Understanding Divinity in Ghull
So far as the Mortal Beings in the world understand the ‘Gods’ that inhabit the world are Mortal beings who ascend to the Divine Plane and bathe in the Power Divine. Thus, the population of the world most often call the ‘Gods’ that they worship the Unmortals.
It is unknown whether or not the Unmortals divinity can last beyond the end of their era (Era’s being marked by cataclysmic apocalyptical events that commonly see the destruction of society). Thus there is no knowledge of Unmortals from the previous Era’s and almost all understanding of the previous Era’s and their history comes from the Unmortals who lived mortal lives in the past Era.
To the Unmortals chagrin there do exist beings who claim to be Forebound. The Forebound are creatures, ideas, or people who claim to be cursed with a form of Immortality and are thus bound to the world indefinitely. There are few Forebound who advertise their existence though. Most live in hiding from those who seek to try to kill them as a religious act towards their Unmortal Gods.
There are also Exarchs these are beings whos power and might rival the Unmortals but who do not reside or have purchase in the Mortal Plane. Examples of these would be Powerful Devils, Demons, or any form of Otherworldly Patrons.
The Unmortals
There are 71 Unmortals within the vast Universe that Ghull resides in. The worship of Unmortals is almost all done within the Material Realms with other Realms like the Elemental Realms rejecting the claims of Divinity that the Unmortals Claim.
The Unmortals are powerful but not Omnipotent though it is debated whether or not they are all on the same level of power. There’re different pantheons with worship different Unmortals throughout the world and realms, thus there may be a Unmortal God of the Harvest in one area of the world and another God of the Harvest in another area of the world, Secondarily there are Unmortals whose names are known throughout the whole would such as Markain who are known by all across Ghull due to the nature of their followers and influence.
The Forebound
The Forebound are Creature or Individuals who have lived between two or multiple Era’s yet aren’t inherently undead, unmortal, or exarchs. The Title of Forebound is given to things that are usually more Mythical in nature and it is believed that the Forebound cannot be killed, this myth stems from the belief that if the end of an Era couldn’t kill them than its possible that nothing can. This idea is also supported by the fact that many of the Unmortal Gods try to avoid talking or interacting with the Forebound at all some believe that its due to fear that the Unmortals have related to the Forebound.
That being said Forebound are not Gods and do not act as if they are. Their power/ powers if they even have them are diffrent for each of the different Forebound where as one Forebound may be an extremely powerful individual who corrals the Moons another may be a set of 7 or so birds who share one consciousness. Either way most people have fear of the Forebound due to legends of their monstrous unkillable nature travel the entire world. Thus, legends of their rarity and exotic nature imbedded themselves in society’s of Hunters and Prize Game Killers who see killing a Forebound as not only a astounding award but also a way to become a Forebound or Unmortal themselves.
From you to me their are 47 Forebound but almost no one in the world actually know that exact number. These Forebound are
The Exarchs
Exarch are weird because a individual can become an Exarch if they’re able to become powerful enough like the Devil The Zorad. The easiest way to think about Exarch is that their Warlock Patrons, Powerful Wizards, Lich’s, Elemental beings, and so on who have accrued enough power to rival an Unmortal God. Another good distinction is that they haven’t lived through Era’s like Unmortals or Forebound they’re simply people who became powerful on their own accord.
That being said there are many who have been Exarchs and many who are Exarchs now so there’s not an easy way to list them all because the title exists as a way of classifying a single individuals power rather than a group that all of these beings are.
The Full Explanation of Realms and Planes
It’s easiest to separate the three different types of Planes into three category’s The Material/Finite Plane/Planes, The Transitory Planes, and The Tangent Planes.
The Material Planes
The Prime Material
This is the entirety of the known universe beyond Ghull and the Moons. This universe does have an absolute limit and is not infinite in size, in fact it’s all contained within a marble like spherical space. Most Humanoids are from this place and the Unmortals exclusively reside and work here or the Divine Realm.
The Mirrored Realm
Also known as the Shadow, the Mirrored Realm is an exact inverse of The Prime Material and like the Prime Material is contained within that same marble like space completely opposite of the Prime Material. This place is devoid of the Unmortals but does contain Exarch and Forebound of their own. This is not a place people tend to go but is often a place people leave if they can. In fact the Shader-Kai elves and other races trace their origins back to the Mirror Realm.
Personal Realms
Much smaller realms that people create themselves which are vastly smaller than the two Primary Material Realms.
The Transitory Planes
The Transitory Planes are the In-between places that exist between the Material Planes and the Vast Nothingness beyond Existence. Thus, all of the Material Planes exist floating atop but not interacting within these. These transitory planes are also finite as they only exist in between the Material Realms and the boundaries of the Marble (Existences) walls.
The Astral Plane
Vast and complex, the Astral Plane is the land of possibilities. All is governed by intelligence within the Astral Plane and there are no limits for those who are able to utilize their intelligence.
Within the Astral Plane, no mortal ages, but any mortal who leaves the Astral Plane will age the equivalent amount of time they’ve spent in the Astral Plane. The Astral Plane is often used as a canvas for people to create their own Personal Material Realms however large or small they may be.
Spells and Spellcasters are often more powerful within the Astral Plane as the Elemental Energy which flows from the Tangent Planes is far more potent here as it travels to the Material Realms.
