Hello Everyone! The book is now out, and I’m here to make an announcement and an apology
Over the last year, I’ve been riling everyone up over perceived threats to the integrity of Manual of the Planes 5e. I’ve lambasted Andrew Welker extensively, worked with lawyers on courses of action that could try to control any future modifications of the book, and even went so far as to hire a new layout artist to create a faithful alternate print version with the expectation that Welker would radically alter the book prior to printing (or, in an even worse scenario, never release a physical version of the book at all).
As this is being published, Manual of the Planes 5e is now available for purchase as a physical book, and though I still take issue with a few of my passages being changed without my knowledge or consent I ultimately don’t think that this whole mess is worth any more spilled ink or wasted money on my part. I’m not going to be taking any more actions except to post my unedited Ilvaash entry here for everyone’s use.
I’ve come to acknowledge that this endeavor simply can’t progress any further without bringing undue strain to myself and those who I’ve worked with. Attempting to create a second product page like I proposed would put DMsGuild into a massive mess with no guarantee that the book would be able to release and (more importantly) would cause a ton more confusion and frustration for players and GMs who want to use one book or the other at their table.
I was angry at Welker for unilaterally removing me from the team and for all the things I covered in my initial post, and while I stand by all the statements I made I recognize that these feelings got the better of me. I fully intended to make this book without realizing how unfeasible that task was, and I’m sorry for dragging everyone along. I have discussed the project’s status with my collaborators, all of whom have been compensated for their efforts as we agreed. I thank them for their time, talent, and patience over the course of this project.
I acknowledge my many mistakes in this whole fiasco and will be doing everything I can to move on from this point, leaving Manual of the Planes 5e and all of its messes behind me as best I can. This whole book has been a long series of painful lessons and unbecoming behaviors when I have no intention of ever repeating.
Ilvaash, the Unanswered Sovereign
Chaotic Evil Aberration God
There are many cosmic mysteries which mortals do not fully understand or which they view as unanswerable. Questions about the nature of war or time or pain, or more specific queries as to why beings so destructive or abominable as fiends, mind flayers, or slaadi could exist in the universe. The collective belief that some malefic force must produce all of these hideous and defiant explanations has gradually nurtured a being known as Ilvaash, a nascent god who accepts all irreconcilable entities into their purview.
Ilvaash’s domain is known as the Endless Void, a realm which incorporates the most unfathomable or disgusting elements and creatures from across the multiverse and even from mortal imaginations of the Far Realms. Ilvaash’s worshippers include those who wish for the immediate reconciliation of impossible questions, including many Mind Flayer communities who yearn to reclaim their past glories. The putrid nature of Ilvaash’s influence has led many to confuse the Unanswered Sovereign’s erratic domain with the Far Realms, a misconception expanded by Ilvaash’s frequent tentacle motif.
More details on Ilvaash can be found in Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
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