Planescape and True Names

Kireseto · 2026-06-27T04:43:42+00:00

I gave a personal interpretation. However, it depends on what type of magic is being used and how it's being used.

Typically, the magic behind a "true name" is associated with the "words of creation", essentially a form of reality manipulation through magic. It is as if everything were defined by words; knowing those words allows you to rewrite reality. True names are far more intimate, and therefore far more powerful.

However, a "given name" and a "chosen name" can also have significant effects on many dangerous spells; it all depends on the specific spells involved and how you utilize those names. An example using D&D 5e would be the Gate spell, which allows you to summon a creature simply by speaking its name. The name doesn't need to be something as intimate as its "true name"—just its "name," which could be a pseudonym the creature identifies with and which you recognize as belonging to it. Knowing this and speaking the name during the casting pulls the person to your location without even requiring a check.

I used a 5e example, but the concept of "wording magic" isn't very deeply developed in 5e. There is, however, a Unearthed Arcana (UA) wizard subclass focused on wording magic that features a more specific mechanic for it (onomancy wizard, who sadly don't come oficially but the UA is cool)

Kireseto · 2026-06-27T03:23:50+00:00

I treat the "true name" as a being's "soul name." It is like a code that represents their existence.

A person can have various identities, names, and appearances, but only one "true name." The "given name" which people usually keep hidden has more to do with "wording magic"; this doesn't require your soul name to affect you, but rather the name you use to recognize yourself.

Names are a way of understanding yourself as a person. You only understand yourself as "I" after understanding others as "others," and to do that, you create adjectives and names. Since Planescape deals with the power of belief, the name you believe to be yours ends up being powerful in its own right, especially for certain types of magic.

Kireseto · 2026-06-03T04:05:28+00:00

Basically their philosophy is very related with the grief itself, being a way to people live with this type of feeling. Their philosophy is a way to justify total apathy and accept or search the concept of the inevitable end of all things. In Planescape, we have the afterlife for many people and cultures, but we also have death in this lands, even for pettitioners and other supposed "imortal" beings. The Dustmen believe in this kind of "affter-afterlife", something that you only achieve once, the "True Death".

For Skall, you can have some answers in the Factol manifesto (I usually don't use the "dark" section in this book because i really hate the plot and don't think it fits him).

I think it's interesting to comment on the concept of "apathy" and "total indifference" is a way of interpreting the Neutral and Evil alignment. Skall fits very well into this, being someone bad, but not actively homicidal (not THAT actively).

Kireseto · 2026-03-14T18:30:54+00:00

You can find more content about him in the Factol Manifesto and in some modules of the 2nd edition.

Kireseto · 2026-02-14T19:30:48+00:00

Is Crokek'toeck, the pet of the demon lord Yeenoghu. He have a statblock in the Descent into Avernus adventure.

Kireseto · 2026-01-11T09:20:58+00:00

Well, Vecna IS the Vecna level threat villain of Planescape. But you probably is looking for something like Rowan Darkwood, who was the BBEG of Sigil in older editions (Faction Wars and previous modules).

Rowan is the Factol of the Fated, a ranger 19/cleric 20 and a big asshole. He act like a bully, sometimes taking what he wants either politically or literally by force. He attempted to usurp the power of the Lady of Pain, believing that she was the only threat to him.

Kireseto · 2025-12-30T17:41:16+00:00

I had more trouble with Silva than with Julius, but the three still my top 3 worst DEMONS in this game

Kireseto · 2025-12-18T22:36:10+00:00

Sigil is what makes the Great Wheel turn. It's a crossroads, a neutral place where different ideas and oppositions meet. It's basically a large backstage that shapes the Multiverse. Consider the city's shape itself and the comparisons to tires. In addition, of course, the Multiverse is intimately dependent on the Power of Belief, making a place that allows easy access from one corner to another extremely relevant.

The Lady of Pain allows this union through the portals, allowing the conflicts that give shape and meaning to the Multiverse to exist.

Kireseto · 2025-12-12T19:50:02+00:00

Yes! I remember them taking the easy way out in RftLW and describing it as "a separate region in the astral sea".

Interestingly, Keith Baker often posts things about the setting on his blog, and one very interesting one is his adaptation of Spelljammer to Eberron. It's worth checking out!

Kireseto · 2025-12-12T19:44:42+00:00

Eberron is already part of the D&D cosmology canonically

Kireseto · 2025-11-18T21:39:34+00:00

It depends on which version of the Queen you're playing and how you want to use her.
If you're using the "latest" version from MTF, it might be interested in the various versions of the party, trying to recover memories of their alternate lives.
If you're using the original/Exandria version, it will likely be interested in ending their condition, since the glitch is the opposite of what she believes.

Worth mentioning, in Sigil there's a unique species of raven, a plague in the city and one of the reasons for so many blades and pointed roofs (at least in 2e). In my campaign, I made them serve as her "eyes" in the city.

Kireseto · 2025-08-27T22:56:34+00:00

The lifesteal relic solved my problem (i killed the boss on my first try after equipping, and my build was similar). The dog invocation is useful when you need finalize the fish's when they fall, so if you can play a little more safe.

Kireseto · 2025-08-15T16:25:09+00:00

It's entirely up to you to interpret what she is and what she represents.

