Toril

Prime Material Plane > Toril

Toril

Abeir-Toril, a Backwater Paradise with a Habit for Deicide

Alright berk, so you’re asking why a self-respecting planewalker should care about Toril? After all, it’s just some backwater prime world, unremarkable except for its greater-than-average concentration of portals and gates, and the greater-than-average arrogance of its wizards, right? Well, as Prime Material mudballs go, Toril has plenty of delights to discover. You just need to mind the powers.

If you though the Great Ring was lousy with so-called gods, wait till I tell you about Toril. Unless you’ve been living under a rock in Agathion, you’ll have heard the chant about the Time of Troubles that befell the world recently. Chant goes that Ao, the Overpower of the crystal sphere, got mightily annoyed at the tricks the Faerûnian Pantheon had been up to, and cast them from the Outer Planes to walk the surface of their Prime.

Now forgive me for sounding surprised, but powers walking the Prime?! Bit of a breach of the old planar law there, eh? And that’s not considering the chaos that was wreaked on the poor berks of Toril, or the opportunities created when several of the Pantheon’s powers were actually slain. By mortals, no less! Now they’ve been replaced, and their corpses drift on the Astral, but when a power dies (even if it was only a Torilian power) planewalkers can’t help but take notice.

So anyway, now that this Prime is on the map, let me lann you more of the chant about the place.

Geography

First things first, let’s talk about the lay of the land. Well, Toril—or Abeir-Toril if you’re feeling fancy—is your typical Prime world that’s convinced it’s the centre of the multiverse. The bashers there call it the “Cradle of Life,” which is rich coming from a place that’s best known for who it’s killed. But I digress.

The main supercontinent stretches across three main regions that the locals treat like separate worlds because, apparently, travelling a few thousand leagues is a stretch. You’ve got Faerûn in the west—that’s where most of the famous cutters seem to come from. It’s not clear why, there don’t seem to be more of them there. Maybe there’s a higher concentration of portals in that part of the world, don’t ask me. To the east sits Kara-Tur, which is a lot like Faerûn only they’re more respectful of their dragons. Down south, there’s Zakhara, the Land of Fate. Nothing says ‘our desert has a problematic genie infestation’ like calling yourself the Land of Fate. Underneath all of this is a lower layer they call the Underdark, because it’s under the ground… and it’s dark down there. Look, they’re just Primes remember? Give them a break.

Across the “Trackless” Sea, you’ll find Maztica, which the folks of Faerûn charmingly call the “New World”. There’s also Anchorome up north, which it’s best avoided because it’s too cold and too full of lycanthropes. To the south of Maztica there’s a continent called Kataskaka (no, me neither), and somewhere out in the eastern waters sits Osse, a continent so mysterious that even most locals don’t seem to know it’s there.

Anyway, they also have your standard complement of seas, mountains, and frozen wastelands that seem to be compulsory on every Prime world. There’s even a moon called Selûne—named after their moon power, because why would anyone need to know if you were talking about the moon or a goddess?

Culture

Despite what you might hear, if you look hard enough, you can find culture in Toril. In fact, these primes have managed to create almost every possible kind you could imagine, and then some. In Faerûn alone, you’ve got the Mulhorandi (whose powers are basically the Egyptian pantheon), Northmen (looking at you, Ysgard), they’ve got a country for witches and another one for wizards (but only red ones), jungles infested with dinosaurs, a big hole in the ground chock-full of dwarves, and an island overflowing with really old elves. There’s even a vast desert called Anauroch which chant goes used to be a mighty magocracy that destroyed itself and nearly took the rest of the world with it.

One of the major burgs of Toril is called Waterdeep. I reckon it’s what would happen if Sigil was controlled by the high ups of the Market Ward. Waterdeep is ruled by mysterious “masked lords”, because why would anyone care who or what was really ruling their city? Alright, the Lady of Pain acts pretty mysterious too, you’ve got me there.

Then there’s nearby Baldur’s Gate, which is like Waterdeep’s rough cousin who made good in a smuggling racket. You’ve maybe not heard of that city, but everyone knows about that poor burg Elturel that got pulled into Avernus a few cycle back? That was practically up the road from Baldur’s Gate.

Now don’t take my cynical tone the wrong way: the primes of Toril are more plane-savvy than most. Thanks to all the portals scattered around their world, they’ve heard of baatezu and tanar’ri and sometimes even use the right names for them. You can find Torilian primes in the Cage fairly often, and their local powers even have a few temples in the Lady’s Ward. Speaking of which…

Religion

So this is where Toril really stands out. See, most Prime worlds have one pantheon, perhaps two if they’re feeling ambitious. Toril? They’ve got so many gods you’d think they were going out of fashion.

