Beastlands
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy role-playing game, the Beastlands (more properly, the Wilderness of the Beastlands, formerly the Happy Hunting Grounds in early versions of the game) is a neutral (chaotic) good-aligned plane
of existence. It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Plane
s that form part of the standard Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) cosmology, used in the Greyhawk
and Planescape
campaign settings, as well as some editions of the Forgotten Realms
setting.
The Beastlands is a plane of nature and animals, and is also known as the Happy Hunting Grounds. Peaceful alpine forests and groves of giant mushrooms can be found here. A varied climate exists across the plane, providing a suitable environment for many species of animals and plants. The number of traditional settlements is very small, with most inhabitants living beneath the trees out in the wilderness.
in some Native American mythologies, and the plane was referred to by that name in the game's first edition.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy role-playing game, the Beastlands (more properly, the Wilderness of the Beastlands, formerly the Happy Hunting Grounds in early versions of the game) is a neutral (chaotic) good-aligned plane
Plane (Dungeons & Dragons)
The planes of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game constitutes the multiverse in which the game takes place.In the earliest versions of Dungeons & Dragons, the concept of the Inner, Ethereal, Prime Material, Astral and Outer Planes was introduced; at the time there were only four Inner Planes...
of existence. It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Plane
Outer Plane
In the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, an Outer Plane is one of a number of general types of planes of existence. They can also be referred to as godly planes, spiritual planes or divine planes. The Outer Planes are home to beings such as deities and otherworldly creatures such as...
s that form part of the standard Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) cosmology, used in the Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
and Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign settings, as well as some editions of the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
setting.
The Beastlands is a plane of nature and animals, and is also known as the Happy Hunting Grounds. Peaceful alpine forests and groves of giant mushrooms can be found here. A varied climate exists across the plane, providing a suitable environment for many species of animals and plants. The number of traditional settlements is very small, with most inhabitants living beneath the trees out in the wilderness.
Inhabitants
The mortal souls that come to this plane after death take on animal traits soon after they arrive, developing pelts of fur and growing horns or pointed ears or other such features. Over the course of centuries they continue to slowly change, becoming celestial beasts.Structure
As an Outer Plane, the Beastlands are spatially infinite, further consisting of three infinite layers (or sub-planes). The Beastlands first layer shares borders with the neighbouring planes of the Olympian Glades of Arborea and the Blessed Fields of Elysium; travel is possible between the Beastlands and these planes at certain locations.Krigala
The River Oceanus, flows through the first layer, Krigala. Many lakes dot the plains in between the lush forests. Day and night does not occur normally on Krigala, but a continual late afternoon sun fills the sky. Gentle rains occur once per day allowing some measure of time passing.Realms
- Skerrit's Glade, realm of the centaur deity SkerritSkerritIn the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Skerrit is the deity worshipped by the centaur race. Skerrit is also known as the "Forester." His symbol is an oak growing from an acorn.-Publication history:...
.
- The Grove of the Unicorns is the divine realm of EhlonnaEhlonnaIn the World of Greyhawk campaign setting and in the default pantheon of deities for the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Ehlonna is the goddess of Forests, Woodlands, Flora, Fauna, and Fertility...
, (the Greyhawk deityDeityA deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
of forests and woodlands), and MielikkiMielikkiMielikki is the Finnish goddess of forests and the hunt. She is referred to in various tales as either the wife or the daughter-in-law of Tapio. She is said to have played a central role in the creation of the bear....
(her Forgotten Realms counterpart). It exists at the base of several giant sequoiasSequoiadendronSequoiadendron giganteum is the sole living species in the genus Sequoiadendron, and one of three species of coniferous trees known as redwoods, classified in the family Cupressaceae in the subfamily Sequoioideae, together with Sequoia sempervirens and...
forming a natural cathedral between the branches.
