The Afterworlds

What Are The Afterworlds?

Afterworlds are the ethereal domains designated for mortal souls, offering a sanctuary after their release from the confines of physical existence. The gods fashioned them to serve as sanctuaries for the lost souls meandering through the mortal world. The nature of each afterlife reveals the qualities of its souls, illustrating their virtues, regrets, and the journeys they embarked upon in life.

The universe is thought to be divided into multiple skies, each fulfilling a distinct role, such as holding the sun and moon, and keeping stars in place. The Afterworlds occupy eleven of these skies, with the nature of each afterworld reflecting its corresponding sky.   Heavenly realms occupy the first through fifth skies. Each sky holds its own unique beauty and vibrancy, teeming with ethereal beings and harmonious melodies. The colours of the skies shift like the seasons, reflecting the emotional tapestry of the souls who dwell within.   Purgatory realms reside in the sixth sky with the mortal world. They exist as a shadowy counterpart where souls linger in a state of reflection and remorse. Every whisper of the wind carries the echoes of their past lives, their regrets, their inaction.   Hellish realms take up the seventh through eleventh skies. They are filled with tormented souls and dark entities perpetually battling for dominance. Each level presents its own unique horrors, an unending nightmare for those who find themselves trapped within.   Note: the first sky, second sky, and so on are not actually the first, second, etc. skies. They are only named so for simplicity.

Souls

What are souls?   Ask any human, and they would almost certainly give you a different answer.   "Souls are not permanent. They are in a continuous cycle of arising and dissolving."
"Souls are individually created by a god, either at the moment of conception or at some time later."
"The soul is the true self of an individual beyond identification with phenomena."   But even then, every answer possesses an underlying commonality: souls are the immaterial essence—the core—of a living being. They are immortal and transcend the material world.   We believe that the soul serves an additional purpose: storing the memories and experiences of its host. This reservoir of memories not only unveils a living being's identity but also highlights the choices and connections formed over the course of a lifetime.

Celestials

Celestials are timeless entities devoid of souls, prompting them to feast upon souls for their nourishment. They were conceived by the gods to manage the overwhelming influx of souls drifting in and out of the mortal realm.

The Nulls

The Nulls emerged from the clash between angels and demons during the Slaughter of Souls. Struggling to adapt to the diverse flavours of souls, their bodies underwent drastic transformations, resulting in a form that embodies neither angel nor demon. These beings, known for their eerie silence and uncanny presence, were given the sole purpose of judging and prepping neutral souls for either eternal salvation or damnation.   Whether they are true celestials is widely debated.

The Slaughter of Souls

A devastating event in which angels and demons devoured each other's assigned souls; what began as a mere curiosity for a unique taste soon escalated into a fierce act of vengeance. The once harmonious balance between the heavenly and infernal realms shattered, as the bloodthirsty celestials left devastation in their wake.   When the savage banquet concluded, only the shamed celestials were left, surrounded by numerous starved corpses, a scarcity of souls, furious deities, and the emergence of a new breed of mutants.

Inquisitions on Demonkind

After the Slaughter of Souls, a group of indignant angels cast blame on the demons for the horrific massacre and fervently sought to prevent any future bloodshed. At the helm was Perno Rescenihil, a renowned legend believed to have been born from a Null. He was driven by a singular purpose: to ensure that demons would never have a chance to ascend. He named his followers the Inquisitors of Demonkind.   For centuries, this group has consistently ascended to the upper levels of Inferncenem to carry out "compliance checks" on the demons, employing intimidation techniques that often veer into the realm of torture and maintaining unrelenting surveillance over their every action. These weaker demons live in constant fear, knowing that any misstep could result in severe punishment at the hands of the Inquisitors.   Unsurprisingly, these inquisitions are vehemently opposed by both the rulers of Inferncenem, who disapprove of the abuse of their people, and by other angels, who deem such actions unwarranted and despicable. Nevertheless, the Inquisitors of Demonkind are able to continue their efforts thanks to funding from The Central Church.