From: pfstrack@email.unc.edu (Paul Strack) Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.storyteller,alt.games.whitewolf Subject: The Umbra (very long) Date: 2 Jan 1996 05:56:21 GMT Organization: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill NNTP-Posting-Host: login0.email.unc.edu [Author's Note: This is my attempt to gather the information published so far on the Umbra into a single, coherent cosmology. Given the publication of 2nd Ed. Mage, I feel reasonably certain that we have a fairly clear picture of what things are like. The only major open question is the nature of Arcadia. There are still a few niggling inconsistencies and unclear points, and this is my best attempt to clear them up.] Geography of the Umbra The Umbra, the spiritlands, is a vast and varied world, where belief and metaphor are more important than form and substance. To describe it completely is an impossible task. This does not stop various mystics from trying. There are regions and layers to the Umbra, areas which share common characteristics, and these at least may be deliniated. No description of the Umbra is ever complete, though. Travelers through the Umbra come in many forms. Garou and Mages make regular journeys to these lands, and Spirits and Wraiths call it their home. For the sake of simplicity, this text refers to all seekers of the spirit world as mystics. The Depths of the Umbra Most descriptions of the Umbra first divide it regions based on the "nearness" of its various parts to the Earth or the physical world. One useful analogy is to picture the structure of the Umbra as that of the Earth with its atmosphere leading deeper into space. At the "closest" level, you have the Earth itself, the physical world where all that we are commonly familiar with resides. The Gauntlet, corresponding to the ground, separates the Earth from the spirit world. Next out is the surface of the Earth, the Penumbra, which is like the physical world in many ways. The Penumbra is the immediate spiritual reflection of the Earth, and its geography is very similar to the physical world. Moving further out, you reach the Near Umbra, corresponding to the atmosphere of the Earth. Within the Near Umbra are various Spiritual Realms with close ties to the Earth. For those who know the way, the paths of the Near Umbra can be traversed in reasonable safety to reach these Realms. At the edge of the Near Umbra lies the Horizon, the boundary between the atmosphere and "outer space". This membrane separates the Earth's immediate spiritual world from what lies beyond. On the other side of the Horizon is the Deep Umbra, a immense and empty space. The Deep Umbra seems limitless, and is inhospitable to many spiritual beings from the Earth's Near Umbra. Only the most seasoned Umbral traveler can hope to cross the Deep Umbra and survive. Within the Deep Umbra are multitude of spiritual Realms, of a more alien nature than the Near Realms. Some of these Realms seem to contain entire worlds, with their own Horizon, Near Umbra and separate physical existence. Figure 1 - ALLEGORICAL VIEW OF THE UMBRAL DEPTHS Earth - Ground - Surface - Atmosphere - Edge of Space - Deep Space Earth - Gauntlet - Penumbra - Near Umbra - Horizon - Deep Umbra The Three Worlds of the Umbra In addition to the inside-out division of the Umbra, mystics also divide the Umbra into three separate layers or worlds. These layers, called the High, Middle and Low Umbra, stretch from the Near Umbra outward. Each layer of the Umbra has its own character. It is difficult to say if the different layers of the Umbra are distinct regions, or they result from different mentals states on the part of the Umbral traveler. The High Umbra or the Astral Plane is a region of abstractions and ideas. Thoughts take on physical form in this portion of the Umbra. The Middle or Living Umbra is a more natural region, filled with raw and primal energies. The Low Umbra or the Underworld is the land of the dead. Many human ghosts reside in the Near Umbra of this layer, and it is believed that further out there a mystic can find the afterlives of humankind. Knowledgeable mystics have compared the three layers of the Umbra to the Triat of the Weaver, Wyld, and Wyrm of Garou mythology, or the Trinity of Stasis, Dynamism, and Entropy that many mages espouse. There is some truth to this supposition, and it is a useful analogy, if not carried too far. There are elements of all three types of energy in every layer of the Umbra. Though the different layers extend from the Gauntlet all the way out to the Deep Umbra, these differences are most pronounced in the Near Umbra. The Penumbra of the Three Worlds are very similar, perhaps identical in the case of the middle and high Umbras. At the other extreme, the Deep Umbras of the Three Worlds may actually connect. Further confusing the issue are various Zones such as the Dream lands that wander in and out of all Three Worlds, and through the various depths of the Umbra. Figure 2 - THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE THREE WORLDS |G| P P |A| E |H| H |U| N NEAR ASTRAL UMBRA |O| DEEP ASTRAL UMBRA Y |N| U |R| S |T| M - - --------------------|I|------------------- - - - - I |L| B |Z| C |E| R NEAR LIVING UMBRA |O| DEEP LIVING UMBRA A |T| A |N| L |-|--------------------------------------------------- - - - - W |S| S O |H| H L THE THE R |R| A A STYGIA L |O| D N TEMPEST FAR SHORES D |U| O D |D| W S The Realm Before any proper discussion of the Umbra can take place, a mystic must first consider the physical world, the Earth herself. Many mystics consider the Earth to be but one realm of many, but most consider the Earth to be of primary importance (at least, to mystics native to this world). As such, the physical world is often simply referred to as The Realm, without further qualifiers. The physical world is familiar to most people, and little description is necessary. The Realm is a place of things that you can see and touch, not of the emphemera and spirits of the Umbra. The Realm is not devoid of spiritual energy, however. It is the center, from which the rest of the Umbra derives its power. At one time the Realm and the Umbra were as one, and there was no distinction between body and spirit. Modern man is largely blind to spiritual power, however, and the mystic must journey to the Umbra to find true insight. The Periphery Though the Realm is mostly separate from the spirit world, this is not completely true. In certain places and certain times, the spirit world can bleed through, and partly join with the physical world once more. This cross-over is referred to as the Periphery, and is a much sought after state for mystics. On the Periphery, a mystic is more aware of the spiritual world. The world seem more vibrant and everything seems alive, as the spiritual side of all things partially manifests. Even non-aware individuals can feel the spiritual power of the Periphery. The barriers between the physical and spiritual world are weakest here, and it is possible to accidentally slip from one world to another, something which mages call the Shallowing Effect. The Periphery exists in places of great power, the Caerns, Nodes, Haunts and Freeholds of the various supernatural races. In these places the spiritual world is felt most strongly, though the exact aspect or layer of the Umbra which shines through may vary. In