[v.3.5] Knightfall's Mirrored Cosmology

[Knightfall]

This thread is for redesigning my Kulan cosmology so that I can fit both World of Kulan and Dark World (Maran) into the same cosmology. The overall layout of the cosmology will likely stay the same but I'm planning on tweaking some things to make it compatible with both campaign worlds.

The idea I have is that in this new cosmology, which I've entitled the Mirrored Cosmology, for every world, their is a world that mirrors it. (So, a bit of Trek has influenced it a bit, I'll admit.) Now, not all mirrored worlds are exact duplicates with the good characters being the evil ones. Sometimes they are simply worlds where concepts are flipped.

Kulan and Maran for example.

Kulan is a world filed with many continents, hundreds of gods, and a sense that good tends to win over evil. Maran is the exact opposite. It has only one set of deities, only one major continent, and evil dominates the world, but hasn't been able to completely wipe out good.

Kulan has more races than you can count, Maran doesn't have anywhere near as many unique races.

Kulan uses the standard classes, and almost any class or prestige class can be found on the world. Maran uses only a select few classes and it dominated by the generic classes from UA.

Anyway, you get the point.

So, what I need to do is take my existing Kulan cosmology, and add a sense of dualism to it. Now, my Outer Planes already have this, in it's design, but I want to expand on the idea. (I guess the Inner Planes could be said to be mirrored, as well.)

Plus, my two campaign worlds aren't the only worlds linked to the cosmology. Thus, I want to allow for the idea of expansion. I use a more harsh version of Spelljammer for Kulan and Maran, which is detailed on Beyond the Moons. (link)

The Core Spelljammer Cosmology I've come up with is for the standard D&D world (i.e. Greyhawk), while the Plane of Unseen Infinity takes one beyond the reality of the core D&D worlds and into the Farspace Reality.

This is where Kulan and Maran exist.

Thus, I've designed a set of campaign worlds that aren't directly tied to Greyhawk, the Forgotten Realms, or Eberron. That way I can limit my players ability to travel to those worlds. It isn't impossible, but it isn't easy either.

Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. For now, this thread will be for working on fleshing out my versions of the Inner and Outer Planes, and how they relate to the Material Plane. This cosmology is great influenced by Planescape, D&D Manual of the Planes, D&D Epic Level Handbook, D&D Deities & Demigods, and Beyond Countless Doorways (from Malhavoc).

You will notice many similarities between the Core D&D Cosmology and the Mirrored Cosmology, but the differences will prove substantial. As with all my campaign design threads, this will be a ongoing process and I will step back from it from time to time. For right now, it's important to work on this as my current campaign is about to go Epic. (May the Gods help my plotlines!)

Feel free to comment and offer suggestions. I always like answering questions about my D&D design concepts, and good questions always fires my imagination and makes me think of things in different ways.

Cheers!

Knightfall1972
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First up...a general overview.

 

[Knightfall]

COSMOLOGY OVERVIEW​

The Transitive Planes
Ethereal Plane
The Hinterlands [of the Lost] (modified) *
Plane of Mirrors (modified)
Plane of Twilight (RPB) (new)
Spire of the Outlands (re-envisioning of the Spire) *
→ Magic does not become impeded near the Spire in this cosmology, but is instead enhanced.
Spirit World
Temporal Maelstrom (based on what is in the 3E D&D Manual of the Planes and the 2E AD&D Chronomancer accessory) (name borrowed from Angel)

_​

* The Hinterlands of the Lost and the Spire of the Outlands are considered to be Ascendant/Descendant planes. (See the section on Ascendant/Descendant Planes for more details.)

