An ancient land of beauty and danger.

A high fantasy project by BWatford

THE BETWEEN Imagine a realm where reality’s fabric is thin and tattered, where the veil separating the mundane from the extraordinary is as delicate as a spider’s web. This is “The Between,” a shadowy netherworld that exists parallel to our own, a place of eerie twilight and whispering echoes. A realm said to exist between “Mirrors”. In “The Between,” the laws of physics are mere suggestions, and time flows like a capricious stream, meandering and doubling back on itself. It’s a place of contradictions, where the impossible is commonplace, and the rational mind falters. Here, the air is thick with the power of unbridled imagination, and every shadow holds a secret, every reflection a distorted truth. To step through a mirror and into “The Between” is to enter a world of perpetual dusk, where the remnants of forgotten dreams and nightmares linger. It’s a land of lost souls and phantoms, where the spirits of the departed mingle with creatures born of pure thought and fear. The landscape is ever-changing, molded by the whims of its denizens and the stray thoughts of those who dare to traverse it. In the World of Elissar, “The Between” serves as a mystical bridge that connects various realms, each with its own unique essence and inhabitants. It interacts with The Dreaming, The Waking, and The Bleak Gate in the following ways: The Dreaming (the Fey Mirror): This realm is akin to a vibrant tapestry woven from the threads of imagination and the subconscious. It is a place where the fey reside, and its connection to “The Between” allows for the ebb and flow of whimsy and caprice into the mortal world. The Dreaming is accessed through rare portals, and it’s here that the dreams and aspirations of mortals take shape. The Bleak Gate (the Wraith Mirror): In stark contrast to The Dreaming, The Bleak Gate is a somber realm where shadows reign. It is a domain of reflection and introspection, where the wraiths and spirits that have unfinished business in the mortal world linger. “The Between” serves as a corridor through which these spirits can influence the realm of the living, often in ways that are subtle yet profound. The Waking (Realm of Mortals): This is the tangible world where mortals dwell, a place of flesh and blood, bound by the laws of nature and the cycle of life and death. “The Between” touches upon this realm at its fringes, where reality blurs and the extraordinary seeps through. It is in these liminal spaces that mortals might catch glimpses of the other realms or even traverse them, should they find the rare mirror portals or possess the necessary knowledge to create them. The connection between these realms is intricate and deeply woven into the fabric of existence in Elissar. “The Between” acts as a conduit, allowing for the interplay of energies and entities across the realms. It is the thread that binds them, ensuring that none exists in isolation, and each influences the other in myriad ways. The Dreaming and The Bleak Gate, while distinct from “The Between,” are nevertheless integral to the balance of Elissar. They represent the dual nature of existence—creation and dissolution, hope and despair, light and darkness. Together with “The Between,” they form a cosmic triad that shapes the destiny of all beings within the World of Elissar. In summary, “The Between” is the heart of a grand cosmic puzzle, connecting the realms of The Dreaming, The Bleak Gate, and the Waking in a dance of creation, reflection, and existence. It is the silent witness to the unfolding stories of every creature, the canvas upon which the tapestry of Elissar is continuously woven. TALES MORTALS TELL But those few mortals that say they have visited the land between mirrors would say different…. “The Between” is depicted as a haunting and perilous place that exists alongside the known world. It’s a realm filled with horrors and monstrosities that defy the natural order. These creatures are not just threats to be overcome; they are manifestations of the very essence of “The Between” — a place where the fabric of reality is warped and twisted. In the shadowed whispers of “The Between,” there are tales that chill the bones of even the bravest souls. Here are a few nightmarish accounts of mortals who dared to traverse this enigmatic realm: The Artist’s Descent: A tale is told of an artist who, in search of inspiration, found a hidden portal to “The Between.” There, he witnessed landscapes that defied geometry and colors unseen by the human eye. But when he returned, his mind was no longer his own. His canvases became windows to “The Between,” and those who gazed upon them vanished, leaving behind only a faint echo of their screams. It is said that these canvases still exist somewhere today and provide access to “The Between”. The Lost Mariner: A mariner once spoke of a fog that led him to “The Between,” where the sea and sky were one. He sailed on waters that mirrored the stars, but the stars held the gaze of hungry eyes. When he escaped, he was not the same; his eyes forever reflected the starry abyss, and he spoke in whispers of a ceaseless tide that called him back. The Dreamer’s Folly: A dreamer, enticed by the allure of “The Between,” wandered into its embrace, believing it to be a manifestation of her deepest desires. Instead, she found a realm of broken dreams, where hope twisted into despair, and her every wish turned to ash in her hands. She awoke with a start, but the ash remained, a bitter reminder of the price of her folly. These tales serve as a grim warning to those who seek “The Between.” It is a place of wonder, yes, but also of terror—a realm where the line between reality and nightmare is perilously thin. For those who visit, whether by chance or choice, the journey is transformative, and the return, if it comes