other instances, the Periphery may only manifest temporarily, due to some outporing of spiritual energy. Some say that the Periphery is not a place but rather a mental state, the mood one has when on the edge of stepping from the physical World into the Umbra. The Gauntlet The Gauntlet is not a place, but a boundary. It is the barrier between the physical world and the Umbra. In the ancient past the Gauntlet did not exist, but in modern time it has been growing ever stronger. Mystics fear that some day it will harden completely, and the physical and spiritual worlds will be finally cut off. There are forces at work - the Weaver in the opinion of the Garou and the Technocracy according to the mages - that actively work to thicken the Gauntlet. The "thickness" of the Gauntlet varies from place to place, depending on the spiritual power of a region. The cities of man tend to have the strongest Gauntlet, being farther removed from the Umbra. Natural places tend to have thinner Gauntlets, and it is easier in those places to reach the spiritual world. In sites of great magickal power, the Gauntlet barely exists at all. In those places, the physical world lies in the Periphery. The Umbra can be entered with ease, and even by non- mystics can sometimes make their way through, by accident or design. The Penumbra On the other side of the Gauntlet lies the Penumbra, the spiritual reflection of the Earth and the "nearest" part of the Umbra to the physical world. Geographically, the Penumbra is nearly an exact match to the physical world. Places in the Penumbra directly correspond to places in Realm. If a mystic enters the Penumbra, moves through it to another place and returns to the physical world, they will reappear in the physical location corresponding to the place where she left the Penumbra. The basic lay of the land is the same, but the details may be different. Many things in the physical world have a direct spiritual counterpart in the Penumbra. As a general rule of thumb, inanimate objects in the Realm have their counterpart in the Penumbra, while objects that change their location do not. Thus, buildings, plants and furniture will have their spiritual doubles, while cars, people and animals will not appear in the Penumbra. This is not to say the Penumbra is devoid of inhabitants. The Penumbra is full of spirits, but these spirits are not directly connected to a physical individual. The mystic may travel within the Penumbra by all the means available in the physical world. He may open doors, walk down the street, climb a tree, and so forth. He may see as he does in the physical world, from sun or moon light, or the glow of Umbral streetlights. The physical laws of the Penumbra are nearly the same as the Realm, so the mystic will have relatively few surprises here, except from the spirits that inhabit the Penumbra. Echoes of the Physical World There are mystics who believe that the Penumbra is a shadow of the physical world, and others believe that the physical world is a mere shadow of the Penumbra. Whatever the truth of the situation, objects in the Realm and their counterparts in the Penumbra are connected in some metaphysical fashion. Whichever comes first, changes in the Realm are echoed by changes in the Penumbra. Most inanimate objects in the physical world have an Umbral "shadow". This shadow has roughly the same appearance and location as the physical object. Some mystics go so far as to say that the shadow is the spirit or soul of the physical object. The Umbral and physical objects are not "glued" together. If a mystic opens an Umbral door, it's physical counterpart will remains shut. If you rearrange the objects on an Umbral desk, their physical doubles do not move immediately. The physical and Umbral objects tend to gravitate to the same state, however. While the Umbral door is left open, it is more likely someone will forget to shut the physical door as well. If the physical door is kept shut, the Umbral door will eventually swing closed. If someone picks up an object on the physical desk, she will tend to set it down where the Umbral counterpart lies. Over time, the Umbral doubles will move back across the desk to match the location of the physical objects. This is true of dramatic changes as well. If a building is torn down in the physical world, its Umbral counterpart will remain in place. Over time, however, the Umbral building will fade, to be replaced by the counterpart of the new building erected in its place. If an Umbral tree is cut down, the physical tree is initially unharmed. After a while, though, the physical tree will sicken and likely die. The speed at which changes take place in Umbral shadows depends on the spiritual power of the changes on earth. Events with strong emotional impact, violent destruction or magickal feats tend to cause rapid - even immediate - changes in the Penumbra. On the other hand, if a physical object of great spiritual power is removed, its Umbral shadow may remain for some time. If a popular church is torn down and replaced with a convenience store, the shadow of the church in the Penumbra may linger on for decades. The Penumbra can be a "record" for sites of spiritual power long after they are gone in the physical world. Sometimes changes in the Umbra will foreshadow changes in the physical world. If a great church is going to be built on a plot of land, it might appear in the Umbra before even the foundation of the physical building is laid down - long before anyone knows how important that church will be. Mystics can use the Penumbra as a barometer for important spiritual events in the near future. Changes in the Umbra can warn the mystic of great happenings in the physical world. Perception in the Penumbra As described above, inanimate objects and places have shadows in the Umbra. The appearance of the Umbral shadow is roughly the same as that of the physical object, but there are differences. Umbral objects, being spiritual in nature, tend to reflect the "true" nature of an object, showing its emotional and metaphysical side. A well loved home will seem bright and cheerful in the Umbra, even if its physical counterpart is dingy and run-down. On the other hand, an Umbral slaughterhouse will be splattered with blood and gore, even if the physical building is kept spotless. Many mystics find that Umbral objects of technology and man reflect the power that the Garou call the Weaver. They are often filled with strands that look like webbing, and the interior might be crawling with small insect-like spirits. Alternately, the Umbral shadow may be more perfectly geometrical that its physical counterpart, with exact circles and perfect planes, looking more like a computer generated image than anything else. The air in the Umbral city is often dry and stale, and the wind rarely blows there. A feeling of statis and entrapment covers the land. Conversely, the Umbral wilderness seems more vibrant and alive. The air is richer than it could possibly be in the physical world, and full of lush smells. Everything is bursting with life. The world is full of curves and subtle shadows and there is a mysterious depth and substance to all things. Colors seem more vivid and the mystic will find that he can see far in the unclogged Umbral air. While Umbral shadows reflect the inner nature of an object, the beliefs and