Mount Celestia

The Archon’s Greeting

“Peace be upon you, traveller of many trials. You stand now upon the sacred Threshold of Heaven, where the sea of silver meets the unyielding stone of the Evermountain. Breathe deep, for the air here is pure and honest. It will not flatter you, nor will it lie. You have been borne across the Holy Sea on a ship of spirit and prayer, and now your journey truly begins.”

“Look about you, if you will. See the soft glow of Lunia’s starlit shore. It is beautiful, yes, but beauty alone is not the purpose of this place. It is the start of something far greater. Every soul that sets foot on this ground has carried burdens, made mistakes, known doubt, and sought to rise beyond them. You are no different. The Heavens do not demand perfection from you, only that you strive for it. This is not a land of leisure, but of refinement. You will not be coddled here.”

“Beyond the bays and harbors lie the Fields of Serenity, where time and stillness offer a mirror for reflection. You will walk among the patient, among those who wait, perhaps for days, perhaps for centuries. Reflection is not idleness. Here, you will have the chance to unburden your heart and weigh your deeds, and if you find regrets, do not shy from them. Regret is not weakness—it is an ember of change, a chance to grow. Speak truthfully to yourself, for it is your truth that will grant you passage beyond Heaven’s Gate.”

“Look to the mountain. Yes, you see it now. The Evermountain rises before you, its peak veiled by the glow of higher heavens. Every step upward will test you. Not through cruelty, but through clarity. It is not the world that will challenge you here, but your own self. The moral weight you carried in life does not vanish with death, but here, you will learn to lift it properly. You will be made to confront old wounds. You will be called to release grudges and offer mercy where you once withheld it. And when the Mountain asks these things of you, it will not shout. It will whisper. Be still, and listen.”

“There are others here—archons, like myself, guardians and guides of this realm. We will watch you, advise you if needed, and offer warning when you stray. But understand this: We will not lift you up the mountain. Your climb is your own. No hand will pull you, no wing will bear you. But know this too—neither will we let you fall. There is no shame in faltering, only in refusing to stand up again.”

“You may meet others upon the road: fellow petitioners, wisdom seekers, and even travellers from distant planes. You will know them by their purpose. They may offer you kindness or seek it from you. Help them if you can, for each mercy granted freely will speed your step upward. But if you encounter those who scorn the climb, know that the mountain is patient, but firm. The stone does not yield to the willful, and the stars above watch all.”

“Take heart, Child of the Path. The climb may be steep, but every footfall on this journey is one step closer to enlightenment. You have already crossed the sea and reached the shore. Do not think this place is merely an end. It is a beginning.

You are not here to rest. You are here to rise.

Lunia — Layer the First

The Silver Heaven, is the first and lowest layer of the Heavenly Mount—a shining island-mountain rising from an endless Silver Sea of holy water. The sea teems with life, from playful dolphins to enormous celestial whales, and its shores are dotted with islands bearing Beacons of Faith to guide spirit-ships to safe harbour. The perpetual night sky overhead is lit by countless stars and the twin moons Nikkal and Yarikh, who bathe the layer in a cool, silvery glow as bright as day on most Primes. The Threshold, Lunia’s bustling coastal region, is a hub of activity where planars, petitioners, and traders mingle. Beyond the Prime Vallation, the towering wall that guards the Evermountain’s sacred ascent, the plane shifts to serene calm—its quiet fields and tranquil forests reserved for only the most worthy or persistent souls. Archons, aasimon, and petitioners with a lawful and good bent call Lunia home, though strangers with less “upright” habits may find the locals a little too eager to correct their ways. Travellers will experience awe, reflection, and a requirement to better themselves if they with to undertake the arduous path of ascent.

Find more chant on Lunia here…

Mercuria — Layer the Second

If Lunia is the welcoming shore, Mercuria is the shining path of purpose. The Golden Heaven gleams with an endless dawnlight, bathing the rolling mountainside, golden fields, and marble avenues in a soft, amber glow. The air carries the hum of distant horns, and the scent of fresh dew never fades. It’s a realm of honour, valour, and remembrance—a battlefield-turned-memorial ground where fallen heroes are laid to rest in grand processions that stretch for miles. Colossal mausoleums and glowing obelisks mark the fields of the fallen, each name etched in letters of gold, a reminder to petitioner and planewalker alike that a sacrifice for the greater good is never forgotten. Celestial soldiers and noble spirits train here, ever-prepared for the next righteous crusade. Travelers will find Mercuria’s beauty humbling, but do not mistake its peace for softness. Valour is the watchword here, and while the locals may offer shelter and warmth, they’ll just as quickly ask you what cause you stand for.

