The Dungeon Masters Companion included a section on interplanar adventures, focusing on the inner planes* (the Ethereal and four Elemental Planes).
Interior of a Wormhole. Illustration by Jeff Easley
The Ethereal Plane:
A short description of the Ethereal Plane is given, also covering movement.*
An aspect of travel to the Ethereal Plane that is often glossed over, is that travel to the plane is by transformation of the body (and possessions) of the traveler to an ethereal state. It's the process of becoming ethereal that transports the individual to the Ethereal Plane.
Everything on the Ethereal Plane, including travelers from the Prime Plane, is composed of ether of varying densities:
...the gray fog of the Ether may be dense or thin, varying by what is nearby on the Prime Plane. Nearby water appears as dark Ether, and rock, earth and wood as even thicker Ether. Dense rock and heavy metals (lead, gold, etc.), appear as solid Ether (ectoplasm). Fire on the nearby Prime Plane appears as bright Ether.
Dungeon Masters Companion, pg. 18
Earlier, it's stated that "All light sources function normally (a torch or lantern shining light to 30’ range, magical light to greater ranges, etc.), but they only light the Ether, not reaching into wormholes or into the Prime Plane." - but how does an ethereal torch or lantern work?
Gravity does not exist on the Ethereal Plane, but the direction of gravity on the Prime Plane can be sensed. A fly spell enables movement, according to the density of ether (it's possible to move through solid ether, but not ether corresponding to metal or lead on the Prime Plane).
*see also Notes on the Ethereal Plane
Elemental Planes:
The Elemental Planes are described as parallel universes, although with matter composed of a single element.
When a planet exists on an Elemental Plane in roughly the same “position” as a planet on the Prime Plane, natural vortexes and wormholes appear, connecting the planets on each Plane. Thus, for the “normal” D&D world, there are four other planets in similar positions, one on each of the Elemental Planes.
Dungeon Masters Companion, pg. 19
Travel to the Elemental Planes is via wormholes. "Air exists, and the flow through the wormhole provides a gravity of sorts." However, "Creatures and things in a wormhole are magically changed into the “proper” element when they reach the Elemental Plane..."
Also, "The network of permanent wormholes between the Prime and Elemental planes looks similar to the roots of a plant; each small wormhole joins a larger one, until all the smaller wormholes connect to one huge wormhole connected to the Elemental Plane itself."
The Ethereal Plane is the "glue" that binds together the Prime and Elemental Planes.
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