preconceptions of the viewer are almost as important. Technomantic mages, for example, will have a very different view of objects in the Umbra. Rather than seeing webs covering technological objects, they might see strands of pulsing energy. The city air will smell of ozone and seem electrical rather than stale, like just before a rain storm. The wilderness, on the other hand, will smell cloyingly sweet - damp, musty and unclean - and will be full of harsh shadows threatening dangers unseen. Note that travelers in the Penumbra are not completely immune to alterations of appearance. A mystic may find that his visage in the Penumbra reflects his true nature, or perhaps his idealized self. His appearance can even vary, depending on the mystic's mood. Seasoned Umbral travelers are aware of this effect, and can usually keep their appearance "under control", especially if they wish to conceal some aspect of themselves. The Three Worlds in the Penumbra The distinction between the High and the Middle Umbra is difficult to make in the Penumbra. Both of seem share the same "jump off" points. Mystics heading for the Astral Plane or the Living Umbra seem to pass through the same physical reflection of Earth, filled with the same spiritual inhabitants. This is not completely true, however. The High and Middle Umbras do make some difference in the Penumbra, but they are mostly perceptual. Mystics leaning toward the Astral Plane tend to see the mental or intellectual aspects of an object reflected in its appearance, while mystics leaning toward the Living Umbra see the fundamental natural aspects of an object. The Low Umbra, the Underworld, is very distinct, though, even in the Penumbra. The lands of the dead are completely separate from the rest of the Umbra, at the earliest stages. The Low Penumbra is different enough to have its own name: the Shadowlands. The Shadowlands The Shadowlands is the part of the Underworld nearest the physical world. It is similar to, but completely separate from the Penumbra. Ghosts in the Shadowlands are incapable of seeing spirits in the Penumbra, and vice versa. There is no simple way to move from the Land of the Dead to the rest of the Umbra. The Shadowlands are bound away from the Realm by a barrier known as the Shroud, similar to the Gauntlet. Unlike the Gauntlet, the Shroud is weakest in places and times that are touched by death. Graveyards and the night are weak points in the Shroud, while in places where life is in full bloom the Shroud is thicker. While the Shroud does vary in thickness, overall it is more difficult to penetrate than the Gauntlet. Everything in the physical world, inanimate or otherwise, has a ghostly reflection in the Shadowlands. These shadows move as their physical counterpart moves. Thus, buildings, people, cars and all other things in the physical world are perfectly visible to ghostly eyes. The shadows are insubstantial, however, and ghosts cannot interact with them directly. The shadows have only enough substance to be slightly dangerous. If the shadow of a physical object passes quickly or violent through a ghost, it can tear away a bit of a ghost's plasmic substance. The appearance of the ghostly reflections of physical objects are always tainted by death. Wood seems rotten, metal rusted, people wan and diseased. Occasionally people that are particularly full of life will "shine through" into the Shadowland with their normal appearance, but they are the exception rather than the rule. Occasionally, objects destroyed in a particularly violent or magickal fashion can be pulled through the Shroud. The shadow of these objects will take on a complete plasmic existence, and will be substantial to other ghostly objects. Wraiths can touch such objects - and each other - normally. These plasmic objects are the rare goods and people of the Shadowlands, all the time surrounded by insubstantial images of plenty from the living world. Some mystics have an alternate view of the Shadowlands. These mystics claim that the Shadowlands are not a place at all. Ghosts reside instead in the world of the living. It is the wraiths that are insubstantial - except to each other - and the appearance of physical objects is skewed by ghostly eyes. Both explanations fit the facts, and it is really a question of one's point of view. Domains Occasionally a particular region will have such strong spiritual "coloration" that it will take on a different character from the rest of the Penumbra. These sites are called Domains, of which there are many different types. Usually domains reflect some great mystical power in both the physical world and the corresponding Penumbra, strong enough to warp the nature of both. The Garou mark out Domains under the influence of the Weaver, Wyrm or (very rarely) the Wyld. These sites are particularly enfused with one type of spiritual energy. They tend to attract spirits of the appropriate type, and the corresponding place in the physical world will be touched by Statis, Entropy or Chaos (as appropriate). Domains seem to be most visible to mystics attuned to the Living rather than Astral Umbra. Perhaps this is because Domains reflect the natural energies of a place, rather than its intellectual properties. There are a few domains that reflect on the Astral Plane. Such places tend to be tied with some strong concept or idea that germinates in the nearby physical world. An important church may create a Domain devoted to the divine in the Penumbra, while the office of a great mathematician may be surrounded by a strange concept-realm of abstract symbols and ideas. The Shadowlands have Domains as well. These sites are usually the accumulation of large numbers of plasmic objects, gathered by Wraiths from throughout the shadowlands. Called citadels, these are the strongholds of the dead, where they gather in times of trouble. Many mystics devote large amounts of time and energy to cleansing Domains of what they believe to be malevolent energy. This is by no means a simple task. To cleanse a Domain, a mystic must alter both the spiritual and physical worlds. It is not enough to change just one or the other, as the Echo Effect will draw the other side back to its original state. The cleansing of Domains is often complicated by the presence of spirits attuned to the local energy, who will fight to protect their home. For more examples of Domains, see the Werewolf rules, p. 172, or Umbra: the Velvet Shadow, pp. 106-7. Sites of Power As mentioned above, there are certain sites of power, places where the Gauntlet is particularly thin, and these places are reflected in both the Realm and the Umbra. They go by many names, Caerns, Nodes, Haunts, and Freeholds, but they all mean power. These sites are readily visible from the Penumbra, if unprotected. Sites of power are usually associated with a particular kind of energy, through a phenomenon known as Resonance by mages. The nearby Penumbra will reflect the site's nature, and mystics tap its power more easily if they use it in a manner sympathetic to the site's Resonance. A site's energy is often most useful to one kind of supernatural creature, but most mystics look for magick where ever they can find it. Mages are particularly notorious for raiding all sorts of places of mystical power. Because these sites of power are so important, they are rarely left unclaimed or ungaurded. The