Overview
A massive spire containing the Celestial Staircase stretches deep down into the horrible darkness of the Maw and up into the shining light of the Heavens, beckoning the dead on the River of Souls toward their final destinations in the afterlife. Surrounding the City of Judgement is the Empty, a necropolis of graveyards, mausoleums, and solemn courts dedicated to the god of death, Cehbris and his son Jergal. The Empty is a sprawling graveyard where all mortal souls, no matter who or what they were in life, come to stand and be judged. The Empty contains swathes of unexplored territory and many unexplained mysteries, but most non-natives remain within the confines of the divine domain.
Planar Traits
- Gravity normal
- Timeless: Age, hunger, thirst, afflictions (such as diseases, curses, and poisons), and natural healing don’t function in The Empty, though they resume functioning when the traveler leaves The Empty.
- Realm immeasurable
- Structural lasting
- Essence mixed
- Divinely Morphic: Deities with domains in The Empty can alter the plane at will.
- Strongly Neutral-Aligned
- Enhanced Magic: Spells and spell-like abilities with the death descriptor, or from the Death or Repose domains, are enhanced.
Denizens of the the Empty
Psychopomps - The most common outsiders within the Empty are psychopomps, stoic stewards and guides for departed souls. Psychopomps do not cause mortal death (that role among the outsiders of the Empty being filled by shinigamis) but seek instead to ensure that a deceased soul’s judgment and journey to its ultimate afterlife proceed smoothly. This is far from a simple task, as psychopomps often have to battle marauding predators that feed upon hapless souls, locate confused or rebellious spirits who attempt to flee their fate, or deal with those who would subvert the natural order with soul-binding magics or necromancy. They also serve as respected neutral parties, as they work with denizens of many planes equally and disperse judged petitioners out into the Cradle Realms.
Aeons - Aeons can be encountered in the Empty, but they are not natives of this realm. They often use the Empty as a staging point for their own missions through the planes, and in many cases have understandings found throughout the Empty to facilitate such travels.
Psychopomp Ushers - The mysterious pantheon of demigods who rule over the psychopomps are known collectively as the ushers.
