This is all I have to offer for now. I assure you that much more lurks beyond. There is much yet that they fair folk would prefer to presently keep hidden. Is there something worse than a nightmare conspiracy, cross planar war or the elimination of countless lives? Hard to say. The fey will remain an eternal enigma to even most planars.
Author’s Note: Special thanks to King Corn and ripvanwormer of thepiazzaforums for some incredible ideas! Anyway, that’s it for me in terms of fey politics, intrigue and factions. Additional thanks to everyone who participated in the January 2022 RPG Blog Carnival! More after the jump.
Seelie, Unseelie, Four Seasons and a few minor houses. There is more from there. And by all means, all of them scheme and dream. All of them seek to triumph over the rest. And worst of all, to see one of them fully succeed would spell the end of the fey. Even those devout to Rhiannon would bring about their queen’s deepest fear. In the end, the politics and ways of these creatures are too alien to fully understand. How would they avoid absolute destruction? How would they rebuild? It would take a lot of speculation to imagine how pieces would be picked up by such truly unique creatures. But, a mix of Real Speak and Chant alike has been formulated into some well crafted notes. So, by all means read ahead and dare to discover how much of it is actual truth. Normally, I strive for truly gripping information that holds the tests of scrutiny. But, for cabals and corridors this deep, such endeavors are impossible. Perhaps I have been mislead by rivals? It is the fey way, after all.
Author’s Note: The last of them, at least for now. These remaining sects, like the three before, hold less overall political power and tend to be less centralized. However, most of them are some level of crazy, even by fey standards. Also, huge shout-out to The Piazza forums. Their ideas helped really bring this to life.
The Mad Mage, he holds a key to various incarnations of reality, jumping from one image to the next. This portal gateway is unlike any other, as it explores different timelines and possibilities rather than other planes and worlds alone. Should you make your way beyond Halaster Blackcloak and his minions, you may unlock countless possibilities.
Who I am is not important. I leave all public record and identity to my humble guide, another reality traveler. The bipedal feline creature, known as Ramon DeLeon, has had experience with dark mirrors adjacent of reality on the Prime. The one I gaze upon, a Toril shredded by seemingly unending violence, this one frightens me. However, his words are reassuring. What is disconcerting is that “few will remember him”, whatever that is supposed to mean. But, when one has a reputation that precedes them, events can transpire almost any way.
Author’s Note: A post about the Forgotten Realms itself? Impossible! And yet, here we are! Many of my earliest gaming days were spent in Abeir-Toril. This post was meant to be made and posted a while ago, but yet that didn’t happen till now. Well, here is an expansion on an old post detailing parallel universes. The Torilian one, torn by war, is actually the version of the Realms I’ve played with for over a decade. Also, behold the final piece to the Antorek plot thing… even though it’s actually the first thing that started this whole mess. Literally. This is where the character came from. Is this the last of my looks at D&D realities? Probably not, but perhaps this is another sign I hope to move away. Anyway, Happy New Year, to arms and battle stations! Likewise, stay tuned for my January 2022 RPG Blog Carnival! I have a few more tricks up my sleeve! Also, thank last year’s Twilight Zone marathon for inspiring the thick of this!
“Those Anarchist twits, sparking more violence within The Cage. They think they’re turning the people against the factions, all of them… Not quite. It all plays into our hands. Besides, this has lead to our greatest dabbling, remote shops to distribute weapons from The Armory better! Tuck them under the Legals’ noses, give ’em the laugh at the right moment! The smell o’ fresh blood wafting along the Lower Ward smog, ain’t it just grand? Besides, nasty things are brewing in the planes, it’s best for the locals to arm themselves. Bloody shame with those pirates though, I wish they were working for us…” – From the letter of a Sinker, commenting on recent “acceleration” within Sigil
Horrible things transpire across the planes, but what do they mean? Likewise, dread things from realms unknown have found their way into The Cage. The few paranoid greybeards within The Dark point towards The Demiplane of Dread and its machinations. But, they can’t say for sure and can’t say why. Through the Prime Fabric, a version of Terra languishes at the wrath of the planes beyond too, something that should be impossible. As it is, rising tensions within Sigil point to something grim. Some figure that Factol Darkwood is up to something, but he has been on the hush since violence against any faction/non-guild has been on the rise. Even laws passed and enforced by the “lawful three” have been subverted and sometimes abolished by outside forces. The Lady, as always, has remained silent until her call to action draws near. In the meantime, both Anarchists and Indeps are getting much of the heat of the blame, alongside various Guilds of the Guildhall and Market Wards.
