Standing on the Shore: The Border Ethereal (GEP)

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Since a body entering the Ethereal Plane materializes on the Border, most folks see the Border as a stepping-stone to other planes, as well as the Deep Ethereal. However, the swirling ethereal mists often combine with certain aspects of the adjoining plane to make it an interesting place to visit-if a body's careful enough.
Primes new to the Ethereal are usually happy to discover that an adjoining plane preserves a sense of order and orientation for ethereal travelers. definite "sense" of gravity prevails, so a body can tell down from up. Sometimes a compass will function normally on the Border (depending upon the adjoining plane), effectively pointing out the card.inal directions. 'Course, these cardinal points're meaningless on the Ethereal Plane, but sometimes a poor sod needs a crutch to help her deal with the planes.
Truth is, the Border's like an overlay, occupying the same "space" as the adjoining plane. Because of the Border's special property, a canny traveler can interact to some degree with creatures on an adjoining plane. For example, a body standing on the Border can see into the adjoining plane, but she's still an ethereal being. On the other hand, a basher on the Border is invisible to normal creatures on another plane. Most bloods can't detect a traveler peering at them from the Ethereal unless they have access to detect etherealness, detect invisibility, or other similar spells. If such means are utilized, the caster sees the ethereal traveler as a smoky, translucent shade, much as a true ghost looks. Of course, two or more bloods in the Border Ethereal can easily see each other-provided they can pierce the thick mists of the place.
An ethereal body can't verbally communicate with the inhabitants of the plane she borders, nor can she grasp, move, or physically interact in any way with objects or inhabitants of the planes in question-unless she possesses special abilities or powers. Light shining from the bordering plane does filter onto the Border, as does some sound (although it's a bit muffled), certain magic, and other radiant energies. However, no light, sound, or other energy naturally passes from the Border to an adjoining plane except under special circumstances.
Creatures on bordering planes can't normally attack a body on the Border Ethereal, although specific spells and features can suddenly draw an unsuspecting sod right out of the Border and onto the adjoining plane. Similarly, some prime-material creatures possess the ability to see into the Border Ethereal, and what's worse, some have the ability to affect a berk with a gaze attack!
A basher on the Border Ethereal can also pass through solid objects on an adjoining plane without ill effects. In fact, an ethereal traveler can phase through solid stone, ice, magma, and even magical fire, leaving a body unscathed-provided the barrier is on the adjoining plane and not on the Border itself. See, a wall on the Ethereal remains a wall to an ethereal traveler. 'Course, there are things on a bordering plane that can affect the Border Ethereal traveler, but most sods don't tumble to that fact until it's too late.