Overview: Alterran is a world born from the Realm of Dream, a pocket dimension created by the exodus of the Feyn and later claimed by humanity as their own. It exists at the intersection of four Realms—Dream, the Cosmos, the Land of the Dead, and the Underworld—each one shaping and influencing the fabric of reality in this enigmatic world. Alterran is a place where the boundaries between these Realms are thin, where the line between reality and illusion can become blurred, even though it is far more "solid" than it had once been. Here the past and future of souls passing through from the other Realms are intertwined in a cycle of eternal recurrence.   The Land and Its People, During the Era of the First Revolution: Alterran’s geography is as diverse as its origins, with the continent split by the formidable Divide. This towering cliff face, a remnant of the Dream Realm's chaotic formation, cuts through the center of the land, separating the northern and southern regions. North of the Divide lies the Kingdom of Chernaya, a rapidly expanding empire that now dominates most of the northern territories. The period of King Belgarion marks a critical point in Chernaya’s history, as the kingdom nears its peak, poised to consolidate its power over the entirety of the north.   The lands north of the Divide are a mix of dense forests, treacherous mountains, and harsh tundras, where the remnants of the Feyn and the influence of ancient magic still linger. The capital, Sevgorod, is a city built within the bowl of a long-slumbering volcano, a testament to the Chernayans' will to conquer both land and legend. South of the Divide, the land becomes a vast expanse known as the Borderlands, a region where the Dream Realm’s chaotic energies still hold some sway. According to most Chernayans, this is a desolate and shifting landscape that few dare to explore. In truth, there are several well developed cities by this time, and in fact the first humans to come to Alterran arrived in Ormen, which began as a village near a river delta at the furthest southern extent of the continent.   The people of Chernaya are in some ways as varied as the land they inhabit, although most are to varying degrees paranoid and suspicious. The citizens of Rostova, the Free City, pride themselves on their independence and craft, while the tribal remnants of the Oblidan cling to their ancient ways, resisting the encroaching influence of Chernaya. In Sevgorod, life is a constant struggle for power and survival, as the kingdom’s elite indulge in their luxuries, oblivious to the dangers that lurk in the shadows of their own making.  

The Origins of Alterran:

Alterran began as an offshoot of the Realm of Dream, a place where the Feyn—entities of death and memory—fled to escape the confines of their original Realm. Here, they found a malleable world where thoughts could shape reality, and where they could weave corporeal forms for themselves. Over time, this dream-world solidified, becoming a new home for the Feyn and later for the humans who followed, seeking refuge from their crumbling world.   As more humans arrived, Alterran’s nature changed, influenced by the collective consciousness of its new inhabitants. The chaotic dreamscape was gradually reshaped into a world that mirrored the fears, desires, and histories of those who dwelled within it. The Feyn, once dominant, found themselves sharing their realm with a growing human presence, leading to a delicate and often tense coexistence.  

The Four Realms:

Alterran sits at the crossroads of four powerful Realms, each one leaving its mark on the world and its inhabitants. The Fallen Cycle RPGs can take place across several, although many Cycles occur entirely within one.   1. Dream (and the Second World of Alterran): The original home of Alterran, where time spirals and reality is as fluid as thought. The Realm beyond Alterran's borders is too diverse to generalize other than to say that it is a world where anything is possible, where the laws of physics are more suggestions than rules, and where the boundaries between the past, present, and future are constantly shifting.   2. The Land of the Dead: A realm of memory and thought, where the souls of the deceased are unburdened of their stories by the Feyn, preparing them for the next cycle of existence. The past is both preserved and consumed, and where the dead linger until their essence is cleansed or claimed by the Fallen.   3. The Underworld: The domain of the Fallen, entities of immense power who are bound to their own solipsistic worlds. The memories of those who dwell there are preserved for eternity—or until they are obliterated by the Void that swirls between this Realm and all the others.   4. The Cosmos: A realm of linear time and material existence, the Cosmos is the anchor that keeps Alterran from dissolving back into pure dream. It is here that human history has unfolded, where our civilizations rise and fall. Or one version of it, anyway.   The transmigration of souls rolls ever onward through the realms, passing through Dream to the Land of the Dead, and from there either wiped clean of memory and sent back to the Cosmos, or trapped eternally in the Underworld, further empowering the Fallen who reign in their isolated domains.   A World in Transition: As the Kingdom of Chernaya expands, Alterran stands on the brink of profound change. The period of King Belgarion is marked by a relentless drive to unite the northern territories under a single crown, bringing the kingdom ever closer to its ultimate destiny. Yet, this expansion comes at a cost, as the forces of the supernatural and the remnants of the Dream Realm resist the encroachment of human power.   The Divide, once a barrier that kept the north and south separate, now serves as a frontier, a boundary between the known and the unknown, the controlled and the chaotic. To the north, the Kingdom of Chernaya grows ever stronger, its reach extending further into the wildlands. To the south, the Borderlands remain a place of mystery and danger, where the old magic still holds sway, and where the dreams of the past refuse to die.  

A Cycle of Eternal Recurrence:

In Alterran, history is not a straight line but a cycle, a wheel that turns with the passage of time, bringing each epoch back to the point of its beginning. This cycle of eternal recurrence shapes the lives of all who dwell for a time in Alterran, from the lowest peasant to the highest king. The knowledge that everything has happened before and will happen again casts a shadow over every decision, every action, and every dream.   Yet within every cycle lies the potential for change.