Ethereal Plane: Domains of Dream and Dread

AJ Pickett2 minutes read

The text explores the ethereal plane, demiplanes, and dreamscapes, detailing how beings can navigate between these realms and the dangers they face within. Additionally, it delves into the detailed guide provided by the sourcebook "Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft," explaining the concept of the Ravenloft Setting for horror game environments and the unique nature of each Domain of Dread ruled by darklords.

Insights

  • Crossing over to the ethereal plane involves navigating a rainbow curtain with no set direction, requiring thought and will to pass through.
  • Domains of Dread in the Ravenloft Setting are individual demiplanes controlled by Dark Powers, where prisoners hold power within but are powerless outside, each ruled by a darklord with unique themes and quests for inhabitants.

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Recent questions

  • What is the border ethereal plane?

    The border ethereal plane is a realm that can be accessed through a rainbow curtain, lacking a specific direction but navigable through thought and will. It allows visibility of the prime material plane, with patterns resembling spiderwebs and mist.

  • How do dreamscapes within the ethereal plane work?

    Dreamscapes within the ethereal plane are created by beings projecting their dream selves, accessible through Ruptures. These dreamscapes, like Anavaree, are intricate and deceptive in size, with dreamborn creatures and changing environments.

  • Who are the masters of dreamscape manipulation?

    Gold Dragons are masters of dreamscape manipulation, capable of entering dreams and sending messages to dreamers. They have a deep understanding of dreamscapes and can navigate them with ease.

  • What is the significance of the Dark Powers in the Domains of Dread?

    The Dark Powers control each Domain of Dread, which are prison demiplanes where prisoners possess power within their confines but are ultimately powerless beyond them. The dark lords within these domains determine thematic elements and unique encounters.

  • What is the central belief in several domains within the Ravenloft Setting?

    The belief in the god Ezra, who manipulates the Mists, is a central aspect in several domains within the Ravenloft Setting. Followers perceive her differently, leaving her true nature a mystery, adding to the mysterious and eerie atmosphere of the domains.

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Summary

00:00

Exploring Ethereal Planes and Dreamscapes

  • The ethereal plane and demiplanes are explored, with definitions provided for clarity.
  • Crossing over to the border ethereal plane involves a rainbow curtain that lacks a specific direction but requires thought and will to navigate.
  • The prime material plane is visible from the border ethereal, with patterns resembling spiderwebs and mist building up.
  • Teleportation takes one out of the border ethereal into the deep ethereal plane, beyond the prime material plane.
  • Dreamscapes within the rainbow curtain are created by beings projecting their dream selves, accessible through Ruptures.
  • Anavaree is a dreamscape accessible through a rupture, originating from a hostile world with a barren landscape.
  • Travellers in dreamscapes face dangers, with harm resulting in mental shock or even permanent memory and ability loss.
  • Dreamscapes like Anavaree are intricate and deceptive in size, with dreamborn creatures and changing environments.
  • Principles like Ana in dreamscapes are unaware they are dreaming, with the dreamscape reflecting their emotions and thoughts.
  • Gold Dragons are masters of dreamscape manipulation, capable of entering dreams and sending messages to dreamers.

13:01

"Guide to Ravenloft: Domains of Dread"

  • The 5th edition sourcebook "Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft" provides a detailed guide to various Domains of Dread, not just Barovia, explaining the concept of the Ravenloft Setting for horror game environments.
  • Each Domain of Dread is a prison demiplane controlled by the Dark Powers, where prisoners possess power within their confines but are ultimately powerless beyond them.
  • Inhabitants of the domains, not the intended prisoners, refer to them as the lands of the mists, each with its unique culture, quirks, and rules.
  • The belief in the god Ezra, who manipulates the Mists, is a central aspect in several domains, with followers perceiving her differently, leaving her true nature a mystery.
  • Each domain is a distinct story, akin to the Feywild, with a darklord determining thematic elements, unique encounters, and the perpetual quest to understand and potentially evade the dark lord's influence.
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