Multiverse

*"It is told among the wise that 'ere all that is was made, there was Eld, and Eld was alone in the Void and despaired of its emptiness. Eld desired to create a great many beautiful things, and to fill the emptiness of the Void with vibrancy. Therefore, Eld breathed many words of great power, and the sound of the words echoed throughout the Void and straightway became like the finest threads of wool and of silk. And the words came together and were woven into one another, and they became like unto a great Fabric which was stretched throughout the Void, and it was Void no more. Yet the Fabric was bare and plain, and so Eld spoke again, uttering words which became like threads of brilliant colours, and Eld embroidered the Fabric with these words, crafting many intricate patterns and delicate designs. Then Eld looked upon the Fabric and was made glad, for it was becoming beautiful."*

*- Of the Beginning of Days*

The universe is composed of multiple planes, realms, and worlds, in which everything exists. It is possible through both technological and magical means to travel between the various components of the universe. It is infinite in size, malleable in shape, and governed by the laws of physics and magic.

## The Great Fabric

To understand the metaphysical, physical, and magical nature of the universe, various analogies and theories have been devised to explain its nature.

The theological understanding of the universe, as told in the creation narrative written by an early theologian, is that the universe is a Great Fabric. In the beginning, Eld desired to being beauty into the emptiness of the Void. Eld spoke words of power, which materialised as strings and threads, which Eld wove into the Great Fabric. The Fabric was embroidered with patterns of life, bringing everything that is into existence.

This analogy provides a theological understanding of the nature of creation and Eld’s relationship to it as the Godhead. It establishes Eld’s ultimate power over the Fabric, the only being in existence who can create and destroy it. In philosophical terms, Eld is the *first cause*. The analogy also encapsulates the nature of living beings. All life forms are, in substance, part of the Fabric. They are embroidered into the Fabric and therefore connected to everything else in Creation.

Scientists and magicians have constructed their own understandings of the Fabric through the lenses of physics and magic. Scientists have come to understand the laws of physics which govern the material operation of the universe; for example, gravity, motion, and chemical reactions. Magicians have learnt that magic is, in essence, the manipulation of the Fabric, temporarily altering the embroidered patterns to achieve a desired effect.

Both the scientific and magical understandings are consistent with the theological understanding, and scientists, magicians, and theologians find value in each other’s explanations to better inform their own.

There are some philosophical difficulties with these understandings. The Fabric, though woven by Eld, is open to manipulation by powerful magicians and gods. This leads to suggested notions such as the eventual complete re-weaving of the Fabric by mortals. This is best evidenced by the difference between the Descendants, which evolved from the inter-mingling of various people originally created by Eld, as well as those corrupted by evil powers.

The Fabric also contains imperfections (“loose stitches”) that cause mountains to erupt, the ground to shake, the skies to pour with water, scorching heat and bitter cold, all of which damage the worlds and their inhabitants. Illnesses, seemingly natural, plague all manner of mortals, and mortals age and die. There is a continuing debate on how best to reconcile a seemingly imperfect Creation with an omnipotent and compassionate Creator.

## Planes

The Fabric is woven into several layers, which are known as *planes*. They are, in essence, their own mini-universes, complete with their own laws of physics and magic. They are alternate existences; places that non-natives find difficult to dwell in for extended periods of time.

Planes are known to be coterminous with each other, creating specific points of interaction within space-time. Where the planes intersect, gateways can form between them, and shifting through the planes is possible for skilled magicians.

There are three different types of plane, denoting their particular – and often peculiar – characteristics.

### Material Planes

The *material planes* are planes in which matter can freely exist, bound together by the laws of physics and magic. These planes consist of the *Corporeal Plane*, in which most of the life of the universe exists; and the *Elemental Planes*, tumultuous pockets of existence where one element is dominant over others.

#### Corporeal Plane

Most of the known life in the universe exists within the *Corporeal Plane*, and as such it is the lens and measure through which all other planes are experienced. The plane is the part of the Fabric at which all the Material and Transitive Planes intersect. Matter can form in the plane under the stable laws of physics, magic can be practiced without restriction, and most life can find a safe home.

#### Plane of Air

The elemental *Plane of Air* is a vast, open sky. All creatures living in and visiting the plane are not bound by stable gravity and can move freely through the expanse of air. Life native to the plane either continually moves through the sky, floating buildings created through magic or moved from the Corporeal Plans, or dwells on rocks left over from occasional intersections with the Plane of Earth.

#### Plane of Earth

Endless chains of mountains make up the elemental *Plane of Earth*, with wide caverns and gorges scarring the rocky landscape. Above the ground, there is no air and no light, forcing all breathing life below the surface where some pockets of air, injected by the Plane of Air, can be found.

#### Plane of Fire

A plane never darkened by night, the elemental *Plane of Fire* is eternally lit by a blazing giant star, which shifts in colour and form. There is air composed of gasses released by the chemical reactions of the burning materials injected by other planes. No life, except that which is immune to the effects of heat and fire, can live there for longer than a few moments without burning up.

#### Plane of Water

The elemental *Plane of Water* is parted above and below by a thin vacuum, creating two oceans one above the other. The upper waters from time-to-time flow into the lower waters through great, deafening thunderstorms. The plane is home to a rich variety of marine life, some native to the plane and some which have found themselves transported there.