The Inner Planes
Elemental Planes
· Elemental Plane of Air
· Elemental Plane of Earth
· Elemental Plane of Fire
· Elemental Plane of Water
Para-Elemental Planes (PS)
· Para-Elemental Plane of Ice
· Para-Elemental Plane of Magma
· Para-Elemental Plane of Ooze
· Para-Elemental Plane of Smoke
Unique Elemental Plane
· Elemental Plane of Wood

The Outer Planes

The Ascendant/Descendant Planes
Crystal Roads of Deluer (BCD, modified)
Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus (modified)
Ever-Changing Chaos of Limbo (modified)
Ouno, the Storm Realm (BCD, modified)
Concordant Domains of the Outlands (re-envisioned)
· Upper Outlands
· Lower Outlands

The Upper Planes
Mechanus Ascendant
Eternal Paradise of Anu (RPB) (new)
Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia
· Abellio
· Buxenus
Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia
· Lunia
· Mercuria
· Venya
· Solania
· Mertion
· Jovar
· Chronias
Twin Paradises of Bytopia
· Dothion
· Shurrock
Deluer Ascendant
Blessed Fields of Elysium
· Amoria
· Eronia
· Belierin
· Thalasia
Ouno Ascendant
Wilderness of the Beastlands
· Krigala
· Brux
· Karasuthra
Mystic Glades of Arborea (modified)
· Arvandor
· Aquallor
· Mithardir
Heroic Domains of Ysgard (modified)
· Ysgard
· Muspelheim
· Nidavellir
Starry Skies of Linnunrata (RPB) (new)
Limbo Ascendant

The Lower Planes
Limbo Descendant
Burning Shadows of Kin-Li’in (BCD)
Windswept Depths of Pandemonium
· Pandesmos
· Cocytus
· Phlegethon
→ Unseelie Court
· Agathion
Infinite Layers of the Abyss
· Demonweb Pits replaced by Palpatur (BCD)
Tarterian Depths of Carceri
· Orthrys
· Cathrys
· Minethys
· Colothys
· Porphatys
· Agathys
Ouno Descendant
Gray Waste of Tuonela (modified)
· Oinos
· Pohjola (RPB) (new)
· Niflheim
· Pluton
Deluer Descendant
Bleak Eternity of Gehenna
· Khalas
· Chamada
· Mungoth
· Krangath
Nine Hells of Baator
· Avernus
· Dis
· Minauros
· Phlegethos
· Stygia
· Malbolge
· Maladomini
· Cania
· Nessus
Infernal Battlefields of Acheron
· Avalas
· Thuldanin
· Tintibulus
· Ocanthus
Ten Courts of Hell (BCD)
Mechanus Descendant

Demiplanes of the Mirrored Cosmology
Common Ground (modified)
Darklands (re-envisioning of a region from the Plane of Shadows)
Hall of Twilight (RPB) (new)
Plane of Graves (RPB)
The Maze (BCD)
The Observatorium (modified)

Other Planes of the Mirrored Cosmology
Afqithan (SEP) (new)
Curnorost, Realm of Dead Angels (BCD)
Far Realm
Godsland (LKM) (new)
Plane of Faerie (modified)
· Faraenyl (BCD)
Plane of Molten Skies (CoB)
Plane of Serenity (RPB) (new)
Plane of Unseen Infinity (RPB) (new)
· Avidarel, The Sundered Star (BCD)
· Carrigmoor (BCD)
· Kulanspace (RPB)
→ Rock of Bral (SJ) (modified)
· Maranspace (RPB)
· Shadow of the Spider Moon (SJ) (Poly)
· Venomheart, Haven of the Sleep Pirates (BCD)
Region of Dreams
Seelie Court (wanders)
Sleeping God’s Soul (BCD)
The Violet (BCD)

Unique Planar Cities
Demiplanar Cities
· City of Union (modified)
· Hinterlost (RPB) (new)
· Sigil, City of Doors (modified)
Planar Cities
· Balefire (modified)
· Conil-a-Ald (modified)
· Tu'Narath

BCD = Beyond Countless Doorways (d20 sourcebook); CoB = City of Brass; LKM = Lankhmar (1st Edition); PS = Planescape (2nd Edition); Poly = Polyhedron; RPB = Robert “Knightfall1972” Blezard’s Homebrewed Worlds; SEP = New plane created by Jameson “Sepulchrave II” Ferris; SJ = Spelljammer (2nd Edition)

 

[Knightfall]

What are Ascendant / Descendant Planes?

