Planescape: Terra
Well Met Travelers,
I am truly sorry that these Planescape posts are the only posts coming out of this blog, but I have been busy with work and with moving back to school, so Hopefully, now I will be able to post more frequently.
Anyway, Last week, I created the Plane known as Aqua, the plane of water, mermaids, and a strange phenomenon where there is breathable water. This week, I shall be delving into the plane of Terra, a strange subterranean Realm where creatures of earth and stone dwell.
As with all of the elemental planes, Terra mirrors the Plane of Antediluvian, but with its own twists. Terra's entire landscape is composed of a network of caves and tunnels, many fraught with danger. These tunnels connect huge open chambers in which many groups in Terra set up their civilizations.
The day/night cycle in Terra can be a bit confusing to those adapted to life on the surface. Throughout the caverns are these strange crystals that slowly grow bright and fade back to dull with a period of rest in-between. This full cycle takes roughly 23 hours, 59 mins, and 45 seconds; this is how creatures sensitive to such things track time.
Plant life in terra is interesting, for many for the plants are metals that seem to grow out of the ground and Fruits that are gemstones; trees with Trunks of Iron and leaves of gold and bushes with berries of Sapphires. Many would argue that all of this would inflate most value scales; however, these materials seem to lose their value or become ruined when subjected to planar travel.
Key Locations:
Kaer Birdor
Kaer Birdor is the fortress home to the Dwarves of Clan Birdor. Long ago, while digging in their mines, the Dwarves of Clan Birdor discovered an ancient shrine to Ingan the Earth Titan. As was the protocol for such a discovery, the Thane sent for researchers, who upon entering the shrine activated an ancient spell that Transported the Entire fortress into Terra. This fortress is constructed out of Igneous rock and is buit in the Dwarven style, but has long run into disrepair, as the Dwarves have focused their efforts on either escaping or exploring their new home.
The Mirrored Chamber
This cavern is filled with gleaming crystals that reflect almost all light that hits them. This creates an effect similar to a mirror maze. The reflections make seeing through the cave impossible, and navigation equally difficult. If one with the ability to cast spells lingers in the caves for long enough, the cave will begin to whisper the secrets of crystalline magic to said creature.
Loam Lodge
The home of the Earth Titan, This expansive hall made of Fired Loam is built in the style of a Norse Long House. It is decorated just like a Norse long House, but rather than the tables being piled with food and drink, they are filled with gold and jewels and other treasures of the earth, all of which can be consumed by the Earth Titan and his children at his leisure.
Salutary Alcove
This small chamber is filled with a variety of rare herbs and a mineral spring. This chamber's plants can be used to create many different kinds of medicine to cure many different ailments. The heated mineral springs in this chamber seem to have the properties to heal most non-mortal wounds and even some mortal wounds. On top of these two things, many of the rock formations in this cavern can be ground up to make other natural remedies and cures.
Creatures:
Ingan the Earth Titan
This is the Primevil Elemental of Earth and the immortal of this realm. He is the Father of earth elementals and the embodiment of the land. He acts as a lesser god of earth, granting power to those who worship nature and those who worship only the earth. Like the earth, He is unyielding and forceful, but he can be a very valuable ally if pleased.
Birdor Dwarves
The Dwarves of Clan Birdor have a long history on Antediluvian, but few know of what happened to them after the Tragedy of Kaer Birdor, when their entire fortress disappeared. These folk are identical to ordinary dwarves in both culture and build, but the Birdor Dwarves differ in that they have made the best of a bad situation. They have begun studying and mapping the strange lands in which they find themselves, researching means of returning home (though very few care to return at this point), and working with materials that are exotic on Antediluvian but common here to become some of the most Desired craftsmen in the world. Flintlock and simple Blackpowder firearms have become a common commodity among the Birdor Dwarves, most dwarves among them have some sort of gun (guns are usually restricted to Military, municipal, and aristocratic use in most Dwarven Societies).
Giant Badgers
Giant Badgers are no different than their normal kin, except for their exceptional size. These creatures are constantly digging and burrowing through the earth. They are often trained by the Birdor Dwarves as War Beasts and Attack Dogs.
Giant Moles
Giant Moles are no different than the typical Moles of the world, save for their size. These creatures can be trained by the Birdor Dwarves as digging beasts and Beasts of Burden.
Burrow Tortoises
These beasts are large Tortoises infused with elemental energy; they can live upwards of 2,000 Years. These creatures travel through the Tunnels, growing larger and larger over their lifetimes by consuming the Quake Stones of Terra's landscape. These creatures are often used by the Dwarves of Clan Birdor for multiple reasons. The young ones (about the size of a Galapagos Tortoise) are used as mounts, while the elders often are used as mobile fortresses and siege weapons.
Earth Elementals
The Children of Ingan, these creatures are made of earth and stone who take as many forms as there are variations in the landscape. These creatures, much like mortal creatures of Antediluvian, have their own drives, their own ambitions, their own hates, their own loves.
Elemental Beasts
Throughout the plane of Terra, there are elementals formed into the shape of animals familiar to those on the surface. These creatures act similarly to their counterparts on the surface but are far harder to train and manipulate.
Giant Worms
These creatures are those that create many of the tunnels that are used as roads. these creatures are often docile, but occasionally, travellers come across one of the few species that are carnivorous and search for blood.
On top of these creatures, there are of course the normal creatures that would make up a subterranean ecology as well as Giant Insects and other such creatures.
I think that is all for this time. As always, leave your thoughts in the comments, and if you want to see more from me, click the follow button in the sidebar.
Until Next Time,
Farewell and Safe Journeys, Travelers.
I am truly sorry that these Planescape posts are the only posts coming out of this blog, but I have been busy with work and with moving back to school, so Hopefully, now I will be able to post more frequently.
