More info on the outlands... - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

More info on the outlands...

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Aug 26, 2005 19:11:35 Hello.

Do any of you bloods can point me to a source of information on the outlands other then the basic box and player's primer? Besides, Player's primer only has "deep" info on the gate towns and I'm more interested in other locations (not gatetowns)like Thoth's Estate, River Ma'at, Thebestys, Tir na Og, Tir fo Thuin and Tvashtri's Realm.

Thanks

Ankhalab
#2
ripvanwormer
Aug 26, 2005 20:12:18 The Celtic lands are detailed in On Hallowed Ground.

Thoth's estate is detailed here.

Tvashtri's realm isn't really detailed anywhere, but there is lots of interesting stuff on the god if you look. For example, according to myth he created the world, fire, and most of the palaces and weapons of the gods. There should be big scaffolds in his realm with half-finished planets.
#3
ares
Aug 27, 2005 14:15:07 Good luck fiding On hallowed Ground. I've been searching for years.
#4
zombiegleemax
Aug 27, 2005 21:28:11
Good luck fiding On hallowed Ground. I've been searching for years.

I actually own it but I haven't had time to read it yet. I bought a whole lot of them from the same a guy a few weeks ago, so I kinda got 10kg worth of PS material to read and don't find the time to do it.

Ankhalab
#5
Shemeska_the_Marauder
Aug 29, 2005 4:21:58
River Ma'at

Beyond the sources already listed, there is no other information on the river Ma'at, though for the longest time I was convinced that the way I was using it was in published stuff somewhere. (It was just the idea a former DM of mine used to describe it, nothing 'canon').

I've written up my own version of it before, and at some point I'll have to stick it up on Planewalker and see if folks find it interesting and/or useful.
#6
ripvanwormer
Aug 29, 2005 10:12:05 Those interested in the Egyptian pantheon should also look at the River Ar-en-Gereh; nothing on the Ma'at or Thoth there, but it's still interesting.
#7
ripvanwormer
Sep 19, 2005 10:49:41 Post subject: Re: Tvastri? and his Lab? Reply with quote
Divine artisan, architect, and god of war. Son of the sky-god Dyaus. Father of Saranyu (goddess of morning light) and the serpent Visvarupa (unless he is the serpent Visvarupa in another aspect, which is possible).
He's either Indra's father or brother, although after Indra slew Visvarupa (or the aspect of Tvashtri which was Visvarupa) they became enemies. Indra seems to have previously killed Tvashtri himself, which made him nearly lose control of his maruts. Fortunately, the death doesn't seem to have been permanent.

Tvashtri's trademark product is the magic thunderbolts he creates as weapons for the other gods (especially Indra). I can imagine gigantic Tesla coils and so forth rising above his realm like skyscrapers. He probably creates maruts, too, if not all inevitables.

Other inventions of Tvashtri:

- a magic bowl of soma that never empties.
- Indra's swift steed
- the iron axe of Brahmanaspati
- Swarga, the mobile realm of Indra, which contains the palace of Vaijayanta and Amaravati, City of Ambrosia.
- Fire.
- the shape and destiny of humans (at least) while they're in the womb. Half-assembled models of humans in various stages of development should be everywhere.
- the world. I imagine Tvashtri's laboratory includes whole planets erected on scaffolding.
- all forms.

The theologian Yaska, writing about 500 BC, said that all the gods were aspects of the three great gods: Agni (fire), Indra (storm), and Vayu (wind). It says something about Tvashtri's popularity that he was credited with inventing Agni, fathering Indra, and being Vayu's father-in-law.

In the beginning of time, Dyaus the Sky-Bull and Prithivi the Earth-Cow
were created by Tvashtri, or possibly Indra (with the help of the maruts), or Visvakarman. Indra later on killed Dyaus so that he could rule the heavens himself. Dyaus and Prithivi were considered to be the parents of all the other gods, including Indra, Ushas, Agni (with Tvashtri's help), Tvashtri and so on.

