From the Desk
of DM Darcy
If you have not yet read through As Within, So Without let this serve as your warning against both minor and major spoilers.
The Veil
The veil, or the aegis of Aether, is the first ethereal realm a soul experiences upon death. Comprised entirely of Aether, it is a shadow of the living realm. Many refer to it as a shroud as the realm possesses no unique geographical features and mirrors the land of the living.
Though it should be noted, the veil is a distinct realm—colors, scents, and light are largely lost within it. During the holiday Anamnesis, people leave white candles burning through the night with the hope the light will guide their lost loved ones home.
The realm functions as the connective tissue between the heavens, the hells, and the living realm. It bleeds Aether into the living realm in one specific location: Illa Ysari. This enables species and creatures requiring Aether to exist in the realm. Without the required Aether to sustain their physical forms, creatures wither and eventually die.
Since The Fall, entire species have been lost this way. The fae are currently experiencing difficulty in maintaining their populations due to the on-going shortage of Aether in the living realm.
Originally, the veil served as a gateway. Souls passed through on their way to either the heavens or the hells. But eons ago, Netharis and Gaia barred access to their respective realms, leaving millions of souls to grow warped.
The inherent Aether of the veil is too concentrated. With time, it will drive the essence of a soul to madness or despair. Only those hand-chosen by Gaia or Netharis are able to leave the veil and pass into the next stage of the cycle (e.g., damnation or salvation.)
With millions of souls abandoned, the veil has become a tense battleground between Life Bringers and Death Bringers as they reap or redeem certain souls.
Presiding Entity: Aether
Once commonly known as The Mother of Magic, Aether is the primordial entity who’s essence makes magic wielding possible. Many souls possess the gift of Aether, granting a person access to an innate ability. A rare few learned how to manipulate the inherent Aether of the realm, wielding it in a way reminiscent of the gods’ power. The majority of these individuals were winged fae, making them a target of the pantheon.
Little is truly known about Aether aside from what remains in legends and folklore. Aether, like many of the other primordials worked to create the realms in order to be closer to Life. Similarly, Life wouldn’t have been able to manifest the living realm were it not for Aether and its magic.
Creatures of the Veil
Souls left in the veil are known as errant. Those who warp become embodiments of their worst traits. Many have learned to seek veilwalkers, in hopes of severing their ties with their anchor (e.g., their physical form), to take them for themselves in a desperate bid to return to the living realm.
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An errant soul consumed by anger. Death Knights take on the shape of their mortal being during the final moments of their life. They stalk the veil hunting for veilwalkers or necromancers, any living creature foolish enough to descend into the realm—whether out of spite or the need to co-opt their anchor, Death Knights want nothing more than a second chance at life.
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The umbrella term referring to the souls trapped in the veil.
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An errant soul that has fallen victim to their rage. Formidable in strength and adept magic wielders, Furors seek to make other souls suffer as they do.
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An errant soul that has become the embodiment of grief. These ethereal creatures wander the veil sobbing. Taking on the form of a helpless human or fae, inexperienced veilwalkers might be inclined to believe Galls are easy targets to collect—they are not.
Their screams can paralyze and their claws can sever a soul from its anchor with little effort.
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A semi-sentient plant capable of restraining any creature. It latches itself onto the fibers of a soul, keeping it captive until commanded otherwise by Aether. Those who struggle risk dooming themselves to an eternity of pain.
Rumored to bloom when she draws near. -
An errant soul transformed by loneliness. In the veil, they oft take the form of skeletal, shrouded figures. Wraiths stalk the veil in search of their newest obsession, hunting for someone who can be manipulated into caring for them.
Wraiths are one of the few creatures capable of crossing into the living realm, they’ve developed the penchant of inhabiting beloved clothing items (such as cloaks) to feel the warmth of life once again.