Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="JBowtie" data-source="post: 2231190" data-attributes="member: 1810">I took the inspiration for the Spheres from "The Planets" symphony by Holst and the sphere-based model of the universe usually attributed to Aristotle (though actually developed by Eudoxus).Who are you? What do you want? Why are you here? Where are you going? Is there anything worth living for? Where does magic come from? Are our destinies predetermined?On Aestia, the spheres are essential to our understanding of our world and ourselves.Those who cling to the old ways might consider the spheres akin to elements such as water or fire, as alchemical ingredients that can be combined into materials and beings. This is far too narrow and parochial a view to take, however.The Dwarves personified them in their old Imperial Temples, worshipping them as gods. This, while far closer to the truth, fails to give them their due, relegating them to inscrutable, powerful beings. The seven spheres are the foundation on which the world rests. They are physical, observable celestial objects with magical and spiritual connections to all existence, and especially attuned to the mortal races.Spheres of CreationThe three spheres of creation are the basis of the physical world. All creatures are linked to at least one of the three spheres.The Sphere of Nature encompasses most of the world around us. All animals and plants belong to this sphere. Fey and elves are bound to Nature; it is part and parcel of their beings. The wind, the sea, the forest and the mountain are all aspects of this sphere. From their link to Nature the mortal races receive their physical bodies. Creatures that lack a link to this sphere are the bodiless undead – ghosts, spirits, and phantasms.The first principle of sentient life is self-awareness. Those creatures with a link to the Sphere of Self possess a mind. Self-awareness is not everything, of course. Merely possessing a mind is not enough, for one may be insane or unintelligent.Mindless undead such as skeletons, zombies, and golems lack such a link.All creatures that possess a soul are linked to the Sphere of Heaven. Animals and plants, for example, do not have souls. Mortals that are deprived of their link to Heaven become the soulless undead: vampires, liches, and other such abominations.Spheres of PerfectionThe spheres of creation define the world, but it is the spheres of perfection that mediate our access to it. By means of the tools granted us by these spheres, the mortal races gain the ability to control our environment.The Sphere of Knowledge perfects the mind. Creatures with a link to this sphere gain the ability to reason about the world.Access to this sphere is essential to the use of magic. A mind is merely fertile ground; knowledge enriches the mind by taking root and flourishing.Perfection of the soul is reached through the Sphere of Music. Creatures linked to this sphere gain emotion and feeling. Mastery of the sphere allows one to communicate from heart to heart, and gladdens and enlightens the soul.As every guardsman knows from birth, perfection of the physical body is possible only through dedication to the Sphere of Conflict. On the field of war and in the arena, the eternal struggle allows the strong and fit to prosper, and eliminates the weak and pallid. Creatures linked to this sphere gain the spark of ambition and the instinct of survival.Sphere of MysteryOf all the spheres, the Sphere of Intrigue is least understood. It sows discord, introduces confusion and uncertainty, and provides no obvious benefit. It confounds the movements of the skies and makes prophecy a poor guide.Yet of all the spheres it is perhaps most essential. Those creatures fortunate enough to be linked to it gain the most precious commodity of all – free will. Yes, this means the ability to lie and deceive, cheat and betray. But it also means the ability to become something greater, to choose to devote oneself to something beyond instinct and self-preservation: a cause, a loved one, an idea. Nobility and righteousness are only meaningful when one must choose them; when one's choices are made because they are right and not because they were preordained. Without the dubious Sphere of Intrigue, we would be but mere clockwork toys, moving mechanically to the dictates of destiny.The Mortal RacesAs even a shallow understanding should make clear, all mortals are linked to all seven spheres. Indeed, it appears that only the mortal races possess such links. Those closest to mortals, the fey, are linked to but six of the spheres. They lack free will, and are merely puppets dancing to the whim of the Faerie Queen.</blockquote>

Verification