inhabitants of a site will usually do their best to hide it from the questing eyes of others that would try to claim it. The Garou use the Rite of the Shrouded Glen to hide their caerns, while Mages weave elaborate wards around their Nodes. The Faerie wrap their greatest Freeholds with veils of Glamour, while Wraiths and Spirits guard their homes with all the powers they command. Many of these protections cloud the site's appearance in the Penumbra. There are several ways this is done. Some protections simply encourage wanderers to go elsewhere, moving them around the site. Faerie paths that twist searchers around in an impenetrable maze are one famous example of this defense. Another method of protection creates a "bubble" over the area, with a "false Penumbra" over top. In all ways, this false Penumbra replaces the actual Penumbra, but without the tell-tale signs of energy and power. Searchers can walk right "over" the site in the Penumbra without realizing it is "beneath" their feet. Only those that know the proper paths can enter the actual Penumbra surrounding the site. Some of the weaker sites are protected merely by their lack of power. A site that is weak enough will only attract the attention of supernatural creatures that are attuned to that particular kind of energy. Other mystics will dismiss the site as too weak to be of use. The weaker Haunts of Wraiths and Freeholds of Changelings fall into this category. Near Umbra An Umbral traveler can spend all her time wandering the Penumbra, but most mystics eventually venture off into the more varied world of the Near Umbra. Realms in the the Near Umbra have no direct link to any place on earth, and geography ceases to have any real meaning. In fact, earthly notions of time and space do not have as much bearing in the Near Umbra, and travel through this region can be confusing indeed. Reaching the Near Umbra can be a non-trivial task. There are places in the Penumbra that lead deeper into the spiritual world. These paths are many, but most most mystics know only a few. It takes knowledge to find an Umbral paths, and an ignorant traveler can walk right by one without ever knowing it. Usually these paths is associated with a particular kind of spiritual energy. The start of such paths can be found in places exhibiting that kind of power. The mystic can enter the path by focusing on the energy of the path rather than the energy of the Penumbra. As she moves away from the site, she will see the Penumbra fade away, and find herself on the Umbral Path instead. A few Umbral Paths are of such strength that they will be readily visible in the Penumbra, as some sort of gate into the other world. Once in the Near Umbra, distance has little meaning. The traveler must follow the path he has chosen, and go where it leads. The journey can be long and short, but there seems little rhyme or reason to distances within the Near Umbra. Happily, the Near Umbra itself is not a hostile environment, and the traveler should be reasonably safe. Safe, that is, unless they encounter some of the potentially hostile spirits that walk those same paths. Most of the Near Umbra is a place to travel through, rather than a destination. Scattered through the Near Umbra are various Umbral Realms. These Realms are like worlds of their own, separated from the rest of the Near Umbra from by a thin Gauntlet called a Pericarp. The Near Umbral Realms, often called Near Realms, are usually related to the Earth in some way. They vary wildly in size and nature, and can be rather bizarre, but travelers from Earth can usually make some sort of sense of them, given time. In the Near Umbra, the distinction between the Three Worlds is the strongest. The types of paths that lead into and through the High, Middle and Low Umbras are very different. It takes power and knowledge to chose the right one. The Near Living Umbra The Near Living Umbra is a realm criss-crossed with a variety of paths. The Garou are most familiar with Moon Paths, roads formed out of solid moon-light. These paths are more bright, solid and reliable when the moon is full, but at such times they are traveled by Lunar spirits, who may or may not be friendly. When the moon is waning, the paths are thin, dark and hard to follow, and the traveler risks getting lost. Also crossing the Near Umbra is the Pattern Web, a manifestation of the Weaver. Some mystics believe the Web is the foundation of reality, holding everything together. The wary traveler can make her way along its strands to her destination. The Weaver jealously guards her web, and Weaver spirits patrol the Web's span. In addition, there are places where the Web is sticky, and the traveler can get caught. It is rumored that the Wyrm has tunnels through or "beneath" the Living Umbra, dark paths for it's minions. They are said to be rough hewn, almost chewed in appearance, and in places filled with pools of toxic sludge. If the tunnels exist, they must be very dangerous to follow. Aside from Moon Paths and the structures of the Weaver and Wyrm, the primary method for navigating the Near Living Umbra is to have a spirit guide of some sort. Many spirits have a natural ability, called the Airt Sense, that allows them to sense the proper direction to any place in the Umbra. They can travel off the main paths, directly to their destination. Occasionally, mystics may find frequently traveled Spirit Tracks, where many spirits have passed. The mystic can follow these to whatever destination the spirit was directed. Some mystics travel by seeking a spiritual inhabitant of a particular Realm, and following it in the hope that it will lead to such a Spirit Track. There are innumerable minor paths through the Near Living Umbra as well. Some of these paths connect specific Near Realms. Others have been constructed by some group of Spirits or another. Some of these minor paths are hidden, and most are difficult to find. Off the paths, the Near Living Umbra is a morass of formless mist. This mist can vary in character: sometimes it is a dense fog, others times like clouds. Occasionally it will clear completely, and the traveler will see blue (or night) sky in all directions, with clouds here and there. Without guidance, the mystic floats aimlessly through the Living Umbra, until he stumbles on one of paths, some Near Realm, or back to the Penumbra. For more details in the paths through the Living Umbra, see the Werewolf book, pp. 176-7, or Umbra: the Velvet Shadow, pp. 23-5. Near Astral Plane [Author's Note: This entire section is speculative. If you don't like this material, you might have travel in the Astral Plane resemble travel in the Living Umbra instead.] The High Umbra, or the Astral Plane is a realm of ideas. Its Near Umbra is laced with paths as well. Like the Living Umbra, the Astral Plane has Spirit Guides, Spirit Tracks and various Minor Paths. It also has major byways of its own. The "paths" of the Astral Plane are not the sort of things one simply walks along. Astral Paths are conceptual in nature. The mystic "travels" along Astral Paths be changing their mental states. As their mental state changes, so does the scenery around them. The mystic seeks out the proper mental state that allows her to "arrive" at whatever Umbral Realm she seeks. Many novice travelers in the Astral Umbra are fooled by the seeming simplicity of this method