There are four Planes in the world of the Ecliptic: the physical plane, the Light Plane (or Plane of Light), the Dark Plane (or Plane of Darkness), and the Twilight Plane (or Plane of Twilight).

The Planes of Light, Darkness, and Twilight are referred to as the aether planes. They are all interconnected and parallel to the physical plane. In some sense, the physical plane is in the same "space" (as in, not above or below) as the aether planes, even though the two are metaphysically separate existences.

The Plane of Light and the Plane of Darkness can be considered worlds extending from a mirror, parallel and interlocked, with Twilight being a sliver of existence in between. It is not spatially flattened; it is simply a borderline existence in the metaphysical sense.

Angels spend much of their time and come into existence in the Plane of Light. The exact appearance is not exact, as it is a vast plane with many possible environments, but it is always very bright in some way. There is an Angelic "city" called Lux, a place of abstract towers of light and white and gold among soft, white clouds.

Demons spend much of their time and come into existence in the Plane of Darkness. Like the Plane of Light, its form is inexact and varies throughout the plane. It is, of course, always very dark. Some areas have no light at all, some have a faded light at the horizon. The "city" of Darkness is Umbra, full of abstract arches and other constructs of a black, lightless material. What little light there is in Umbra often varies from bluish to purplish hues.

Finally, there is the Plane of Twilight. The world appears to typically be at, of course, twilight. Dusk and dawn colors are common, and physicality is often in clouds and dark stone-like structures. Though there is no major "city" like those of the Planes of Light and Darkness, there is Vespertine, the Nexus of Twilight. Some Ecliptic may make their own dwellings.

Aethereal Decay

Physical matter does not persist well in the aether planes—anything that appears to be matter in the aether planes is still primal essence. 

Anything physical that is manifested (such as through an Entity's elemental magic) or brought to the aether planes experiences what is called "aethereal decay," a phenomenon that gradually reduces the object to scattered primal essence. An Entity can maintain physical matter by using their elemental magic to continuously "refresh" the matter, but it is more the norm to construct objects within the ethereal plane. Physical matter can be considered to have a half-life of approximately a month—that is, after a month, half of the matter will be gone. If the amount of matter is less than a fingernail's worth, it can disappear entirely. 

Similarly, objects made out of primal essences, save for Entities themselves, experience aethereal decay when brought to the physical plane. Entities can store primal objects in their bodies, which can prevent decay, but if they are separated, these objects can be considered to have a half-life of one day or so. 

Extradimensional Contact / Attenuation

It is difficult for beings from other dimensions, especially magical beings, to enter the Ecliptic universe. The primal energies form a strong repulsion of other metaphysical forces. However, mundane and mildly magical humans are able to more easily enter and reside within the physical plane; they usually must be brought by other Entities. 

Any magical beings that do enter experience a phenomenon referred to as "attenuation." Over the course of a few days, their magic is suppressed; depending on the species, they may still be able to use a weakened form of their magic or they may become outwardly mundane. If they do not leave within a day or two, they will be transformed into a mundane human or the closest mundane creature. They can feel this happening and will generally have ample opportunity to leave if they came on their own power. 

For physical beings, their body is actually transformed; for energy beings, elemental energies form a "shell" around them, providing a body with whatever form most closely fits with the rules of the universe. If physical beings are brought to the aether planes, their form will degrade until nothing remains, while energy beings will destabilize; depending on the species, they may be able to re-form outside the Ecliptic universe. If energy beings have the ability to cross dimensions on their own, they can "vacate" the shell at any time, and the shell will degrade into basic elemental energies after a few days. 

If an extradimensional magical being leaves the Ecliptic universe, then their magic and original form will return after a few days. 

Entities can leave the Ecliptic universe without consequence, though the Ecliptic universe will always feel most congruent with their existence. 

Elemental Magic

Elemental magic is manipulation of "elements"—natural phenomena of the universe. There are no formal designations for elements, but it is typically some form of matter (water, stone, plants), energy (fire, electricity, light), absence of energy (darkness, silence, cold), process (growth, decay), or force (magnetism, gravity). It is recommended to look at phenomena described in chemistry, physics, and biology. 

They can be broad or specific. Generally, broader elements have more abilities but are weaker. 

Note that elemental light magic is not the same as primal Light magic, though those capable of primal Light magic will also be capable of elemental light magic. If an Entity has proficiency in one of the elements related to their primal energies, their skill in that type of magic and general control over their magic is typically much stronger. 

Primal-Elemental Synthesis

Pure elemental magic only affects the physical world and physical beings—it cannot heal or harm Entities. However, with practice, elemental magic can be blended with primal magic to enhance or adjust the effects of their magic and allow for using their primal-elemental magic on other Entities as well. (As a note, primal magic on its own can heal and harm other Entities.)

Primal-elemental synthesis must be unlocked via the Shard Store, except for these cases: 

• Demons with a darkness element or similar (shadow, shade, etc.)

• Angels with a light element or similar (photon, luminance, etc.)

• Ecliptic Entities with light (or similar) element or darkness (or similar) element 

In these cases, primal-elemental synthesis is present by default. 

