Energons

Bestiary > Energons

Energons

Energon	Energy Type	Challenge Rating
Xac-Yel	Thermal	5
Xac-Yij	Chemical	5
Xag-Az	Psychic	5
Xag-Ya	Vitality	4
Xap-Yaup	Elecromagnetic	5
Xeg-Yi	Void	5
Xer-Yib ‡	Radiation	10
Xig-Yao ‡	Dark	13–17
Xob-Yip ‡	Gravitational	10
Xoc-Yot ‡	Temporal	10
Xong-Yong	Kinetic	5
Xor-Yost	Cold	5
Xost-Yoz ‡	Potential	12

Energons are strange and alien aberrations of pure energy who are native—mostly—to the Inner Planes. The first to be categorised by the Fraternity of Order were the energons of the Positive and Negative Energy Planes, the curiously-named xeg-yi and xag-ya.

These beings typically manifest as small, floating spheres with distinct auras and behaviors that reflect their energetic alignment. Like their home plane, the xag-ya radiate intense vitality energy, even when they travel to other planes. Conversely the xeg-yi radiate void energy, decaying and degrading anything their tendrils lad upon.

But it gets even weirder. Subsequent research by Guvner graybeards has now catalogued a dozen different energons, each embodying a different kind of energy. Theoreticians proposed an additional sub-species too, the xig-yao, which were predicted by complex mathemagical divinations that produced three solutions. Three xig-yao have since been encountered by planewalkers, each embodying different kinds of so-called ‘dark energy’, and each weirder and more dangerous than the last.

Energons are linked to raw energy rather than elements or alignments, and are thought to embody the fundamental forces that undergird life-force, energy and entropy across the planes, from the Elemental Planes to the Great Ring. As a species they remain largely aloof from the rest of the multiverse however, unable or unwilling to communicate with mortals, outsiders or even, it seems, each other. They do appear to understand speech however, and can be reasoned with by planewalkers or even persuaded to do favours if tempted with something that interests them. Good luck figuring out what that might be though, cutter.

Energons and Where to Find Them

While energons are most commonly associated with the Inner Planes, they are not restricted to them. These curious creatures can be encountered throughout the Great Ring, and the Transitive Planes linking Inner to Outer. While their motivations and goals are dark, energons always seem to be encountered near great concentrations of the energy that corresponds to their own nature. Consequently, if you are hunting a xong-yong, looking in the noisier planes would be a good start; for a xor-yost, then the cooler parts of the multiverse are your best bet.

Energons also seem to be drawn to portals, vortices and the borders of planes. It’s unclear why, but this is usually the place that they are encountered by planewalkers the most frequently, since they are partial to these locations as well.

Energons and the Factions

As usual, Sigil’s factions have opinions. The Heralds of Dust see an expression of the True Death in the xeg-yi, while the Doomguard view them as engines of entropy. Sensates view the energons as experiences to be sampled. The Sign of One were known to have experimented with a captured xag-az, although what became of it since the faction’s merger is unknown.

The Fraternity of Order, of course, seek to catalogue the creatures, believing they are more consequential than most creatures in explaining the laws that govern the multiverse. The following entries were hard-won by Guvner graybeards, often at great personal peril.

A Bestiary of Energons

Canonical Sources: Manual of the Planes [1e] p54, [3e] p168-169, [5e] p412 (xag-ya, xeg-yi); Planar Handbook [3e] p119-122 (xac-yel, xac-yij, xap-yaup, xong-yong, xor-yost); Planescape Monstrous Compendium Vol. III [2e] p118 (xag-ya, xeg-yi); WotC web archive (xag-az); ‡ indicates homebrew additions to the lore.

Source: Margarita and Jon Winter-Holt.