of travel, and let their minds wander wildly, hoping to arrive rapidly at the their destination. Such methods can get the traveler lost very quickly. By moving too fast, the Astral traveler can lose firmness of thought, and end up nowhere. The seasoned Astral traveller will move slowly and cautiously, carefully building up the necessary conceptual framework piece by piece. The mystic will focus on developing a single aspect of his image of his destination, making certain he has a solid hold on it before working on the next aspect. This method can take hours, days or even weeks of careful meditation, but the journey will be safe and sure. There are several recognized paths or methods of moving through the Astral Umbra. The first is the Path of Form, the Low Path, and it is easiest to follow. The mystic simply builds up a visual image of the Realm that is his destination, and moves towards it in this manner. This path is simple to understand, but the mystic must already know a great deal about his destination - he must know exactly what it looks like - before he can attempt to reach it. Even small details left out of the mystic's visualization can move him to the wrong place. The Middle Path is the Heart Path, or the Path of Emotion. It is the path Dreamspeakers, Verbena and Stargazers most often follow. Travelers on the Heart Path try to put themselves in the correct emotional state or mood to reach a certain destination. They seek to make their mental state embody the nature of the Realm they are traveling to. In the proper mind set, the mystic is drawn to a Realm as if by a gravitational force. The mystic must strain to maintain the proper mental state until they arrive at their destination, however. The High Path is the Path of Ideals. This path is the most flexible, but also the most difficult to understand. Rather than seeking to visualize her destination directly, the mystic seeks instead to find certain symbolic concepts associated with her destination. When seeking a Realm of Cold, the mystic might seek out Ice or North, or symbols associated with these concepts - such as a chemical equation for an ice lattice, or road signs pointing north. Hermetic Mages visualize certain arcane symbols associate with their destination. The mystic refines her symbol set until it exactly represents the desired Realm, at which point she arrives. This path is most useful for exploring the Astral Umbra, by combining different symbolic forms to arrive at a new place. Some mystics believe that any Realm conceivable can be reached in Astral Plane, given enough time. While this may be true, it is not easy. Certain large Astral Realms have a sort of "gravitational" pull. As the mystic's thought-state approaches that of the larger Realms, even just in passing, she finds herself drawn toward the Realm, and only firm concentration will hold the mystic away. This draw can be useful as well, as the mystic need only get within a certain "distance" of her destination before her thoughts are naturally pulled into the state which will cause her to arrive. In additional, frequent travel to certain Realms has cut Furrows or tracks of a sort in the Astral Plane. A mystic whose mental construct crosses one of these Furrows may find her train of thought stuck in a rut. She will naturally be drawn along the thought path of that particular Furrow, until she reach the Realm at the end of that path. It takes a great deal of mental energy to "jump out" of such a Furrow, and back toward her original destination. On the other hand, Furrows can be very useful if the mystic can find one headed toward the correct Realm, as they make the task of concentration much easier. Finally, there are numerous minor paths through the Astral Umbra. Minor Astral Path consist of a collection of mental states one must follow to reach a specific Realm. Mystics catalogue these thought patterns for use in future travel. The knowledgeable mystic can reach a given realm by visualizing the fixed sequence of symbols, visions and emotions of these minor paths. Off the beaten track, the Astral Umbra is a formless white void, a blank slate of sorts. The mystic can stumble for a long time through the trackless white, occasionally coming across loose thought-form which fade as suddenly as they appear. After enough searching the mystic will eventually get back to one of the established paths, Realms or the Penumbra. Giving the complexity of Astral travel, many mystics acquire some sort of guide, spirit or otherwise. When travelling in groups, the most experienced traveler leads. The leader concentrates on the necessary thought paths, while the rest of the group keeps their minds relaxed. The followers will find that they are drawn forward in the leader's mental wake, and need make no effort to travel. Groups that all try to concentrate on their destination may find that minor variations in their thought patterns will draw them in different directions. Certain Umbral travelers, particularly Technocratic Mages, finds the conceptual method of traveling the Astral Plane bizarre and repulsive. These travelers often build some sort of Astral Vessel for use in plumbing the depths of the High Umbra. These Astral Vessel have psychic hardware that handle all the necessary conceptualization for travel. The pilots of these vessels need only enter a set of coordinates, and the Astral Vessel will move toward the correct Realm. Astral Vessels, with their mechanical thinking, cut particularly deep Furrows, and their rapid transit can cause violent eddies in the Astral plane. Other mystics are horrified at the degree to which Astral Vessels pollute the rest of the Astral Plane. The Near Tempest Of the Three Worlds, the Near Umbra of the Lower World is by far the harshest. Known as the Tempest, it is a bleak and untameable realm, tossing the hapless traveler hither and yon. A traveler without the necessary knowledge has no control what-so-ever over how he moves in the Tempest. He can only hope that the violent storms of that realm will eventually toss him on some stable shore; some never find safety. Most of the Tempest consists of a vast storm. Sometimes the mere threat of a downpour lies on the Horizon. Other times the storm bursts forth in full fury. This storm rages over of variety of landscapes, all of them dreary. Sometimes the Tempest is a murky black sea, barren desert, an impenetrable swamp, a dense, forboding forest or a forsaken moor. The terrain shifts from one type with little rhyme or reason, and none of them seem to lead anyplace. Only the knowledgeable traveler can navigate the Tempest. Wraiths that are trained in the art of Argos, known as Harbingers, are familiar with the subtle pulls and patterns of the Tempest, and can find their way through the murk. Most travelers are force to rely on Harbinger or spirit guides. The fabled Ferryman of the Tempest are the most sought after, for they are the surest and safest guides, though it is said their price can be steep. There are a few paths, knowns as Byways, that the dead have built through the Tempest. Byways are solid roads through the storm and can be followed by anyone. Most Byways go from one specific Realm in the Tempest to another, and they are often patroled by those with an interest in it. Many Byways lead to Stygia, an immense city of the dead and capital of the Iron