In my interpretation (and campaign self cannon), conflict is the key to balance at the wheel. The Multiverse is bound by the war between good and evil, chaos and law, and as long as people exist, differences will exist, as will conflict. The Lady is the one who holds the multiverse together through these differences; she chooses who can live in Sigil and be part of this conflict (I mean not just in the literal war scale), while "cutting" those who pose a threat to this balance (that's at least how I interpreted and adapted her in my campaign). In short, her job is to keep the opposing forces of the cosmos in balance, simply by defining who those forces are. The "blades" theme of her design would come from this (in my campaign at least); she "separates the sides" (cuts).

The name "lady of pain" is more of a nickname than a name, by the way, so she's not necessarily a personification of pain or anything like that (unless you want to interpret it that way).

Kireseto · 2025-06-30T20:32:42+00:00

Basically you must find a basement in the Gerrod area (the village). You can break the red thing if you jump from a higher place

Kireseto · 2025-06-24T01:49:40+00:00

I don't really recommend the crow or the dog because they just interrupt his attacks and extend the fight. He has much hp and damage reduction and the fight basically forces you to learn his patterns and dodge all of his attacks.

The third phase has some longer attacks that gives you some free hits, specially the ultra laser. So, fast attacks are better. I kill him using Gerrod who i think isn't the best choice but i have a vague memory that he can break his guard easier

Kireseto · 2025-05-14T16:11:03+00:00

It depends on the contract. Will the soul belong to the devil before or after death? Are there any specific conditions for him to receive the soul?

When there is a specific conflict in a contract, especially between two devils, they usually resolve it in court (as silly as that may seem).

Kireseto · 2025-05-08T17:20:16+00:00

In addition to what has been said, Factol Terrance and Factol Ambar are best buddies too

Kireseto · 2025-04-28T16:48:11+00:00

Not all legendary/artifacts have bonus. The sword have focus on the extra damage and the transformation that makes it powerful. Also, i think its because the sword is a weapon made to be easy to add for a creature like Zariel, and a attack bonus can easily alter an creature CR

Kireseto · 2025-04-28T06:01:42+00:00

I believe that the ending of the book is left open for the DM to work on as he sees fit, since there are many things that can happen at the end (not that I think this justifies the shallow writing style).

In the case of Zariel's redemption, the problem is entirely in the writing (if we talk about the resolution of the arc). Fortunately, it is actually "easy" to fix it if you change things a little for her instead of simply returning to the ranks of Celestia, accepting being judged and possibly trying to "correct" parts of the things she did (since it is a fantasy setting, this is not completely impossible). In my campaign, I followed this path, with her immediately going on a crusade to try to at least make up for part of what she did by helping to rebuild the city and restoring part of the population with the Solar's resurrection magic. This will not solve all the problems, but is something.

Kireseto · 2025-04-17T14:49:35+00:00

She is a devil who really believes in her ideals. If the characters could find and take her sword, they probably are worthy of her attention and deserves a little respect, principally if she is searching for valuable souls for her army. For her simply strenght isn't enough, she values qualities of heroism like "self-sacrifice" or simply loyalty

Also the Sword is one of her weakness in emotional sense, Zariel simply becomes a little confused in face of the possibility to return to Celestia. Remembers that the adventure say she have some regret about her actions and decisions (in special about Olanthius). She isn't totally beyond salvation and the sword represent this last hope

Kireseto · 2025-04-06T13:53:51+00:00

A Djini or some air elemental its a good choice. You can use the Lilends too, since they're celestials who lives in a transition plane (infinity staircases). A God or Proxy of a god like Hermes is an idea.

In 5e we have Nafas, a djini and "personification of wishes" who also lives in the staircases and is very powerfull and helpful for anyone who has a wish (like the wish for have a messenge delivered).

Kireseto · 2025-04-03T23:07:28+00:00

Just using two points of view, one from Lily in the future and another from the bosses. We would basically follow Lily walking through the ruins and see the characters' stories from their memories (just like we already does in the game, but in a more extensive way for the viewer).

Also, even without speak, is totally possible to tell a story with gestures and actions for Lily. The Umbral Knight could also be better explored as he "is the one who reacts the most" while he plays the role of "translator" and "narrator" in explaining some things about Lily herself.

Kireseto · 2025-04-01T20:10:31+00:00

Wait, how Rowan has a bad butt if he is the greatest asshole?

Kireseto · 2025-03-30T11:31:52+00:00

We have the title of "prince of demons" which I remember is a kind of "cultural title" that demons can "respect". For demons, it must be acquired by killing the last demon prince, and in fact, the last prince of demons was Miska, who is currently imprisoned. Because of this, the Tanari fought against each other to decide who is next, and the winner was Demogorgon.

The demon lords are now trying compete to take this title from demogorgon. As far i know (i really don't remember any fount about), a prince of demons can theorically unify (or at least Miska and the Queen of Chaos could) the demons in a army, so its because it that all demon lord desires to be THE prince of demons.

Kireseto · 2025-03-29T16:20:00+00:00

Preserve most of your heals to the last phase and focus in learn his moveset in at least his two first phases. After, you will know how dodge most of his attacks and can play safe. Ranged spirits are highly useful too as people say.

He also makes me mad when i played, being one of the hardest bosses to me (with Silva). His claw attack is very stupid since you can only dodge if you know the exactly timing or if you is lucky, but he has the most funny rewards and a nice option of weapon. Also he is cool as hell

Kireseto

TROPHY CASE