Tvashtri's helpers are the Ribhus, three magical artisans. In Planescape there could probably be a lot of Ribhus, and they might be drawn from among his worshippers like other proxies. In myth, they were supposed to be his grandsons, the children of Tvashtri's son Sudhanvan the Archer. The Ribhus invented:

- cosmic horses and chariots for the gods
- a better magic soma bowl, now in four parts
- a magic cow of plenty
- the secret of revitalizing the elderly (there could be spas and so forth in the Lab)
- the heavens (with Indra, who is sometimes considered to be a Ribhu)
- grass, herbs, streambeds

Tvashtri and the Ribhus had a rivalry going. At one point Tvashtri was so jealous of his grandsons that he hid. Another time, he refused to let them into Heaven.

It's strange that Planescape rarely acknowledges how contradictory myths are. Usually the PS stuff just picks one story and sticks with it, which fits poorly with the philosophical exploration that otherwise characterizes the setting.

But anyway, Tvashtri is the divine artisan. He and his helpers create weapons, vehicles, and homes for the gods, as well as entire worlds on commission. He eagerly explores electronics, steam power, clockwork, and any other technology he comes across in order to better do his job, but he becomes extremely angry if he thinks others are doing a better job inventing things than he is. It's thought that the technological progress of the planes in general has been greatly hampered by assassin-spies in Tvashtri's employ.

Tvashtri had a son (or construct) named Trisiras. With his three heads he threatened to absorb all the knowledge in the universe. Indra tried to distract him with seductive apsaras (ghaele eladrins), but to no avail. He killed Trisiras with lightning, but the corpse still glowed disturbingly, perhaps still absorbing knowledge in death. Finally Trisiras' heads were cut off, which ended the problem (but no god is truly dead, if it is still believed in).

In revenge, Tvashtri built Vritra, a planet-sized monster who devoured all the waters in the universe, and also devoured Indra. The other gods forced Vitra to gag, and Indra fled. Later on he was able to finally destroy Vritra with his secret weakness, sea foam (which was Vishnu incarnate).

Tvashtri also created three worlds with shavings from the sun, and the divine realms of Yama (his grandson), and Varuna.