Kingdom, Empire of the Western dead. The Tempest erodes the Byways, and they require constant maintenance. It is said that only dead souls have enough plasmic solidity to hold against the storm for long, and this is the material of choice for construction in the Underworld. One other stable path through the Tempest is the river Styx. It is said the Styx is mystically connect to every stream and river in the living world. The Styx forms a comparitively safe and stable route through much of the Tempest. The dead have in fact formed small communities along its shores, and traders ply its waters. At the mouth of the Styx lies the city Stygia, and its soldiers will patrol the lower waters of the river for intruders and enemies. For more information on the Tempest, see the Wraith rules, p. 39, or The Sea of Shadows Book, pp. 19-37. The Near Umbral Realms While a few mystics enjoy exploring the raw vistas of the Near Umbra itself, most pass through it on the way to one of the various Umbral Realms that lie within it. Each Umbral Realm is a separate spiritual world. Realms vary greatly in size, shape and character. For the most part, mystics must traverse the Near Umbra, High, Middle or Low, to reach the different Umbral Realms. There are a few direct passages, however. These passages are called Spirit Gates, or Portals, and they can directly connect two Umbral Realms, an Umbral Realm and the Penumbra, or even (rarely) an Umbral Realm and the physical world. Usually these Portals were created with a specific purpose in mind. Often they are hidden, and almost invariably they are guarded. Each Umbral Realm is separated from the rest of the Umbra by a barrier resembling the Gauntlet. This barrier is called the Pericarp. The thickness of the Pericarp is different for each Realm. Sometimes it is so thin as to be barely noticeable, while other times it is thick enough to be nearly impentrable. The thickness may depend on the way the mystic is traveling as well. Some Realms are easy to enter, but very hard to leave. The Umbral Realms of the Near Umbra, often called Near Realms, are closely related to the Earth in some way. They can be dangerous and confusing, and definitely bizarre, but they are never immediately fatal to mystic travelers from the Earth. Usually they are reflections or expressions of some earthly concept. This is not the case for Realms deeper in the Umbra, which can be completely inhospitable to Terran spirits. A complete description of every Realm in the Umbra is impossible. The possibilities are infinite. Some of the more widely known Realms are detailed below. The Near Realms of the Living Umbra The Garou have explored the Living Umbra more thoroughly than another other mystics from Earth, and they describe thirteen major Realms in the Near Umbra. Some of these Realms are in fact so specific that they are nearly inaccessible to non-Garou. Erebus is a Garou hell, that can cleanse their souls of taint, while the Legendary Realm manifest both the ancient legends and homelands of the different Garou tribes. Wolfhome is a mirror of the physical world, in which the Garou are forced to remain in wolf form until they better understand its nature. Some of the Thirteen Realms are connected to forces of the Weaver, Wyrm or Wyld. The Flux is a Realm of powerful Wyld energy, ever changing, while the Cyberrealm is an advanced technological manifestation of Weaver energy. The Scar is a manifestation of the Wyrm's polluting power, while the Atrocity Realm and the Battleground are manifestations of the evils that men do both to individuals and in war. Some of the Thirteen Realms do not fit neatly into any category. Arcadia Gateway seems to be a long forgotten "back door" from the Near Umbra to Arcadia. Pangaea is a reflection of the primordial Earth, in the age before man walked the world. The Aetherial Realm is on the border of the Near Umbra, with manifestations of each of the Celestial bodies and Anchorheads into the Deep Umbra. The Summer Country is said to be a reflection of the peace and beauty of the world before the physical and spirit worlds were sundered, but it is so difficult to reach that many believe it to be a myth. For more details on the Thirteen Near Realms of the Garou, see the Werewolf book, pp. 172-4, or Umbra: the Velvet Shadow pp. 24-105. There are very likely other Realms in the Living Umbra, unknown to the Garou. The Near Astral Realms Mages are the Umbral travelers most familiar with the Astral Plane. They recognize several important types of Astral Realms. The most familiar Realms those the mages have constructed themselves . Called Horizon Realm, Mages carve them out of raw substance of the Astral Plane as safe havens to perform their magick. These Horizon Realms require a great deal of power to maintain, and mages need the strength of one or more Nodes just to keep the Realm in existence. The exact nature of a Horizon Realm is limited only by the power and inclinations of the mages who constructed it. Horizon Realms are carefully hidden and protected, and are often only accessible by Spirit Gates. The most common Astral Realms are the various Concept Realms, or Epiphs, each the reflection of some idea derived on Earth. Some reflect the Heavens and Hells in the minds of man, though the true after-lives are said lie elsewhere, perhaps in the Lower World. Others mirror abstract mathematical ideas. Each realm embodies a single idea, and mediation in such a realm can lead to deeper insight into that concept. Also of importance are the nine Shade Realms, each associated with one of the different spheres of magick. The Shade Realms reflect the nature of their sphere, and are inhabited by spirits whose power is that of the sphere. Given the tremendous potency of these Realms, their exact locations are a well kept secret. It is known that the Shade Realm of Forces is guarded by the powerful Doissetep Chantry, while the Shade Realm of Entropy is held by the House of Helekar, an aged Euthanatos Chantry. It is believed that the Shade Realm of Matter is guarded by the Technocratic world of Autocthonia. Some Virtual Adepts claim that the Shade Realm of Correspondence is in fact the Digital Web, while some Dreamspeakers claim that the entire Umbra is the Shade Realm of Spirit. It is also believed that each Shade Realm is but a reflection of a more powerful Shard Realm, the true home of each sphere, which lies in the Deep Umbra. For more details on the Astral Realms, see the 2nd Ed. Mage book, p. 22, 25 and 239, and the 1st Ed. Mage book, pp. 38-40. The Near Realms of the Tempest Realms in the Tempest must be forged, and only raw soul energy has the power to stave off the might of the storm. The mighty city of Stygia is perhaps the most famous Realm in the Tempest, and also the most common destination for travelers. There are also several Waystations along the Stygian Byways, safe havens where travelers can rest temporarily. There a number of minor Realms or Shifting Zones in the Tempest, which the unwary traveler can stumble upon. In some, Shades of the long dead reenact some violent occurence in their pasts. Others are traps of malignant Spectres, waiting to draw their prey down to Oblivion. Most of these Realms are small and ephemeral; there is little safety in the Tempest. Far beyond all other Realms in the Tempest lie the Far Shores. The Far Shores are numerous