ASCENDANT / DESCENDANT PLANES
In the Mirrored Cosmology, their is always a flip side to every view point. This is true for the entire cosmology. Thus, planes that are strickly lawful neutral or chaotic neutral mirror each other but don't mirror the concept of good vs. evil. However, in the Mirrored Cosmology, the Outer Planes are physically divided by this concept.

The Upper Planes exist above Sigil, while the Lower Planes exist below Sigil. which still sits in the center of the Outer Planes. So, how do I handle planes such as Limbo and Mechanus, not to mention the Outlands? Where do they go?

The answer was simpler than I thought. They exist on both sides of that cosmic coin.

When visiting the Upper Planes, it is possible to reach Mechanus and/or Limbo's portal towns just by walking the upper ring. But at the same time, you can also reach them by walking the lower ring. Those two planes are both ascendant and descendant. They are both influenced by good and by evil, and, thus, have a unique place in the cosmos. (Deluer and Ouno are also like this.)

For the Outlands, things are a bit different. There isn't one plane known as the Outlands, instead there are two. The Upper Outlands lead to the Upper Planes, while the Lower Outlands lead to the Lower Planes. (I'd like to have better names for them, but at this point "Upper" and "Lower" will have to do.)

(The Hinterlands are like this too, but the effect isn't as pronounced.)

Note that the portal towns for Deluer, Limbo, Mechanus, and Ouno exist on both the Upper and Lower Outlands, which confuses the Nine Hells out of Primes (and planewalkers from other realities). There aren't 8 portal towns for these planes, only 4. They are the same towns, although a traveler would feel like he's stepped into a mirrored community, as a ascendant / descendant portal town "feels" different depending on which side of the cosmos you are on.

On the Ascendant side, everything seems brighter and more peaceful. On the Desendant side, the portal town seems darker and on edge. But it's the same town with the same people. Only the traveler has changed, due to the power of good vs. evil.

Anyone have a headache, yet?

Note that this "feeling" is also true for the Ascendant / Descendant Planes, depending on how you arrived on the plane. If you arrive on Limbo from the Ascendant side, then everywhere you go, things seem to be more vibrant and alive -- more positive. If you come from the other side, then beware slaadi bearing gifts. Perception more than belief rules the Mirrored Cosmology. Belief is important, but it tend to become skewed.

No where else is this more noticable than on the Spire of the Outlands. Called the Spirelands, for short, it exists on both sides of the cosmos as well, and it is VERY different from the Spire in the Core D&D Cosmology. The spire is plane unto itself, and is considered true neutral. Magic is not impeded the closer you get to the spire. The spire is a transitive plane from the Upper Outlands to the Lower Outlands. Note: You can't physically get to Sigil by walking the Spire, but you can fly from the Spire to Sigil, if the Lord of Sigil is willing to allow you passage. (More on that later.)

Note: Sigil is never considered Ascendant or Descendant, but it is different in this cosmology.

At the very center of the Outer Planes, or what planewalkers call the Center of Everywhere, is a gateway from the Ascendant side of the Spirelands to the Descendant side. This gateway isn't a physical gate (well, sort of), just a "feeling" one gets when you cross over.

Just before the center, if a person looks up then they will see Sigil above and in front of them. If the person looks behind them, then they see the lands of the Spire stretching out before them with the lands of the Upper Outlands in the distance, with a radiant light everywhere.

During this walk, the person has the feeling that they are walking "DOWN" towards Sigil. In front of them is only what can be described a mirror image of where the traveler has just come from, but darker. In this mirror, the traveler actually sees himself approaching from the other side, a much darker version of himself. Almost like someone was holding up a mirror to his soul.

To physically pass through to the other side, one must walk through the mirror. (Think Alice in Wonderland, except the mirror has no frame and extends as far as the eye can see, and beyond.)

