The Umbra, Spirits, and the Infernal

The physical world (the Tellurian) is separated from the Spirit World by an energetic barrier known as the Gauntlet. Beyond the Gauntlet lies the Umbra, divided into distinct spiritual strata.

The Layers of the Umbra

1. The Penumbra: The spiritual reflection of the physical world. Buildings appear as emotional archetypes, trees whisper, and streetlights glow with ethereal static. Mages with Spirit 2+ can step across the Gauntlet into the Penumbra.
2. The High Umbra (Astral Umbra): The realm of pure intellect, philosophical concepts, abstract ideas, and Hermetic heavens. Reached via meditation, Prime, and Mind magick.
3. The Middle Umbra (Spirit Wilds): The primal, vibrant spirit world governed by nature totems, animal spirits, epiphlings, and elemental lords. See <@middle-umbra.realm>.
4. The Low Umbra (Dark Umbra / Underworld): The gray, sorrowful shadowlands of the Restless Dead, ghosts, spectres, and the Labyrinth. See <@low-umbra.realm> and <@labyrinth.realm>.
5. The Deep Umbra & Horizon: Beyond the Horizon barrier lies the infinite, alien void where raw concepts drift, cosmic entities dwell, and travelers require specialized shielding or Voidcraft. See <@deep-umbra.realm>.

Entities of the Spirit World

• Spirits (Umbrood): Epiphlings, gafflings, jagglings, and celestines that personify concepts, elements, or natural species. See <@epiphlings-of-forces.creature> and <@umbrood-lord.creature>.
• Banes: Wyrm-tainted corruption spirits that feed on suffering, decay, rot, and despair. See <@bane-crypt-lord.creature>.
• Demons & Qliphothic Entities: Infernal spirits hailing from the Qliphoth and abyssal rifts. Unlike nature spirits, demons seek the corruption of free will and barter Faustian bargains for human souls. See <@infernal-demon-qliphothic-fiend.creature>.
• Familiars: Companion spirits or artificial constructs bound to a mage through sacred pacts. See <@awakened-familiar.creature> and <@clockwork-raven-familiar.wonder>.