Planes of reality

Aerillian philosophy and theological studies suggest there are **seven** planes of reality. The first four are known as the *traversable planes*and are represented by physical boundaries. The latter three are the *non-traversable planes* and exist outside of physical boundaries, impossible to reach by any means.

### Traversable Planes

**The Plane of Stone** is the physical realm, and what most peoples senses are limited to perceiving.

**The Plane of Fog** is where the metaphysical properties of all physical things reside. It is where mortal souls live, floating just slightly above their physical owners. It is the home plane of nonphysical Therials. Many shamans and fate-tellers claim to be able to walk their fog-bodies away from their physical bodies to interact with Therials and other souls directly. The presence of real fog is believed to indicate a particular "overlap" between the Stone and Fog planes. This plane is depicted as a mostly-white, grayscale replica of the physical world, with Therials and souls depicted in bright colors. Mortal souls reside on the Plane of Fog after death according to most religions.

**The Plane of Sky** is where the Young Gods of Aerill typically reside and is represented by the upper atmosphere. It is divided among them and each lives in their own Sky Palace. Many suspect this is also where Mistwalkers originate from. It is depicted as an endless sea of clouds with nothing but empty sky above and below. Some theologists insist this is the same plane as the Plane of Fog, but simply above the ground, whereas others insist it is a unique realm. Still others insist that each Young God has their own Plane entirely.

**The Plane of Star** is a limitless, lawless void between worlds. Each world has its own Plane of Stone, Fog, and Sky, but all worlds share the same Plane of Star. It is often described as both beautiful and dangerous, enticing travelers to wander forever. Very few beings reside in this space, if any, though there are some myths of a Star Serpent, a giant creature that winds through the void and feeds on stars. One would have to travel through the Plane of Star to reach other worlds. This plane is depicted as blackness dotted with white stars, with bright ribbons of aurora, with Escher-like paths and stairways of starlight.

### Non-Traversable Planes

**The Plane of Dust** is a monochromatic realm of grey dust, twisted trees, and black water. Deep forests of bare trees house monsters of all shapes and sizes; wolves whose mouths run their entire body-length, giant centipedes with demonic human faces, and skeletal amphiptheres. Pools of mirror-like black water house multi-eyed fish with snapping jaws and drowned-looking creatures that drag their bodies along the ground. Monsters are not "born" here, but rather construct themselves from dead creatures, bones, and bits of the environment. Some believe this is where the ancestors of Night-Eyes originate from. Aerillian monsters and cryptids are all said to be residents of the Plane of Dust clawing their way into the physical realm, seeking to escape the endless predation of their home.

**The Plane of Shadow** is an underground world of caverns, lit by cold blue flames. This is the home of demons; shadow-beings that prey on the sleeping and drive mortals mad.

**The Plane of Sun** is a bright, golden realm associated with the sun. This is where the Writers reside - or, at least, that it is their "summer home" when overseeing Aerill, and that is currently stands empty. It is depicted as a savanna of golden grass beneath an orange sky, with an enormous, sprawling palace of white and gold. Armored, winged lions patrol as guards. A menagerie of graceful, elegant creatures decorates the grounds, such as giant storks, golden-horned gazelles, and iridescent wyverns. Tables are ever-laden with flawless giant fruit, honeycombs, flower-covered cakes, and fountains of mead. Some philosophers insist that the Plane of Sun *is* traversable through the Plane of Star, but that it is guarded so ferociously that no mortal would ever be able to enter, or that any mortal who *did* enter would immediately perish from the unrelenting brightness of the realm.