Mount Celestia

"The path of Virtue is the hardest possible path to walk. It is also the most worthwhile."

— Arch-Angel Gabriel

Mount Celestia, also called the celestial mountain, or the seven Heavens, is a domain sitting in the Spirit World dedicated to goodness shaped by law and to justice tempered with mercy. It is the home of the Angels and the realm of Rao.

Celestia is the land of law and good. All aspects of Celestia are beautiful and near perfect; it is where the souls of many virtuous creatures go after death. Celestia is home to numerous celestial creatures including the souls of the righteous dead, that continue their journey of self-improvement here.

Celestia is made of seven layers. To advance from one layer to the next higher, one must go through difficult trials and spend many years learning important lessons about existence and philosophy to advance. Travel into mount Celestia always leads to the first layer, Armenor.

Layers

Following is a brief description of the layers of Mount Celestia. There is a total of 7 layers, each one referred to as a 'layer of heaven'.

Armenor, The Clouded Heaven

The first heaven, Celestia's first (bottom-most) layer forms its connections to the spirit world, being where souls entering the realm find themselves. It appears as gentle hills, green grass and ever-present white fog obscuring the view in all directions. The temperatures are pleasant and the only noise will be faint angelic choirs in the distance.

Angels continually guide lost souls from across the spirit world here, while those that were pure and kind-hearted in their mortal life wake up upon the grass directly.

If a wandering soul or visiting spirit searches through this fog, a wanderer will eventually come across great gates of ivory and gold hidden in the fog, as well as that gate's guardian.
A traveler can request to be let through the gate, but in order to do so they must pass the test of the first heaven. As part of the test, the traveler is confronted with a better version of themselves; the person they could have been if they had acted better, if they had not sinned. When faced with this stark reminder of their weakness, a traveler must accept their mistakes, and accept them as their own. If they do so, the gates will open, and permit them entry into the second heaven, Necilan.
If however, the traveler does not accept their own faults and sins, if they instead blame others, or claim that their acts were not sins at all, the gates will not open for them and they will have no other choice than to leave.

If the visitors would be so bold to attempt to tear away the fog or force their entry through the gate, they would be quite swiftly removed from the realm by its guardian, who can call upon endless reinforcements if needed.

Necilan, The Marble Heaven

The second heaven is a world of quiet forests and lush green valleys, which are also dotted with fortresses and cities of white marble and precious metals.

Necilan is known for its great tombs and monuments to noble fighters and paladins, for this is the heaven of heroes. Any who seek refuge and safety will find it here.

Edethaer, The Pearly Heaven

The third heaven, also called the Pearly Heaven, or Heaven of Pearls, is a lush and verdant land with crops, meadows, moors, hills, and rolling countryside all bathed in the soft glow from a sky reminiscent of the luster of white pearls. It is somewhat colder than the previous two layers, its slopes often seen covered with a gentle layer of snow.

Peaceful brooks and carefully terraced fields are common on Edethaer. Any who seek peace and quiet will find them here.

Ocoran, The Silver Heaven

The fourth heaven has a sky that glows like burnished silver and is called the Silver Heaven, or sometimes the Crystal Heaven. Its valleys are enveloped in mist, fog, and strange scents.

The peaks are home to numerous holy shrines, including monasteries and magnificent cathedrals controlled by various gods in service to Rao. It is said that all answers to life's persistent questions can be found here.

Higher Layers

Little is known of the structure of the higher layers because nothing was ever recorded by the few who have visited and returned. The legends say that the peak of Mount Celestia is so immaculate that everything there glows of its own accord and any who entered have all evil burned out of them, leaving them inherently good—if they survive.

Types:
Spiritual Plane

Location:
Spirit World

Realm Cloud Description:
N/A

Type

Dimensional plane