Andórë, Wildspace, and the Astral Sea
While this article is presented in the History of Andórë, this information is far beyond the knowledge and ability of any inhabitant of Andórë, and is presented only as player information for the purpose of world building.
The Astral Sea and Wildspace¶
The Astral Plane, a vast and seemingly endless celestial void, envelops all of the Material Plane's worlds, serving as a bridge between these disparate realms. Every world, regardless of its shape or size, exists within an airless expanse known as Wildspace, which comprises every planet, moon, asteroid, comet, and other celestial bodies in a Wildspace system. Here, the Material Plane and the Astral Plane intersect, and creatures and objects in Wildspace age normally and exist simultaneously on both planes.
As one ventures away from their home world and approaches the edge of their Wildspace system, a faint, silvery haze appears on the horizon. This luminous mist marks the entry point to the Astral Sea, a boundless expanse of shimmering, silver void. Within this seemingly endless realm, the laws of physics are suspended, and beings can breathe and exist indefinitely, sustained by the pure essence of magic itself.
Despite the Astral Sea's peaceful appearance, travelers are cautioned that this realm is home to a host of fearsome creatures and dangers lurking in the depths. Navigating this realm is not for the faint of heart, and many wise astral voyagers choose to travel in well-armed ships.
The Astral Sea is not only a realm of danger, but also of wonder and mystery. It is said that the petrified remains of ancient gods can be found drifting through the ether, frozen in time and space. Swirling pools of color serve as portals to other Planes of Existence, leading travelers to realms beyond their wildest imagination.
Within the cosmic expanse of Wildspace, each inhabited world has its own pantheon of gods, overseen by an Overgod who claims dominion over the pantheon in the great Celestial Bureaucracy. This divine bureaucracy ensures that every god in the multiverse manages their portfolio of domains effectively and efficiently, without overstepping their bounds.
As vast as the Astral Sea may be, it is constantly expanding, and even the gods have only begun to scratch the surface of this mysterious realm. As such, there is no telling what other secrets and wonders lay hidden within its depths, waiting to be discovered by daring adventurers and explorers.
Creation of Worlds¶
The Elemental Planes of Air, Water, Fire, and Earth are the building blocks of the multiverse. From these planes, matter and energy are created, and they flow into the Material Plane and the worlds within Wildspace.
Air is the element of movement and freedom, and it is associated with the winds and storms that travel through the void. Water is the element of fluidity and change, and it is associated with the tides and currents that shape the seas and oceans of the universe. Fire is the element of energy and transformation, and it is associated with the heat and light of the stars and the power of volcanoes and geysers. Earth is the element of stability and structure, and it is associated with the mountains, rocks, and minerals that form the foundation of the worlds in Wildspace.
Each world within Wildspace is created from a unique combination of these elemental energies, and the balance between them determines the world's climate, terrain, and inhabitants. The elemental energies also affect the magical properties of each world, influencing the kinds of spells and enchantments that can be cast there.
The Elemental Planes themselves are vast, endless realms of pure energy and matter, inhabited by powerful elemental beings and other strange creatures. Travelers who venture into these planes must be prepared to face the full force of the elements, and they must be skilled in the use of magic or other means of protection.
Overall, the nexus of energy leakage from the Elemental Planes is what gives the worlds within Wildspace their unique characteristics and makes them such fascinating and diverse places to explore.
Tuulla the Overgod¶
Tuulla, one of the many gods and goddesses of nature, was revered across many worlds in the multiverse. Her followers respected the natural world and its balance, and they sought her blessings for bountiful harvests, healthy animals, and good weather. She was a goddess of the land, the forests, the oceans, and the skies. However, as mortals developed new technologies and expanded their dominion over the natural world, Tuulla's worship began to decline.
With each passing era, fewer people remembered Tuulla's name or offered her prayers. She watched as her temples fell into ruins and her holy groves were cut down. She saw how the mortals who once praised her turned to other gods for protection and guidance.
Tuulla tried to adapt to the changing times, to incorporate new ideas and philosophies into her teachings. She tried to ally herself with the patrons of science and progress, but they saw her as antiquated and irrelevant. She tried to appeal to the champions of industry and expansion, but they saw her as a hindrance to their growth and ambition.
In the end, Tuulla realized that she could no longer thrive in the worlds that had moved beyond her. She knew that she had to seek out a place where her powers and wisdom were still valued, where her presence was needed and appreciated.
