World Axis

The World Axis is a multiversial cosmology of Dungeons and Dragons that only exists in 4th edition, where it replaces the traditional Great Wheel.

Compared to the Great Wheel, the Axis is much smaller. It consists of The World (mortal reality), The Feywild (land of the fae), The Shadowfell (land of the dead), The Astral Sea (realm of the gods), The Elemental Chaos (the primordial chaos from whence the World, Feywild and Shadowfell sprung), The Abyss (manifestation of evil and annihilation, a metaphysical wound in the Elemental Chaos) and The Far Realm (insane, unearthly realms beyond the Astral Sea or Elemental Chaos). Whilst there are other lesser realms, such as the specific homes of the deities, the Plane of Dreams, the Accordant Expanse (a metaphysical manifestation of Order) and numerous demiplanes, the Axis cosmology centers around the seven aforementioned planes.

It is unknown where the Demiplane of Dread lies in this cosmology. The Shadowfell is known to create pockets of spiritual torment vaguely similar to Domains of Dread. But the existence of the classic Demiplane of Dread cannot be ruled out, as demiplanes are known to exist in the wider Axis cosmology.