Once on the other side, everything flips. You still feel like you're walking down, but it's a down that makes you nervous, unless you heart is black. The Center of Everything is now behind you, and Sigil now seems to be more above and behind you. The more troubling lands of the Spire stretch out in front of you with the lands of the Lower Outlands in the distance, with a fiery light everywhere. If you look at your reflection in the mirror, behind you, you see a more bright and cheerful version of yourself staring back.

It's very surreal.

Well, in a nutshell, that's what i mean by Ascendant and Descendant for this cosmology. Let the questions a mental mayham begin!!!

 

[Knightfall]

A Note about Drow in this Cosmology

While drow don't exist on the World of Kulan they do exist on Dark World, thus they have a place in cosmology, but I'm not sure how I'm going to handle it. What I can tell you for certain is the Demonweb Pits don't exist in this cosmology anf neither does Lolth. I've never been a fan of that deity and I refuse to allow her existance in my cosmology.

Thus, the drow of Dark World (and elsewhere) will worship different deities. Part of me likes what has been done with the drow for the the Eberron campaign setting, but I'M not going to duplicate it. I want to come up with my own idea. (A lot of the drow of Maran live above ground and have fiendish blood, but they also live in the Dark Below.)

Both spiders and scorpions will play a part so I can still use driders, and make scorpionfolk related to drow. (Hmm... maybe.) Pacts with demons and devils is common amongst the drow of Maran. Those drow that live above ground tend to be lawful evil, while those living below ground are more often chaotic evil.

Anyway, just typing...

 

[Knightfall]

A Note about the Core D&D Deities in this Cosmology

Many of the deities from the Core D&D Pantheon have made it into this cosmology, regardless of the worlds. In order to keep these deities from dominating the cosmos, I've reduced their powers (not including racial deities). This is new change I just made.

The idea is simple, those deities are not from this reality, and are thus considered "alien" deities by the other deities of this cosmos. However, any core deity that was a demigod before, stays a demigod.

Here's what I mean...

For World of Kulan, the following D&D deities have influence, but are less powerful...

Boccob
Celestian
Ehlonna
Erythnul
Joramy
Kord
Olidammara
Sotillon
Telchur
Trithereon
Ulaa
Wee Jas
Xan Yae

Heward, Wastri, and Zuoken are also deities for Kulan but they are all demigods. Heward is a hero deity on Greyhawk, I believe, but I wanted the god to be more important for Kulan.


For Dark World, the following D&D deities have influence, but are less powerful...

Heironeous
Hextor
Nerull
Obad-Hai
Pelor
St. Cuthbert
Vecna

 

[Knightfall]

Realms Deities in the Mirrored Cosmology

Like the core deities of D&D, most of the deities of the Realms are cosidered to be "alien" deities, and reduced in power. However, those Forgotten Realms deities that are taken from real world mythos are an exception.

So, for World of Kulan, the following Forgotten Realms deities have influence...

Akadi
Eilistraee
Grumbar
Ibrandul
Istishia
Kossuth
Loviatar
Mielikki
Nobanion
Oghma
Vhaeraun
+
Gods of Zakhara

However, since Loviatar, Mielikki, and Oghma are based on real world mythos, they have different power levels in this cosmology., Also, I've decided to make Eilistraee stronger in this cosmology; she is considered an Intermediate Deity.

Dark World doesn't use any of the Realmsian deities.

 

[Knightfall]

Other Real World Deities in the Mirrored Cosmology

I've always been into the various panthons and deities of the real world, both as a student of history and as a gamer. However, I prefer to use those deities and pantheons in unusal ways.

For example, for the World of Kulan, and specifically, for the Lands of Harqual, I have used many real world deities to fill out the two main pantheons of that continent. The Pantheon of the North (i.e. North Gods) are the deities for the good guys. The Pantheon of Swords (i.e. Sword Gods) are the ones for the bad guys.

Both pantheons, as well as a group of unaligned deiites known as the Interloper Gods, have real world gods and goddesses in the mix, even some from the same mythos.