Tuulla traveled the multiverse, visiting countless worlds and seeking out the hidden places where nature still reigned supreme. She wandered through primordial forests, across vast deserts, and over endless oceans. She communed with the spirits of animals, plants, and stones, seeking guidance and direction.
Finally, after eons of searching, Tuulla found the Andor system, a distant corner of the multiverse that had been overlooked by the gods. Here, on the planet Andor-A, Tuulla saw something she had never seen before: a world that produced its own natural life without the intervention of a deity. She knew that this was the place she had been seeking, the world that she could claim as her own and become its Overgod.
Andor-A was tidally locked to his home star, meaning that it always held the same face toward that star. Half the planet burned, and half the planet froze. As Tuulla descended to Andor-A, she felt the energy of the planet coursing through her divine veins. She walked the planet's surface, marveling at the diversity of life that existed on the border between light and dark in the tidally locked world, where the temperature was just right for life to thrive.
Andor-A was not uninhabited however, there were primordial elemental titans and their elemental minions leftover from the nexus of the elemental planes that created the world. The titans were relentless in their destruction of the border region between light and dark on Andor-A. They would unleash their elemental powers in massive bursts, scorching the land and obliterating any semblance of life. Despite their destructive power, the titans could not eradicate the resilient natural life that grew in this region.
As soon as the titans left, life began to regrow on its own, without any divine intervention. Plants and creatures would emerge from the scorched earth, starting the process of renewal. The resilience of this life astonished Tuulla, who watched in wonder as the natural world on Andor-A continued to thrive, even in the face of the titans' destruction.
With her divine power, Tuulla spun Andor-A and tilted it on its axis, bringing seasons to the fledgling world. She birthed three powerful children to help her shape and protect the world: Usjunn, the God of Spring; Oxdros, the God of the Sky; and Sedarr, the God of the Sea. Together, they worked to tame the chaos of the primordial forces that roamed the world and make it hospitable to life.
After Tuulla broke the tidal lock and spun Andor-A, introducing seasons, the natural life that had thrived in the border region between light and dark was given the opportunity to spread throughout the world. With the coming of the seasons, the planet experienced a more varied and diverse climate, allowing new forms of life to evolve and adapt. The God of Spring, Usjunn, played a key role in this process, as his domain was tied to the renewal of life and the awakening of the natural world after the cold, dark winter months. As the seasons changed, he worked tirelessly to ensure that the new life that had emerged during the warmer months would survive the harsher conditions of winter.
Oxdros, the God of the Sky, also played a role in the spread of natural life, as his domain included weather patterns that affected the growth and distribution of plants and animals. He brought rain and thunderstorms to nourish the earth, and his winds carried seeds and spores across vast distances, allowing life to take root in new areas.
Sedarr, the God of the Sea, also played a role in the spread of life, as his domain included the vast oceans that covered much of Andor-A's surface. The currents and tides he controlled carried nutrients and organic matter across the world, providing sustenance for the many creatures that lived both in the sea and on land.
Over time, the natural life that had thrived in the border region between light and dark spread to every corner of the world, evolving and adapting to the changing conditions of each new season. The world became a vibrant and diverse ecosystem, home to countless species of plants and animals, each one perfectly adapted to its unique environment.
As Tuulla settled into her role as the Overgod of the Andor system, she watched over her creation with a sense of pride and purpose. She saw how the world evolved and changed under her guidance, as plants grew and animals roamed its surface. The seasons brought new life and new challenges, but Tuulla reveled in the beauty of it all.
Her children, too, thrived in their roles as gods of the natural world. Usjunn brought the renewal of spring, with new growth and new beginnings. Oxdros soared through the skies, bringing thunder and rain to nourish the earth below. Sedarr, in his domain of the sea, guided the ebb and flow of tides and protected the creatures that called the ocean their home. In time Oxdros would create a daughter, Phohella, Goddess of the Wind, to bridge the divide between him and his brother Sedarr.
The primordial titans continued to roam the world, but Tuulla and her children learned to work around them, carving out spaces where life could flourish. And as more creatures came to populate Andor-A, Tuulla watched with wonder and delight as they found their place in the natural order.
Forming a Pantheon¶
Tuulla knew that to truly make her world suitable for mortal life, the first task of every Overgod, she would need additional allies as she and her family were not strong enough to banish the titans, who were fueled by the elemental planes.
In her eons of traveling before finding Andor-A, Tuulla met many gods and decided she would call some of them to Andor-A and invite them into her pantheon.
Hykteus, the God of Science, brought with him not only his mastery of arcane magic, but also his curiosity and desire for exploration. He was fascinated by the natural growth on Andor-A and worked tirelessly to understand its unique inner workings.
