A Dance of Light and Shadow
Before there was dust, there was Arcanis. In a universe of nothingness and Void, a beacon of Light battling the darkness. The essence of magic, all material creatures, things and energy in the universe came from Arcanis and its being. It created stars and from their warmth gave birth to life on planets shaped by the elementals. For eons Arcanis shaped worlds, creating life anywhere it could. It rejoiced in the beauty of it. The song and dance of mortal creatures would make gave jovial light to the creator. But not all things in the universe were benevolent. There are forces of great darkness that sought to corrupt and pervert the life Arcanis created, it wished to feed off it and always hungered for more.
The Void was the darkness in the universe which no star could touch, an ever consuming presence. Arcanis fought these forces with incredible zeal, destroying the Void in great swathes where ever it was found. The two sides danced for eons against each other, constantly struggling against one another in an endless cycle. No matter how many times Arcanis smited and destroyed it, its presence was inextinguishable and reformed. Eons past of endless cycles of creation, and slow corruption from the Void. Endless times Arcanis watched as life would slowly die and fester from the touch of chaos the Void would spread. Nightmares plagued the titan and the influence of the Void would eventually touch it as well. Arcanis's mind was twisted and despair ruled its heart. Its purpose faltered.
The Void had won.
It's cacophonous cackles filled Arcanis's mind and tormented it. Its form was beginning to corrupt, and soon it would join the darkness. To preserve itself and the life it had created, Arcanis split its being into two entities. The Light within it became Sanctus, god of creation and everlasting Light. The other half fell into the abyss, the tendrils of shadow twisted the being into an insidious form. Adeptus, god of destruction and primordial shadow looked upon life and creation and felt nothing but hunger, a festering emaciation that would never be sated. The death of a titan shattered reality and formed two new immaterial planes: Infernus and Aether. The forces of darkness coalesced into the Infernal Realms while the Light remained preserved within the Aethereal Realms.
The Void was the darkness in the universe which no star could touch, an ever consuming presence. Arcanis fought these forces with incredible zeal, destroying the Void in great swathes where ever it was found. The two sides danced for eons against each other, constantly struggling against one another in an endless cycle. No matter how many times Arcanis smited and destroyed it, its presence was inextinguishable and reformed. Eons past of endless cycles of creation, and slow corruption from the Void. Endless times Arcanis watched as life would slowly die and fester from the touch of chaos the Void would spread. Nightmares plagued the titan and the influence of the Void would eventually touch it as well. Arcanis's mind was twisted and despair ruled its heart. Its purpose faltered.
The Void had won.
It's cacophonous cackles filled Arcanis's mind and tormented it. Its form was beginning to corrupt, and soon it would join the darkness. To preserve itself and the life it had created, Arcanis split its being into two entities. The Light within it became Sanctus, god of creation and everlasting Light. The other half fell into the abyss, the tendrils of shadow twisted the being into an insidious form. Adeptus, god of destruction and primordial shadow looked upon life and creation and felt nothing but hunger, a festering emaciation that would never be sated. The death of a titan shattered reality and formed two new immaterial planes: Infernus and Aether. The forces of darkness coalesced into the Infernal Realms while the Light remained preserved within the Aethereal Realms.
Divine Beings - Gods & Lords
Amora is only one of many other planes of existence within the universe. Many creatures exists in planes that are both material and immaterial. These realms are not merely formed from nothing - their creators have formed them eons ago before time was even recorded, only the primordials have existed since the beginning. There is four categories divine beings fall under:
There are many creatures who dwell within these planes of existence, some more powerful than others. Gods are the most powerful; masters and creators of these realms. Their will breathes life or destruction to the worlds they touch. However gods are immaterial and cannot directly influence the physical planes, they are stuck within their own personal realms and only through very powerful and special rituals can they bypass this rule.
Lords are lesser gods, demi-gods in statue compared to actual divine beings. Some lords were once even mortal, and with enough power and influence have risen to higher status within their folds. They are masters of their realms and can have great influence over the denizens within - either through force or persuasion of cause. Lords are material but passing into other realms they are not associated with takes a great deal of power and energy to do so. For example, Abaddon, the Lord of Pride and highest of the nine demon lords of Infernus, can travel to any other realm within Infernus with relative ease. However, passing into Amora or the Aethereal Realms is a difficult feat, even for the prince of darkness.
- Infernal - creatures from Infernus and its many realms. They are typically insidious in nature and selfish in their goals. They relentlessly fight the beings from the Aethereal Realms.
- Arcane - creatures that are created from raw magic. They are often in pursuit of physical materials, souls or more magic. Their nature is often more lawful and abide by strict code but their degree of altruism varies drastically - some are agents of chaos while others attempt to maintain stoic order.
- Primordial - these beings are based from the five elements and often stand more neutral than others, although that is not universal.
- Aethereal - beings from the Aethereal Realms. They are often altruistic in nature and fight any who side with the Infernal Realms and their wicked masters.
There are many creatures who dwell within these planes of existence, some more powerful than others. Gods are the most powerful; masters and creators of these realms. Their will breathes life or destruction to the worlds they touch. However gods are immaterial and cannot directly influence the physical planes, they are stuck within their own personal realms and only through very powerful and special rituals can they bypass this rule.
Lords are lesser gods, demi-gods in statue compared to actual divine beings. Some lords were once even mortal, and with enough power and influence have risen to higher status within their folds. They are masters of their realms and can have great influence over the denizens within - either through force or persuasion of cause. Lords are material but passing into other realms they are not associated with takes a great deal of power and energy to do so. For example, Abaddon, the Lord of Pride and highest of the nine demon lords of Infernus, can travel to any other realm within Infernus with relative ease. However, passing into Amora or the Aethereal Realms is a difficult feat, even for the prince of darkness.
Immaterial Planes
Material planes are physical places - planets within the cosmos. The Immaterials planes are the realms where souls of mortals go when they die. Depending on their life and if they pledged their soul to a deity determines which realm their soul is destined for, once a soul is committed and has entered into the plane it is often near impossible to revert this choice. The dead are not the only ones who live in these places, creatures native to the land also exist within them, but are equally bound to their realms like the souls who transition there.
Often times when mortal souls are cast into a immaterial plane they undergo a metamorphosis into a new body. When souls enter an immaterial plane they usually do so as bodiless spirits, depending on the specific plane they enter it can vary what happens next. For example, when wicked souls are cast down into Infernus they enter through the River Styx, and after flowing within its murky waters are reborn with demonic vessels as their new bodies. Immaterial planes are dangerous for the living, often times powerful creatures roam them and look down upon prying mortals who adventure in places they do not belong.
Often times when mortal souls are cast into a immaterial plane they undergo a metamorphosis into a new body. When souls enter an immaterial plane they usually do so as bodiless spirits, depending on the specific plane they enter it can vary what happens next. For example, when wicked souls are cast down into Infernus they enter through the River Styx, and after flowing within its murky waters are reborn with demonic vessels as their new bodies. Immaterial planes are dangerous for the living, often times powerful creatures roam them and look down upon prying mortals who adventure in places they do not belong.