Glemsi (GLEHM-see)
"Tell me, Captain, how you managed to work around your mortal counterpart interfering in your life aboard the Burning Viper?"Spirits are not particularly uncommon within the multiverse, found scattered among the planes are rarely crossing between them. The souls of those that have departed from the material world will briefly travel through the Astral Plane on their way to their final destination, where they will spend the rest of their existence in either peace or suffering. The Glemsi defy all conventions and rules about the Soul and what defines death. Through misfortune or malice, an individual in Chardovil may have their soul forced from their body, but survive the process. While these Voidwalkers pick up their pieces of their lives, and their loved ones grapple with the sudden change, their Soul is ejected into the Astral Plane.
"Simple: they're boring as shit. And I'm not."
Twin Lives
The relationship between a Glemsi spirit and their Voidwalker counterpart is complex and poorly undersood. Many Glemsi report sharing their counterpart's memories, and some find themselves actively inconvenienced by their body's recklessness, such as a Voidwalker soldier being wounded and the Glemsi experiencing symptoms of blood loss. Captain Arien Evan reports their Voidwalker being an "exceptionally boring person that had one interesting thing happen in their life," and credits the boring Voidwalker as the primary reason they were able to live as a warship captain as a Glemsi.
The Glemsi Dragonborn floated between the tables, a tray of washed-out drinks balanced on his arm as he delievered them to their respective customers. With a few drinks left on the tray, his body suddenly seized up, as if petrified, and he fell to the floor. The chef came out of the kitchen, dragged the Dragonborn to the side of the room, and addressed the concerned tourists.
"Fear not, everybody. He'll be fine, his Voidwalker is the biggest pain in the arse you can imagine. Give him an hour to come 'round and he'll be back on his feet."
On the other plane, Voidwalkers don't seem as affected by the actions of their Glemsi. At no point did Captain Evan's Voidwalker notably complain about mysterious injuries, memories, or encounters. To their few friends, they reported the occasional "odd dream where [they were] a pirate", leading many to believe that Voidwalkers only interact with their Glemsi lives through dreams.
"Fear not, everybody. He'll be fine, his Voidwalker is the biggest pain in the arse you can imagine. Give him an hour to come 'round and he'll be back on his feet."
Crossing Paths
While the vast majority of Glemsi do not leave the Astral Plane, some find passage back to the material plane in desperate bids to return to their old lives. To their dismay, they find themselves unseen and unheard except in the most unusual of circumstances, upon which their existence becomes spun into "ghost stories" and urban myth.
Arien Evan by Ynix via Hero Forge
One of the most famous Glemsi was the Captain of the SSS-Burning Viper, Arien Evan.
Related Myths
Related Locations
Voidwalker
Spirit
Related Organizations
Silver Sights Travel Co.
This is a really neat concept! Sort of reminds me of that post that asked if a ghost and a zombie could come from the same person. I especially like the idea of a pirate in the astral plane--that's just cool!
Thanks! The campaigns covering this world have a lot of inter-planar travel, and the DMG is light on material to use when it comes to the Astral Plane, and based on the rules of the universe, one person could feasibly be split into three: their mind, body, and soul all wandering independent of the others.
My Work: Chardovil | Estya
Yes, I always felt that the DMG's descriptions of the Planes left something to be desired. I like your take on it!