- Filchnest, realm of the kenkuKenkuA kenku is a bird-like, flightless, humanoid creature in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game.-Publication history:Kenkus have their basis in Japanese mythology as karasu tengu, where they are powerful and wise crow spirits adept at craftsmanship, and masters of the art of Japanese...
deity QuorlinnQuorlinnIn many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Quorlinn is the kenku deity of trickery, disguise, and thievery. His symbol is a mask with a large false nose.-Publication history:...
.
- Goldenroost, home of RemnisRemnisIn many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Remnis is the giant eagle deity of sky and service.-Publication history:...
, god of giant eaglesGiant eagle (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the giant eagle is a magical beast. As its name fairly obviously implies, it is a giant version of a regular eagle. It is also a lot more intelligent...
.
- The Forbidden Plateau, domain of the Forgotten Realms deities Thard Harr and Ubtao.
- The Pridelands, home of Nobanion, the Forgotten Realms deity of lions, werelions, and wemicsWemicIn the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the wemic is a humanoid with the upper body of a leonine human and the lower body of a lion. Like centaurs, they are considered "tauric" creatures.-Publication history:David C...
.
Brux
Day and night on Brux is still static like Krigala, but here it is eternally dusk. A silver moon can be seen in the opposite direction to the sunset. The temperature here is naturally lower than on Krigala.Realms
- Al Karak Elam-Jhankhal, realm of the avariel.
- The Cat Lord's Prowl, domain of the Cat LordCat LordThe Cat Lord, or Master Cat, is the mysterious ruler of cats and a lord of Balance, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. The Epic Level Handbook included, as an optional rule, the possibility that he is a quasi-deity. In Gary Gygax's Gord the Rogue series, he is called Rexfelis.There are...
, who shares his realm with FerrixFerrixIn many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Ferrix is the weretiger deity of play, curiosity, and hunting.Ferrix can be found wandering the plane of the Beastlands, but has no permanent realm there.-Publication history:...
, the goddess of weretigersLycanthrope (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the lycanthrope is a humanoid shapeshifter based on various legends of lycanthropy.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
, though Ferrix usually prefers to wander.
- Findar Endar, the domain of the Forgotten Realms dwarfDwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
god Haela Brightaxe.
- The Library of All Knowledge, shared realm of the deities Deneir and MililMililMilil is the fictional god of song and poetry in the Forgotten Realms setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:...
of the Forgotten Realms.
- Reastweal, home of the Indian deity Puchan.
- The wandering Seelie CourtSeelie Court (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Seelie Court is a large, loose confederation of gods that consists of the leader Titania and her consort Oberon, as well as the following gods: Caoimhin, Damh, Eachthighern , Emmantiensien, Fionnghuala, Nathair Sgiathach, Skerrit, Squelaiche, and...
frequently appears on Brux, though never in the same place twice.
- Ursis, realm of the werebearLycanthrope (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the lycanthrope is a humanoid shapeshifter based on various legends of lycanthropy.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
god BaladorBaladorIn the Dungeons & Dragons game, Balador, Father Bear, is god of werebears, protection, and fraternity. He is wise and thoughtful.-Publication history:...
.
Karasuthra
The lowest layer of Karasuthra is in continual night, with a single moon providing some illumination to the layer. The most dangerous creatures exist here, hunting their quarry through the night.Realms
- Stormhold, home of the giant god StronmausStronmausIn many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Stronmaus is the giant deity of sun, sky, weather, and joy. His symbol is a forked lightning bolt descending from a cloud that partly obscures the sun....
.
- The Misty Valley, home of the Japanese deity Kura-Okami.
- Zhan, the Grand Forest beyond the World, shared realm of the DragonlanceDragonlanceDragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
deities (Chislev, Zivilyn, and Habbakuk).
Creative origins
The Beastlands are based on the happy hunting groundHappy hunting ground
The Happy Hunting Ground was the name given to the concept of the afterlife by several of the great plains Native American tribes, as well as the Iroquois, Cherokee and Algonquians...
in some Native American mythologies, and the plane was referred to by that name in the game's first edition.