The one you’ve probably heard of is the Faerûnian Pantheon, which is less a holy family and more like a tavern brawl that’s been going on for a few millennia. They’ve got powers for everything—magic, murder, money, you name it. Chant goes that this pantheon formed as a local shop for local powers only, specifically to keep deities from other pantheons out. The irony is those foreign gods kept on sneaking in anyway. You’ve got some of the Tuatha de Danaan—Oghma and Silvanus, the Aesir power Tyr, the Theos stowaway Tyche (who split herself into Beshaba and Tymora), and even Nergal of the Anunnaki lurking in the shadows. The Celestial Emperor has a grip on Kara-Tur. They also have even more local pantheons in far-flung areas; Chult, Maztica, Unther, Zakhara. And of course, the elves, orcs and dwarves have all installed their own pantheons too.

Of the homegrown deities, the best-known Mystra, goddess of magic and professional murder victim. She’s got through more lives than most cats. First there was Mystryl, who got herself dead-booked saving magic from a mortal who thought he could do her job better. Then came Mystra, who got whacked by a divine bouncer for disobedience. Now they’ve got Mystra II (a former mortal herself), and frankly, smart money says she probably won’t last that long either.

Magic and Technology

Magic-wise, Toril is pretty unusual. There’s something called the Weave that makes magic work a little differently here, and lets some bloods wield an unusual kind of power called Spellfire. Course, when the Weave breaks (which happens every time Mystra dies), magic goes completely barmy and continents start swapping places. Their last magical disaster was called the Spellplague, when Toril and its evil twin world Abeir started merging. Blue fires everywhere, magic broke down, whole kingdoms displaced—it was like a normal day in Limbo. They eventually sorted it out with something called the Second Sundering, which was as dramatic as it sounds, but yeah. Messy business.

But technology-wise? Well, let’s just say the modrons don’t bother stopping here on their Grand Procession. There’s what passes for clockwork in the best places, but the Faerûnian powers seem to actively conspire to keep the mortals from advancing too far. Perhaps those pesky synesis aeons are pulling some strings here too. Gond (the god of invention) and Mystra (the goddess of getting put in the dead-book) have an understanding that technological advancement should be ‘earned,’ so firearms remain rare as honest Fated factioneers. They’ve got some steam-powered gadgets in places like Lantan, but most of the world turns its nose up at anything industrial.

Getting There

Now, if you’re curious enough to want to visit this quaint Prime, you’ve got a few options. Standard planar travel works of course—planeshift will get you there, assuming you can find someone with a tuning fork attuned to Toril. The Astral and Ethereal planes connects the world to the Great Wheel and the Inner Planes as you’d expect. But what makes Toril interesting to planewalkers is the profusion of portals everywhere. They’ve got permanent gates all over the place too, some of them leading to other Prime worlds entirely. The barmy part is that many of these were made with some ancient magic that shouldn’t work for mortals, but somehow does on Toril.

Advice for Planewalkers

Right cutter, pay attention to this bit—it might save your life, or at least your sanity. First off, don’t underestimate the locals. Yeah, they’re primes, but among them are primes who regularly deal with planar politics. Some of them know more about the planes than half the berks in Sigil. In particular, watch out for the Chosen. These ain’t paladins like they might sound mind, they’re mortals who’ve been handed a chunk of divine power—like proxies but without all the edicts and anathema. Some of them, like the wizard Elminster, are walking weapons of mass destruction, thinly disguised as eccentric wizards. Treat them like you would an angry archfiend, because the power difference isn’t that much. Frankly, I reckon the baatezu are the more predictable.

Second, magic can be unreliable. Not just because of the Weave, but because Toril has a history of magical catastrophes that would make a Sinker lick their lips. Wild magic zones, dead magic areas, and the occasional reality storm are all par for the course. Make backup plans in case you get stranded, maybe bring some exotic goods from the Outer Planes, the locals lap that sort of thing up. Just nothing too advanced mind, or you’ll upset the local powers.

Third, the gods are active. Not “answer prayers and grant spells” active—I’m talking “walk around in avatar form and meddle in mortal affairs” active. Remember, the entire pantheon got kicked out of the Outer Planes and had to slum it as mortals for a while. That’s the level of divine dysfunction you’re dealing with.

Look, Toril’s certainly not the worst Prime world you could end up on. It’s got decent food, passable wine, and enough political chaos to keep a Hardhead happy for years. Just remember that it’s a world where the gods regularly throw tantrums, magic can explode without warning, and the locals think their provincial conflicts are cosmically significant. Keep your wits about you, don’t trust anyone who claims to be “just a simple farmer,’ and always have a backup exit strategy.