afterlives of the dead, believed by some to be the ultimate destination of the soul, and by others to be clever traps by greedy spirits. In ages past the Far Shores sent emmissaries to Stygia and the Shadowlands, but now the hostility of the Iron Kingdom prevents this. No one knows for certain what happens in the Far Realms, but rumors of spirit wars and strange angelic or demonic spirits abound. For more details on Realms in the Tempest, see The Sea of Shadows, pp. 22-27. The Horizon At the far edge of the Near Umbra lies the Horizon, also called the Membrane. Like the Gauntlet, it separates the immediate spiritual atmosphere Earth from the more alien Realms of the Deep Umbra. The Horizon is difficult to cross, with good reason. The Deep Umbra is a deadly place, and the unprepared traveler would not survive the transition. There are also powers from beyond the Horizon too powerful or dangerous to be safely contained in the Near Umbra, and the Horizon prevents their entry. The only easy pathways through the Horizon are various weak points in the Membrane called Anchorheads. Like Nodes and Caerns, these are sites of power, and are usually under someone's control. Anchorheads are controlled by powerful spirits more often than the supernatural races of Earth, though there are exceptions. It is possible to slip into the Deep Umbra through these portals, if the mystic can get the permission of the Anchorhead's Guardians. In the recent decades, some mystics claim that they have witnessed a frightening phenomon. These mystics say that the Horizon is retracting, moving inward, and more and more of the Near Umbra is slipping out into the void. This phenomenon is most pronounced in the Astral Plane, but a few say it is happening to a lesser degree in the Middle Umbra as well. One by one, Near Realms are being pulled through the Horizon out into the Deep Umbra. Some of the larger Realms survive the transition, but others are destroyed. The exact cause of the retraction are unknown. It could be caused by the same forces hardening the Gauntlet. Some Mages claim it is a plot of the Technocracy to push the spirit world still farther from Earth. Others say it is the work of powerful malevolent spirits from the Deep Umbra pushing in, hoping to breach the boundary and enter the Gaian Realm. Many mystics scoff at the very idea, saying that the position of the Horizon is as immutable as the Gauntlet. If the retraction is indeed occuring, it could be another sign of the coming apocalypse. The Deep Umbra Beyond the Horizon lies the Deep Umbra. Many mystics compare the Deep Umbra to the depths of space, and the analogy is an accurate one. The very environment of the Deep Umbra is dangerous, and only the most powerful mystics or travelers in some sort of protective vehicle have any hope of surviving. The vastness of the Deep Umbra staggers the mind. Unlike the Near Umbra, no set paths cross the Umbral depths. The mystic plumping the Void had best know exactly where she is heading, because a traveler can wander for all eternity in the Deep Umbra and never find anything but unending darkness. In the Near Umbra, a mystic can stumble about and eventually run into some path or another. In the Void, a lost traveler is lost forever. In the Deep Umbra, the boundaries between the Three Worlds again break down. Travelers in the High, Middle or Low Umbra may find themselves slipping from one layer or another, and their return journey may be strange indeed. The Far Realms Umbra Realms lie within the Deep Umbra as well. Unlike the Near Realms, the Far Realms need have nothing to do with Earth, and can be totally incomprehensible in nature. The mystic may find his mind and body instantly shredded by entry into these Realms unless they have great resevoirs of power. Some Far Realms are truly immense. It is likely that some of these Realms surround worlds of their own, with their own Horizon, Near Umbra, Near Realms and Gauntlet. A few mystics claim to have reached such worlds, but they are not widely believed. More have attempted such a journey, never to return. Mages believe that the Shard Realms, true manifestation of each of the nine Magickal Spheres, lie somewhere in the void. Some mages believe the each Shard Realm is associated with a particular planet in the Solar System, but none of them have ever been able to agree on exactly which planets. The Shard Realms are said to be so alien, that only the Oracles can enter them safely. The Garou speak of Celestial Realms, associated with the different planetary bodies, and these may or may not be the same as the Shard Realms. The Garou believe the ultimate manifestations of the Weaver, Wyrm and Wyld lie somewhere in the Deep Umbra. The center of the Weaver's Web, the Vortex of the Wyld and the Wyrm's dark Realm of Malfeas are hidden somewhere in the Void. These Far Realms have tendrils reaching back into the Gaian Realm. Garou particularly fear that Malfeas has outposts in the Near Umbra, allowing easier access by the Wyrm's minions. The great Umbral Courts of the spirits are also said to lie in the Void. By various counts, they number three or four. The Western Court houses the gods of myth from the Western world, while the Eastern Court holds their Oriental counterparts. The mysterious Egyptian somehow remains aloof from both East and West, making its own way. The Dreamspeakers believe in the Lodge in the Sky, a court consisting of the displaced native spirits from throughout the world, in uncomfortable allegiance agains the most vigorous Eastern and Western courts. The True Heaven and True Hell, if they exist, are said to lie in the Deep Umbra. Their exact nature is a mystery, even to the deistic mages of the Celestial Chorus. Some claim that they are a reflection of the good and evil in all earthly religions, while others say that they are beyond human conception. Mages are sometimes trapped in special Paradox Realms. Though no one is certain, it is widely believed that these Paradox Realms lie in the Deep Umbra. No one has ever been able find such a Realm independent of Paradox backlash, however. Mages that escape from Paradox Realms immediately return to the Realm, while mages that do not escape are never seen again. There are rumors of Realms stranger still. Alien dimensions where time and space operated in radically different ways, and physical laws are turned on their head. Vast realms filled with hideous beings not so much evil as utterly alien from all things human. Remnants of ages long past on the Earth, and ages that perhaps have never been. A few Umbral Travelers, Nephandi and Marauders in particular, claim to have traversed such realms. Judging by the results, the mystic's sanity may be the price of entry. The Deep Tempest One mystery of the structure of the Umbra is what the outer levels of the Tempest are like. Explorers of the Tempest have never found the equivalent of the Horizon in their travels. As such, no one really knows what lies beyond it. Some mystics believe simply that no one has ever pushed far enough to find the Lower World's Horizon, but others consider a darker possibility. It may be that the Underworld has no Horizon at all. The Far Shores may in fact lie at the edge or in the depths of what would be the Lower Deep Umbra. Given that it is widely believed that the Three Worlds merge out in the Deep Umbra, this is