Lunahar, the Realm of the Dead
To Live in Death
Many question why the living would be allowed to live in the realm of death itself. Others question why many would even want to live there. There are many reasons for this: simply, some did not have a choice and were simply born in the cities set up there, and find it too dangerous to try and find a Shadow Crossing. Others came looking for rare materials and to get rich, while some worshipped Vandarr and wished to reside under his ever watchful gaze. Others may have been sent to the realm by curses or magic experiments gone horribly wrong. As to why Vandarr allows the living to barely survive in his realm, they are but tiny blips on the radar to a god such as him, simply a drop of water in a planet wide ocean. They do not seek to destroy him, and they do not matter to him, so he simply allows them to live.The Undead Kingdoms
Despite the presence of Vampire Clans and Liches in the Mortal Realm, the true domains of power for these dark overlords resides in the Realm of the Dead. Many vampires have sprawling kingdoms in which they consolidate their power and truly bask in their decadence of immortality. Liches and Wight Kings raise armies of skeletal warriors and ghosts to fight for more territory and even attempt to invade the Mortal Realm. Why would a god as powerful as Vandarr allow the undead, his mortal enemy, into his home? Simply, it is said he finds them amusing. It is so amusing that vampires truly think they can stave off his grasp forever. It is cute that Liches and Wights think their bones won't rot and decay. All will come to him in time, and he always has a specially crafted ways of punishing those who embrace undeath. So he lets them live, for he is busy managing death itself, and simply waits for them to be added to his tally of the days deceased souls arriving via the FerrymenGeography
The realm of Lunahar is made up of many different island continents across a massive ocean called the Spirit Sea. There are many lands near the center of the realm, and even a few scattered cities with living mortal beings. However, it is said the God of Death, Vandarr, resides atop a black tower that rises so high it is impossible to see the top of the tower from the ground. These inner islands contain many different things. From the kingdoms of vampires and lich lords, to undead hordes, to ghosts and spirits, to even mortals trying to scavenge rare materials through the maddening and grim nature of the Lunahar. To the northwest lies the lands of the afterlives. Here each and eveyr afterlife of the many gods of the mortal realm promised to their followers exist, and each tailored to the souls who end up here. Theres can range from golden gates leading into beautiful gardens of pure peace, to the rowdy and bombastic halls of vallahlla. It is said each god pays tribute to Vandarr to maintain these realms. To the far north, far past many of the main setttlment of Lunahar lies the Domains of Dread, strange realms meant to keep evil beings trapped inside by feeding them sustenance.
Localized Phenomena
Known as "Shadowstuff", the material of Lunahar could be manipulated by illusionists to form semi-real monsters and quasi-real evocations that were still effective (to a lesser degree) even if the target successfully disbelieved the illusion.
it is said the grim nature of the realm can be maddening to those who aren't accustomed to it, and so it is regularly for madness to grip adventurers that travel into the land called "The Death Mania". The despair of the land in some areas can also lead to mental breakdowns and other adverse mental effects as the realm truly holds some horrifying and grim sights and feelings.
Fauna & Flora
While a realm of death, there still remains plants, animals, and water still remain on the islands. This means it is not entirely impossible for mortals to survive in the realm, albeit it is incredible perilous to do so. Shadar-Kai are a strange sort of elf like race that live in some of the mountain ranges of some of the inner islands. Shades are humanoids who once were mortal, but have long since merged themselves with the shadow-stuff of the realm of Lunahar. After this many sort of grim and horrifying monsters and spirits inhabit the land, such as Ghosts and Banshees and Bone Collectors.
A group known as the Ferrymen, grim skeletal like figures serving Vandarr act as the way of travel between the islands. The first ride is always free for those who arrive in the realm, living or dead. After that they only accept soul coins, unfortunate souls bound to tiny coins where the soul in question directly changes the worth of the coin
Natural Resources
Soulsteel is a material found within Lunahar, that is an incredibly potent magic metal that is is said if made into a weapon, the pull of the realm is so strong within the metal that it can even harm a skeleton or vampire with necrotic damaging effects. If made into an armor it takes a strong will to resist the whispering of the steel, but can be forged into a very resilient suit of armor. It is also a beautiful metal albeit a rather off-putting one with how the steel whispers to those nearby.
Other rare materials include gems such as Blood Gems, diamonds that while worthless in Lunahar, can be priceless in the Mortal Realm. It is also said dark bargains can be made with powerful spirits in the land, for a heavy price of course. The Domains of Dead also house countless rare materials only found in those tiny demi-planes. This leads many foolish and daring mortals to try and get rich off of the land, but the Realm of the Dead is truly hostile to the living, and most if not all die shortly after entering the realm, or come out a portal screaming in terror and madness
Tourism
Simply put, either you have died and are currently being processed to your respective afterlife, or your an adventurer seeking wealth, faith, or to run from the law to practice dark necromantic arts. Few willingly travel to Lunahar for pleasure or to sightsee
Alternative Name(s)
The Afterlife, Heaven, Purgatory, and countless other titles
Type
Dimensional plane
Inhabiting Species
