross-Planar Nexus. Elanthia exists within the Prime.
Upon the face of Elanthia are certain points where the energies of individual planes and sub-planes collect. These points are also referred to as a type of nexus, usually described by the individual plane or sub-plane from which the energy comes. For example, a place in which energy from an Elemental sub-plane (see below) collects is known as an Elemental Nexus. If that particular nexus connects to the sub-plane of Fire it is known as a Fire Nexus. This type is referred to as a simple, or planar, nexus.
The Elemental Plane is composed of four sub-planes, one for each of the four Elements: Earth, Air, Water, and Fire. Within the Elemental Plane, each of the sub-planes is separated by a veil from the others. Some consider each of these sub-planes to be true and singular planes, each completely separate from the other. In many ways they are, as each embodies the essence of its own element. Each element, however, serves to balance the others, and the shifting lines between the elemental sub-planes are more fluid than those between the three major planes. There are also similarities in the Elemental energies, regardless of the sub-plane of origin, that give credence to the existence of an overarching Plane. The Elemental, therefore, encompasses the Four. It should be noted that these sub-planes are sometimes referred to as Prime Elemental Planes, meaning the prime plane for each individual element. This terminology should not be confused with the Prime Plane.
The Spiritual Plane is not as clearly divided as the Elemental, although the Positive and the Negative can be associated with the Spiritual. In this way, the Spiritual is also balanced. As there is much overlap between the two sub-planes it appears that there exists no true veil between them, and they flow from one to the other. The area between is the Neutral between the Positive and the Negative. These energies are often referred to as Good, Neutral and Evil.
Some equate Dark and Light to the Negative and Positive of the Spiritual, but there is no true connection between them. Dark and Light exist separately, each balanced by the other, across all planes to some degree but mostly in the Prime Plane. As these forces exist throughout the planes they do not exist in their own plane (there is no true Plane of Shadow), but there are places in which one or the other will concentrate. These places can also be referred to as nexi, but they are not anchored in a “plane of primal origin” for that energy, as there is no plane of origin for either Light or Dark. They can be anchored in other places though, but do not necessarily have to be, and such nexi can exist because of some attraction of the Light or the Dark to that place.
The veils between the planes and sub-planes are referred to by name: the Elemental Veil, the Spiritual Veil, the Elemental Fire Veil, etc.
B. Valences
The three major planes exist throughout all valences. How does a valence differ from a plane? It is somewhat difficult to conceptualize at first, but the simplest explanation is that valences occupy the same “space” but do so at different levels. All valences are formed from the same building blocks, the same energies, as our own valence, but these energies manifest in a slightly different manner in foreign valences. For example, where Light and Dark are mostly balanced in our valence, another valence may have an abundance of Dark with very little Light.
As all things balance across the planes, so too do these energies balance across the valences. There may not be a perfect opposite of the example valence described above, but the overall balance works itself out in the ebb and flow of energies. As we see an almost perfect balance in our own valance, it is theorized, as with the planes, that ours is the original valence and all other valences were created in the balancing of these forces. Some valences are very like our own, while others are very different.
Like the planes, other valences are separated from Elanthia by a Veil. It is difficult to describe the manner of separation between the valences, except to say that it seems that there is a single veil rather than many, and that the Veil must be pierced in a specific manner to reach a certain valence. Some have described the need to find the correct ‘harmonic’ while others relate mathematical formulae representing coordinates for various valences. Some describe a sensation of setting up the correct sympathy for the desired valence. In any case, it seems that each valence has its own ‘signature’ that, if known, can be used to pierce the Veil to reach that valence. It is also known that valences that are similar to ours have a similar signature, while those that are very different have a signature that is also equally different. Thus, it appears that there is a logical order in the relationship between similarity and signature.
In truth, the manner in which the Veil between the valences is pierced is not much different from that used to pierce the veils between the planes. In each case, the ‘signature’ of that plane or valence is used as a means of specifying which plane or valence is desired.
It is known, however, that the Veil between the valences is much more substantial, more complex, and more difficult to pierce than are the veils between the Prime and the Planes. It is for this reason, along with the understanding that the Prime is where the other two Planes merge, that we see numerous entities from the Planes upon our Prime, but very few entities from other Valences. Spiritual entities, especially, are common upon the Prime for various reasons ranging from the direct involvement of the Arkati to the numerous spiritual foci scattered about in the form of temples, ‘holy’ places and graveyards.
C. Void
The Void is the place between. It is part of the veil between the valences. It is the ‘neither here nor there’. The very first forays into the Veil were those of the Void magics originally discovered by the Faendryl. It is thought that numerous small sub-realms exit in the Void, given substance by some twist in the weave or some cacophony in the harmony. These realms may have separated from a Valence, or they may have just sprung into being for one reason or another. Their true origin is unknown, but both types of origin are likely. These realms are usually confusing at the least, but can also be places of danger.