The Dream Realm
The Dream Realm and the Astral Plane exist in the same manner that the Prime Material and the Mirror Realm do to each other, they’re bound to each other, but unlike the Prime and Mirror Realm they are not inverses of each other.
The Dream Realm is where the consciousnesses of all living beings go whilst they sleep. The act of dreaming creates a small semi-material realm within the Dream Realm which the Dreamer has full control over whether or not they know it. Ultimately there’s not much within the Dream Realm other than those small realms, but some Mystics/Mages hide things within the Dream Realm with the risk of having any dreaming individual finding it in their dream.
The Tangent Planes
The Tangent Planes, though contained within Existence like all the other planes, are thought to differ from them in their infinite scale. The Tangent Planes are where all elemental energy flows from, allowing Magic to be possible in the Material Planes. The Tangent Planes are listed below.
The Elemental Plane of Acid
Also known a Csariffix, Csariffix is inhabited by Csarifites, beings made of congealed acid, who live in vast cities built within floating swamps of Acids and Terra material that roam throughout the realm.
The Elemental Plane of Air
The Elemental Plane of Air is just vast infinite wind and is inhabited by wind spirits and some bird folk who live on some ever falling Terra material islands. The Elemental Plane of Air is often visited by artists for its beauty and drawn in great paintings.
The Elemental Plane of Cold
The Absolute Cold as it’s called is a lightless place where only those who can sense without seeing can perceive. Inhabited by a Sloth-like yeti race called Xyakki who lack eyes but build beautiful kingdoms of Metal and Ice.
The Elemental Plane of Terra
Consisting of endless Caves and Caverns, many Elementals (Xorn, Dau, Pech, etc.) call this plane home. The Pech and the Janni are stuck in a constant war over valuable areas like ravines of diamonds. The Janni often sell their materials in the Prime Material.
The Elemental Plane of Fire
The Steel Hell as it’s known, is a vast expanse of flame filled with con men and morally unjust folk. Most residing in the Steel City, Klagos, a huge opulent city filled to the brim with Genie and Azer. Klagos is run by the wealthiest of its inhabitants.
The Elemental Plane of Force
While this plane appears to be completely empty, those who have ventured in will warn you of its destructive power and the fury of the spirits of pure force that reside within. It’s known that the spirits have cities but they’ve never been accounted by outsiders.
The Elemental Plane of Lightning
The Plane of Lightning is an endless storm of Electricity striking hardened Ferrofluid Islands connected to each other by gigantic metal chains. Inhabited by Ferromorphs and ruled by a council of many dukes, Ferromorphs live similar lives to humanoids
The Elemental Plane of Necroticism
Herein, all things Decay beyond what mortals can comprehend. Many Liches and Undead find their way here as it’s largely uninhabited by sentient creatures other than large larva and moths who call this decrepit place home.
The Elemental Plane of Poison
Often misunderstood to be similar to the Plane of Acid, the Plane of Poison is quite nice. Filled with exotic fauna and sentient flora, the rich forests of this plane are called home by a diverse ecosystem. Many Druid circles travel to this plane to acquaint themselves with its residents.
The Elemental Plane of Psychic Energy
Home to fully psychic beings, similar to the plane of Force, this realm looks empty, but upon further inspection, one would find beings floating in the void. Some say that only upon being allowed by those beings can one perceive the realm and its people at all.
The Elemental Plane of Radiance
A kingdom of gold castles of Light and Positivity that exists as an inverse of Necroticism. Filled with rejuvenating light that seeps into almost all other planes. Radiance is not to be confused with Divinity though, as its inhabitants will correct.
The Elemental Plane of Thunder
For many people, the Plane of Thunder should be thought of as the Plane of Sound. The Plane of Sound is where Mood Elves originate from. They live in desert villages which are given shape from their voice as the material below them reacts to the sound.
The Elemental Plane of Water
A vast ocean filled with many aquatic folk who’ve found their way here, as well as Spirits of ponds, lakes, and oceans. Like the Plane of Radiance, The Plane of Water flows into other elemental planes creating a water network that flows all the way down to Necroticism.
The Missing Planes
Each element that can be utilized as a magical component is represented by its own Plane from which its elemental energy flows through the Transitory Planes to the Material Planes.
Other than four.
Chronal Magic: Having to do with the Passage of time.
Shadow Magic: A mysterious dark energy which defies study.
Incarnum: Unexplored magic relating to life force itself.
Trueness: Magic that connects a thing to existence itself which is less understood than any other form of magic.
Understanding all things ‘Magic’
Magic vs Mysticism
Magic, as it is understood by us (the real people not the characters within the world), can be split into four categories which represent how the power is accessed, how it is utilized, and the extent of its capability. These categories don’t have definitive starts and ends with each one bleeding over to the others in specific circumstances. These categories are listed below.
‘Magic’
‘Magic’ refers to the Arcane and is accessed by Wizards, Warlocks, Sorcerers, Arcane Trickster Rouges, Artificers, and Bards. These Classes utilize a weather-like force sometimes called The Parchment or The Arcane Wind (Ghull’s version of The Weave). The Parchment, like it was said before, is a force that flows through the Realms from the Transitory Planes. The Parchment, like air, is unseen by those in regulars life but through different means each class which utilize it are able to manipulate the chaotic forces of The Parchment to cast powerful spells.