Magic of Mortals

Approximately 0.1% of mortal beings (including humans and animals) are capable of magic. Even those that are capable of magic do not hold a candle to the capabilities of Entities.

If they are capable of magic, it is typically elemental magic, and typically with relatively weak effects compared to the potential of Entities to cause mortal catastrophe.

That said, all mortals (including those not capable of magic) typically have a disposition to one of the primal elements: Light or Darkness. They can have a disposition to both or neither as well. However, having a disposition does not equate to being able to use primal magic; that is an exceedingly rare ability.

Those with a Light disposition are typically more honest, principled, may have a knack for telling truth from lies, may have very good intuition. They also tend to be more extraverted and assertive, but this is not always the case—any personality is still possible. Those with a strong disposition to Light can have supernatural abilities and skills such as true lie detection, a healing touch, truth compulsion (others are compelled to speak the truth around them), foresight (seeing the future), etc.

Those with a Dark disposition are often more empathetic, introspective, and careful. They are often better at hiding or otherwise obscuring the truth and other things. Those with a strong disposition to Darkness may be empaths, mind readers, clairvoyants of the past (seeing the past), and they may also be able to sense the trace of corrupt souls.

The Enspirited

Entities have the potential to influence mortal beings to a significant degree, whether using their elemental or primal magic. Individuals—humans, beasts, and other creatures—may then gain unusual characteristics or abilities. These individuals are referred to as Enspirited. These beings are the only natural "magical creatures" in the Ecliptic universe, and they cannot reproduce abnormal progeny—if they can reproduce at all. 

• Enspirited affected only by Angels can be referred to as Exalted. 

• Enspirited affected only by Demons can be referred to as Veiled. 

• Enspirited affected by both Angels and Demons, or by Ecliptic Entities, can be referred to as Apocrypha. 

There are a number of ways that Entities can influence living beings: 

• Alteration: An Entity with elemental abilities that allow them to alter the biology, physiology, and/or form of a living being can change the appearance and physiological characteristics of that being. For instance, an Entity with life elemental magic can continuously extend the life of an Enspirited beast, or they might extend a human's lifespan to 200 years. 

• Primal Imbuement: An Entity saturates a living being with their primal essence. This can grant them magical sight, minor changes in appearance, and strong supernatural abilities associated with a primal disposition, even if their own disposition does not match the essence they are imbued with. This can be permanent if the essence matches with the individual's primal disposition, unless an Entity removes the essence. Otherwise, the more essence poured in, the longer it lasts. 

• Binding: An Entity can bind a soul to an individual's body. If they do not also alter the body, this can lead to the Enspirited being eventually left only as bones. While this can theoretically be permanent, any Entity can sever the connection and free the soul. 

All these influences can be done with or without consent, but are much stronger and long-lasting with consent. If influencing is done without consent, it tends to last no more than a year. Culturally, however, Entities are usually expected to only create Enspirited by consent. Non-consensual Enspiriting is considered rogue behavior by Entity society and can cause corruption if there is harmful intent and/or harm caused. 

All changes are reversible (except in the case of a soul bound to a body with no more life—if severed, the body will completely die). Anything done by an Entity can be undone by the same or a different Entity. Alterations are generally the hardest to reverse, however, as they may involve particular elemental magic and may entail complex or precise alterations to physiology. 

Attitudes towards Enspirited can vary. Ordained Entities may create Enspirited to assist with their efforts in the physical plane. All of the Enspirited they create are tracked and logged by Ordained Entities devoted to bookkeeping. They may hunt down "unauthorized" Enspirited (containment, reversion to normal state, or elimination) if they are causing trouble with society. Autonomous Entities may create Enspirited every now and then, though these Enspirited are generally subtle in presence—they do not make public appearances or cause havoc. Rogue Entities may do whatever they like, including creating Enspirited without the consent of the being in question and sometimes making them to cause trouble or work as their minions. These Enspirited are often the ones hunted down by Ordained Entities. 

Souls are the essence of self and personality for an individual, composed largely of primal essence. It is also the source of one's magic. Both mortals and Entities have souls, though the souls of Entities have a different nature and composition and are generally more "vast."

The general "goal," so to speak, of souls in this universe is to ascend. This occurs when a life ends and the soul has achieved full satisfaction/self-actualization; the soul then diffuses and becomes part of the collective primal essence of the Ecliptic world.

However, they can also be destroyed in different ways by different Entities: 

• Angels have a brief window to scatter mortal souls after death or severance from the body.

• The Ecliptic can scatter Entity souls with consent and mortal souls even before death, and can also consume souls more easily. 

• Demons can consume souls. 

By being consumed by Demons or the Ecliptic, a mortal's essence loses form and becomes subsumed by the Entity's. 

Scattering a mortal's soul is generally frowned upon. It takes considerable power and has a relatively low success rate (a soul may just be partially damaged or scatter and re-aggregate). The essence does not join with the collective source of the universe, instead lingering on the physical plane and causing unnatural soul phenomena such as multiple souls in one body, spontaneous flashbacks of previous lives, and more. 