Yxtuna, the Goddess of Order, brought balance to the chaos of the primordial forces and worked alongside Rildir, the God of Tranquility, to calm the raging elements that threatened to destroy the world. With their combined efforts, the seasons on Andor-A became more predictable and the weather patterns more manageable.
Tiseyr, the God of Sleep, brought peace to the minds of all who called Andor-A home, granting them a reprieve from their troubles and allowing them to rest easy. Verlanis, the God of Shadows, kept a watchful eye over every corner of the world, even the darkest ones, ever-vigilant against any dangers that might threaten the delicate balance of life on Andor-A. Elumis, the Goddess of Hope, was a beacon of light even in the most trying of times, inspiring all who knew her to persevere in the face of any obstacle.
Together, Tuulla and her pantheon continued to work tirelessly to make Andor-A a suitable home for mortal life. They knew that their work was far from over, but with each passing day, they saw the fruits of their labor.
As they worked to finalize the taming of the world, they knew that the titans still posed a great threat. But with their combined power they knew that they could one day banish the titans from Andor-A and make it a truly hospitable home for all who would call it their own.
As eons passed, the world that Tuulla and her pantheon had created, which they named Andor-A, became home to various forms of life. The beings that would later come to inhabit the world were unaware of the divine hierarchy and the workings of the Celestial Bureaucracy. They would come to refer to the world as Andórë, a name that reflected the beauty and wonder of the world they called home.
Neighbors¶
There are other celestial objects within the Andor System of Wildspace.
Andor-B¶
In the celestial sphere of the Andor System, the gas behemoth Andor-B holds its orbit around the star Ando. Unlike its sibling, the steadfast Andor-A, this titan lacks a solid surface for life's delicate dance. Its essence is an ever-shifting atmosphere of hydrogen, helium, and a myriad of gases, offering neither solid ground nor liquid waters to embrace.
Andor-B's atmosphere, a tempestuous maelstrom, is ever in a state of transformation, with spiraling bands of clouds eternally encircling its expanse. Furthermore, its gravity presents a formidable force, a silent warning to those who might heedlessly approach its realm.
Yet, despite the austere nature of Andor-B, the planet still captivates the minds of those drawn to the mysteries of the cosmos and the enigmas of Wildspace. Let the inquisitive and disciplined souls venture forth to unveil the hidden secrets of this tantalizing celestial giant.
Andor-C¶
In the celestial dance of the Andor System, Andor-C emerges as a frost-kissed titan, one of three planetary siblings orbiting the star Ando. This ice-giant realm, veiled in its eternal winter, slumbers far from the life-giving warmth of its stellar guardian. There, the gases that would cloak a common gas giant lie frozen, sculpted into crystalline forms that shimmer in the distant starlight.
Andor-C's frigid domain permits no atmosphere to claim its surface, presenting a world devoid of air and inhospitable to life as we know it. As explorers of the cosmos, let the disciplined hearts and keen minds be guided by unwavering resolve ever respectful of the boundaries set by this ice-locked sentinel in the Andor System's celestial tapestry.
Ando¶
At the core of the Andor System, there reigns Ando, a radiant yellow-white star, guiding the celestial dance with its steadfast light. Ando, a fortress of cosmic energy, wields a potent magnetic field and whirls with purpose, the result of which gives rise to solar flares and prominences of extraordinary vigor.
The lifeblood of the Andor System, Ando bestows light and warmth upon its worlds, its gravitational might holding them steadfast in their orbits. Scarce attention the celestial cartographers gave, merely noting its location prior to the advent of Tuulla.
In the grand cosmic tableau, the Elemental Plane of Fire, one among the quartet of foundational Planes of Existence, manifests as a dominion of searing heat and fierce flame, governed by the indomitable archomental lords. Ando, sentinel at the heart of the Andor System, serves as a direct gateway to this blazing realm, welcoming into its embrace a multitude of fire elementals.
These denizens of flame, taking myriad forms, range from the tiniest of sparks to colossal infernos that threaten to consume entire worlds. Born of unadulterated fire, they yearn for the warmth and energy that fuel their essence. Among their ranks, some adopt humanoid guise, their visage ablaze with fierce features and eyes aglow, whilst others take on the likeness of dragons, phoenixes, and mythical creatures of legend.
Thus, let it be known, that within the reaches of the Andor System, the fires of Ando burn, fierce and unyielding, in concert with the Elemental Plane of Fire.