Author’s Note: This post is all about two themes: darker things in the planes… and war. By war, I mean urban warfare, world war, proxy war, war of ideals/words and war over technology. But also, we have more Planescape content, as well as potential “Ravenscape” material. As always, references galore! This includes some personalities in real life. Shout-out to The Foxy Bard of Renaissance Faire performance fame. I still say if you toss on a monocle, you could rock a Harkon Lukas cosplay! Mind you, Lukas was an inspiration for my character too. Also, this one is a smidge rougher based on looks at an apocalyptic Earth, as well as uproar in the Cage. Keep an eye out for many, many callbacks throughout the post. I love to self-reference.
“I tell you, we are prisoners! There is no such hope for us! The governor holds us in an endless war against an eternal foe. There can be no salvation in this doomed colony! There is no hope and the divine has abandoned us! Lock me up all you wish, in time you all will know the grim reality that you suffer from! May the rats eat your eyes! I am now lost to your cause, the darkness comes! IT WILL DAMN US ALL!!” – Eustace L. Flanagan, Scholar within the colony of Dawnsveil, upon being sent to Trinity’s Passing Hospital for the Mentally Ailing.
The Demiplane of Dread is a grim place, but its darkest secrets are indeed hidden for the better. Even the doomed and imprisoned are largely unaware of the full details. And those who are? They are drawn into madness and obsession, in hopes of escaping or destroying the demiplane as a whole. However, there is something to be said for ignorance being bliss. While life in the Lands of the Mists is hard, those who don’t know full truth exist within their own lives and internal dramas. But, what is known is that the strange and supernatural lurk just beyond reach. And from those places, eyes stare back at you. Dare you stare too long, you might see even more eyes.
Author’s Note: I’ve been thinking about ideas for the future, but I always do that. If I get ambitious enough, maybe I’ll get around to making an OSR bootleg of some “Dominions of Darkness” or something. I wonder what that would be? But for now, just mad musings. In the meantime, I give you more gothic goodies to greatly enjoy, including my own take on new ideas. By the way, Dawnsveil is a custom domain. Check the Doc’s Multiverse tab above for more. Also, more looks into the future of the Time of Unparalleled Darkness, as potential plot hooks in time are fun. Also, I was waiting to squeeze a reference to Eternal Darkness somewhere.
The Harmonium will always get their word out, making sure that you listen.
In which we explore most horrific occurrences and rather surreal surroundings within The City of Doors and beyond.
But, who might I be? Call me Garrick, a humble Tout at your service and former Guild of Planar Exploration member, depending who you ask. But first, let’s get away from that Hardhead speaker, yes?
You’ve given me more than a helping of jink, so if want The Chant… I can help! If you want the Real Dark of the Matter? Well, best find a cloaked alley and keep your senses about. The Cage is never a friend to its visitors, especially Prime-based folks such as yourselves. But, that’s why you have me. Call me chummer? Not so sure of that, but I owe you assistance and provide the work I shall. Particularly juicy topics, that might cost extra. But, I assure you, I have heard it all… and yet, here I am to tell you about them today. Also, cough up more jink and I’ll subdue The Cant… as best as I can. Trust me, it’ll make understanding me be a whole lot easier!
As for topics, I know plenty of things within the Cage and without. Do you want to talk Inner Planes? Perhaps planar misconceptions across various worlds? Maybe a good conspiracy or two? In all cases, I have plenty to spare. Of course, such a business takes time and time costs. You understand of course. So, let us do commerce so I can share whatever it is you might need for your journeys.
Author’s Note: This one is partially a shout-out to Mr. Welch! I have, to an extent, enjoyed Mystara. However, I never knew too much until I had the chance to delve deeper not only through carefully examining more books, but through his channel and chatting with him. One of his recent teasers for a book, exploring the Knights of Ebony, helped to inspire this return to the planes! Also, if you haven’t checked out his channel, please do! (He’s one of the few gaming channels I openly recommend.) Also, yes, I didn’t just rewrite the newer planes, I just rewrote the internal logic of the 4e universe a bit… even if that means literally killing off aspects of it. But, my focus was on making things work more for Planescape anyway… even an April Fool’s Joke from ages back. One can still sample those 4e locales and settings, but information here would supersede any conflicting details. And as always, I bring plenty of pop culture references.
A prisoner of Azalin, how could this be? And worst of all, the darklord is eerily happy about this. He has been quite dour towards other “guests”, but I’m different. He knows I’m the “Mist Lure” for his gate device. But, this begs the question, what horrors await once he breaks free with his Entropic Gloom cult? What horrors will the planes face? I can’t think of a way to stop him, not now at least. In the meantime, I’m simply one man against the forces of an all-powerful lich.
