The Aurasphere

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Artemis
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The Aurasphere

Post by Artemis »

WIP

The Aurasphere

The aurasphere is a strange concept for most, physicists especially. All the Realms that make it up occupy equal portions of space and time, though they may take different shapes and are subject to the law of interplanar relativity, and these Realms do not exist side by side one another, or within one another - to an outside observer, most theories postulate, it would seem as if the Realms are constantly mixing, like paint suspended in soap, flowing into and out of one another. It is this flow that allows travel between the Realms, as so-called “Capillary Realms” form between the realms thanks to metaphysical friction. These capillaries act as conduits that spellcasters and, much more frequently these days, artificial gateways can open and use to travel between Realms.

There is no one Core Realm that ties the aurasphere together, and it is certainly not the mortal Realm, despite what pre-Copernican thinkers may have believed. If anything, ‘sphere’ is a misnomer, as the shape of the aurasphere is easier thought of as a torus, with a center of mass but not one that is actually part of the physical body. There are many theories about what that center might be - religious thinkers believe it to be the divine places, be it the Abrahamic Heaven or the Greek Elysium. Some theorize it is rather a kind of metaphysical “axis” that the aurasphere orbits around, and which is the source of magical energy in all the Realms. Some don’t believe there is a center at all, and that the idea of giving the aurasphere a definable shape is a unimaginative attribute given to it by mortals unused to the idea of thinking of things in abstract terms.

There are several major Realms of the aurasphere, the most familiar to humans being of course the mortal realm, or Terra Firma as many call it. Others, both well and less-known, are described below.

The Abyss



Faerie



The Galilean Cosmos

Discussing the Galilean Cosmos is a little complicated, because it encompasses all of the worlds of the Solar System, many of the visible constellations, and the brighter stars in the terrestrial night sky, yet none of these places are exactly what we know them to be in the physical universe. One way to think of it is being the physical manifestation of western astrological cosmology, and another way to think of it is the dwelling place of the anthropomorphic essence of the vast living systems known as planets and stars. As previously stated, it's complicated.

The Galilean Cosmos have one of the largest numbers of Spectra per Realm - literally, every heavenly body is a different Spectrum within the Cosmos, though some are closely linked, such as moons to planets and planets to stars. Each of these Spectra are unusual in that they are self-aware, capable of action, and have no self-aware inhabitants as do many of Realms - each inhabitant of the Cosmos who are not visitors from other Realms are servant-organs of the greater Spectrum.

So, okay, this is getting pretty complex. Let's say that you choose to visit the Cosmos Spectrum of Jupiter. You step through the Aurasphere and arrive at Jupiter, a sprawling, beautiful place of golden architecture and porcelain-skinned natives who all speak with an identical voice and share the same consciousness. Now, aside from it being a lovely vacation spot, there are a few reasons you might travel to Jupiter - metaphysically speaking, Jupiter is a wellspring of positive energy in the local Aurasphere, useful for powering certain types of magic or alchemical practices, and which has great healing properties. Jupiter is the largest and one of the oldest planets in the Solar System, and it's consciousness holds a great deal of knowledge, though much of it is esoterica and enigma. Jupiter is also the guardian of Terra Firma and all its Spectra - in the physical universe, it draws in comets and asteroids which might otherwise impact on the inner planets, and in the Cosmos, it is a literal fortress, defending many of the vectors of entry into the local Aurasphere from unwanted visitors from beyond - so Jupiter would be a good entity to invoke either to defend someone or something, or to give you the training and power to do so, a kind of celestial self-defense instructor.

And then, of course, there are all the other Specta. Like I said. Complicated. And not terribly well-known, either - Mars quite simply doesn't allow anyone to enter, or is unable to allow anyone to, and Pluto has recently become unhappy with humans for demoting it from planet status, so no-one's been there in a while, either. On the other hand, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter welcome us like distant cousins, and Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are pretty OK with us. Of course, beyond the near-Solar System, magicians of Terra Firma know almost nothing of the Cosmos.

Limbo



The Martian Graveyard, or the Empire of Rust



The Necrosphere


Spectrums

Within each Realm are so-called Spectrums, which formed to become so large and often-used they become Realms in their own right, though they are not accessible except via their parent Realm.

