Physically, the various planes of the universe have no limits in how they can interact with each other. The plane of order could go right through the plane of chaos, and this would not create a problem, because the planes do not existence in a physical sense akin to the way we exist on Tyrra. The analogy the Cosmology uses, and it is an analogy I like, is that analogy of different musical notes. So long as each plane is existing at a different pitch, there is no problem, as each plane can exist separately. When two planes have their pitches come together, that is when problems begin to occur. It is entirely possible, as a matter of fact, that something akin to this coming together is what has caused the planar tears we have recently seen in Therendry and Blackstone.
As a reminder from our earlier discussion of the planes, the planes fall into four different categories: planes of existence, planar bubbles, graveyards, and elemental planes.
The two most famous planes of existence are Tyrra and the fey plane. While they both work in very different ways, they are both of the same nature. On either one of these planes, all elements can be supported, and life can exist in the balance they provide.
One interesting note is that even though a world within a plane of existence might be limited in physical scale, the plane itself is infinite. In other words, the plane of Tyrra, where our world exists, and the world of Tyrra, which we live on, are not the same thing. The plane is infinite and boundless, while the world is a physical, limited globe floating within the scope of the plane.
Planar bubbles exist as the coming together of two or more elemental planes. They can form naturally, or they can be formed artificially. The plane of destruction would be an example of a natural plane, where the plane of Essencia would have been an example of an artificial plane, from what I have been told. Artifical planes are naturally unstable and prone to collapse.
An interesting side note here is that many speculate that spirit bottles or spirit cradles that house an individual's spirit are just extremely small planar bubbles, large enough only for the holding of that one spirit. If this is true, it indicates that planar bubbles can exist within the confines of other planes, which is something that other types of planes very rarely do.
Elemental planes, as we have already discussed fairly extensively, are completely composed of one type of element and completely exclude the opposite element. For example, the elemental plane of life contains absolutely no death. It is impossible to die there.
According to the Cosmology, the elemental plane of time does not exist, because time encompasses many other planes. The Cosmology asserts that any elemental plane of time that is spoken of is merely a planar bubble. I do not know if I agree with this assessment or not. While I greatly respect the work the scholars who wrote the Tyrran Cosmology did, I believe that whether or not one wishes to define time as an element is largely a semantic question, and I feel that semantically, time matches up with the criteria needed to be considered an element.
Moving on, the universe is set up in such a way that the void of corruption exists outside time, and time has wrapped itself around the other twelve elements in a type of shell that protects them from the ravages of the void of corruption, or at least normally does when the shell holds firm. Clearly, at times the shell is punctured and void seeps through.
This lesson will be continued, as this subject is far too lengthy for just one lesson. I look forward to seeing everyone back for the next lesson.