Cosmology

**Cosmology** is the study of the cosmos — the structure, organization and composition of all that exists. These planes of existence encompass every iteration of the world - the prime world and its fey and shadow reflections. Beyond this are the domains of raw elemental energy, realms of demons and angels, and the dominions of the gods. Together, these various planes are the focus of cosmologists as they attempt to map, measure, and understand the planes and their relationships with one another.

## Cosmography

The common cosmological model features two interlinked rings with an overlapping symmetric lens to illustrate the planar realms. This model has been agreed upon as the easiest way to understand the various planes of existence and their relational placements to one another. The cosmological model is not to be confused with the celestial model.

### The Prime Planes

The **Prime Planes** encompass the material and mundane: the world and its various iterations and reflections.

#### Primaris

*Main article: 'Primaris'.*
**Primaris**, also known as the **Mortal Plane**, the **Prime Material Plane** or simply the **Material Plane**, is the plane or realm of existence in which Cato Vilo and the surrounding cosmos exist. In the common cosmological model, Primaris is positioned in the centre, with each attendant plane extending out from and surrounding it. The rest of the multiverse is defined in relation to the Prime Material Plane.

It is speculated that Primaris could contain several different worlds coexisting at once within the same space, and the model accommodates this with the suggestion that numerous worlds can exist within Primaris as individual systems, separate from one another, but part of the same plane. This is stylised as several ‘spheres’ cohabiting an expanse of space, sometimes referred to as the [/] Sea. This is not to be confused with Astris.

#### Sylvis

*Main article: 'Sylvis'.*
**Sylvis**, also known as the **Feywild** or the **Faerie Plane**, is the plane or realm of existence from which fey creatures originate. It is said to be a reflection of Primaris, suffused with potent magicks and emotion. In the common cosmological model, it is located above Primaris, and is viewed as an equal and opposite force to Tenebris.

#### Tenebris

*Main article: 'Tenebris'.*
**Tenebris**, also known as the **Shadowfell** or the **Plane of Shadow**, is the plane or realm of existence believed to be the shadow of Primaris, and a dark and dreary counterpart of Sylvis.

### The Elemental Planes

The **Elemental Planes**, also known as the **Attendant Planes** or the **Inner Planes**, encompass the fundamental primordial planes of elemental energy. Therefore, it is of keen interest to cosmologists, as well as spellcasters that wish to harness and wield the raw power of the elements. They are connected to the Prime Planes via Aetheris, and it is through this transitive plane that their energy reaches and affects them. According to the common cosmological model, any Elemental Plane can be reached via Aetheris, an adjacent elemental plane, or via an elemental vortex.

#### Auris

*Main article: 'Auris'.*
**Auris** is the elemental plane of air, from which elemental Air originates. Using the common cosmological model, Auris is located adjacent to both Aquis and Ignis, allowing travel between these planes. Terris cannot be reached from Auris. Elemental vortices to Auris exist transiently, opening and closing rather than remaining permanently, in circumstances of high Air concentrations: for example, in the eye of a hurricane, or in particularly high altitudes.

#### Aquis

*Main article: 'Aquis'.*
**Aquis** is the elemental plane of water, and the origin of elemental Water. According to the common cosmological model, Aquis, being adjacent to Auris and Terris, can be used to travel between the two attendant planes. Aquis cannot, however, be used to travel to Ignis, and one must first traverse via Aetheris to reach either plane from the other. Elemental vortices to Aquis are seldom permanent, opening and closing in conditions of high Water concentrations: typically within large bodies of water.

#### Terris

*Main article: 'Terris'.*
**Terris** is the elemental plane of earth, where elemental Earth originates. With the common cosmological model, Aquis and Ignis can be traversed via Terris as they exist adjacent to one another, with Auris requiring traversal via Aetheris first. Elemental vortices to Terris are the most permanent, existing in high concentrations of elemental Earth: namely, within the hearts of mountains or the depths of caves and caverns.

#### Ignis

*Main article: 'Ignis'.*
**Ignis** is the elemental plane of fire, and the origin of elemental Fire. Both Terris and Auris can be reached via Ignis, since, using the common cosmological model, they exist adjacent to one another. Aquis, on the other hand, can only be reached by first traversing Aetheris. Elemental vortices to Ignis exist transiently in high concentrations of elemental Fire: most often, this will be within pools of lava or calderas of volcanoes, though some speculate that, if one digs deep enough, a fiery vortex can be found beneath the ground, beyond the Terran vortices.

### The Transitive Planes

The **Transitive Planes** are mostly featureless planes that serve primarily as borders and/or veils through which energy, matter, or individuals may travel from one plane to another. Certain spells utilise these transitive planes to achieve planar travel.

#### Aetheris

*Main article: 'Aetheris'.*
**Aetheris**, also known as the **Ethereal Plane** or the **Border Ethereal**, is the plane or realm of existence that, according to the common cosmological model, exists adjacent to the Prime Planes, acting as a veil between them and the other planes. Those within Aetheris can see into Primaris, but struggle to directly interact with it without a significant force of will. Dissimilarly, those within Primaris cannot perceive Aetheris without magicks that allow them to do so. Passage via Aetheris could enable further planar travel, but movement through Aetheris itself also requires significant willpower. It is believed that the souls of those unable to pass on (e.g. ghosts) exist within Aetheris, able to very distantly interact with Primaris, but unable to pass through to Oribis until their connection has been severed and their will refocussed.

#### Firmaris

*Main article: 'Firmaris'.*
**Firmaris**,

#### Nadiris

*Main article: 'Nadiris'.*
**Nadiris**

### The Holding Planes

#### Teneris

*Main article: 'Teneris'.*
**Teneris**

#### Carceris

*Main article: 'Carceris'.*
**Carceris**,

### The Celestial Sphere

#### Oribis

*Main article: 'Oribis'.*
**Oribis**

#### Caelis

*Main article: 'Caelis'.*
**Caelis**,

### The Abyssal Sphere

#### Nihaskis

*Main article: 'Nihaskis'.*
**Nihaskis**,

#### Umbris

*Main article: 'Umbris'.*
**Umbris**,

### The Void

**The Void**, also known as the **Anomalous Plane**, contains only one plane, which is thought of as a vast, empty sea of nothingness that, depending on the source, either surrounds everything, or exists outwith anything. It is difficult to place on cosmological models, as it does not have a clear place in cosmology, existing in unknown, nigh-unreachable places. It does not follow the same physical laws as the other planes, and is considered immensely inhospitable.

#### Desolis

*Main article: 'Desolis'.*
**Desolis** is a distant and terrifying plane or realm of existence that acts as a space beyond all planes, lying 'outside' of the rest of creation. It is known by numerous names: the Far Plane, the Far Realm, the Far Sea, the Desolate Sea, the Voidsea, the Waters of Desolis, the Tides, the Border Desolis, or the Beyond. It is from here that aberrations are thought to originate. Desolis is considered a twin plane of Astris, as they are both expansive voids where the intangible exists. Where the two differ is in their relational placements, and the subsequent impact this has: Desolis is understood to be the beyond, a realm one is thought to travel to when they experience nightmares, while Astris is the between, where one goes when they dream. Desolis is notoriously difficult to purposefully travel to, and those unfortunate enough to visit this maddening realm are often left with crippling trauma at best, or twisted into gruesome monsters at worst.

## Conflicts

Where the cosmological model becomes conflicting is when the concept of multiverses and alternative timelines come into play. Indeed there may exist a multitude of parallel universes alongside