Death and the Afterlife

Death in Galactus, no matter the circumstance or the being that is affected, always follows the same path. This afterlife is overseen first by Termin and then Ydos.

The Fields of Termin

Upon death, a being's spirit is brought from the material plane to a demiplane known as the Fields of Termin. At first, all the lost soul can see around them is a thick, gray fog. Here, the soul is greeted by an avatar of Termin. The avatar explains to the soul where they are and how things are going to work. Termin evaluates the soul's life and actions, judging the quality of the soul. As the soul is judged, the world around them takes shape. For those who made many deep connections throughout their lives, their world is filled with loved ones already passed. Those who lived a life alone, however, will have a lonely existence. Termin also uses his hourglass to measure the balance of good and evil in a person. The silvery grains of sand each represent a decision made by the soul, and these grains sink or float depending on whether the intent and decision were ultimately good or evil. Truly evil creatures live in complete darkness, with nothing and no one beside them. Creatures with great amounts of good, however, find themselves in a bright and rich world.

Ydogarth

After judgement, the soul is brought to the true land of the dead, Ydogarth. Here, the soul meets true consequence for how their life was lived. Ydogarth can be a heavenly utopia or true hell, or anywhere in between. Each soul perceives the land differently. In Ydogarth, the soul, which presents as its former physical body, can live again. There is no contact between the mortal world and the afterlife, but souls can be retrieved from Ydogarth and the Fields of Termin with necromantic magic. Souls brought back may have memories of Ydogarth and judgement, but these are hazy and usually disappear within a few hours or days. Souls in Ydogarth may also choose to observe the mortal world once the sun sets on the Feast of Termin, but cannot be perceived by mortals nor have any effect on what they find. The soul remains in Ydogarth for an indeterminate length of time, until its mortal existence has been entirely forgotten by the living.

Rebirth

When a soul has been completely forgotten, it begins the process of returning in a new body. On the Feast of Termin each year, as families celebrate their lost loved ones, souls that are no longer remembered are summoned to the arms of Termin. Gathering these forgotten souls in his hands, Ydos brings them to Ceria, the deity of rebirth. Ceria blesses each soul, and places them on a raft of holy cherrywood. This she sends down the river of Time until they fall into the material plane and fly across Galactus to create new life. Each soul may take a long time to find purchase somewhere, and until this occurs the soul waits with no perception of time or being. When a soul enters a new life, it loses all memories and attachments to its old life and begins anew.