Nirvana
| Nirvana | |
|---|---|
| |
| (Plane) | |
| Titles | The Great Wilderness Sanctuary of Enlightenment |
| Sphere | Outer Sphere |
| Gravity | Normal |
| Time | Normal |
| Realm | Immeasurable |
| Structure | Lasting |
| Essence | Mixed |
| Alignment | Neutral good |
| Magic | Enhanced and impeded |
| Denizens | Agathions Angels Foo creatures Moon dogs Peris Neutral good outsiders Neutral good souls |
| Divinities | Sarenrae, Shelyn; Daikitsu, Kurgess, Qi Zhong, empyreal lords |
| Description | An infinite contemplative paradise of rolling hills and spring gardens |
Source: Planar Adventures, pg(s). 160–165 | |
Nirvana (pronounced nir-VAH-nuh)[1] is a plane of the Outer Sphere and home to the souls of good mortals. Its true natives are the contemplative agathions and wise angels who guide spirits to enlightenment and unity with the plane and with themselves.[2][3]
Alignment
Nirvana is a neutral middle ground between the chaos of Elysium and authority of Heaven, and its natives intervene in planar matters more frequently than these other goodly realms.[3]
Mortal souls who arrive to Nirvana seek enlightenment, and the plane is open not only to the virtuous but also those seeking redemption and respite. Petitioners in Nirvana can shed their mortal memories and worries in their search for enlightenment.[3][4]
Geography
Nirvana is characterized by pastoral hills, breathtaking mountains, and lush woodlands. The plane meets travelers' every expectation of an idyllic, restful paradise, while behind the plane's natural beauty lies mystery and true enlightenment.[5][3]
Inhabitants
Agathions, the most prominent natives of Nirvana, are compassionate beast-aspected races who guard the plane while also embodying its values.[3][6][7]
- Avorals guard the monastic aeries of the Dragonmane Mountains, including the monasteries of Xia Hua, Borolen, and Etamu. They also represent and fight for the plane's deities. Korada leads the plane's avorals.[3][8][6]
- Vulpinals are messengers who serve as storytellers and sages, and are led by Lady Taramyth.[3][8][6][7]
- Lion-headed leonals, responsible for guarding the plane's gates and portals, are led by Kelumarion.[8][7]
- Bishops are unsettling fishlike agathions who work as liaisons between celestial leaders on land and sea alike.[7][9]
- Cervinals, who resemble elk-like taurians, represent agathions in matters that span all good-aligned planes.[7]
- Cetaceals, guardians of oceans across the planes, craft homes in the depths of the Sea of No Shadows among its coral reefs.[6][7]
- Draconals have extravagant and diverse domains, particularly the Evergreen Palace and Lignitic Labyrinth, and are most responsible for their exceedingly timely insight and their actions in accordance with the gods' wishes.[6][7]
- Taking the forms of housecats, Silvanshee travel mortal planes seeking wondrous curiosities.[7]
Races of angels extend Nirvana's influence to other planes, watch over the River of Souls, and lead assaults on Abyssal fiends. Unlike archons of Heaven, however, Nirvana's angels focus more on rescuing souls abducted or blocked from reaching their true planar destination, and less on attacking proteans in the neighboring Maelstrom.[8][10]
Nirvana is also home to a race of ancient, powerful, planar giants called Nirvana gigas, also known as "the Eternal Sleepers". These creatures exist in a hazy state of sleepwalking semi-awareness. As they wander across Nirvana they reflexively create fantastical illusionary worlds based on their endless dreams.[11]
The Nirvana Dragon, a legend and mystery even among Nirvana's natives, presents his lair only to those who need to find him, and only when they can most benefit from meeting him. Its location shifts in location and among the memories of those who encounter it.[12] Phoenixes and simurghs also reside on the plane in their own quests for peace and enlightenment.[4]
Notable locations
In addition to its monasteries and the realms of Sarenrae, Kurgess, and Shelyn, Nirvana is also home to sanctuaries, refuges, and mysterious sites:
- The Hall of the Slumbering Kings is a shifting home of long-lost heroes and martyrs waiting to return in a time of great need.[8]
- The Isle of the Penitent is home to the regretful souls of evil mortals seeking redemption. Those who gain it invariably join Nirvana's host of angelic crusaders.[8]
- The agathion empyreal lord Bharnarol's workshop is located in the Dragonmane Mountains' foothills.[13]
- Korada resides in the blossoming violet palace known as the Dream Lotus.[14]
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Beliefs on Golarion
Vudrani believe that the purest souls in their faiths rise to become Anucaras, or "followers", of their gods in Nirvana.[15]
References
For additional resources, see the Meta page.
- ↑ Erik Mona et al. (2008). Campaign Setting, p. 247. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-112-1
- ↑ Erik Mona et al. (2008). Campaign Setting, p. 187. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-112-1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Amber Stewart. (2009). The Great Beyond: A Guide to the Multiverse, p. 45. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-167-1
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Amber Scott. (2013). Chronicle of the Righteous, p. 33. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-506-8
- ↑ James Jacobs et al. (2011). The Inner Sea World Guide, p. 245. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-269-2
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Amber Scott. (2013). Chronicle of the Righteous, p. 34. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-506-8
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Amber Scott. (2013). Chronicle of the Righteous, p. 44. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-506-8
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Amber Stewart. (2009). The Great Beyond: A Guide to the Multiverse, p. 46. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-167-1
- ↑ Benjamin Bruck, Craig Campbell, Adam Daigle, Amanda Hamon, and James Wilbur. (2012). Bestiary. Shards of Sin, p. 80. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-452-8
- ↑ Amber Scott. (2013). Chronicle of the Righteous, p. 35. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-506-8
- ↑ Patrick Renie. (2015). Ecology of the Gigas. Shadow of the Storm Tyrant, p. 74. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-730-7
- ↑ Amber Stewart. (2009). The Great Beyond: A Guide to the Multiverse, p. 47. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-167-1
- ↑ Amber Scott. (2013). Chronicle of the Righteous, p. 8. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-506-8
- ↑ Amber Scott. (2013). Chronicle of the Righteous, p. 17. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-506-8
- ↑ Erik Mona et al. (2008). Campaign Setting, p. 38. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-112-1
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