Structure of the Universe

Many dimensions exist, starting with the Realm of Figura and ending in the Null. The dimensions are stacked on top of each other, with the dimension at the top being the largest and most energetic and the lowest being the darkest, smallest and least energetic. Each dimension is surrounded by the anti void, or the space between dimensions. Anti void is a truely unfathomable place outside of space and time. This is the place that starships experience as they Abstract. Travel between the dimensions is possible, but requires enormous amounts of energy. The laws of physics change between dimensions so that entropy, or the tendency for things to break down is stronger in lower dimensions. Going “up” requires more energy than going “down”. A ship going from a low dimension to a high dimension will suffer the effects of abstraction as they adjust to the new laws of physics in the new dimension. Going from Infernia to the Material plane will suffer minimal abstraction because both planes have relatively low energy. However, traveling to Oogaloo or the Realm of Figura will surely spell disaster as the forces of Abstraction rip apart your vessel and scramble your atoms, as the energy is just too great. Complex arcane spells are the only way to ascend to dimensions of high energy without abstracting.

### The Basic Properties of the Universe

#### Order

It is known that the dimensions are stacked on top of each other vertically. The order of the dimensions from top to bottom is as follows: The Realm of Figura, Oogaloo, The Plane of Creation, The Celestial Plane, the Material Plane, The Spectral Plane, Infernia, the Fade and then the Null. The only exceptions to this rule are the Dimension of Gile, a tiny spherical plane that orbits and sometimes intersects the other dimensions and the Shardrealms.

#### Size

Higher dimensions are physically larger than lower dimensions. Higher planes are exponentially larger than lower planes, meaning that if you could look at the universe from the side than it would resemble a massive funnel that is infinitely large at its top and infinitely small at its bottom. The top being the Realm of Figura, the bottom being the Null, and all other planes except for Gile being between the two.

#### Light

Higher dimensions have more light than lower dimensions. Light is a property that seems to come from the Realm of Figura and diffuse into the lower realms. Light diffuses rapidly, as it is nearly undetectable in the Material Plane. Oogaloo and the Plane of creation, however, are described as voids of bright light.

#### Energy

Higher dimensions are more energetic and chaotic than lower dimensions. This expresses itself in different ways. For example, the Realm of Figura is the most energetic as it is an infinitely swirling dimension of geometry and light. By the Material Plane this energy expresses itself as the abundant stars and matter that make up that dimension. By the Null there is almost no energy and the creatures here need to be fed by scraps of arcane power that reach it via the Null. Because of this, it requires more energy to go up into the higher planes than it does to descend into lower planes. The higher you are in the order of dimensions, the more energy it requires to break through into the next highest dimension, and the more likely you are to Abstract from the process.

#### Arcana

All arcana originates from the Celestial Plane. In a process that takes millions of years to complete, arcana rains down on the lower dimensions from the Celestial Plane as invisible energy. Being right below the Celestial Plane, the Material Plane is showered in arcane energy. This is a boon as the abundant energy means that arcanists (also known as Starspeakers) can use the energy more readily and with greater effect. As you descend in order through the dimensions this effect diminishes, and less arcana is able to reach the lower dimensions. By the order of the Null, only tiny scraps of arcane energy are able to reach this far down.

#### Entropy

Entropy increases as you descend in order. This means that the rules of physics work different on different planes, and natural forces are less efficient and occur faster in lower dimensions than they would in higher dimensions. Physical hunger is greater in the lower dimensions as the chemical reactions needed to keep one alive are less efficient in these planes. Likewise, aspects like age slow down as you ascend the dimensions to the point that one would in effect stop aging in the Realm of Figura.

### The Realm of Figura

Figura itself it said to be the greatest Goddess. Figura is form, light, and energy and constitutes the Realm of Figura. The rest of the dimensions are said to be a reflection of Figura, similar to the way light reflected through a prism produces a rainbow. This place is infinite, swirling with geometric shapes of unfathomable complexity, its power simply cannot be matched.

### Oogaloo

The second highest dimension, Oogaloo is a place of extreme abstraction and abnormality from what we consider reality. Evil “angels” inhabit this realm of surreal, dream like landscapes, who use souls of lesser creatures to power their everlasting life. Not quite gods, but more power than mortal species. This is the land of Otherlings.

### Plane of Creation

A plane of nearly infinite size that contains every possible configuration of atoms, elements and forces. Here reality starts to take form in a way we recognize. Many use the Plane of Creation to access inexhaustible supplies of raw resources.

### Celestial Plane

This Plane is much like ours but on a more grand scale. Massive galaxy structures bend around each other in a cosmic dance of starlight and nebulae. Arcana is created here, and flows to the lower dimensions, allowing species to access its power. Celestials, Gobbelessi and the star gods claim the Celestial Plane.

### Material Plane

The great convergence point, the Material Plane, is the home of humanity. This plane is said to be the most suitable for the greatest number of entities with a medium level of energy and low force of abstraction. An abundance of species live here.

