Cosmic Realms & Planes

The Eternal Nexus exists beyond ordinary space and time, serving as Aetheron's observation point from which all timelines and possibilities can be viewed simultaneously. This realm is not a physical place but rather a state of consciousness that encompasses all moments across all realities. Within the Nexus, past, present, and future exist as one unified whole.

Few beings have ever accessed the Eternal Nexus. Those who have report experiencing all moments of their existence at once—birth, death, and every instant between, all present simultaneously. Time loses meaning here, as does spatial separation. The Nexus is described as both infinitely vast and infinitesimally small, containing everything while being contained within nothing.

From this vantage point, Aetheron observes the cosmic machinery, making subtle adjustments when necessary to maintain balance. The Supreme Creator can perceive threats to reality's existence before they manifest, allowing preventive intervention when the fundamental structure of existence faces danger.

The Celestial Realm serves as the primary dwelling place of the pantheon, a plane of pure divine energy where gods maintain their palaces, temples, and sacred spaces. This realm exists parallel to mortal reality but on a higher vibrational frequency, making it invisible and inaccessible to ordinary mortals except through divine invitation or exceptional spiritual attainment.

Within the Celestial Realm, each deity maintains a domain reflecting their nature: Pyraxis's volcanic forges burn eternally, Aquanis's palace of flowing water constantly shifts and changes, Terravyn's sacred gardens bloom with impossible flora, and Omniscor's infinite library contains knowledge from all times and places.

The Council of Gods meets here in the Hall of Convergence, a magnificent structure where all deities can gather to discuss matters affecting reality. These councils are rare but significant, often preceding major cosmic events or interventions in mortal affairs.

The Mortal Plane is the primary realm of physical existence, containing countless worlds, stars, and galaxies. This is the universe as mortals understand it—governed by natural laws, bound by time and space, subject to entropy and decay. Yet within this seemingly mundane realm, divine influence permeates everything, from the smallest atom to the largest celestial body.

This plane was specifically designed by the pantheon to be a place where consciousness could experience limitation, growth, and transformation. Mortal beings live finite lives here, allowing them to appreciate existence in ways that eternal beings cannot. The experiences of mortals—their struggles, joys, loves, and deaths—are considered sacred learning opportunities that enrich the cosmic understanding.

Sacred sites throughout the Mortal Plane serve as thin places where the veil between realms grows permeable. Temples, groves, mountaintops, and other holy locations allow communication with the divine and occasionally permit passage to other realms for those deemed worthy.

The Underworld, domain of Mortemius, is not a place of punishment but rather a realm of transition and rest for departed souls. This vast realm contains seven layers, each serving different purposes in the soul's journey after death. The Underworld exists beneath the Mortal Plane, accessible through sacred caves, deep waters, and ritual gateways.

The first layer, the Threshold, is where souls arrive upon death, greeted by psychopomps who guide them forward. The second through sixth layers serve as places of reflection, healing, judgment, and preparation for whatever comes next. The seventh and deepest layer, the Eternal Rest, is where souls who have completed their journey find peace.

Not all souls remain in the Underworld permanently. Some are reborn into new mortal lives, carrying unconscious memories of past existences. Others ascend to the Celestial Realm if their deeds were exceptionally virtuous. A few are granted unique fates by Mortemius based on the nature of their lives and deaths.

The Tree of Aeonix is not merely a symbol but an actual cosmic structure connecting all planes of existence. Its roots extend deep into the Underworld, drinking from the primordial waters of creation. Its trunk passes through the Mortal Plane, with sacred groves serving as physical manifestations. Its branches reach into the Celestial Realm and beyond, touching realms mortals cannot comprehend.

The Tree serves as a pathway between worlds for those who know how to navigate it. Shamans, mystics, and spiritually advanced individuals can enter meditative states where they perceive the Tree and travel along its branches and roots to access other realms. This travel is dangerous and requires proper training, as losing one's way within the Tree can result in becoming lost between worlds.

The Tree also serves as a cosmic regulator, maintaining balance between all realms and ensuring energy flows properly throughout reality. If the Tree were ever destroyed or severely damaged, the separation between realms would collapse, resulting in catastrophic mixing of incompatible energies and the potential end of organized reality.

The Dreamlands exist as a fluid realm where thoughts, dreams, and possibilities take temporary form. Every time a mortal sleeps and dreams, they briefly touch this realm, creating ephemeral landscapes and experiences that dissolve upon waking. Yet the Dreamlands are more than just a repository of dreams—they are a realm where ideas themselves have substance and power.

Certain beings dwell permanently in the Dreamlands: dream spirits, imaginary friends who gained independence from their creators, personifications of concepts and archetypes, and even gods who represent abstract ideas. The landscape constantly shifts based on the collective unconscious of all dreaming beings across all worlds.

Skilled dream-walkers can navigate the Dreamlands consciously, using them as shortcuts between physical locations or to access information stored in the collective unconscious. However, spending too much time in the Dreamlands risks losing touch with physical reality, as the boundary between dream and waking becomes blurred.

The Void is not truly a realm but rather the absence of all realms—the primordial nothingness from which Aetheron emerged and from which all reality was created. It exists at the edges of existence, always threatening to reclaim what was taken from it. The Void is neither evil nor good; it simply IS the state of non-being, constantly seeking to return existence to its original state of nothingness.

Occasionally, entities emerge from the Void—beings of pure negation and entropy called Void Titans. These creatures seek to unmake reality, not out of malice but simply because existence offends their fundamental nature. The pantheon has fought multiple wars against Void incursions, and eternal vigilance is required to prevent the Void from expanding.

Some philosophers argue that the Void is necessary, providing the cosmic pressure that keeps reality cohesive. Without the threat of nothingness, they claim, existence would have no meaning or value. Others view the Void as an enemy to be conquered or at least permanently contained.