Tvashtri is also called Visvakarman, the All-Maker.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Aug 26, 2005 19:11:35	Hello. Do any of you bloods can point me to a source of information on the outlands other then the basic box and player's primer? Besides, Player's primer only has "deep" info on the gate towns and I'm more interested in other locations (not gatetowns)like Thoth's Estate, River Ma'at, Thebestys, Tir na Og, Tir fo Thuin and Tvashtri's Realm. Thanks Ankhalab
#2 ripvanwormer Aug 26, 2005 20:12:18	The Celtic lands are detailed in On Hallowed Ground. Thoth's estate is detailed here. Tvashtri's realm isn't really detailed anywhere, but there is lots of interesting stuff on the god if you look. For example, according to myth he created the world, fire, and most of the palaces and weapons of the gods. There should be big scaffolds in his realm with half-finished planets.
#3 ares Aug 27, 2005 14:15:07	Good luck fiding On hallowed Ground. I've been searching for years.
#4 zombiegleemax Aug 27, 2005 21:28:11	Good luck fiding On hallowed Ground. I've been searching for years. I actually own it but I haven't had time to read it yet. I bought a whole lot of them from the same a guy a few weeks ago, so I kinda got 10kg worth of PS material to read and don't find the time to do it. Ankhalab
#5 Shemeska_the_Marauder Aug 29, 2005 4:21:58	River Ma'at Beyond the sources already listed, there is no other information on the river Ma'at, though for the longest time I was convinced that the way I was using it was in published stuff somewhere. (It was just the idea a former DM of mine used to describe it, nothing 'canon'). I've written up my own version of it before, and at some point I'll have to stick it up on Planewalker and see if folks find it interesting and/or useful.
#6 ripvanwormer Aug 29, 2005 10:12:05	Those interested in the Egyptian pantheon should also look at the River Ar-en-Gereh; nothing on the Ma'at or Thoth there, but it's still interesting.
#7 ripvanwormer Sep 19, 2005 10:49:41	Post subject: Re: Tvastri? and his Lab? Reply with quote Divine artisan, architect, and god of war. Son of the sky-god Dyaus. Father of Saranyu (goddess of morning light) and the serpent Visvarupa (unless he is the serpent Visvarupa in another aspect, which is possible). He's either Indra's father or brother, although after Indra slew Visvarupa (or the aspect of Tvashtri which was Visvarupa) they became enemies. Indra seems to have previously killed Tvashtri himself, which made him nearly lose control of his maruts. Fortunately, the death doesn't seem to have been permanent. Tvashtri's trademark product is the magic thunderbolts he creates as weapons for the other gods (especially Indra). I can imagine gigantic Tesla coils and so forth rising above his realm like skyscrapers. He probably creates maruts, too, if not all inevitables. Other inventions of Tvashtri: - a magic bowl of soma that never empties. - Indra's swift steed - the iron axe of Brahmanaspati - Swarga, the mobile realm of Indra, which contains the palace of Vaijayanta and Amaravati, City of Ambrosia. - Fire. - the shape and destiny of humans (at least) while they're in the womb. Half-assembled models of humans in various stages of development should be everywhere. - the world. I imagine Tvashtri's laboratory includes whole planets erected on scaffolding. - all forms. The theologian Yaska, writing about 500 BC, said that all the gods were aspects of the three great gods: Agni (fire), Indra (storm), and Vayu (wind). It says something about Tvashtri's popularity that he was credited with inventing Agni, fathering Indra, and being Vayu's father-in-law. In the beginning of time, Dyaus the Sky-Bull and Prithivi the Earth-Cow were created by Tvashtri, or possibly Indra (with the help of the maruts), or Visvakarman. Indra later on killed Dyaus so that he could rule the heavens himself. Dyaus and Prithivi were considered to be the parents of all the other gods, including Indra, Ushas, Agni (with Tvashtri's help), Tvashtri and so on. Tvashtri's helpers are the Ribhus, three magical artisans. In Planescape there could probably be a lot of Ribhus, and they might be drawn from among his worshippers like other proxies. In myth, they were supposed to be his grandsons, the children of Tvashtri's son Sudhanvan the Archer. The Ribhus invented: - cosmic horses and chariots for the gods - a better magic soma bowl, now in four parts - a magic cow of plenty - the secret of revitalizing the elderly (there could be spas and so forth in the Lab) - the heavens (with Indra, who is sometimes considered to be a Ribhu) - grass, herbs, streambeds Tvashtri and the Ribhus had a rivalry going. At one point Tvashtri was so jealous of his grandsons that he hid. Another time, he refused to let them into Heaven. It's strange that Planescape rarely acknowledges how contradictory myths are. Usually the PS stuff just picks one story and sticks with it, which fits poorly with the philosophical exploration that otherwise characterizes the setting. But anyway, Tvashtri is the divine artisan. He and his helpers create weapons, vehicles, and homes for the gods, as well as entire worlds on commission. He eagerly explores electronics, steam power, clockwork, and any other technology he comes across in order to better do his job, but he becomes extremely angry if he thinks others are doing a better job inventing things than he is. It's thought that the technological progress of the planes in general has been greatly hampered by assassin-spies in Tvashtri's employ. Tvashtri had a son (or construct) named Trisiras. With his three heads he threatened to absorb all the knowledge in the universe. Indra tried to distract him with seductive apsaras (ghaele eladrins), but to no avail. He killed Trisiras with lightning, but the corpse still glowed disturbingly, perhaps still absorbing knowledge in death. Finally Trisiras' heads were cut off, which ended the problem (but no god is truly dead, if it is still believed in). In revenge, Tvashtri built Vritra, a planet-sized monster who devoured all the waters in the universe, and also devoured Indra. The other gods forced Vitra to gag, and Indra fled. Later on he was able to finally destroy Vritra with his secret weakness, sea foam (which was Vishnu incarnate). Tvashtri also created three worlds with shavings from the sun, and the divine realms of Yama (his grandson), and Varuna. Tvashtri is also called Visvakarman, the All-Maker.