at all, is never without cost. THE ELVEN CONNECTION The rumors of the Sundering in the context of “The Between” speak of a time when the elves, driven by curiosity and a thirst for knowledge, discovered pathways into this mysterious realm. Learned how to create special mirrors that allowed them to step through at will. It is said that their forays into “The Between” were not merely acts of exploration but a quest for deeper understanding and power. As the tales go, the elves learned to navigate “The Between,” a place where the fabric of reality was thin and malleable. They encountered wonders and horrors beyond their wildest imaginings, and in their hubris, they believed they could harness the energies of this liminal space. But “The Between” was not a realm to be trifled with; it was ancient and sentient in its own right, governed by arcane forces that the elves could not fully comprehend. The Sundering, as whispered in hushed tones, was the catastrophic result of the elves’ overreach. They touched upon powers too vast for mortal minds, energies that could warp time, space, and the very essence of being. In their attempt to wield these forces, the elves inadvertently tore the veil between the worlds, causing a great fracturing—a Sundering that would echo through the ages. This event reshaped the cosmos, altering the balance between the realms. “The Between” recoiled from the elves’ intrusion, and the repercussions were felt across all of existence. The Dreaming quivered, The Bleak Gate trembled, and the Waking—the realm of mortals—was forever changed. The elves, once united, found themselves divided, scattered across the realms, their unity sundered as surely as the worlds themselves. The Sundering remains a cautionary tale, a reminder of the perils of delving too deeply into the unknown and the price of reaching beyond one’s grasp. It is a legend that serves to warn those who might follow in the elves’ footsteps, seeking the secrets of “The Between” and the power it holds. The elves refuse to speak of the events of the Sundering, they neither deny nor give credit to such rumors. THE CITY STATE OF CASTORHAGE In the distant east, where the remnants of the once-majestic elven empire lay in ruins, stand the surviving city-states of the continent’s eastern reaches. These cities flourished from the ashes of the elven dominion, swelling to populations in the millions in the three centuries that have passed since the Sundering. Within the confines of the nefarious and degenerate city-state of Castorhage, also known as “The Blight,” humanity has once more begun to regularly traverse the enigmatic threshold of “The Between.” It is in this place that the arcane secrets once concealed by the elves are sought after anew, in a perilous attempt to command forces not meant for mortal hands. A realm shrouded in ominous whispers and fearsome tales, the land beyond mirrors is a source of dread. The knowledge of the fixed portals to “The Between” is a closely guarded secret of the Illuminati, who wield control over the majority of the mirrored gateways within the city. Yet, their repeated transgressions into the realm of distorted shadows have precipitated an alarming surge in portals flinging open between the two worlds, as bizarre, dark entities claw their way out of mundane looking-glasses, prompting many to shatter their mirrors for a twist of good fortune. Occasionally, beings are glimpsed or ensnared — entities so unsettling to behold, composed of the myriad substances they’ve encountered, the thoughts they’ve conjured, and the company they’ve kept in their peculiar domains. These beings are known to some as the Dread Fey, the Twisted Fey, or simply the Others. But it is here, in Castohage, that entities from “The Between” have also begun to venture into our realm. It is here that men, blinded by their desire for power and renown, act recklessly. “My first glimpse of the Betweenlands almost left me insensible; here indeed was Cornucopia — the Land of Plenty, the Place of Milk and Honey. The far side of the mirror was like a place of impossible life and noise and scents; my senses were assaulted from all sides. I first entered a mirror of the room I set forth from; this was an ordinary looking replica of the room from which I departed, save that it was aware … I cannot describe it even now; it seemed as though it was watching me, as though everything was watching me. I found a door that, in the chamber I had left, led into a hallway and thence my own small walled garden. Grasping the doorknob, which if my senses hadn’t betrayed me I could have sworn complained at being moved, I stepped into the next room. It was not my garden; rather it was a garden room such as the Royals have — a glass chamber full of light and flowers. And such flowers! Colours and blooms that I had scarcely even dreamt of were there, and the air was alive with buzzing of bees. An open doorway led onto a green lawn by the side of a tumbling brook. “Little did I know then, what was out there watching me enter this garden …” —The Chronicles of Hetherington Quarrus Mabe Volume 1, Chapter 11 “If the Devil could create a beast and give it breath and anger, the creatures I glimpsed would be his masterpieces. The things lurched about on three legs, but not with any great speed, almost as though they were injured in their movements; they were things of thorns and iron and might, each taller than a cathedral and each with hateful fire in their bellies. I saw these dragons lay waste to the lands they ruled — great lines of white fire belching from their mouths and destroying men, almost as though for amusement. This land was red with weed and sickness and resignation, and the dragons ruled here in this Broken Land.” —Pramus Quith, Expeditionary Captain Royal Between Company

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