The Great Wheel[]
Philosophers, scholars, mages and clerics tirelessly debate fundamental composition of the AE - and of existence itself. It is clear that there is a tension between entropy and negentropy (order and chaos) - and that bears a matrixed relationship with the tension between the individual and collective reality. Consensus reality is often conceptualized as a layered fabric of planes - the most immediate and tangible, the one we naturally perceive and exist in being the Prime Material. The planes of existence which fold around and compose the Prime Material are decomposed into primal elements of power - transitioning into more intangible abstractions of reality, such as thought, philosophy and religion. Most academics, scholars, mages and clerics agree on this basic model of reality, but also agree that it is most accurate the closer in proximity to the Prime Material - with the Upper and Lower Planes diverging significantly from proposed models - and with Outer Planes varying and with a complete failure to characterize the Outer Planes entirely.
The standing consensus among Aetherea's intelligencia is that Great Wheel is useful schema for understanding comic principles and ordering in a general sense - such as entropy, negative and positive energy, concreate vs abstract existence, etc. However, the AE (the cosmos in which Aetherea exists) is much more dynamic and networked in how its fundamental forces interact.
See Examples of Dynamic Interaction of Realities[]
The Wheel of First Principles[]
Cosmological Scholars have proposed a complementary model to help cosmic voyagers understand the most fundamental building blocks of these universal forces to explain how they related to each other and how they interact.
Aether[]
Aether is the fundamental force that underlies all existence and it's basic building block. It is pure generative potential, entirely malleable. It is the basic unit of creation - a minimal state of being where all cosmic forces are unified into a fundamental, universal force. Aether is often likened to mana or "the Force" - but it is more fundamental abstraction of those concepts. All existence begins with a combination of two or more Aether and is defined by the influence and interaction that these combinations have on each other. Ather is also described as the fundamental fiber of existence - so reality is often referred to as "The Aether."
First Principles
The most basic aethereal combinations, relationships and interactions upon which the entire AE and its cosmic forces are based. For simplicity these First Principles are categorized by color - white, blue, black, red and green. Each of these color principles represents an interrelated network of characteristics, attributes and effects that work together to create a first principle. The First Principles tie the abstraction of the outer planes together with the tension between the upper and lower planes, manifesting in cosmic forces - such as pantheons, cataclyms and magic systems. The First Principles also tie the upper and lower planes to the Prime Material - manifesting as thoughts, ideas, philosophies, and religions. And lastly they tied the prime elements, fey and shadow realm into the Prime Material - manifesting as existance, magic, different personalities, natural forces, points of view and elements. They form a through line from the outer planes to prime existence - so that abstract principles of truth emanate through the cosmic fabric and find their expression in every layer of reality from abstract - while tying back to a fundamental original state of being.
Domains
Domains are portfolios of philosophical, arcane or religious portfolio of ideas, philosophies, cosmic forces and powers that exist within, between, or in a network of First Principles. Domains often manifest as the remit of specific deities within a pantheon - and possess and underlying commonality in spells, lore and purpose for the religions, philosophies and schools of magic tied to them. Example the domain of Order - which values discipline, devotion and law, which attracts many monks, lawgivers, clerics and paladins sits at the boundary of the White and Blue Principles - valuing law, order and structured improvement for society.
Prime Elements[]
The prime elements aligned with the first principles are air (white), water (blue), death (black), fire (red), flora/life (green).
| Color | School of Magic | Magic Domain | Gemstone Associated with Wild Ones |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | Abjuration, Conjuration (healing), Divination | Abjuration, Arcana, Life | Diamond |
| Blue | Conjuration (teleportation), Divination, Enchantment, Illusion | Arcana, Divination, Illusion | Amethyst |
| Black | Divination, Enchantment, Necromancy | Arcana, Death, Grave | Obsidian |
| Red | Conjuration (summoning creatures), Divination, Evocation | Arcana, Destruction, War | Ruby |
| Green | Conjuration (creating plants and animals), Divination, Transmutation | Arcana, Nature, Protection | Emerald |