Starlight-Crystal Wall

A close-up of the Starlight-Crystal Wall.

The Starlight-Crystal Wall is a membrane of light that defines the boundaries of the Astral Realm. Although space isn't very consistent within an Astral Realm, the Wall can nevertheless envelop it. When the universe is seen from outside, it appears like a beautiful, shiny marble sprinkled with stars and rivers of constellations. Since most universes do not possess a Firmament, the Starlight-Crystal Wall is the only protection they have from the dangers of the Realm of Souls.

The Wall reflects all events that occur within the universe on the surface of its crystals. Each crystal continuously plays out the scene that originated it and derives it into pure information, which they are composed of. Since the Wall absorbs the light of everything since its inception at the beginning of reality, it can be said that it contains the knowledge of the entire universe. The crystals can theoretically be consumed to obtain their knowledge and derive the true meaning of what is reflected upon them, but even most deities can only laboriously extract this meaning trough various methods, translating it into more inefficient vessels, but which can then be comprehended and easily wielded.

The existence of the Starlight-Crystal Wall is crucial for divination magic. A mage may refer to it trough specific rituals and honorable names, seeking resonance between the Wall and an object or place to find relevant historical scenes. High-end divination spells can abuse this principle to allow their caster to see things that would otherwise evade their spiritual perception, or to allow them to see anywhere into the universe, far beyond what they would be able access trough the normal principles of divination. This leads powerful beings to brave the risk and journey to the Astral Realm to place wards and charms upon the Wall, so as to prevent it from giving away their secrets and location.

## Appearance

The Starlight-Crystal Wall is, as the name suggests, composed of innumerable gems of crystallized starlight. Despite this, the Wall is completely smooth, like a mirror. The faces of the crystals shine beautifully as they replay various images and scenes from across history, creating colorful auroras across the Wall.

Like a gigantic dome, the Starlight-Crystal Wall completely fills the Astral Realm's horizon and sky. It also defines the bottom of its underground, forming a firm layer of bedrock that serves as the foundation of the Astral Realm. Its size is never constant due to the volatility of space within this plane of existence, and because new crystals are constantly form upon its surface, pushing older crystals to its side.

## Trivia

1. The Wall's crystals are essential for many types of rituals. Most of these are relatively simple, such as some forms of augury, scrying and in the detection of lies, however, they are also crucial to some of the forbidden rites of godhood.
2. Because the Wall is easily accessible to powerful beings, many of whom are highly paranoid, secretive or isolationist, it is filled to the brim with spells and creatures that attack any who chance upon their personal information.
3. This, combined with the first point (seen above), makes lingering one's sight on the Wall for too long, or exploring its scenes too greedily extremely dangerous, simply suicidal. Due to this, the first ever lesson an aspiring fortune teller learns from their mentor is to treat anything involving the Wall like skinny-dipping in near-freezing water.
4. A few Astral beings make their livelihood by protecting certain ranges of the Crystal Wall in exchange for a consistent influx of sacrifices.
5. Many of the books found in Arcadia, the plane of the old God of Magic and Wisdom, are products of Kvasir's experiments with the Starlight Crystals, or house knowledge He obtained from them.