For the North Gods, I have included Aegir, Bast, the Daghdha, Hades, Inanna, Lokun (i.e. Loki), Narvi, and Vali. For the Sword Gods, I have included Angrboda, Druaga, Hiisi, and Math Mathonwy. And for the Interloper Gods, I have included Ahto, Apollo, Dike, Dionysus, Hel, Loviatar, Mielikki, the Nine Daughters, Ptah, Rán, and Sigyn.

I've even built a mythos around the inclusion of all these deities, which you can read about on my Kulan Wiki her on EN World (currently being rebuilt).

Note that not all of the above deities are as they would be in their traditional real world-inspired D&D pantheons. Hades, for example, is LN in my cosmology, not NE. (Lokun is CN, not CE. And Inanna is LN, not LE.)

Basically, the rule is that if the deity is in Monster Mythology or On Hallowed Ground then the deity likely exists in this cosmology, somewhere, but the deity may or may not be altered.

Here are the Real World pantheons that have the most influence in the Mirrored Cosmology...

The Asgardians
This is the pantheon with the most changes. In the Mirrored Cosmology, Ragnarok has come and gone. Many of the worlds where the Norse Gods had worshippers have been destroyed by Surtur. Asgard lies in ruins and many of the Aesir and Vanir are dead, or have "changed" in strange ways. (The most unusual of these is Loki, who now calls himself Lokun.) However, the cosmos didn't end, like the Norse believed it would and more of them survived than was believed, if you can call what most of them now exist as as survival. (Even old Odin survived, although he now calls himself Wotan, and aimlessly wanders Ysgard.) Those that have survived are little more than lesser deities or demigods, except for those that have attached themselves to another pantheon (i.e. Lokun). Note: Ragnarok and the Divinity War between the North Gods and the Sword Gods (of Harqual) happened at the same time. Some believe that the Divinity War sparked the beginning of Ragnarok.

See here for a possible outline of this concept.

The Aztecs
The Aztecs Mythos is detailed in four issues of Dragon Magazine. I finally have all four and, as a result, this Pantheon is about to become one of the more powerful ones in the Mirrored Cosmology. (I'm going to miss the print version of Dragon so much.)

The Babylonians and Sumerians
These two pantheons aren't major forces for Kulan, but they have a lot of influence on the planes. Anshar, Druaga, and Marduk are the powerhouses of the Babylonians. Enlil, Inanna, and Nanna-Sin are the powerhouses of the Sumerians. Note that Inanna isn't considered a Sumerian deity anymore, and is instead known throughout the cosmos as a member of the North Gods.

The Celts
The celts have a lot of planar influence, but tend to stick to their own. There are exceptions, however. Arawn, the Daghdha, Math Mathonwy, and Oghma have all strayed from the expected path.

The Egyptians
I use Gary Gygax's Necropolis for World of Kulan, but I also make use of the information presented in Deities and Demigod. This is one of the most powerful pantheons in the cosmos, but they are limited on Kulan. In this cosmology they are known as The Khemitians!

The Finns
I've always liekd the Finns and after making Hiisi one of the worst evils in the universe, the rest just joined the party. Note that I prefer to use the Finnish version of Loviatar and Mielikki instead of the Realms versions. Ahto, Hiisi, Loviatar, Mielikki, and Untamo have the most influence.

The Greeks
The greeks are definitely not the powerhouse pantheon like they are in other cosmologies. They have fallen on hard times, and decadance and corruption has spread through Olympus like a plague. Their faith is limited to one small area, on Kulan, although they have many followers throughout the cosmos. Many of the Olympians have begun to stray away from their roots with Apollo, Dike, Dionysus, and Hades having all gone their own way, and they are very different from the Olympians we all know. (Zeus has sort of lost his mind.)

The Titans
As a result of the Olympians fall from grace, the worship of the Titans has gained a resurgance.Cronus, Gaea, Rhea, and Uranus all have considerable influence across the cosmos.

Note: None of these Real World deities exist on Dark World.

 

[Knightfall]

Layout of the Planes

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[Knightfall]

A closer look at Plane of the Unseen Infinity...

What follows is how I interpret "space" for the Mirrored Cosmology. This information has been up on Beyond the Moons for some time now, but I'm incluidng it here for completeness.

