Irian

Irian stands as the primal wellspring of creation, hope, and beginnings. Its very fabric hums with the ceaseless thrum of life-giving force, a boundless fount from which all vitality ultimately draws. The landscape itself is a breathtaking testament to this pure energy: a brilliant white sun hangs perpetually in a pristine blue sky, casting an ethereal glow upon a world sculpted from raw essence. Rivers of liquid glass flow with luminous clarity from towering mountains of polished quartz, reflecting the infinite sky. Expansive deserts of pure white sand stretch alongside forests composed entirely of crystalline growths, each facet refracting light into a dazzling spectrum.

General Characteristics of the Plane

The inherent nature of the Eternal Dawn, while vital, is profoundly inhospitable to most conventional life forms. Its overwhelming generative force can prove destructive, causing uncontrolled growth, cellular explosion, or the instantaneous combustion of unprepared visitors. This paradoxical environment, however, renders it an exceptionally secure location, often utilized to discreetly safeguard potent artifacts, facilitate deep seclusion, or provide refuge from adversaries, including those of divine power. Beyond pragmatic uses, scholars and mystics are drawn to Irian out of profound curiosity regarding the fundamental nature of life and existence itself. Despite these varied motivations, travelers will discover a singular lack of readily accessible or widely welcoming stable locations. Unlike many other planes, Irian lacks a central, safe hub city. The closest approximation, the jyoti metropolis of Arudrellisiir, remains largely inaccessible due to the jyoti's deep-seated xenophobia.

Notable Regions and Sanctuaries

Venturing into Irian reveals several unique enclaves and phenomena, each shaped by the plane's potent energies and its reclusive inhabitants.

The largest and most renowned city of the jyoti, Arudrellisiir is a breathtaking marvel of architectural and natural integration. It comprises a magnificent lattice of iridescent crystal, connecting numerous clusters of smaller, intricately designed structures. These crystalline formations function as colossal prisms, meticulously engineered to refract the light of a central blue-white star, creating a dynamic interplay of illumination across the city. Access to Arudrellisiir is rigorously controlled, with vigilant jyoti sentinels actively deterring most external visitors. Unauthorized teleportation into the city's boundaries is met with immediate apprehension, typically resulting in a structured process of apology and tribute payment before release. Jyoti society within Arudrellisiir adheres to a rigid caste system, with governance presided over by the Azudehema, a respected priestly class. The city's current spiritual and administrative leader is Vencirisen, a prominent jyoti oracle whose pronouncements guide the populace.

The precise etymology and meaning of "Ksathras" remain a subject of extensive scholarly debate, with theories ranging from a specific creator deity to an ancient, forgotten title. Descriptions of this dominion vary wildly among those fortunate enough to experience it. Some accounts depict a majestic mountain traversing a fiery void, while others describe an intricate, labyrinthine structure crafted from exquisite crystal. A more unsettling perception frames it as a realm that manifests and reflects a visitor's profound personal failures and shame, presenting them as formidable challenges. This realm is collectively overseen by the manasaputra kumaras, beings of immense wisdom and light, and it demonstrably adapts its appearance and purpose in direct response to the nature and intent of its arriving guests. While many visitors seek profound enlightenment, their journeys often prove arduous and perilous, designed to confront destructive paths and guide them toward a more constructive existence. The judgment of those seeking entry rests with the collective wisdom of the seven kumaras, whose very forms dramatically shift and fluctuate based on the specific nature and underlying intent of each visitation.

Nestled within a minor positive-dominant region of Irian, proximate to three other jyoti cities, lies a colossal crystal outcropping simply known as The Garden. This extraordinary location is characterized by countless crystalline flowers, each reaching the imposing size of a redwood tree. Every flower is unique, exhibiting distinct shapes, colors, and internal luminosity. The jyoti hold The Garden in profound reverence, meticulously observing and documenting the growth and characteristics of these magnificent flora. They believe these flowers were originally planted in an epoch predating the existence of mortal life on the Material Plane, with each individual flower symbolizing the soul of a mortal who has ascended to godhood. The radiance and specific attributes of each flower are believed to directly reflect the associated divine power and inherent characteristics of the deity it represents. While the flowers themselves possess no direct authority over the divinities they symbolize, the jyoti extensively utilize them as tools for divination, seeking insights into the intentions and actions of various deities. Access to The Garden is strictly limited to its designated guardians. The few individuals who have managed to gain entry report occasional sightings of seeds, pollen, or nectar being harvested, though the potential applications of these unique biological materials remain largely unexplored.

