Meta: The Mechanics of Inter-Planar Travel

Planar travel is a volatile and extremely dangerous proposition for even the most experienced scholar or magical practitioner. The chaotic energies of the Hallowed Realms and the Five Hells make the creation of an outbound portal impossible from the material plane. This is thought to be an edict of the Creator, Aewalin, to prevent unauthorized ascension prior to death. Only through the grace of the Creator can a soul be lifted free of the burdens of their mortal flesh, according to the most widely accepted scripture within the church. Various sects, such as the Sect of Fihavan, believe that ascension is in part based on the influence of deceased ancestors whose souls have been accepted by the Creator. It is believed that these ancestors advocate on behalf of their living descendants. However, all sects agree that the process of soul ascension cannot occur without the will of the Creator, and thus an individual cannot pierce the veil between the mortal and ethereal realms.
It is believed that prior to the Hallowing War, a balance existed between the ancestral civilizations of the Continent and the Hallowed Plane, allowing some overlap between the mortal and ethereal realms. When Vilhan Dakronias constructed his machine, using this overlapping power to tear open the earth and open great Void Portal in the kingdom of Callte, Aewalin gave a vision to Yaelman Hamnet of a mysterious ore which could channel the holy power of the Creator. The blade was forged by Hamnet and his confederates in secret, and the blade was given the name Light of Aewalin. This blade, which struck down Vilhan Dakronias in the decisive final battle of the Hallowing War was also used to destroy the machine created by Dakronias. This shattered the connection to both the ethereal and void planes from the mortal world. It is written that Aewalin condemned mortal beings to face suffering as penance for the unholy abominations and actions of the Mad Warlock, and vowed that mortals would never again be given access to the Hallowed Halls of Valhas before their death.
This decree has been upheld, and no mortal has been able to reopen a direct line of travel between the mortal and Hallowed realms. However extra-planar travel does occur. In order for a stable connection to occur between the ethereal realms, a great amount of power must be expelled and maintained. Without a specific site, like the Widow's Wood on Hammerhenge Island, with its intermittent connections as a result of lingering tears in the planar fabric, connections must be formed through incoming waves of cosmic power to the mortal plane. In essence, those opening a tear between the Hells and Emmeron must do so from the Hells themselves. For a mortal to travel to the Hells, or for denizens of the Hells to remain in the mortal world, a pact must be made, wherein the souls of the individuals become intertwined to balance the fabric of reality. This process, known as ensoulement, is a means of tethering a soul to the material plane. Once a portal is established, such as through Void Mirrors, ensoulment can occur.
The process of ensoulment is generally not a voluntary process. Most often, victims within the mortal realm are cast into the Void by extra-planar beings to be used as keystones for Void-based power. Alternatively, the Penitent, the masses of wandering hopless souls who inhabit the great plains of the Void are often drawn upon for power, increasing their suffering and the diminishment of those memories and emotions which gave them humanity in life. Often, individuals will make pacts with devils in order to attain material wealth or success. Often, a hidden condition of such pacts results in a prolonged or eternal stint being ensouled to the devil, to increase their power on the material plane, and allow more free movement across the mortal realm.