The Planes, the Cycle
The Planes are the home to all known life, unlife, and creatures. Consisting of 8 Planes outside of the Material that rotate around the Material yearly, the Planes are in a constant war for new souls as they prepare for their inevitable battle with the demons of the Hollow.
The Planes feature a pair of edges, the Hollow and the Beyond. The creatures of the Hollow are soulless, destructive beings known as demons who seek the destruction of everything. Each year the Planes cycle in a clockwise motion, with the southern most plane suddenly becoming engaged with the Hollow.
This constant threat of war had led to a desire for souls in each plane, with agents moving into the material to attempt to coerce souls onto their sides. Those that do not fit any camp, dedicate themselves in any way, may wind up a spirit on the Ethereal for a time until the agents of Maraud auction said soul to the highest bidder.
In between the major outer Planes are smaller, Minor Planes. They still see some threat of the Hollow at times when in the south but it is often smaller, leading to more peaceful but less impactful lives.
Within the center is the Material Plane, surrounded by a trio of barriers. The outermost barrier is the Dreamvale, a kind of web of collection that sees the ideas, dreams, and desires of mortals given a form of life in an endless sea of energy and thoughts. Here is where power of idea is given shape, and often real power to change the material. Where clerics can become empowered by the idea of life itself - for manifestations of the desires to protect or bring life can be found within the various demi Planes of the Dreamvale. The Dreamvale has 4 major hubs, but its is much of a single place as it is anything - transiting between demiplanes of ideas requires no effort.
After that are the elemental Planes, granting the Material its elements and many of its laws. They intersect not just as shown, but through various points - creating small demiplanes of different elements.
Finally, there is the Ethereal - which is the realm of spirits where souls are caught. Spirits can exist in the Ethereal for extended periods of time before being sent to a correct plane, auctioned off, or resurrected. Additionally, some may of business and push themselves back into the material through force of will.
Connecting many of the Planes is the Astral Plane or Astral Sea, a realm of strange, shimmery starlight and silver seas of thought and energy bleeding from the Dreamvale.
The Planes feature a pair of edges, the Hollow and the Beyond. The creatures of the Hollow are soulless, destructive beings known as demons who seek the destruction of everything. Each year the Planes cycle in a clockwise motion, with the southern most plane suddenly becoming engaged with the Hollow.
This constant threat of war had led to a desire for souls in each plane, with agents moving into the material to attempt to coerce souls onto their sides. Those that do not fit any camp, dedicate themselves in any way, may wind up a spirit on the Ethereal for a time until the agents of Maraud auction said soul to the highest bidder.
In between the major outer Planes are smaller, Minor Planes. They still see some threat of the Hollow at times when in the south but it is often smaller, leading to more peaceful but less impactful lives.
Within the center is the Material Plane, surrounded by a trio of barriers. The outermost barrier is the Dreamvale, a kind of web of collection that sees the ideas, dreams, and desires of mortals given a form of life in an endless sea of energy and thoughts. Here is where power of idea is given shape, and often real power to change the material. Where clerics can become empowered by the idea of life itself - for manifestations of the desires to protect or bring life can be found within the various demi Planes of the Dreamvale. The Dreamvale has 4 major hubs, but its is much of a single place as it is anything - transiting between demiplanes of ideas requires no effort.
After that are the elemental Planes, granting the Material its elements and many of its laws. They intersect not just as shown, but through various points - creating small demiplanes of different elements.
Finally, there is the Ethereal - which is the realm of spirits where souls are caught. Spirits can exist in the Ethereal for extended periods of time before being sent to a correct plane, auctioned off, or resurrected. Additionally, some may of business and push themselves back into the material through force of will.
Connecting many of the Planes is the Astral Plane or Astral Sea, a realm of strange, shimmery starlight and silver seas of thought and energy bleeding from the Dreamvale.