Author’s Note: I’ve been holding onto this idea for a year now! Ever since Ramon “escaped” Gothic Earth, I wanted to toy with something that popped into my head. I already had a “metaplot” of sorts bubbling in my head, with Azalin once again trying something. I figure this is a way to wrap this all together. Also, as to a previous reference to “Set Wands to Warpdrive”? That came before, but I wanted to tie it all together. Hell, I’ve been teasing and referencing these ideas for a while. And with that, let’s end this crossover of Planescape and Ravenloft with a domain that’s a literal crossover. But, with the truth finally out on Ramon, what to do with him next? Should he be doomed to The Mists with a successor taking over for The Planes and Wildspace? Or will he be released once more, living with a horrible guilt of his dark truth? Perhaps I should leave that to all of you. In the meantime, look out for at least one more 5th ed monster post soon!
Allow me to recant and give you words of caution. Remember, only take jobs that you can verify first. If you don’t, you might find yourself bound, gagged and stuffed in a warehouse in the Lower Ward… And from there? Well, read on and find out. Take it from a personal experience, at least I got some jink from a Sensate interview out of it. But, if you are more streetwise than I, then you will ahead of whatever challenges and traps lurk behind every corner. And yes, this includes the countless wonders of Sigil, the City of Doors.
Warning bashers and berks isn’t the purpose of this little session for today. No! Rather, I’m picking up where I left off from before. I’ve continued to take notes of all sorts of wonderful places and things in the multiverse. As always, revisiting a few places while finding new ones. So, let us find old friends and seek out new ones. Off I go, to places unknown and places barely known.
Author’s Note: As always, I love adding places to Planescape and beyond. One of my creations was actually a series of notes from years ago. If I found it before, something would have been said on it in the past. But, here’s my cobbled together take on developments on top of The Slags, the most infamous part of The Hive Ward! Joining that is a return to some previous concepts that I failed to really flesh out. And as always, a few other ideas are tossed around. Enjoy! As always, reference nods usually get a tag.
Not satisfied the first time, eh? Well, I have things for you. Not all sects made the glorious jump into our Cage. But, far more exist on the planes than you know. Let me tell you of a new list of sects that fill plenty of planes; Olden Glory, Moving Progress, The Burned, Front of Greatness, Glorious Subversion, Positivists, Educatorium and The Guardian Primers. Mind you, the last one is more of a guild. But, technicalities are important! You want details on the inner workings of these people, after all.
So, with a careful glance around and ducking into the right alleyway, please read onward and discover more things to know about the many Factions and Sects that hover around our spheres of influence and beyond. After all, you read the scribed words of a very banned author. And as such, you only place yourself at risk here. Stay safe, friend. And always, and I mean always, watch yourself for onlookers. And with that, do enjoy.
Author’s Note: So, besides the previous faction, only two other concepts here came from games themselves. One of them is just a nod towards a classic work of fandom, while another is based on said classic work. The rest? Additional philosophies through a fantastic and tongue-in-cheek window mostly.
Greetings, reader. There is no Ramon to worry about this time around. He is fine, my cohorts have seen to that. However, his journal is just too valuable to fall into the clutches of some grabby faction or offended primer. By all means, let me contribute! For the purposes of this document, this is an addendum to a magnificent tome that will damn you just by thinking about it. I speak of the most infamous tome in Sigil and maybe beyond, The Factol’s Manifesto! The pages within, adorned with flavour and flare by yours truly, describe the deeper details and dim dark on the factions that populate the Cage! Read no further, lest a basilisk of the mind take you! Once you go in, your mind will never go out.
Good, you’re still with me. Let us speak more of the infamous Factols’ Manifesto! The following pages are but supplements to inform you on some background groups attempting to politic and tinker with the workings of wider society all the same. I sense that you’ll ask a question, “Editor, how do I know you’re from Sigil when you don’t speak in Cant?” Well, my scrutinizing friend, one can choose to take a break from such slang terminology. Doing so can allow even the most oblivious of Primers to comprehend forbidden things that could either save them or… well… see above. So, take heed that all you see before puts your life on the line much like it does my own! With that dire warning, continue and be educated!
Author’s Note: Writing in the style of the Factols’ Manifesto, what fun! I’ve made a number of sects and the like over the years, also playing with other ideas. Plus, here’s a chance to spill the rest of the beans on the Acts of Balance “Faction” I’ve been teasing for a while.
Daemons & Deathrays 
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