Rant 09 - The Layers of Reality
Today's topic has been forming for some time now... years, in point of fact. If you've read very much fantasy literature at all, you're probably familiar with the idea of "planes" of existence. Simply put, two planes exist in the same place at the same time, but due to some difference in their nature they are separate from each other.
I have been stirring up my own version of this concept for a very long time, and have decided to use a specific version of it for Yggdrasil. The concept is referred to as "The Seven Layers of Reality", and is pretty easy to explain.
First off, the world is conveniently divided into 7 distinct but interwoven "layers". Each layer has unique characteristics and serves a specific purpose, but it is the sum of them that creates the world of Yggdrasil. Take away any one of them and world is massively less. Think of them like an extension of the dimensions idea- vertical, horizontal, depth, and time make up our 4 dimensions. Take away any one and you have a far less rich extistence.
However, the seven layers do not much concern themselves with space and time. In point of fact, only one layer deals with space and time directly, and that is the Physical layer. It is made of of the mass, position, and such of all things. Which begs the question, If the first layer holds all the matter of the world, what's left for the other six? Perhaps a list would help illustrate.
- The Fate Layer. A realm too far away from the physical realm to be explored properly, the Fate Layer is best described as a great ocean in which massive whales play with endless schools of fish. The movements of the whales reflect great social changes, and the fish mirror personal events, but whether they guide the events or follow them is unknown.
- The Soul Layer. This layer holds the identity and emotions of all things. In the case of objects such as rocks, the soul is small and simple, but in the case of a living creature, especially a sentient one, it appears like a blazing ball of light. When a thing is destroyed or divided the soul divides or scatters accordingly, and reforms as new identities form.
- The Spirit Layer. Widely known as the Spirit Realm. This layer is seen as an endless knot of rivers that flow in all directions. This is because the Spirit Realm embodies the connection between Soul and Physical, and channels the life force of all living things. When a creature dies, the rivers stemming from it vanish into nothing.
- The Physical Layer. Because humans and our kin are physical beings, it is best for our brains if this layer is in the center. As said earlier, this realm holds the mass of all things, and it is the only realm that is bound by location. All the others have a great deal of flexibility when it comes to where, but this layer acts as an anchor of sorts for them.
- The Mind Layer. Also known as the Lawbook. On earth we sometimes call them the laws of physics, and also knowledge. This layer is what governs the can and cannots of Yggdrasil, and also memories and knowledge that people have acquired. No one has been able to find a way to "see" this realm, so no analogy exists for it.
- The Shadow Layer. Sometimes referred to as "The Echo Layer" or the Realm of History. This layer is filled with echoes of past events and bits of history, and without this layer many theorists suspect that the Physical Layer would continually revert to it's original state. If any of the realms other than the physical deal with Time, it is this one.
- The Holy Layer. One of the two farthest planes from the Physical Layer, the Holy Realm is usually described as a great battle that rages between the dead. Scholars are still arguing whether this is true or not, because the only way to get to this realm is to die or travel through the realm of history.
As mentioned in the last item, the true nature of the Holy Layer is somewhat unknown, because getting to it is extremely difficult. The same applies to Fate, but other kinds of life have managed to get glances into the realm of Fate. This is because life does not necessarily have to be centered on the physical layer, but can actually dwell primarily in any layer.
A prime example of this would the Nanna, life forms similar to fairies but centered on the Spirit Layer. Because they live primarily in the Spirit Layer, the order of the layers is as follows for them: Holy - Fate - Soul - Spirit - Physical - Mind - Shadow. As you can see, the order is the same, but rotated around.
As usual, there's more I need to explain, but time and brevity demand that I stop. If possible I'll explain more here when I can, and this design will be mentioned many times in the comic.