Inspired by the Shaman's Handbook, O'Laohod's cosmology is based on the shamanic concept of Upper, Middle and Lower worlds. The Middle World is the prime material plane of O'Laohod. The Upper World is the Plane of Creation. The Lower World is the Plane of Destruction.
The Planes of Creation and Destruction are both aspects of the Ethereal Plane, but an Ethereal Plane that has evolved over the millenia. The psychic and spiritual needs, wants and beliefs of the inhabitants of O'Laohod, augmented by the close proximity of of the Demi-Plane of Dreams, imposed itself on the infinitely malleable Ethereal Plane. Cut off from the rest of the multiverse by the prison boundary of the Color Curtain (Demi-Plane of Dreams), the Ethereal Plane was forced to take on the aspects of all of the planes of existence. This fundamental change manifested itself as the Planes of Creation and Destruction.
The Lower Plane has taken on aspects of the Negative Material Plane, while the Upper Plane, correspondingly, has taken on aspects of the Positive Material Plane. However, the differing conditions of the mortal needs of O'Laohod's inhabitants, combined with the malleable nature of the Ethereal Plane has resulted in markedly different manifestations.
The Upper Plane closely matches the conditions of Limbo, with the spontaneous creation of matter and energy by force of thought and belief. This spiritual malleability gave rise to the various spirits and "gods".
The Lower Plane is the physical embodiment of destruction. Physical material is subjected to random corrosive effects, and aging is accelerated.
Shaol, where the souls of the departed go, also known as the Shadowlands, lies in the twilight area between the infinite Planes of Creation and Destruction. It resembles the Demi-Plane of Shadow of other cosmologies.
It should be noted that the Planes of Creation and Destructions are not actually different planes at all, but are merely two aspects of the same plane: the Ethereal. How one enters the Ethereal Plane determines which aspect one confronts. For example, if one intends on entering a plane with positive, creative energy, then one enters the Plane of Creation. Very few inhabitants of the Prime Material understand this distinction.
The choice to opt for Planes of Creation and Destruction is to avoid labels of "good" and "evil". Creation and destruction are merely a different way to view the world, much like Moorcock's choice to accentuate the battle between Law and Chaos.
Comments