The In-Between

When Altairians are near death, they may travel to the In-Between. The In-Between is a realm labeled for literally being in between life and death. Those who have made it back from the In-Between tend to all describe it in the same way, though specifics tend to vary.

Characteristics

"Fog. All I could see was fog. I could walk for miles and miles and still be in the same place. Shimmered like jewels in the dawn light. The air was damp and cool like a spring morning. It smelled like wet earth after the rain."

— A faery haven just woken from risky, invasive surgery describing the In-Between

The In-Between takes the form of a flat plane stretching infinitely in all directions with dense mist covering the ground. This mist has been described alternately as glistening like diamonds or as shimmering clouds in pastel rainbow colors.

The In-Between exists in perpetual dawn. There is no sun or moon, yet the sky is softly illuminated in dusky shades. Being a plane outside of Altairus, it does not experience seasons. Instead, it is always pleasantly chilly and a bit damp because of the mist.

If one walks far enough in any direction, they will eventually encounter two gates that resemble Shinto sea gates. One of these gates leads back to life, while the other leads to the afterlife. All paths will eventually lead back to these gates, no matter where one is in the In-Between.

Seeing Lost Loved Ones

One thing that sticks out in almost every story of the In-Between is the meeting of lost loved ones. For some reason, when Altairians travel to the In-Between, they often meet friends or relatives who have already traveled to the other side. They may even meet with loved ones they have no conscious memory of, recalling their appearances with spooky accuracy to how they actually looked in life.

Since magical beings' daemons cease to exist in death, it is unclear what exactly Altairians in the In-Between are experiencing. It could be that they are encountering their lost loved ones' spirits, or it could simply be the magical being's daemon reacting to coming so close to death. Hospice patients experience similar phenomena when they are close to death.

Explanation
A plane of existence between life and death. Often visited by Altairians having near-death experiences.

Type

Plane of Existence