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Chronias
Mount Celestia — Layer the Seventh
The Illuminated Heaven, The Garden
Virtue: Freedom
Themes of the Layer: Transcendence, Truth, Perfection
Description: Chronias, the Illuminated Heaven, is the very apex of celestial splendor. You’ve reached your ultimate goal, blood. No one’s sure what lies in Chronias, but what is known is that this realm is a very pinnacle of virtue (well, according to the archons, anyway). You’ve completed your training, became the best version of yourself, and now you’ve found the last reward—liberty to do whatever you want to do. Of course, by this point what you want to do is endlessly bask in the ocean of Law and Goodness, but, well, still good enough.
Ruler: Zaphkiel the Watcher is said to be the first archon to ever exist and they’re now the permanent ruler of the Celestial Hebdomad, and is the only one known to come and go from Chronias. They aren’t called “the Watcher” for nothing — everything rests on the shoulders of this godlike being — the internal affairs of archons, the machinations of the celestial crusades, and the complicated relationships between celestials and gods. They say he embodies the very essence of “perfect goodness,” a being so righteous and exalted that even the most virtuous mortals quiver in his presence. And let me tell you, friend, his motives are as mysterious as the depths of the Abyss. Graybeards reckon Zaphkiel is equal in power to Asmodeus, and their power dwarfs that of most of the Abyssal lords, yet they are as humble as they come. Not only that, Zaphkiel watches over the spirits of unborn babies, who are said to dwell in Chronias. Who’d have thought that Freedom incarnate would always have their hands full…
Sites: Listen cutter, this is all speculation, but one thing most graybeards agree on is that the Garden exists. It’s reckoned to be the pinnacle of Chronias, floating above whatever else is up there like a perfect jewel in the crown of creation. They say the Garden’s appearance changes and is changed by every soul that sets foot within its walls, to reflect the individual’s innermost desires and dreams. They say it’s where newly minted archons awaken, fully formed and ready to take on the challenges of celestial duty. They say it’s a paradise beyond imagining. They say a lot, don’t they?
Look: No one knows how exactly Chronias looks—if there even is anything to look it. Some reckon it’s a manifestation of eternal bliss, where the essence of the plane swirls and merges with the souls of visitors, or the Ocean Ordial where the powers themselves are said to frolic, or maybe even a gateway beyond reality to the next multiverse—but without evidence, it’s all just screed. Vanishingly few beings have even been there, let alone returned, and you can bet they’re all far too enlightened (read: uptight) to spill the dark on it. Perhaps it’s because words simply can’t do justice to the majesty of the place, or perhaps it’s because Chronias holds secrets so profound that they must not be uttered aloud.
Rumoured Locations of Chronias
- Bridge of Al-Sihal (only known entry point to Chronias) ‡
- The Kingdom / the Summit (site) †
- The Garden (site) †
- The Illuminated Throne (site) †
- Heaven Unleashed [PF1e] p6
- River Eunoë (source of the planar pathway) ‡
- River Lethe (source of the planar pathway) ‡
- Both of these celestial waterways apparently have their source in Chronias, as glittering waters cascade from the clouds on either side of the Bridge of Al-Sihal.
Rumoured Powers of Chronias
- Ahura Mazda (Persian power of wisdom) ‡
Philosophies of Chronias
- The Celestial Hebdomad
- Book of Exalted Deeds [3e] p124-138; Planes of Law [2e] Mount Celestia p10,25
Cutters of Chronias
- Galgaliel — a solar aasimon, the Voice of the Shining Host, and the only solar known to have returned from Chronias
- Planes of Law [2e] Mount Celestia p30-31; Heaven Unleashed [PF1e] p5
- Zaphkiel — the Watcher, leader of the Celestial Hebdomad (planar tome archon [they/them] / LG)
- Book of Exalted Deeds [3e] p124-125,136-138; Planes of Law [2e] Mount Celestia p10,25
Notes on integrating D&D editions & Pathfinder: Mount Celestia and Heaven both have seven layers, so I merged them directly one to one. Where descriptions of the layers differed, I used the Planescape descriptions as a base. Pathfinder names for layers are presented as alternatives that might represent the name for a layer (in the Empyreal tongue, perhaps?). Where the stewards of the layers differed, I used the Planescape version—or made up a story why there might be controversy. Powers, creatures and characters were all added in, and merged into single entries where appropriate. I supplemented additional locations and characters I found on the web while researching, including ideas from the Mimir.net site. I also added in many new non-canon ideas and added to canonical ones.
Canonical References
Read First: Planes of Law: Mount Celestia [2e] p25, 30-31
- Book of Exalted Deeds [3e] p55, 135, 137
- Manual of the Planes [3e] p136
- Manual of the Planes [5e] p225
- Planescape Campaign Setting: DM’s Guide [2e] p62
- Planewalker’s Handbook [2e] p13
- Heaven Unleashed [PF1] p6
Source: Jon Winter-Holt and Margarita. Canonwatch: † Pathfinder; ‡ homebrew
