The Oceanus was a river that connected several upper planes of the Great Wheel cosmology.[1]
Geography[]
The Oceanus's source was located in Thalasia, the fourth layer of Elysium. From there, it flowed through the layers of Belierin, Eronia, and Amoria, moving on to Krigala, the first layer of the Beastlands, where it was joined by several streams flowing from the second layer, Brux. Finally, the river passed through Arvandor and ended by flowing into the waters of Aquallor, the second layer of Arborea, although several maelstroms at the bottom of the infinite ocean transported travelers back to the river's headwaters in Thalasia. This cyclic nature led many sages to believe that the Oceanus, in fact, had no beginning and no end.[1][2]
Close to Arborea, the river was tenuously drawn to the Gates of the Moon in the first layer of Ysgard. The connection, however, was faint, and dependent on the tides.[3]
The water of the Oceanus was sweet and fragrant.[1] Its banks were broad, its surface was calm, and its depth was immeasurably great. Travel time along the Oceanus varied, as the borders between planes were not always objectively located.[4]
The plane of Elysium along the banks of the Oceanus.
The Oceanus dominated the features of all four layers of Elysium. The river branched off and rejoined throughout its flow, sometimes even doubling back on itself at certain places.[5]
The river was the main means of travel throughout the layers of Elysium, and was frequently used to connect to the other planes along its course. Although the river did not suffer from pirate raids, there were many natural hazards along its course, such as rapids, eddies, and whirlpools, as well as large natural predators.[6]
Many towns were established along the banks of the Oceanus. Its course was always populated with boats sailing up or downstream. It was easy to rent or hire boats in one such town.[4]
History[]
The Oceanus was the preferred course of the Great Modron March as it passed through Amoria towards the gate-town of Ecstasy in the Outlands.[7]
Inhabitants[]
The River Oceanus was guarded by Oceanus dragons, who protected travelers along its course from evil creatures and natural hazards.[8] Although they spent most of the time on patrol, it was common for Oceanus dragons to visit the Dragon Eyrie from time to time.[9]
The depths of the river were also inhabited by delphons, or songsharks, mysterious singing creatures that could reveal secrets about the Oceanus itself or the workings of the multiverse to careful listeners.[10] Other intelligent aquatic life that could be found in its waters included asrai, balaena,[11] dolphins, nereids, selkies, and aquatic elves.[12]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- The Great Modron March
- Referenced only
- For Duty & Deity
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 21, 77, 86, 138–146. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur and Lester Smith (1994-07-01). “The Book of Chaos”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Chaos (TSR, Inc), p. 50. ISBN 1560768746.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur and Lester Smith (1994-07-01). “The Book of Chaos”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Chaos (TSR, Inc), p. 107. ISBN 1560768746.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 David "Zeb" Cook (1994). Planescape Campaign Setting, A DM Guide to the Planes. Edited by David Wise. (TSR, Inc), p. 44. ISBN 978-1560768340.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 90. ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ Dale Donovan (December 1995). “Liber Benevolentiae”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Conflict (TSR, Inc.), p. 52. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.
- ↑ Monte Cook, Colin McComb (1997-10-28). The Great Modron March. Edited by Michele Carter. (TSR, Inc.), p. 42. ISBN 0-7869-0648-0.
- ↑ Andy Collins, James Wyatt, and Skip Williams (November 2003). Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 181–182. ISBN 0-7869-2884-0.
- ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 150. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
- ↑ Monte Cook (December 1995). “Monstrous Supplement”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Conflict (TSR, Inc), pp. 8–9. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.
- ↑ Dale Donovan (December 1995). “Liber Benevolentiae”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Conflict (TSR, Inc.), pp. 6, 52. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.
- ↑ Dale Donovan (December 1995). “Liber Benevolentiae”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Conflict (TSR, Inc.), p. 52. ISBN 0-7869-0309-0.
Connections[]
Prime Material plane • Feywild • Shadowfell • Fugue Plane
Transitive Planes: Astral Plane • Ethereal plane
Inner Planes: Elemental Plane of Air • Elemental Plane of Water • Elemental Plane of Earth • Elemental Plane of Fire • Elemental Chaos
Para-Elemental Planes: Frostfell • Swamp of Oblivion • Fountains of Creation • Great Conflagration
Quasi-Elemental Planes: Lightning • Radiance • Minerals • Steam • Vacuum • Ash • Dust • Salt
Outlands: Sigil
Outer Planes: Arcadia • Mount Celestia • Bytopia • Elysium • Beastlands • Arborea • Ysgard • Limbo •
Pandemonium • Abyss (Layers) • Carceri • Hades • Gehenna • Nine Hells • Acheron • Mechanus
Energy planes: Positive Energy plane • Negative Energy plane
Planar Pathways: Infinite Staircase • Oceanus • Mount Olympus • Styx • Yggdrasil
Far Realm
Prime Material plane • Cynosure • Fugue Plane
Transitive Planes: Astral Plane • Ethereal plane • Plane of Shadow • Spirit World
Celestial Outer Planes: Arvandor • Brightwater • Dwarfhome • Dweomerheart • Gates of the Moon • Golden Hills • Green Fields • House of Knowledge • House of the Triad
Fiendish Outer Planes: Abyss (Layers) • Barrens of Doom and Despair • Blood Rift • Clangor • Deep Caverns • Demonweb Pits • Fated Depths • Fury's Heart • Hammergrim • Nine Hells • Nishrek • Supreme Throne
Neutral Outer Planes: Dragon Eyrie • Heliopolis • House of Nature • Jotunheim • Warrior's Rest
Inner Planes: Elemental Plane of Air • Elemental Plane of Earth • Elemental Plane of Fire • Elemental Plane of Water • Positive Energy plane • Negative Energy plane
Planar Pathways: Infinite Staircase • River of Blood • World Tree
Far Realm
Prime Material plane
Fundamental planes: Astral Sea • Elemental Chaos
Astral dominions: Arvandor • Banehold • Celestia • Cynosure • Deep Wilds • Demonweb Pits • Dismal Caverns • Dwarfhome • Eternal Sun • Fugue Plane • Gates of the Moon • Green Fields • House of Knowledge • Nine Hells • Nishrek • Supreme Throne • Towers of Night • Tu'narath • Warrior's Rest
Elemental realms: Abyss (Layers) • City of Brass • Cresting Spires • Fimbulwinter • Hidden Realm • Muspelheim • Root Hold • Sky Home • Steading • Thraotor • Undying Pyre • Zerthadlun
Parallel planes: Feywild • Shadowfell
Anomalous planes: Far Realm