Other World

The **Other World** (異世界 *Isekai*), also referred to as the **Other/Reverse Side of the Sky** (空の裏側 *Sora no Uragawa*), is one of at least 275 planets—universe notwithstanding—that are or are believed to be to be capable of sustaining life. It is orbited by the moon-like satellites Zaji and Ruvu.

## Geography

The continent of Bol is marked by mountain chains that sometimes serve as natural borders between nations. One such mountain range delineates the Byandy Peninsula in the south against the neighboring Kingdom of Nyanild and the rest of the continent; this peninsula's name shifts to the Abandoned Peninsula in the wake of the Byandy Empire's collapse. Far north of the Abandoned Peninsula and toward the continent's center lies the continent's tallest mountain chain, at the heart of which stands its tallest mountain: Saint Mount Boldorazo, in which is nestled a holy site of the Geldwood Church, Geldwood being the national faith of the Kingdom of Nyanild and several other countries.

This tall mountain chain shadows the Principality of Djadjamnyl, the Republic of Zurodakka, and another small country in addition to the Kingdom of Nyanild. Nyanild is located southwest of the mountain chain and the Republic of Zurodakka northeast, with the latter's capital situated on the coast. The mountainous border has hampered attempts to foster strong relations between Kingdom and Republic, the latter of which is far more interested in commerce—which especially flourishes in its capital port city—than it is in the Geldwood faith. Geldwood has failed to penetrate the polytheistic countries clustered on Bol's northern tip, where many villages worship dragons as gods. These countries have never established diplomatic relations with Nyanild.

Various countries have banned their citizens from entering the Abandoned Peninsula, where it is rumored ghosts and demons roam in the ashes of the Byandy Empire. The mountain range that once separated the Empire and the Kingdom of Nyanild is seen as a natural barrier that prevents the ghouls from overtaking the rest of the continent.

The Principality of Djadjamnyl is ruled by the vampire Myrcadia Lulula, whose husband and fellow vampire Gardener Panan once mentored the Imperial Court Sorcerer Roaming Woodlands, a Wood Mage like himself.

## Races

A multitude of races inhabit the Other World, including:

* Humans (large or majority population)
* Vampires (small population)
* Dragons, also known as Wyverns or Drakes (not all are intelligent/sapient)
* Werewolves
* Viveenya, also known as the "long-lived race" or, on Terra Mater, elves
* Nymphs
* Giants

Some long-lived races, such as the Viveenya, are predisposed to possessing the Elemental Eye.

## Chronology

### Early History

In the distant past, the dragon Ordom bent the laws of space to create a bidirectional pathway—between the World and Earth. This pathway, which was wide enough to facilitate movement of a country's entire population over the span of years, functions as and is more accurately referred to as a 'hole' or 'fissure.' The special magic and technology needed to open this connecting pathway were lost with the ancient culture that invented them, leaving Ordom the only known being capable of reopening it—thought Geldwood seems to have since managed it without him. He is rumored to be currently doing so despite his disinterest in Earth.

Numerous similarities between the two planets suggest that both enjoyed a rich interplanetary exchange of flora, fauna, populations, technology, ideas, and other concepts while they were linked, with planetary conditions fundamentally affecting what flourished where. Where the Other World's Elemental-rich atmosphere and surfeit of gems have allowed magic and necromancy to thrive, Earth's comparatively Elemental-poor atmosphere and paucity of gems have impeded magical practice, therefore relegating it to local traditions and superstition. Both planets harbor major human populations. Which planet originated what, from humans to life itself, remains an unanswered question.

The interplanetary link closed a thousand years prior to Corpse God's reincarnation. As a consequence, knowledge about each other's races, fauna, and flora has faded into myths on both sides of the sky: vampires, dragons, giants, the Viveenya, and others are as legends on Earth as whales are on the Other World. Even the notion of another world itself is reduced to a rare fairy tale on the Other World, one retold within the circles of ancient dragons, families who have ruled since olden times, and religions that have likewise survived since olden times.

The course of human history on the Other World is altered every time an intelligent dragon chooses to attack humans. Although only a few intelligent dragons do so, they do it with such extreme aggression that they leave lasting scars in human society and psyche. Some dragons are rumored to have wiped out entire countries, targeted broad swathes of populations, or caused drastic environmental damage. The dragon Pirawizzo, for instance, has spent centuries killing kings and emperors of realms that Pirawizzo opposes. More of these rumors are true than false, but all feed into dragons' awesome and feared repute. Where some countries' people come to worship dragons, others' religious texts condemn them as evil.

