The Astral Sea is a place far away that you can cast your mind to. Most people visit it while they are sleeping, but few remember their time there.
The Astral Sea is a major dimensional plane that can be accessed by most others. It should not be confused with the void of Space which is a different place entirely. The Astral Sea itself takes the form of a great field of swirling colours and stars. It is dotted with disparate terrain floating in the ether as if cast off from some great earthquake.
While it can be visited in dreams, the Astral Sea is not a dream space but more a graveyard for the shattered remains of distant worlds that have long since perished. This is the reason for all of the floating landscapes that can be found within it. These features range from simple stone and outcropping right up to entire floating cities completely with stowaways from distant worlds.
Entering the Astral Sea
The Astral Sea can be accessed to varying degrees of commitment. The more a creature invests its being into it the greater it can manipulate it.
In Dreams
Most creatures who visit the Astral Sea do so unintentionally in their sleep. This is not something that happens all of the time and only generally occurs between the moment just before a person entire falls asleep. While visiting this way the creature itself is mostly limited to that of a casual observer; And will forget most if not all that they have seen shortly after waking up. For this reason visits to the Astral Sea, this way are often confused with Dreams.
While there is little they can do during this visit, there is equally very little that can harm them. To those travelling the Sea on a more dedicated basis, they appear as the various starts the upper the horizon.
Through Meditation
The most common way creatures access the Astral Sea with intention is through various forms of meditation. For many, this is magically assisted through the use of spells or potions. But for skilled practitioners, this can be performed by concentration alone, even if they do not possess the magical ability. This is commonly known as Astral Projection.
While Astral Projecting a creature is still largely an observer, they can move much more freely and with intention. They are even able to converse with other creatures and even in some cases interact with certain objects. While projects in such a way the most treat a traveller can face, other than unkind words, is being forcefully ejected from their projection. However, there are some creatures that may be able to cause some manner of damage to the user's mind. And in some rare and dangerous cases sever the user's mind from the body or even hijack their body entirely.
Actual Transportaion
As the Astral Sea is a Dimensional Plane it can be accessed through the same means as most of the others. While in the Astral Sea physically you can move and function as you would normally on your home plane. With the notable exception that if you were to cast off from any land you were present on you would float through the Sea as if you were projecting. Coming into contact with another landmass or "Ancor" you will return back to a more familiar function.
Being in the Astral Sea physically allows you full interaction with its creatures and environment. Including being able to bring items and even creatures back with you to your home plane. However, it should be noted that this puts you at full risk from anything that may be learned in the mists.
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