a frightening possibility. The Underworld may be a "back door" into the Gaian Realm, though which horrors from the Deep Umbra may slip all the way through to the physical world. If this is true, it may be fortunate indeed that the Shroud is less permeable than the Gauntlet. The Zones A few Umbral Realms defy simple categorization. Called Zones, these Realms seem to permeate the entire Umbra, from the physical world out to the Deep Umbra, and through all Three Worlds. Some mystics believe that Zones are Umbral Realms like any other, with an unusually large number of Spirit Gates connecting them to different places. Others believe the Zones are special, somehow transcending the usual boundaries. A few mystics believe that the Zones are in fact distinct layers of the Umbra, much like the Three Worlds. Given that the Zones permeate the entire Umbra, some mystics try to use them as short cuts for travel from one part to another. This is not as easy as it sounds. Though most zones connect in many places, these connections do not always follow discernable laws. A mystic rarely has control over where he will enter or leave a Zone. Often a mystic will not physically enter a Zone, only projecting his conciousness into it. This is especially true of mystics entering the Land of Dreams or the Digital Web. The mystic must return to his body when he leaves the Zone. One of the better known Zones is the Digital Web, an idealized Virtual Reality, like the Net of cyperpunk fiction, formed out of spiritual rather than digital energy. The playground of the Virtual Adepts, it is a believed to be a relatively new Realm. Much of the Digital Web is still "unformatted", waiting for explorers to define its nature. The Digital Web has connections to most powerful computers in the physical world, the Pattern Web of the Weaver, the Cyberrealm, Autocthonia and various Horizon and Concept Realms in the Astral Plane. Another well known Zone is the Realm of Dreams. Arguably, this is the best travelled part of the Umbra, for sleepers enter it every night. The laws of the Dream World and strange and unfathomable; everything seems possible. An ordinary sleeper can enter and leave it without harm, but the mystic trying to consciously chart his path through the Dream Lands is taking great risks. There are powerful inhabitants of this world, and they do not like meddling in their affairs. A careless mystic may accidently step through to the Mirror Zone while crossing between worlds. Most mystics are aware of this danger when crossing the Gauntlet, but in fact it can happen when crossing any Umbral boundary. Just beside but not quite the same as our reality, the Mirror Zone is a universe with a important differences. Friends can become enemies, political powers can change, and reality can change in any number of subtle but frightening ways. Some mystics say that there are many Mirror Zones, each reflecting unresolved possibilities or realities that might have been. Return from this alternate universe can be a task indeed. The last well known Zone is but a rumor, but if it exists, it would be useful indeed. Called the Null Zone, it is said to be the back drop of Reality. Described as either of vast network of interlocking tunnels, or an endless field of uniform gray, the Null Zone provides reliable connections to different places though out the Tellurian. Unlike other Zones, the knowledgeable mystic can control exactly where he enters and exits, and thus can travel anywhere. It is so difficult to enter and exit the Null Zone that is must be a path of last resort. For more details on the different Zones, see the 2nd Ed. Mage Rules, p. 24, or Umbra: the Velvet Shadow, pp. 108-114. You may also want to look at the Digital Web book. These are by no means a complete list of all the Zones in existence. Supernaturals and The Umbra The different supernatural creatures interact with the Umbra in different ways. Each species has a special relationship with the Umbra. There are certain generalizations that can be made, but like all stereotypes, they only go so far. The Umbra is a place of individuals, and there each being ultimately approaches the Umbra in her own way. Vampires have the least to do with the spirit world. Many of them are unaware of its existence. Those vampires that do interact with the spirit lands tend to do so in a limited and specific fashion. One vampire might have the power to summon ghosts, another the power to call animal spirits. Auspex gives a vampire a limited perception of the spirit world. It only allows a vampire to see beings in the Umbra that are actively seeking to view or affect the physical world. Such spirits are "close" enough to the Gauntlet that the vampire can perceive them. The Garou (and the other Changing Breeds) are perhaps the ultimate spirit travelers. Some mystics believe that the Garou are in fact spirits made flesh. All Garou naturally have the ability to step into the spirit world, and most werewolves believe it is their duty to protect the Umbra from incursions of the Wyrm. Garou are naturally inclined toward the Middle Umbra, and spend most of their time there. Many of them are unaware of the existence of the Upper or Lower Worlds, though a few can walk those paths. Mages as a group have a wild variety of powers. Most are aware of the existence of the Umbra, but not all of them can travel it. Those that can tend to have truly potent spiritual power. Mages have the greatest flexibility when it comes to interacting with the Umbra, and are famous for carving out spiritual Realms of their own. Most Mages are inclined toward the Astral Plane, but Mages are nothing if not meddlesome. If so inclined, they will invade the Middle and Lower Umbras, and not a few have paid for their hubris with their lives. Wraiths have little choice but to deal with the Umbra; it is where they reside. Wraiths exist exclusively within the Lower World, though most would be happy to leave. In fact, Wraiths have a great deal of difficulty affecting the physical world, trapped as they are within the Underworld. Few Wraiths are aware of the existence of the Middle and High Umbras, but rumors persist of secret paths between the worlds. The interaction between Changelings and the Umbra is most mysterious of all. Changelings have both a physical and spiritual side, their Mortal Seeming and their Faerie Kith. Because of their innate spiritual side, Changeling can sometimes interact with spirit world. Because their spirit form is tied to a mortal body, they find it difficult to actually leave the physical world. Changelings have a special connection to one type of spirit called Chimera, and always perceive and interact with them as if they had physical form, though Chimera are invisible and immaterial to everyone else. Changelings can occasionally see other spirits as well, mistaking them for some strange Chimera. Other times they are oblivious to spiritual presences. Fae weapons cut through spiritual boundaries, and are capable of harming creatures on the other side of the Gauntlet or Shroud. Exactly when and how Changelings can affect spirits seems to change under different circumstances, and the Changelings themselves seem not to notice these changes. -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Paul Strack | Madness takes its toll. pfstrack@email.unc.edu | Please have exact change.