### Recent History

Five hundred years after the interplanetary link is closed, a nation ruled by a vampire becomes strong enough to shift the balance of power on the Bol continent. Many other nations become more accepting of vampires in the years that follow, perhaps in part because most people have never seen or will see one, owing to vampires' small population, and can find it easy to tolerate the odd public figure. In some places, vampires are so scarce or rare that they are the stuff of mere folktales. Thus, Geldwood might not have felt the need to suppress knowledge of their existence like they suppress (knowledge of) the Viveenya's existence, which they continue to do in the present day.

On the continent of Bol, the Byandy Empire becomes a fearsome military power spanning the Byandy Peninsula through annexing some principalities and likely conquering others. It is especially in constant conflict and combat with the neighboring Kingdom of Nyanild. As the seat of the Geldwood Church and eponymous faith, Nyanild has long been in ideological strife with the Empire, whose employment of necromancers is anathema to Geldwood's theological tenets.

One hundred-and-twenty years ago, the vampire sisters Riddhe Malacougar and Silk Malacougar are deemed 'enemies of the world.'

### Turn of the Last Century

(Over) One hundred years ago, a traitorous faction of the Byandy Empire colludes with Geldwood to force open the interplanetary hole to Earth. Pani Guldmarg believes that this is the same massive hole that opens in the imperial capital, swallowing the entire imperial army save one unit, and that Easlies Swordfrail is guarding it to prevent its opening. The ruination of the capital is one of several factors that cause the Empire to collapse within the short span of one year; of these, one of the most prominent is Corpse God's involuntary assassination of Emperor Framrodia Byandiraz, brought about by the machinations of an enemy necromancer. Elsia Sabaramond is purported to be the mastermind behind the Empire's collapse.

If Pani's statements are true, then it is possible that the soldiers of the imperial army who fell into the hole may have been transported to Earth rather than killed. It is known that members of the Bastard Children of Sabaramond cross over to Earth, brainwash children in Shinjuku, Japan, and collect items representing the latest in early twentieth-century Terran technology, from World War I-era aircraft and carrier jet models, firearms, and ammunition to radiocommunication equipment, a Tesla coil, and a projector. Many of these items remain in Elsia's possession to this day. Several stowaways, including Riddhe, discreetly follow the expedition to Earth. It remains to be seen whether the Bastard Children also brought werewolves to Earth during this expedition, though werewolves must have crossed at some point, for a Terran man affiliated with the Bastards conducts experiments on werewolves in the present day.

### Last One Hundred Years

In the wake of the Empire's collapse, its Imperial Court Sorcerers scatter. Corpse God kills a squadron of Geldwood soldiers and isolates himself in a writhing labyrinth of the undead. Geldwood deems him one of the so-called 'enemies of the world.'

Pirawizzo assassinates the king of Nyanild many decades later, throwing the kingdom into crisis. Shagrua Lugrid participates in a three month-long retaliatory war with Pirawizzo and ultimately appears to kill him, a feat that earns him widespread acclaim. The kingdom has since been brought back from the brink of ruin.

Elsia meanwhile plots to reopen the interplanetary hole. Since the Byandy Empire's former sorcerers might be motivated to intervene if Geldwood interferes with the imperial ruins on the Abandoned Peninsula, she / Geldwood weaponizes Shagrua against one of their number: Corpse God. Shagrua appears to successfully vanquish him, though, like Pirawizzo, Corpse God actually survives. Upon learning of Geldwood's corruption and cruelty, Shagrua abandons the church. Later, Geldwood dispatches Silk, the Medeon II golem, and an undead dragon to eliminate Easlies, the powerful former Imperial Sorcerer guarding the whole.

## Trivia

* Otherworlders also refer to Earth as the "other world," the "other side of the sky," and the "reverse side of the sky."
* The 275 potentially life-sustaining planets are planets located in Earth's "sea of stars," which Pani states is a "very different sea of stars" to that of the Other World. It remains to be confirmed whether or not the Other World and Earth are located within the same galaxy, universe, or even dimension.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 *Dead Mount Death Play* (Manga): Volume 7, Episode 7.
2. ↑ *Dead Mount Death Play* (Manga): Volume 5, Episode 5.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 *Dead Mount Death Play* (Manga): Volume 6, Episode 6.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 *Dead Mount Death Play* (Manga): Volume 8, Episode 8.
5. ↑ *Dead Mount Death Play* (Manga): Chapter 91.