The World of Spirits

An Astral Plane; A Far Realm

On it's surface, the world of spirits a separate, animistic plane of existence that only the most talented Weirdman, Occultists, or Druid can ever touch. But in truth, the Wraith World is far more than that - it is awarped reflection of the physical world in which everything is alive; anything of import that happens in the Material Realm may birth a reflection in the Wraith World, and that reflection may live on long after the original is gone. Thus demolished buildings, ancient trees and extinct animals may all still exist there in spiritual form, as may ideas and concepts which pre-date anything in the modern world.

There are interstices however, the astral and physical worlds overlap. In these "Roads of the Dragons", beings only thought to be legends and stories are abound, and the landscape, while still able to be understood and traversed by a Mortals, bears many of the signs of the astral world; vibrant colors, untarnishable vegetation, and a sky as if light had just broken through the clouds. Beyond creatures unique to various realms' interstices, they typically contain accursed spirits, souls of the dead trapped by regret. Even Ancestors are said to dwell in these Places of Power.

Manifestation

To those "untuned" to the Wraith World, they find only death. Normal humans are unable to survive within the Astral Plane as they are instantly crushed to dust within moments - or in worse cases, consumed by a Spirit - with special cases able to survive up to about 32 hours before needing to return to the physical world.

For those who do return speak of only one thing:

But for the attuned - they are able to parce out various places that act as "layers" of the Wraith World. And by definition, those beings that live within the various levels connected to the Wraith World or within the Wraith World. Those "Tuned" to the Wraith World are those able to utilize magic in some form - even the simplist of Talismonger, Magewrights, and Spiritual Healer as somehow attuned to the Wraith World. It all matters through the lenses that one sees these layers - and many find it trough secularism, faith, or making a pact with someone beyond their understanding.

Localization

Spirits use their influence to propagate their flavor of essence so they can continue to feed on its. A spirit of nature will cause a garden to thrive and run wild - a spirit of gluttony will cause those in a noble court to gorge themselves. After all, Spirits are life in its purest form - and they, like most parasites, are simply trying to live.

While they can do this from the Wraith World - and some Spirits can reach across the layers to Influence the Material World directly - the most effective way to do this is to possess individuals and manipulate the Material World directly.

Some victims are simpled Spirit-Urged; where the entitiy nudges the host's desires and impulses like a backseat driver. Normally there is no sign of these symbiotic relationships other then a host, perhaps, showing an unusual zeal for the likes of Booze, or prideful boosting.
While others are Spirit-Claimed; victims of outright possession and control. The spirit directs every movement of its vessel, and its more direct control can affect its host’s very flesh. Creating Flesh-Spirit monstrosities - some that attempt to tear down the barrier between Worlds, others that are simply violent mutations.

Some believe that the Eldritch Machines of the Nerathilord's allowed them they great power over the Wraith-World. A power rivaled only by older, greater things that once walked the shifting lands of Ulgrotha. And that they have achieved this through the use of powerful catalysts made up of golden components, terracotta clayworks, and crystallized mediums that were used in the creation of some magic items, and many powerful tools - such as the Garden Gaurdians and elemental airships.

Diagram of the potential layout of the world. The Old World occultists knew far more then we do now.
Rumoring that they could even each beyond the stars, touching entirely new realities.

As etheral things, spirits take a vast variety of forms, embodying the nature of anything from inanimate objects to living things to emotions, concepts and events. Spirits have a complex relationship to the Material Realm; they may be birthed by strong emotions, the creation of objects or the birth of new life, or perhaps an ancestor simply finds a home and identity by connecting with such things. Some in fact are barely-aware deities of common objects. They interact with other little gods behind the scenes and generally ensure that things work properly. For example, a lumberjack goes to fell a tree: The axe's little god informs the tree's little god that it should probably fall down now. Usually it will, and the Wraith-World reflects a note of the fact and everything continues on its merry way. Some times, however, other oddier things occur.

Yet there are servitors and servants things made from the "Layers" in this Material World. BY the things there. So they BELONG to the things, but they are not OF the things. They are slaves, not family. They are agents, whatever agency they have, but they're still flesh and blood - of this world.

Type

Metaphysical, Astral

Current known Layers

• The Green - connects all that is plant life

• The Red - connects all that is fauna

• The Rot - connects all that is death and decay

• The Clear - connects all that is aquatic life and oceanic themed elements

• The White - connects all all that is air, wind, and types of gas or airborne element

• The Grey - connects all that is fungal life

• The Burn - connects all that is fire and change

• The Melt - connects all that is earth and memory

• The Metal - connects all that is metal and technology

• The Divided - connects all that is bacteria, amoebas, and other microscopic forms of life

• The Darkness - connects all that is shadows, voids, and stagnation

• The Light - connects all through the rainbow of light and motion

• The Dreaming - connects all that is of psychics, thoughts, dreams, and nightmares

Some believe that Manastone - also commonly known as Starlight Shards or Dragonshard - are the same catalyst used by the old Nerathi Imperium. With the right reagents, in addition to being wrapped up in malachite-based copper, some have managed to recreate some of the Nerathi Imperium's technology.
These crystalline "power coils" can be woven into weapons, clothes or armor, and even the flesh of willing subjects. With the use of a Nerathi Rosary in addition to the right reagents, talented magewrights can make magical items. And seasoned adventurers are warnned to beware the not-quite-green, not-quite-silver light of these devices.

Yet, the existences of Sources - indidivuals and items with a natural connection to the Wraith-World - seem to bring these sciences into question. Witch-Doctors, Shamans, and others with natural attunement to the earth are unable to sense this mineral without expending great effort. And somce Eldritch Machine actively drive away the Spirits.