Anyway, Last week, I created the Plane known as Aqua, the plane of water, mermaids, and a strange phenomenon where there is breathable water. This week, I shall be delving into the plane of Terra, a strange subterranean Realm where creatures of earth and stone dwell.
As with all of the elemental planes, Terra mirrors the Plane of Antediluvian, but with its own twists. Terra's entire landscape is composed of a network of caves and tunnels, many fraught with danger. These tunnels connect huge open chambers in which many groups in Terra set up their civilizations.
The day/night cycle in Terra can be a bit confusing to those adapted to life on the surface. Throughout the caverns are these strange crystals that slowly grow bright and fade back to dull with a period of rest in-between. This full cycle takes roughly 23 hours, 59 mins, and 45 seconds; this is how creatures sensitive to such things track time.
Plant life in terra is interesting, for many for the plants are metals that seem to grow out of the ground and Fruits that are gemstones; trees with Trunks of Iron and leaves of gold and bushes with berries of Sapphires. Many would argue that all of this would inflate most value scales; however, these materials seem to lose their value or become ruined when subjected to planar travel.
Key Locations:
Kaer Birdor
 |
| https://www.deviantart.com/art/Concept-Art-Study-Dwarven-Fortress-667861689 |
Kaer Birdor is the fortress home to the Dwarves of Clan Birdor. Long ago, while digging in their mines, the Dwarves of Clan Birdor discovered an ancient shrine to Ingan the Earth Titan. As was the protocol for such a discovery, the Thane sent for researchers, who upon entering the shrine activated an ancient spell that Transported the Entire fortress into Terra. This fortress is constructed out of Igneous rock and is buit in the Dwarven style, but has long run into disrepair, as the Dwarves have focused their efforts on either escaping or exploring their new home.
The Mirrored Chamber
 |
| https://www.deviantart.com/art/Crystal-cave-583595876 |
This cavern is filled with gleaming crystals that reflect almost all light that hits them. This creates an effect similar to a mirror maze. The reflections make seeing through the cave impossible, and navigation equally difficult. If one with the ability to cast spells lingers in the caves for long enough, the cave will begin to whisper the secrets of crystalline magic to said creature.
Loam Lodge
The home of the Earth Titan, This expansive hall made of Fired Loam is built in the style of a Norse Long House. It is decorated just like a Norse long House, but rather than the tables being piled with food and drink, they are filled with gold and jewels and other treasures of the earth, all of which can be consumed by the Earth Titan and his children at his leisure.
Salutary Alcove
This small chamber is filled with a variety of rare herbs and a mineral spring. This chamber's plants can be used to create many different kinds of medicine to cure many different ailments. The heated mineral springs in this chamber seem to have the properties to heal most non-mortal wounds and even some mortal wounds. On top of these two things, many of the rock formations in this cavern can be ground up to make other natural remedies and cures.
Creatures:
Ingan the Earth Titan
This is the Primevil Elemental of Earth and the immortal of this realm. He is the Father of earth elementals and the embodiment of the land. He acts as a lesser god of earth, granting power to those who worship nature and those who worship only the earth. Like the earth, He is unyielding and forceful, but he can be a very valuable ally if pleased.
 |
| https://www.deviantart.com/art/Earth-Elemental-407245482 |
Birdor Dwarves
 |
| https://www.deviantart.com/art/dwarf-347916865 |
The Dwarves of Clan Birdor have a long history on Antediluvian, but few know of what happened to them after the Tragedy of Kaer Birdor, when their entire fortress disappeared. These folk are identical to ordinary dwarves in both culture and build, but the Birdor Dwarves differ in that they have made the best of a bad situation. They have begun studying and mapping the strange lands in which they find themselves, researching means of returning home (though very few care to return at this point), and working with materials that are exotic on Antediluvian but common here to become some of the most Desired craftsmen in the world. Flintlock and simple Blackpowder firearms have become a common commodity among the Birdor Dwarves, most dwarves among them have some sort of gun (guns are usually restricted to Military, municipal, and aristocratic use in most Dwarven Societies).
Giant Badgers
Giant Badgers are no different than their normal kin, except for their exceptional size. These creatures are constantly digging and burrowing through the earth. They are often trained by the Birdor Dwarves as War Beasts and Attack Dogs.
Giant Moles
Giant Moles are no different than the typical Moles of the world, save for their size. These creatures can be trained by the Birdor Dwarves as digging beasts and Beasts of Burden.
Burrow Tortoises
 |
| https://www.deviantart.com/art/Tortoise-Mountain-481815149 |
These beasts are large Tortoises infused with elemental energy; they can live upwards of 2,000 Years. These creatures travel through the Tunnels, growing larger and larger over their lifetimes by consuming the Quake Stones of Terra's landscape. These creatures are often used by the Dwarves of Clan Birdor for multiple reasons. The young ones (about the size of a Galapagos Tortoise) are used as mounts, while the elders often are used as mobile fortresses and siege weapons.
Earth Elementals
The Children of Ingan, these creatures are made of earth and stone who take as many forms as there are variations in the landscape. These creatures, much like mortal creatures of Antediluvian, have their own drives, their own ambitions, their own hates, their own loves.
Elemental Beasts
 |
| https://www.deviantart.com/art/Elemental-Rhino-372735896 |
Giant Worms
These creatures are those that create many of the tunnels that are used as roads. these creatures are often docile, but occasionally, travellers come across one of the few species that are carnivorous and search for blood.
On top of these creatures, there are of course the normal creatures that would make up a subterranean ecology as well as Giant Insects and other such creatures.
I think that is all for this time. As always, leave your thoughts in the comments, and if you want to see more from me, click the follow button in the sidebar.
Until Next Time,
Farewell and Safe Journeys, Travelers.
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