Despite their deeply ingrained xenophobic tendencies, the jyoti engage in calculated negotiations with powerful entities across the cosmos, including divine beings, legendary heroes, and notorious villains. These interactions are primarily driven by the acquisition of potent artifacts and the secure imprisonment of high-value individuals. Irian's unparalleled environmental characteristics make it an ideal, unbreachable location for safeguarding these immense treasures, a responsibility the jyoti have undertaken for millennia. Their decisions regarding acting as jailors or guardians are often influenced by fluctuating, seemingly arbitrary whims rather than a consistent moral framework. For transgressions of lesser significance, artifacts and prisoners are stored within numerous isolated strongholds scattered throughout the plane. However, the Prismatic Vault represents their most significant and impregnable repository. Renowned for its exquisite crystalline construction and multi-layered defenses, it is widely believed to house an unparalleled collection of invaluable riches from across various realms. Whispers suggest it contains at least two imprisoned fiendish demigods, the phylacteries of mythic liches, and potentially even a fallen divinity. The true scope of the Vault's deepest contents is speculated to far exceed even the most ambitious conjectures.

Concealed within the boundless energies of Irian lies a stark remnant of a historical divine intervention in the natural cycle of souls: a colossal crystalline globe known as the Titans’ Prison. This formidable prison is conspicuously marked by enormous spindles of solidified positive energy, each inscribed with the jyoti words “Abomination,” “Unwelcome,” and “Unwanted,” serving as permanent testaments to a tumultuous ancient conflict. The jyoti response to this divine meddling was marked by an unprecedented capacity for violence, akin to a sanctioned crusade, leaving an indelible disdain for the divine in contemporary jyoti culture. Within the translucent confines of the globe, spectral figures can occasionally be discerned, engaged in futile struggles against its impenetrable surface. The tormented remains of danavas are particularly noted, caught in an eternal, agonizing cycle of rebirth and dissolution. The jyoti traditionally shun this place, maintaining a wide berth. Paradoxically, manasaputra are sometimes observed nearby, offering hushed words of forgiveness and solace to those eternally trapped within its confines. Within this peculiar and oppressive realm, all magical effects not directly related to the prison’s maintenance and containment are rendered utterly ineffective.

Manifest Zones

There are many manifest zones to Irian on the island of Aerenal, which many believe is what sustains the Undying Court. The City of the Dead is built atop one such manifest zone. Some also believe these manifest zones are what make Valenar riding horses so powerful.

The small village of Shining Valley in Breland sits next to a manifest zone to Irian, bathing the village in a glow that heals wounds.

Effects on the Material Plane

On Eberron, one can be brought back from death as either an undead or as a deathless. Those that are undead are said to have been infused with the essence of Mabar, while the deathless are infused with the powers of Irian. The Undying Court of Aerenal is composed of deathless imbued with energy from Irian.

Irian or Irian manifest zones are also responsible for Irian crystals, which can empower healing spells.

Soulwaters, pools of crystal-clear water, form in areas of the Material Plane where a congregation of faithful died in prayer, or in manifest zones to Irian or Thelanis. These pools allow for any living being who bathes in them to heal themselves of all physical maladies. Every time someone bathes in the pool, they increase their chance of becoming addicted to the waters and their effects.

Coterminous

In the short period of time when Irian is coterminous with the Material Plane, life blossoms. Days are brighter, colors are vibrant and sensations are more intense. Positive energy spells are enhanced in these times, but the manifestations occur only for the hour surrounding noon. The plane is coterminous for ten days in the month of Eyre.

Remote

When Irian is remote, night becomes darker, numbness hangs in the air and spells with positive energy are less powerful. These manifestations occur during the autumn month of Sypheros for ten days.