Now, that’ll be five jinx, berk. And don’t come crying to me if you ignore my advice and end up as the chorus in some bard’s ballad.

—Voilá!

What Sigil’s Factioneers Had to Say About Toril

I asked a bunch of cutters from the main factions in the Cage whether they’d heard of Toril and if they had any useful advice or thoughts on the Time of Troubles. Here’s the dark of how that went…

Athar: “See, even the power’s are fallible! Reckon they’re still Gods now, addle-cove? Perhaps Ao is a step closer to the Great Unseen Force which might exist, but even he has stooped to the level of the powers by admitting they’re not totally insignificant. The only god worthy of our worship is one that, by definition, is too great for mortals to even comprehend.”

Bleakers: “What’s the point being a power if you’ve still got to do what someone else tells you to do? And if, like they say, the goal of life is either to become a power or merge with one, then that’s a load of cobblers too. Forget the whole religion/ascension to godhood malarkey: Like all things in this life, it’s just a futile waste of time.”

Ciphers: “We do not need to think on such petty matters. Ao acted as was needed at the time, in turn setting off a chain of reactions from the powers. It will resolve itself without your bloody questions, berk.”

Doomguard: “See how the powers themselves are at war? Toril’s pantheon is crumbling, the weave of magic is failing on Toril, and it’s just the first of many…Maybe we could learn how to banish powers to the Prime for ourselves. If not, perhaps we could invade their precious Realms and spread the seeds of decay while the Toril powers are indisposed. Yeah: That’s it!”

Fated: “I heard some blood saying he knew where those Tablets of Fate were hidden. The chant goes they’re artifacts with the darks of the Torilian Powers written down on them. Imagine the jink we’d make if we got to them first and flogged ’em back to old Ao! Actually, bar that: It’d be more profitable to use ’em to take over the Pantheon ourselves. There’s just the small matter of finding a cony barmy enough to try it on…”

Godsmen: “As Toril has shown us, even the Mighty can stray from their path of Ascendance. This lesson leaves us doubly sure that, not only is every creature being tested, including the mightiest power, but that there is also a level beyond that: Overpower. Who can say – perhaps even Lord Ao has a master, even more secretive and enormously powerful than He.”

Guvners: “An interesting possibility: An OverPower forces his pantheon out of the planes and onto the prime. Could this be done by mortal means (spells or psionics?) How does the powers’ unwritten law that none may walk the prime stand now? Is this a breach of the rules or an exception?”

Hands of Havoc: “The first blow has been struck! Rebel against the corruption of the powers and bring them crashing down from the Heavens! Destroy their plutocratic palaces in the planes! Turn their petitioners away from their brainwashed ways! Bar and shutter the portals and gates to Toril to prevent the powers from ever returning to pollute the Great Ring again!”

Harmonium: “The symphony of the planes has been disrupted by the forces of chaos! Let us smite them to restore the balance! (And since we’re not about to go scragging powers, let’s start with those bloody Indeps in the Bazaar) There’s also chant flying round about a book called the Cyrinishad, which has the power to convince all who read it that it’s true. If we could get hold of it, and discover it’s magic, we’d be able to promote so much peace! Heavenly!”

Heralds of Dust: “How many powers will die before they realise they’re dead already? Two? Three? Could the death of a power open the doorway to What Lies Beyond, or do they just become even more dead? The Astral Plane is becoming fast-filling up cemetery for the foolish and short-sighted young powers of Toril, and a target perfect for the next stage of a grand scheme: To raise the corpse of a power into undeath.”

Indeps: “Seems to me that it’s about time Toril’s powers stopped doing what Ao tells ’em to and start doing what they think they should do.”

Mercykillers: “Tablets of Fate? Stolen? We’ll make sure some berk pays, even if he is a sodding Avatar!”

Mind’s Eye: “I just knew this was going to happen. I was just thinking about it the other day.”

Sensates: “Imagine what it must feel like to have your divinity ripped away like that! Or to cast a spell in an area where magic has gone wild or is dead! To sing the songs of battles between gods which happened over a city! To face an invading horde of beasts from the Grey Waste! Or to come face to face with an Avatar…say, where was that portal to Toril…let’s go visiting avatars!”

Xaositects: “What’s that? Magic’s gone wild on Toril? Let’s go. Let’s not go. Perhaps we could push Toril into Limbo. Or Limbo into Toril. Maybe not. I’ll bet the slaad/baatezu/guardinals are behind it. Or not. Did I tell you that my middle and last names are Ao?”

Source: Jon Winter-Holt. You can find proper informative information on Toril with hardly any sarcasm at all here.