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The Outer Planes	-	-	-	MP

Nirvana is the plane of ultimate Law,
a perfectly regimented order.
It consists of =equal= measures of light && dark, <color>
=equal= proportions of heat && cold, <link?>
and =equal= parts of the four elements.
<style, above, as well, colored links through four could be added>
All matter has its place and knows its place in the plane of Nirvana.
Nirvana contains no passion,
illusion,
or pain.
Individual consciousness xists only to perfect order.
When all consciousnesses are completely subsumed into the whole,
the society achieves perfection.

Nirvana is a single infinite plane with planar layers that exist in all directions,
without true floor or ceiling.
The void is filled,
however,
with huge interlocking wheels,
like the internal cogs of an ornately carved clock.
These wheels are great platters of matter,
however,
each 500 miles or more in radius.
The plane is filled with an 8infinite8 number of these clockwork disks,
interlocking along their edges so that the SLOW revolution of one disk is picked up by adjacent disks and transferred to others,
so the entire plane spins in unison.

Each circular realm has its own gravity, so disks can meet at right angles withoug disturbing the inhabitants of either one. This gravity extends in a sphere above and below each disk, though usually only one side of a disk is inhabited. Those beyond the bounds of any disk's gravity float as in the Astral plane, but there is a subtle tug from nearby realms, so a traveler suspended in space falls within the pull of a realm in 1d100 turns. THe space between the disks is air, so that flying is possible between the realm-disks.

Free-standing portals to the PMP usu. xist in
the center of a realm's inhabited ("topmost") side. These usu.
lead to planes where the realm's Powers are worshiped, or at least
acknowledged. There is no equivalent of teh Yggdrasil or Styx in the
plane of Nirvana. However, if the Greater Babylonian Power Anu
must leave his realm, a temporary conduit known as "Anu's Way" (a
red carpet, in effect),  bridges Nirvana and the PMP
through the Astral while Anu is GONE. On these occasions, Marduk is
summoned from Arcadia to mind Anu's realm.

    Portals also xist to Arcadia and Acheron. The portals to the
former are circles, light-green in color, while those to the latter
are deep red. They appear regularly once per revolution of each
disc (this varies from realm to realm, but on Primus's plane, the
opening comes once every 20 days). The portals remain open for
a day. Primus is relatively strict about powerful beings crossings
from one plane to another through his lands. Since he has the
army to back up his wishes, few of the warring organizations from
Acheron or huntsmen from Arcadia get through.

    A quicker method of reaching either Arcadia and Acheron is to
beseech Primus, who can send the traveller <> to either. In general,
the Lesser Power sends the traveller <> to the plane most akin to his
alignment or intent.

    A free-standing portal exists between Nirvana and Concordant
Opposition, but this is open at all times. It is located on the underside
of Primus's realm, benath the disk on a smooth featureless plane.
Those who arrive in Nirvana from Concordant Opposition
must be prepared to walk a fair distance before reaching the
edge. (The gravity of each disks is always directed toward the
center of the disk so a traveler can walk over the edge and onto
the other side with no difficulty).

    All spells function normally in Nirvana with the exception of illusions
and phantasms. Spells that have illusionary or phantasmal
components do not function in the plane of ultimate Law. At best
such spells appear as thin wavy bits of smoke in the general picture
of what was intended, but these fool no one, esp. not
the natives of this plane. This is in addition to all general restrictions
and rules for spell casting.
 
 

Features of Nirvana

    The best-known realm of Nirvana for most Prime Material travellers
is that of Primus, the One && Prime. Primus is said to be
the greatest of the ub Great Deities of the plane of Nirvana and is
said to dwell in a pool of energy at the center of the plane.

As an infinite plane has no center,

this statement may be assumed to
be the standard

artitude that surrounds
all such powerful beings.

The xistence of at least 2wo other powerful
beings held to be the leaders of their own respected pantheons
casts doubt on Primus's ascendancy in this plane.

The Realms of Nirvana

Primus	Anu	Shang-Ti	Shan Hai-Ching	-
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Three gods of the Indian mythos share interlocking realms in
Nirvana. Those Prime planes that recognize this mythos have
conduits leading here.

Varuna is the supreme judge and authority
(though not the ruler) of the pantheon. He rules a disk that is
polished as smooth as the reflection of the moon. Rudra is a violent,
compassionless death-god whose realm, though no less
thick than the others, opens into a huge chasm. Within this
chasm Rudra is said to fire his arrows into the Prime Material,
culling the weak and leaving the worthy. He is served in this plane
by the maruts, unliving creatures similar to storm giants in
demeanor and power. Finally, there is the realm of Yama, a demi-god
of death. This realm is smaller than either of the other two,
yet it is through here that the followers of the Indian pantheon
pass to their judgment by Varuna and final disposition. Yama is
said to wander the planes, yet a soft light of great purity shines in
the center of his plane.

The Lesser Power Horus, known in the Egyptian pantheon as
"the Avenger," makes his home on a spartan disk not far from
Primus's, but not directly connected to that realm. His servants
are hawks of all types. Horus is a god of avenging justice, and his
servants, the horusyr, carry out his will, appearing as man-like
hawks to those who seek justice and vengeance (see einheriar in Appendix III).

Finally, two powers of the Sumerian mythos, Utu and Enki have realms that interlock with Anu's.




Utu is of note because of
his alignment (CG), which clashes with that of his neighbors.
The idea has been put forth that Enki, whose watery disk is
bridged by span of woven gold and finely crafted crystal, is there
as Utu's watcher to keep the Sumerian sun god under control.
Indeed, where there has been conflict among the realms, Utu
seems to be in the very center of it.