Mortal bodies cannot live without souls: 

• If a soul that isn't fully corrupt is forcefully taken by a Demon/Ecliptic or scattered by an Ecliptic while alive, the metaphysical trauma causes the body to die instantly.

• If a soul is given up as a part of a deal, or if a fully corrupt soul is forcefully taken or scattered while alive, then the body enters a vegetative state and will die in a day or two, unless put on life support. 

• Angels can only scatter souls after the body is dead and the soul is released, so the body would already have been dead.

Reincarnation

Reincarnation refers to the process by which the physical body housing a soul ends, and the soul begins anew in a new body. When a soul is not yet satisfied, this will typically occur. The reincarnation will not have any memories of past lives, though an Entity can manipulate the soul to bring memories back. Humans and animals can reincarnate into one or the other.

Humans cannot be reincarnated as Entities normally, but it is rare but possible for large portions of the essence of a single ascended soul to manifest in a single Entity. The Entity's personality may then have reflections of the mortal's soul. However, since the essence of a single mortal soul cannot compare to the vastness of essence in an Entity's soul, it is usually not enough to significantly define an Entity.

Usually, though, Entities are new beings entirely.

Soulbonds

Soulbonds are a metaphysical connection between different souls. It will often lead to increased empathy, understanding, and trust, in addition to a feeling of comfort and closeness. There are different kinds of soulbonds as well:

• Spontaneously occurring soulbonds (fairly uncommon, and often undetected): This is much like the concept of "soulmates"—it occurs between those who have not met and often early in life. If they do not meet or do not choose to develop it further, it will remain rather dormant. If the two meet, they can develop some kind of relationship, and then the strength of the soulbond depends on them. It can just be a connection, a significant relationship in someone's life (of any kind), or it can be a deep binding that blends the two's souls into something like one. Some of these occur randomly, and some are retained from past lives.

• Natural development of soulbonds: when one truly makes a connection with another, there is always a metaphysical connection built in the soul. These vary in intensity and nature from person to person, but most can be considered connections of family and friendships. Siblings may develop strong soulbonds, given that they are raised together and get along. These can fade over time, but often there is a thread that remains.

• Deliberate soulbinding: through magic, rituals, etc. individuals' souls are woven into one continuous weave. This will generally not work if there is not already a fairly strong connection, but this basically skips all the slow build to get to the soul-sharing part. 

All these are possible in all cases (any mortal to any Entity or mortal, and any Entity to any Entity or mortal), but Entities can easily manipulate mortal-to-mortal soulbonds and have more control over soulbonds they have with others.

Entities can sense when a spontaneous soulbond forms, which may be when a mortal soul is born or when the soulbound Entity forms, but nothing may come of it if they do not act on it.

Spontaneous soulbonds can only be severed after a first meeting. One from an Entity to a mortal can easily be severed with very little effort from the Entity. A bond between Entities can be severed on one end, but it is much more difficult if it is not mutual.

A corrupt soul is one that "refuses" ascension and prevents others from ascension as well. The "refusal" may not be deliberate or a conscious choice. Corruption can result from and increases as one engages in acts such as manipulation, malicious acts, causing physical and mental harm to others, doing things that prevent themself and others from achieving true fulfillment/self-actualization in their lives, etc. Deliberate murder would also stain the soul. Accidental manslaughter may shake the soul but not necessarily corrupt it on its own.

Both intent and result matters for corruption: deliberately causing harm will cause the most corruption by far, having intent to harm but failing or not acting on it tends to cause traces of corruption, and unintentionally causing harm can cause small amounts of corruption.

The truly corrupt are those who feel as though they get fulfillment by preventing others from reaching fulfillment—but these souls tend to be in obsession, not a true fulfillment, and will never ascend. They will be stuck on the mortal plane to reincarnate over and over until their souls are destroyed, which can be done by Demons or the Ecliptic. Corrupt souls can be removed from a body by force much more easily and with much less damage compared to normal souls, making Demons naturally drawn to them. 

Corrupt souls tend to give off a metaphysical "scent" or "trace" that Demons, the Ecliptic, and dark-aligned individuals can detect. Corrupt Entities are possible, and they give off the corrupt trace as well. A few rare Entities may be able to manipulate their essence skillfully enough to hide the corrupt trace and still live among other Entities, but this is extremely unlikely and still risky, as the obfuscation would still not hold under deliberate and focused scrutiny. Most corrupt Entities exist separately from society, often hunted down by the Entities who task themselves with such a duty.

"Rogue" Entities may not be corrupt; an Entity can be considered rogue if they go off and do their own thing, leaving the Demonic and Angelic societies behind. They may be causing trouble and/or inconveniences to other Entities, or go about their way of ascending souls and/or destroying corrupt souls in a very abnormal or frowned-upon way.

All souls can be purified of corruption, but it must be by their own will and not through manipulation of the soul. Trying to remove corruption through soul manipulation may be temporarily successful, but it will only return. Over time, if one ceases their corruptive acts and self-reflects to seek a truer fulfillment for themself, the corruption may fade over time. It is very possible for a once-corrupt soul to ascend.

For more details, see Corruption Mechanics below.