Aurora



Cyberspace



Elemental Lands

Exactly as their name entails, the Elemental Lands are regions where one classical element dominates, which one depending on the landscape. As many magical traditions, as well as most alchemical school, base themselves on properties of these elements, this spectrum is a very important and oft-visited one. It is also one of the most easily accessed - only a modicum of magical power and an environment conducive to the Elemental Land trying to be reached is necessary. For example, entering a realm of fire is as simple as going to the recent site of a blaze and igniting a small circle of flame, while entering a metallic realm could be done at a car factory by stepping through an enchanted doorway.

Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Wood, Metal, and Crystal all have thousands of different realms to themselves, and the borders between these lands produce regions catering to elements like Lightning (Fire and Air) and Plastic (Water and Metal). These regions are also the birthplaces and kingdoms of the various elemental spirits, the Salamanders, Ondines, Sylphs, Gnomes, Dryads, Slivers, and Glints, and it is from here that they make their journeys to our world to perform their mostly invisible tasks.

The Elemental Lands are many and varied, refusing to be confined to only one philosophical paradigm, such as the Socratic model or the Five Harmonious Elements. A person traveling to one of these realms will likely end up in a realm he might recognize, based on his mental conceptions. However, with experience and bit of imagination, a magician or alchemist could easily step forward into any of the millions of these realms, thus gaining access to the subtle differences of temperament and power of these places.

The Financial District



Perdition

Perdition is the place where lost, forgotten, and irreparably damaged things go. It is not Hell, as was thought by many medieval scholars and magicians, though Demons aplenty inhabit this place, drawn here by the suffering and pain from which they can draw sustenance and power. When anything is destroyed in the mortal Realm, it’s pattern falls to this place, and remains there in a perpetual, never-ending process of destruction. Car crashes continuously re-enact themselves, the echoes of their victims screaming into eternity; disastrously failed relationships act out their final moments with arguments, betrayal, and worse; lost friends wander the burning, sooty streets, calling out for those who abandoned or cast them out; even dreams become tangible, crumbling away in the air. These things, and the echoes of these people, will remain in Perdition for as long as there are people in the mortal Realm who mourn their loss.

As stated above, many Demons who have come to Terra Firma have chosen to take up residence in Perdition, enslaving the echoes of the dead or lost to their service and slowly gaining power from the negative emotions that rule this place. This is where most Demons choose to make their headquarters in Terra Firma, either crafting empires of pain and loss for themselves or using them as bases of operations to affect the prime Realm. But while the Demons hold most of the power, they are not alone in their hegemony. Mortal magicians who have linked themselves to the same energies as the Demons may choose to inhabit this place, or to set up power collection zones here. Others have travelled to Perdition hoping to actually mend theirs, or someone else’s, pain by disrupting the endless patterns here. Some have even been known to succeed - it does not erase the cause of the suffering from time, but it does ease the suffering itself, making it easier to get over in the short term.
Last edited by Artemis on Wed May 28, 2008 8:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"The universe's most essential beauty is its endlessness. There is room and resources enough for all of us. Whether there is room for all of our passions is the question, and the problem that we work tirelessly to find a solution to."

-Qhameio Allir Nlafahn, Commonwealth ambassador, during the signing of the Kriolon Treaty.
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Czernobog
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Re: The Aurasphere

Post by Czernobog »

This is very imaginative and original, as well as being quite interesting.
You have ruled this galaxy for ten thousand years.
You have little of account to show for your efforts.
Order. Unity. Obedience.
We taught the galaxy these things.

And we shall do so again.
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Ford Prefect
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Re: The Aurasphere

Post by Ford Prefect »

Man, the Aurasphere is an element of TAP that I really like. It just seems so flavoursome, and at times really characterful. Perdition is practically amazing. I honestly think you should focus on the spheres/spectrums mentioned untilt hey are all detailed.
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Artemis
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Re: The Aurasphere

Post by Artemis »

Added the description of the Galilean Cosmos.
"The universe's most essential beauty is its endlessness. There is room and resources enough for all of us. Whether there is room for all of our passions is the question, and the problem that we work tirelessly to find a solution to."

-Qhameio Allir Nlafahn, Commonwealth ambassador, during the signing of the Kriolon Treaty.
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