In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game cosmology, the Concordant Domain of the Outlands, also known as the Concordant Opposition, is the Outer Plane where the souls of people of Neutral alignment are sent after death. It is popular as a meeting place for treaties between the powers. The Outlands are also home to the gate-towns. At the center of the Outlands is the Spire, atop which Sigil can be seen. The Outlands are the home plane of the neutral-minded rilmani.
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In first edition and second edition AD&D before Planescape, this plane is also at the center of the Outer Planes and known by its original name Concordant Opposition. The First Edition Manual Of Planes states that the center of the plane takes various forms at different times (a mountain, a huge tree, etc.) and godly powers are lost as one moves toward the center, as well as spells, beginning with the highest levels of spells at the farthest out and then gradually losing the lower ones step by step the further one moves inward. Within 100 miles (160 km) of the center, not even chemical reactions take place, and neither man nor deity can get closer than 100 miles (160 km). In Second Edition Outer Planes Monstrous Compendium, under the description of the Mediators of Nirvana (Mechanus), it states that this plane was originally intended for Neutral Powers (deities) and created by the Powers (deities) of creation, but each Neutral Deity asserted their individual influence causing it to become unbalanced, then were cast out by the powers of creation. It also states that three lights of balance exist at the center of this plane, one for each Mediator in Nirvana. (Mechanus) There is also no mention whatsoever of Sigil before Planescape being at the Center of this Plane.
Gate-towns are settlements which are built around a permanent portal to a certain Outer Plane on the Great Wheel. Gate-towns are important strategically because they provide a (relatively) stable way to enter a desired Outer Plane. The gate-towns reflect the plane that they lead to, for example, Xaos (or aXos, soaX, etc.) is a town where everything changes from one moment to the next. Even the location of the portal to Limbo changes every day – not that there's any regularity to daybreak and nightfall in Xaos. The character of Xaos mirrors what the plane of Limbo is like.
There are 16 such gate towns, each connected to their own Outer Plane
The closer to the Spire, the harder it is to use magic-related powers. However, most of the towns, portals, realms, etc. are located far enough not to suffer from these impediments. At 500 miles (800 km) from the Spire, illusions no longer work. At the very base of the Spire, absolutely all magic is neutralized.
Notice Rilmani seem unaffected by such limitation, except maybe in the first ring.
Outlands effects on spells and abilities | |||
Distance from Spire | Impeded Spells | Limited Spells | Other Effects |
1200 miles | None | None | None |
1100 miles | 9th | None | None |
1000 miles | 8th-9th | None | None |
900 miles | 7th-9th | 9th | All creatures gain immunity to poison |
800 miles | 6th-9th | 8th-9th | Psionic abilities don't function |
700 miles | 5th-9th | 7th-9th | Positive and negative energy can't be channeled |
600 miles | 4th-9th | 6th-9th | Supernatural abilities don't function |
500 miles | 3rd-9th | 5th-9th | Access to the astral plane prohibited |
400 miles | 2nd-9th | 4th-9th | Divine powers of demi-deity rank and lower annulled |
300 miles | All | 3rd-9th | Divine powers of lesser and lower annulled |
200 miles | All | 2nd-9th | Divine powers of intermediate rank and lower annulled |
100 miles | All | All | All divine powers annulled |
The Outlands is the location of a number of godly realms, including the following:
Three dwarven gods, (Vergadain, Dugmaren Brightmantle, and Dumathoin) share the realm of The Dwarven Mountain on the plane of the Outlands.
The Celtic gods (Daghdha, Diancecht, Goibhniu, Lugh, Manannan mac Lir, Oghma, and Silvanus) share the realm of Tír na nÓg on the Outlands.
Outer Planes | ||||
Celestia | Bytopia | Elysium | Beastlands | Arborea |
Arcadia | ↑Good↑ | Ysgard | ||
Mechanus | ←Lawful | Outlands | Chaotic→ | Limbo |
Acheron | ↓Evil↓ | Pandemonium | ||
Baator | Gehenna | Hades | Carceri | Abyss |