The Universe Of Caer

The universe of Caer is the collection of planes, physical and metaphysical laws, and entities in which Caerwyn exists.

The Planes

It is believed that there are many planes that make up the greater cosmos of Caerwyn. For the most part, the planes of Caer are sealed to each other and the inhabitants mostly locked to their planes. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule and the existence of celestials and fiends is widely known. There is much research into the planes nearest to the Physical Plane, namely the Elemental Planes, the Astral Plane, and the Umbral Plane.

Reflective Planes

It is widely believed that many of the planes of existence are reflections of each other. The Grand Prism theory states that the Physical, Astral, Empyreal, Umbral, and Cthonic planes are the result of Positive and Negative energy split by the Song, like a magical prism. Each of those planes are, in some way, a reflection of each other, though each has it's own distinctive features.

Physical Plane

The Physical Plane of Caer makes up the world that most Caerwynites inhabit. It holds the world of Caerwyn. The Song is strong here, being focused by the elemental planes.

Caerwyn

The world of Caerwyn is made up of one large landmass, known as The Continent, and a few islands off the mainland. The seas surrounding the planet are dangerous - most voyages away from Caerwyn never return and those that do tell of small islands far out to sea. In the sky above, Caerwyn has three moons and two suns. Days are 24 hours long.

The Dark Between The Stars

A small faction of Theoretical Magicians has posited over the years that Caerwyn may not be the only world on the physical plane. It is thought that the Ancient's might have found a way to travel off the world and across the dark between the stars. Though that technology has been long forgotten, some magicians theorize that Caerwyn is just one of many worlds that revolve around the suns and that the stars might actually be distant suns orbited by distant planets.

The Ifreanngr

The Ifreanngr is a mythical river that remains constant through the Reflective Planes. There is a Ifreanngr River in the Empyreal, Physical, and Chthonic planes, though features of the river change between each location.

In the Physical Plane, the river runs through the Northern Reaches with a strong current. It's said that in the deeper sections of the river are caves that connect to the different planes, though it's never been proven.

Elemental Planes

The Elemental Planes are planes of raw elemental energy that surround the material plane. It's said that at the beginning of time, the Elemental planes were created before the Physical plane. The planes slowly converged on one another, water and air met fire and earth creating the continent and atmosphere. Primordial magic found purchase and life sprang from into the new plane, creating the race of Ancients. It's said that when the Ancients sought to remake the world, they tapped into the same powers that created it originally, controlling the elemental planes to create a new world, free from the mistakes of the Ancients.

Water Plane

The Elemental Plane of Water is a vast and endless ocean without surface. The ocean floor staggers and it is unknown whether it has a true bottom. Great beasts live in this plane - giant whales, gargantuan Kraken, and other, darker beings.

Fire Plane

The Elemental Plane of Fire is an ever-shifting plane of magma, ash, and flame. Towering, moving fortresses roam on the backs of great coal-powered beasts, filled with courts of greater elementals. Magma creatures wander the ash wastes and fiends have been known to take up exile here.

Earth Plane

The Elemental Plane of Earth is a deep plane of endless rock, dirt and mineral. Pockets of civilization have been carved out of the rock by earth elementals. Burrowing creatures of immense size travel through the plane, creating ever-changing pathways and tunnels. Cities of stone are lit from giant luminescent gems or magical flame.

Air Plane

The Elemental Plane of Air is an expanse of atmosphere with little solid ground to stand on. Great flying creatures float through the air, with entire civilizations living on their backs. Solid matter doesn't last long here, floating off into the space between the planes unless tethered to something.

Astral Plane

The Astral plane exists in the space between the Physical and the Celestial plane. On the surface, the plane appears the same as the Physical plane. Cities and forests stand where they should and the Continent is unchanged. The only difference is the shadowy light gray hue that everything takes on and the whisps of astral energy the emanate of living things. In this plane, a visitor may move through objects and travel at speeds greater than any mortal could normally travel, though such visitation to the Astral plane can only be done with consciousness - the visitor's body remains on the Physical plane, in a state of sleep.

Empyreal Plane

The Empyreal Plane is the realm of angels and other celestial beings, though it is unrelated to the realm of the Gods. This plane is completely different from the world of Caerwyn, save for a few magical structures that permeate across the boundaries of the planes.

The Ifreanngr

In the Empyreal Plane, the Ifreanngr is said to be made of liquid gold and filled with the souls of the dead, where they wait to be remade into new life. It's said that water from the Empyreal Ifreanngr can be used in the ressurection of lost souls, but that magic hasn't been performed in millenia, if it is even true.

Laochalla

It's said that somewhere in the Empyreal Plane lies Laochalla, the Heroes Hall - where the most valiant and brave souls are gathered and reforged into the souls of the newest heroes. Many great heroes of myth and legend claim to be the product Laochian reincarnation and there is a long tradition of rulers giving out the title of Laochmac, meaning one born of heroes.

Positive Plane

The Positive plane represents the universal upper boundary of the planes. It's unknown what lies beyond, but this is a plane of pure radiant energy. No known creatures dwell on this plane and it lacks the there-ness that exists on the other planes.

Umbral Plane

The Umbral plane exists in the space between the Physical and the Chthonic plane. This plane contains all the shadows of the Physical Plane. In this plane, a visitor may move between nearby shadows, with their physical body also transporting between shadows. Visitors spend infinitesimally small amounts of time in the Umbral Plane when shadow jumping and don't actually see anything in the plane when traveling.

Chthonic Plane

The Chthonic Plane is the realm of demons and other fiendish beings. This plane is completely different from the world of Caerwyn, save for a few magical structures that permeate across the boundaries of the planes. The plane contains the Rift, a tear in the fabric of the planes in which many dark horrors lurk. Fiends and demons on this plane corrupt mortals through dark magic in a bid to increase their power. Souls twisted in this manner are harnessed to create new demons from the Ifreanngr.

The Ifreanngr

In the Chthonic Plane, the Ifreanngr is said to be a river of blood and bone, from which the first demons were born. The "water" from this river is said to be the blood of those slain in battle and it's thought that new demons are created through dark rituals involving this blood.

The Rift

The Rift is a tear in the fabric of the Planes, anchored in the Chthonic Planes. It is stable and mostly inactive, though at times great dark beasts find their way through the portal from planes unknown. It has been claimed that the Rift is also a permanent feature of the Reflective Planes, but there is no proof to support these claims.

Negative Plane

The Negative plane represents the universal lower boundary of the planes. It's unknown what lies beyond, but this is a plane of pure dark energy. No known creatures dwell on this plane and it lacks the there-ness that exists on the other planes.

The Song

The Song is the universal magical boundary and energy the permeates all other realms. It is theorized that it exists as the fluctuation of everything that exists between the Positive and Null planes. The energy of the Song exists in all things and all planes.

Death and the Afterlife

The mystery of life after death has long been debated in Caerwyn. The Church of the Five maintains that all souls either return to the Song or are granted passage into Laochalla. The One Chained in The Dark is believed to be able to corrupt souls before they return to the Song, building it's power.

In addition, evil sorceries and powerful magicks can trap and divert souls somewhere else. In addition, powerful spirits can linger and retain some identity after death.