Find more chant on Mercuria here…

Venya — Layer the Third

Soft, serene, and endlessly fertile, the Pearly Heaven is known for its soft, metallic pastel glow. It is a realm of quiet prosperity, a pastoral vision of perfection where colourful fields sway under soft, iridescent clouds. Here, gentle rivers wend their way through lush valleys and quaint villages built of white stone, their beauty so idyllic it borders on the uncanny. It is a place of humble labours and bountiful harvests, where work is seen as sacred and each task done with mindful care and devotion. Petitioners toil with quiet satisfaction, crafting goods of unparalleled beauty and flavour. The harvest festicals are legendary, and outsiders lucky enough to partake will remember the taste of freshly-baked Venyan bread for the rest of their lives. But there’s more than simple charm beneath this layer’s gentle veneer. Venya teaches patience and perseverance—the sort of unyielding goodness that doesn’t make grand speeches but can move mountains, grain by careful grain.

Find more chant on Venya here…

Solania — Layer the Fourth

The Crystal Heaven rises into the clouds as a domain of misty peaks and crystalline caves, lit by the soft glow of an ever-falling twilight. Its mountaintops pierce through roiling clouds that reflect every colour of a fading sunset. Shimmering monasteries and temples cling stubbornly to the peaks, their spires barely visible through the mist, while pilgrim paths spiral up the cliffs like silver threads. Waterfalls of purest clarity tumble into pools said to heal both body and soul, and ancient stone bridges cross ravines where the sounds of ancient prayers endlessly echo. This is a place of introspection and spiritual ascent. Many who climb Solania’s winding paths come searching for wisdom, and they’ll find it here for sure—though perhaps not in the form they expected. The meditating ascetics and silent monks of the Crystal Heaven offer no easy answers. Truths are earned, not given, and every step on Solania’s rugged paths feels like a question asked of the self.

Find more chant on Solania here…

Mertion — Layer the Fifth

The Platinum Heaven gleams with brilliance, its shining halls, marble citadels, and sunlit courtyards forming a landscape of boundless compassion and healing. Its sanctuaries, fortresses, and temples are places of peace and protection where mortal and celestial alike can find respite. This is the realm of mercy, healing, and righteous cause. The great Halls of Redemption dominate the skyline, offering refuge to the weary and the broken. Platinum-helmed archons stride the streets alongside mortal petitioners and travellers, be they healers, peacemakers, or wandering holy knights on divine quests. Only the chosen few among priests and paladins from across the planes make it this far up the Mount to train, for Mertion is a stronghold of moral fortitude, a place where law and compassion meet in perfect union. But don’t mistake it for a sanctuary alone—Mertion is also a rallying ground for celestial crusades. When the horn of war sounds, the hosts of Mount Celestia muster here, armour polished to a mirror shine, then spread their wings wide as they march to confront evil on any plane that dares call them out.

Find more chant on Mertion here…

Jovar — Layer the Sixth

The Glittering Heaven is nothing short of dazzling—a realm of staircases that seem to stretch forever, rising from one great golden city to the next. It is a domain where each “city” is a platform floating in the air, connected by stairways that wind upward in great spirals, forming an ever-climbing path toward enlightenment. Each of these floating cities is a masterpiece of marble, crystal, and gold, with wide plazas and open amphitheaters where wisdom is shared freely among all who come to listen. Here, every edifice is a lesson in balance and form, as if the buildings themselves embody the principles of divine law. Visitors may feel a sudden urge to walk upward, as if their hearts are pulled by some unseen force, and the higher you climb in Jovar, the stronger that feeling becomes. The archons who dwell here utter prayers of such profound depth that they lodge in a cutter’s mind for weeks after they leave. Be warned, though—the air grows thinner the higher you climb, not because of altitude, but because of proximity to the ultimate truth that waits at the summit.

Find more chant on Jovar here…

Chronias — Layer the Seventh

The final and most mysterious layer of Mount Celestia, its nature is beyond the grasp of mortals, planars, and even most of the celestials themselves. Described in whispers as the Luminous Heaven, it is said to be a realm of pure light—so radiant that no being can set foot within it and return unchanged. It is the source and end of all the light that suffuses the layers below, and many believe it to be the dwelling place of the Crown Archons or even the unseen presence of something grander still. No petitioners are thought to dwell here, no travellers are welcome, and even the paragons of the archons who are allowed to enter do not return from here. To some, entry to Chronias is the ultimate reward, the final ascension for souls that have reached absolute purity. To others, it is oblivion—the point where individuality is dissolved in light, the self becoming one with the source of all righteousness. Some scholars argue that Chronias is not a place, but a state of being, a point where the climb ceases and perfection is achieved. Whatever the truth, only one thing is certain: those who ascend to Chronias are never seen again.

Find more chant on Chronias here…

Source: Jon Winter-Holt

Canonical References: See the excellent Planes of Law boxed set for more details on Mount Celestia.