### Transitive Planes

In addition to the material planes, three additional planes exist within the Fabric. These are the *transitive planes*, home to spirits and souls as opposed to solid matter. These planes intersect with their material counterparts, combining the material and the spiritual. They can be used as pathways between planes, realms, and worlds, as they exist outside of space-time, and can even be used to defy it.

#### Astral Plane

Considered to be the plane of pure thought and dreams, living beings experience the *Astral Plane* as a grey expanse of silvery sea, with wisps of white and grey vapor moving around in the astral winds. It is a vast plane, and empty of corporeal existence. Being exposed to the Astral Plane for too long leaves a being prone to madness, caused by the assault of manifest hallucinations of thoughts and dreams, until their atoms drift apart in the astral winds and the being is torn to pieces.

#### Ethereal Plane

After death, the souls of living beings leave their corporeal home and move into the *Ethereal Plane*, where they may be ferried along the ethereal river into the afterlife. It exists as ghost-like representations of the material planes, enveloped by swirling fog. Moving in and out of the Ethereal Plane is possible for some living beings, and it is the easiest to use as a pathway to other planes, realms, and worlds.

#### Temporal Energy Plane

Appearing like a great thunderstorm, the *Temporal Energy Plane* provides the flow of time to the universe. Beings can use the plane to travel through time, past, present, and future. Navigating the plane is exceedingly difficult, and few beings have been able to successfully reach their desired destination. Legends say that there are beings living in the plane, guardians of time who pursue those who seek to abuse the plane’s abilities.

### Void

There are spaces between the Fabric at which no plane is present. This truly empty space is called the Void, and it is this space that Eld created the fabric to fill. No matter or life of any kind can exist in the Void. However, use of the Void could be integral in faster transportation between the planes, realms, and worlds. If a method of transportation through the nothingness was devised, it would revolutionise physics and magic. However, there is an existential danger of the Void – the primeval force of Darkness which lurks in the emptiness, seeking to eradicate the Fabric which covers it.

## Realms

Whilst part of the material planes, realms are pockets of space-time which exist adjacent to the material planes. Positive and negative energies, which are balanced in the Corporeal Plane, are askew in the realms. They can support matter and life, but their unique position within the structure of the universe means they possess their own mutable laws of physics and magic. They exist in their own, individual time streams, meaning that time does not run parallel to the material planes. One could enter a realm and exit at a completely different point in the past or future or find that no time has passed at all. There are two known realms, the *Incandescent*, and the *Gloom.*

### Incandescent

An ever-rising sun keeps the *Incandescent* in perpetual dawn light. The realm is dominated by positive energy, minimising negative emotions, and heightening positive ones. Long stays in the Incandescent by those not native to it enter a permanent state of euphoria and would never willingly leave. The realm is home to a variety of mystical flora and fauna, not usually found in the corporeal plane. Variants of other creatures also dwell here. Time is fluid in the Incandescent, and one will exit it into another plane at any random point in time.

Many refugees of the Devastation built a life in the Incandescent, finally experiencing a happiness and joy of which they were deprived during the wars. Those who were subsequently born in the realm have become accustomed to its positive energy and can travel between other realms without issue, though they long to return home.

### Gloom

The *Gloom* is a realm without colour or joy, a sorrowful place existing in shades of black and grey. Negative energy is palpable, dulling all sense of hope and happiness and instilling in those who visit the realm a sense of dread. Both natives and visitors are prone to states of perpetual despair. Its landscape is bordered by jagged and unforgiving mountains on one side, and a grey ocean on the other. Whilst time seems to pass linearly in the Gloom, no time passes in the material planes. If a visitor falls into despair whilst visiting the realm, it can take years to recover when they return home, and those native to the plane can never shake the sadness in their souls.

Some people fleeing the Devastation found more comfort in the perpetual moroseness of the Gloom and began living there. Those born there are known as gloomborn. These beings have paler skin and grey eyes and lack happiness and hope. Some gloomborn who migrate to the material planes can shake the moroseness.

## Worlds

Within the Corporeal Plane, clumps of metal, rock, and gas have come together to form *worlds*, and each is home to a variety of life. Owing to the forces of physics, these worlds have their own shapes, sizes, and are variant in their physical properties – though they all obey the same laws of physics and magic. As all worlds exist within the Corporeal Plane, it is possible to travel between them both physically and magically. The number of worlds that exist is unknown; many have formed or have been created and some have been destroyed over the lifespan of the universe. Most worlds orbit a star or other celestial body, though some have been cast away from their star and freely move through space.

Known worlds include:

* Aedavar
* Cacodaemus
* Dweorg
* Empyrium
* Illya
* Infernus
* Jotunheimr
* Marlos
* Pandaemonium
* Sanctuary

## Pocket Dimensions

Alternate places of existence can exist from time to time, known as *pocket dimensions*. These are extra-planar spaces created by certain magical spells. They exist in a fixed form for a fixed amount of time, consuming materials, and magical ability to sustain their existence. They are used by magicians for storage and temporary homes or places of safety.