THE PLANE OF THE UNSEEN INFINITY​

An Introduction to Farspace
Riley Hanolder couldn’t believe his luck. As a xenoform expert in Baron’s Stone, a small asteroid city in Allorspace, his chance to study other races and cultures were limited. It was hard to study something that didn’t live where you grew up.

But now, now all that would change. The alien spelljammer, the Alathon, had landed on Baron’s Stone two nights ago and had instantly caused a stir amongst Riley’s friends and neighbors. Of course, they had originally thought that the aliens, a purple-skinned humanoid race called the raia, were invading Baron’s Stone. Only when the captain of the Alathon stepped out onto the space-rock did the town realize these aliens weren’t out to conquer them.

The captain held out fine silk, unlike anything Riley had ever seen before, as a gift. He told the people of Baron’s Stone that his people were traders from a distant part of known space and would gladly sell the town anything it wanted from his ship’s stores at a discount as long as the crew could use some local supplies to repair the Alathon. Damson Wonersson, the local mayor, gladly accepted the raia captain’s gift and stated that Baron’s Stone would be happy to help.

Riley had been amazed by the raia from the first moment he met them. Their spelljammer was unlike anything he’d ever seen before. Obviously a special design put together by them, the Alathon was extremely sturdy and made out of something the raia called durawood – wood that is a strong as steel.

And now, here Riley was. On the Alathon heading towards the edge of Allorspace and its crystal shell. He had known instantly that the raia were his chance at begin his xenoform study and get off Baron’s Stone. Riley stood on the bow of the Alathon looking towards the edge of his home sphere, hoping to get a glimpse of its crystal shell for the first time.

Then he saw it. It looked plainer than he thought it would. The great shell was pitch black and featureless. He had known it would be, of course. Every spacer living in Allorspace was taught that from infancy. It’s just that he had hoped his parents had been wrong. Riley sighed looking over his shoulder towards where Allorspace’s asteroid field would be if he could see it anymore. He hadn’t even left the sphere yet and he was homesick.

Riley turned back towards the shell just as the captain stepped up next to him. The shell was now looming over the raia spelljammer, yet the ship had yet to slow down. Riley looked at the captain with some concern.

“Uh captain,” Riley didn’t want to appear rude so he did his best to be diplomatic. “You are planning to enter the flow, correct?”

“You are correct, Master Riley.” The captain was one for formality on his ship. “But not quite yet. We haven’t passed beyond the boundary of the sphere yet. There is no rush.”

“B-but captain,” Riley swallowed hard. “The shell. We’re going to hit it.”

“Ah, yes,” the captain smiled at Riley warmly. It was meant to reassure the boy that everything would be fine. “Something I forgot to mention about my people. We are not from your space.”

“I don’t understand.” Riley was confused. “You already told me you were not from Allorspace.”

“Ah, but you see, I meant your conception of Arcane Space.”

“W-what?”

“My people are from a place beyond what you perceive as the crystal shell. In reality, there isn’t a shell there. You just think there is.”

“Y-your not s-serious.” Riley was ready to throw himself overboard. “The only thing beyond the shells is the phlogiston.”

“That is what you believe, Master Riley. It is not what the raia believe.”

Riley watched in horror, as the shell loomed closer and closer to the Alathon. They were going to hit. Riley was going to die. The sage of Baron’s Stone screamed in terror as the ship sped up. The crew stood there motionless as the ship raced on. Then the captain spoke.

“Believe, Master Riley. There is no shell.” His tone was deep and powerful.

“There is no shell.” The crew spoke as one voice, their eyes closed in meditation.

Riley closed his eyes and held his breath. He spoke the words over and over in his mind. There is no shell. I’m going to die. There is no shell. I’m going to die. Riley opened his eyes.

“Oh… my… god!”

The Alathon contacted the shell and passed through it like it wasn’t there. The ship had passed right through the shell without a portal or anything. Riley felt faint.