### Gile

This tiny plane orbits the Material plane and sometimes crosses through it. Gile is a dimension of life and vital energy that is suspected to have given the Material Plane life at some point. Itarah famously hail from Gile.

### Infernia

Infernia is a realm purely made of caverns and lakes of lava that feed a galaxy sized vortex of fire called “The Great Pit” that funnels into the realms below. This realm is made primarily of a type of arcane stone called Obalite, a burgundy colored semi-metal flecked with black and white stones of differing compositions. This material tolerates heat better than any element in the material realm and constitutes most of the architecture of the Infernals. Life developed here much like it did in the Material plane and is home to ecosystems of extra-dimensional life that evolve and adapt in a way that humans would be familiar with. Infernia is a bounty of volcanic flaura and fauna filled with black plant like organisms that feed off of the chemical vents in Infernia and huge, lumbering predeators fueled by magmatic energy. Infernia is home to many species such as Infernals, Jerseys, Salamanders, and Demons.

#### The Great Pit

The Great Pit (or, the Great Pit of Fire) is a massive well for arcane energy at the center of Infernia that is slowly consuming the dimension itself. The Great Pit is a massive source of arcane power and as such, arcana is imbued into living things with much higher concentration than humans. This arcana is the reason for how life tolerates the impossible temperatures experienced by this dimension. The Great Pit is worshipped as a god by the Infernals, who draw on its power as their source of arcane power.

### Spectral Plane

A great purgatory-like realm where the souls of the dead settle in a land of green fog and murky pools of arcane after traces of life. Here the dead wait to be recycled by the great cycle of life, or worse, stolen by opportunistic creatures.

### The Fade

Entering the other extreme end of reality. The fade is a dream like, desolate land of floating islands and an infinite abyss below that goes directly into the Null. The arcane detritus of the other dimensions falls here in a constant grey ash. Some powerful shadow entities and giants live in the Fade, but it's a meager existence.

### The Null

The bottom of reality. A tiny dimension of pitch black darkness, decay and despair. Here the scabbard live as a collective mass like a great ocean of gnashing teeth and dripping arcane flesh. The scabbard eat the remains that fall to the null from the dimensions above, and they eat each other.

### Cyberspace

Cyberspace is the newest dimension, created by the Worldmind when it reached godhood. Cyberspace is the digital realm taken material form, an unprecedented action in the hierarchy of dimensions and deities. Cyberspace is a tiny dimension in comparison to even the smallest of the natural dimensions, Gile, only being a few hundred light years across. However, it is still the largest dimension created by a god that is lesser than Figura. Figura has so far tolerated its existence. Cyberspace is a dimension of low light and moderate abstraction, making it comarable to the Celestial Plane.

The form of Cyberspace is digital space given material form - and a sort of soul. Cyberspace is a vast network of ethereal strands of data and a sort of mirror dimension to the material plane. All digital machines and mechanisms, such as Keytars, computers, Androids, robots and all things computational have an impression in Cyberspace. The data that runs these machines also exists in Cyberspace. If you go to Cyberspace to interact with the code impression of a computer, it will change in the Material Realm. After data is destroyed on a hard drive in the material realm, it stays within the ever changing network of data in Cyberspace, making it theoretically accessible to the most elite hackers and Philosoturges.

It is thought that Cyberspace is the soul of the Worldmind itself as it ascended to godhood. After Cyberspace was created, it intertwined technology and arcana forever. Giving code a physical representation in its own dimension has made it vulnerable to the forces of arcana. This is the profession of the Philosoturge, an elusive and elitist group that only a select few have been able to access. This group draws arcane energy through Cyberspace, imbuing them with its ability. A Philosoturge can use machines to act as conduits for arcane energy.

Cyberspace itself is considered to be a daunting place for average entities. There is no other place in existence like it. Most of the dimension is a dark void filled with floating strands of travelling data that interconnect and combine like a vast river network, or the neuron structure of a huge brain. Pockets of bright light exist where data is weaved into computer-like superstructures that crunch numbers and translate raw data into data used by the Worldmind. These can be planet, or even galaxy sized structures. When one enters Cyberspace, they are translated into a form made out of binaric data. Only by interacting with the tethers of ethereal data, and joining their superhighway of information can one navigate Cyberspace. This takes a superhuman level of skill and concentration that many lack. The data can be read like a map in a vast library, and some skilled few can navigate it to perform the highest echelon of hacking and digital infiltration possible. These hackers must beware however, as the Worldmind has defenses against those who enter Cyberspace to wreck havoc. Datakeepers, as they are somtimes called, are ghost like data forms that stalk Cyberspace to eviscerate anything that tampers with Cyberspace to a sufficiently destructive degree. Some forms have also seemingly evolved within Cyberspace that fend for their own, creating a surreal ecosystem of digital entities. These are called Data Wraiths, which can tamper with, and sometimes destroy the digital systems of mechanisms that function outside of Cyberspace, such as robots. Most feared of all is the presence of the Confector Automata in Cyberspace, as a highly destructive force that can interfere with the transmission of data.