The Metaphorical Plane

 "The metaphorical plane?"

"No, the Metaphorical Plane. It's . . . hard to explain."

"Try me, Dr. Amber."

"Okay, you know those 'just-so' stories for kids? Like how the seasons are caused by war between the fire and the water elementals? Even though we know that they are caused by the axial tilt of Earth as it goes around the sun?"

I nod. Dr. Emile D'Amberville was the foremost authority in quasiplanar metaphysics at the University of Orlaine, and I wasn't about to disagree with anything he said. 

"Well, it turns out those children's stories are also true. It's easier to describe using arcane math, but the axial tilt and the elemental war both cause the seasons!"

"You mean the axial tilt determines the tide of the war? Or does the war of the elementals cause the globe to tilt?"

"Yes." I must have looked confused, because he continued on, "That is, while it's natural to think one phenomenon must be more basic than the other, both actually have the same explanatory power as the other. Neither is prior to the other."

"Does that imply that the world is actually flat?"

"In a sense. It is definitely a sphere, but it is equally definitely a flat plane floating above the elemental chaos. This is all derivable from the Covellian equations, but Ferrier's work from just before the Second Demon War makes it clear. It's similar to how Faerie is an echo of what we call the Prime Material, but the Prime Material is also an echo of Faerie."

"So can we visit these locations, like we can visit Faerie?"

"It's difficult, but with the right sort of magic it's possible, similar to how some spells can transfer you to the plane of Fire."

"But didn't Fayon famously just walk into Hades, no magic required?"

"Well, I think you'll find that travel is its own sort of magic."

Session 42: The Rod of Seven Parts

The party moved deeper into the faerie lair, eventually making their way to a throne room, where a particularly malicious looking goblin in a wet, red cap mocked them. "Your blood will wet my cap!" he cried, as he went on the attack. But he was no match for the Abolitionists, and was swiftly killed. As they left the rooted cave, the entrance shimmered, and then vanished. Returning to Thornlet, she placed her hands on Volodemir's head, and prayed to Ryanna. Volodemir felt for a moment like there was a strange swelling in his head, and then he knew, somehow, that he could speak with blink dogs. "They will come when you call," Thornlet said, "But only call them when you are in dire need." She suggested that the party should head back to Darkshelf.

On the way back to Darkshelf, there was a deep ravine, crossed only by a rickety bridge. Suspicious, the party glanced around, and Lynnya saw spyder demons hiding in the bushes! Flint yelled at them, and they teleported away in fear. Moving closer, they saw that there was an old woman on the bridge, ranting and raving. When they went to help her, they saw she was offering them some sort of stick. When they took it, it turned out to be the smallest piece of the rod, marked with an "I". They escorted her back to Darkshelf, to leave her in the care of Kwon.

Kwon welcomed them back warmly, and told them he did not know much about the rod, except that this piece had healing properties. "Arquestan will know more," he said, "But he is gone, and I don't know when he'll be back." The party nodded, and inquired about the slaves they had rescued about a year ago. About half of them are still in the city, doing well, and about half they managed to send south to find their way back home. The party decided to rest for a few weeks, so that Flint had time to build another mechnotron.