He looked back to see that there wasn’t any sign of the shell, just the star of Allorspace in the black of space. But it was what stretched out all around him, which unsettled his stomach. Billions of stars as far as the eye could see. Riley was used to seeing stars but not like this. It was so surreal. Riley steadied himself on the rail of the bow, trying not to vomit.

“I-it’s not possible. W-where is the flow? Captain, what is this place?”

“Master Riley… welcome to farspace.”

 

[Knightfall]

What is Farspace?
The Unseen Infinity. The space beyond space. What is beyond, but hidden. Farspace. The Plane of the Unseen Infinity has many names but it is the last one, which is the most used. It is ironic really, for farspace isn’t that far away at all. It just seems like it is the first time you discover it exists.

Farspace can be best described as being an extension to space that is hidden by a person’s perception of the universe. What does that mean? Well, let me try to explain.

In the Outer Planes, belief is everything. It shapes everything around you including the very essence of the Outer Planes. That is why there are planes aligned to good and evil, as well as chaos and law. That is why the Gods exist, because of belief. This is why there are factions in Sigil and why Sigil doesn’t exist in every universe. Belief is everything on the Outer Planes.

Now imagine if you will that belief could shape reality from the Material Plane. Not on the Material Plane, just around it. Could this not have lead to the existence of wildspace, the phlogiston and the crystal shells of our reality? Ask yourself, why do crystal shells exist? Don’t have an answer, neither did a lot of sages both on the prime and in the Outer Planes when I asked them. They asked their colleagues what they knew, who in turn researched the possibilities and then asked the faithful of the gods to divine the answer, who turned around and ask their gods why crystal shells exist.

And what do the gods tell the faithful? Well, it depends on the god but usually it is long-winded and cryptic without revealing anything of importance. And when the faithful interpret these divinations, aren’t they written down as being the canon of their gods. These faithful then pass on this knowledge to others as belief. It is belief that defines the gods and the planes of existence. Therefore, it is belief itself that creates how each individual sees the universe.

Now do you understand? No. All right, let’s try a different approach.

What if the god of the faithful tells them that beyond the world there is space? And what if that god also tells the faithful that beyond space is even more space, filled with billions of stars. And that around these stars are countless worlds, that may or may not contain life. Given that the faithful believe in their god and what he or she or it tells them, wouldn’t that belief have power? Wouldn’t that belief shape their lives, their homes, their country, their world, and yes, even their universe. Yes, of course it would. For belief is powerful. Powerful enough to wage wars and travel the world to see these wonders that the faithful believe in. And to travel to space and see what belief tells them is already there.

Hmm, what if gods don’t tell their faithful the same thing as other gods? Well, that’s what holy wars are for, I guess. Gods with different beliefs believe that their way is the right way for their followers. If the faithful of God-B preach something else to the masses then they are heretics and, thus, enemies of the followers of God-A. This usually leads to thousands of years of conflict as the faithful of God-A try to wipe out the faithful of God-B and vice versa.

How does it end you say? Well, sometimes it doesn’t. And sometimes one belief wins out over the other and either converts the other God’s followers or kills them all. It’s not a nice thing to think about, really.

Anyway, sometimes belief is so strong that it shapes reality by the will of the faithful and by word of mouth. When enough people in a sphere believe the same thing, this causes that belief to be manifest in reality. Thus, many worlds believe in crystal shells and, thus, those shells exist for them. However, in other spheres across the universe, some worlds don’t believe in crystal shells. And for them, shells don’t exist.

Hmm, what’s that? What if one world in a sphere believes in one thing while another world in the same sphere believes another. Weren’t you paying attention when I was talking about holy wars, gods and the faithful? It’s the same thing just on a larger scale. Really, you should drink less mead.

Now, where was I? Ah yes, different belief in different spheres. You see, many people across the universe believe that beyond space is simply more space. A lot more! No, no! Not like a jug of mead is a lot more than a mug of mead. A lot more! More than your puny living mind can interpret, obviously. Hmm, what did I say? Oh nothing, here have another drink…

– From a conversation with Terrigimar, the spacefaring lich​