I'm preparing to run a Ghostwalk Pathfinder campaign, but I'm looking to beef up the Cosmology and the Afterlife a bit first.
I realize that the implementation of what lies Beyond the Veil was a bit rushed and short on space, but I found the seeming lack of Outsiders to be rather frustrating. After all, the way the Afterlife works they don't seem to be included, which is strange as images of them are carved onto the Grand Portal.
So here's my plan/suggestion, but first some quick rule changes.
-Only Outsiders and Elementals are able to travel the Planes "freely". They can be summoned, called, and work just like in any other setting, but all other creature types are limited to the Material, Ethereal and Shadow.
-All that is known of the True Afterlife is what the various gods promise their followers, and the bits and pieces gleaned from tight lipped Outsiders. Outsiders cannot be compelled to reveal anything that they do not want to, and they simply see no point in discussing such things. No one knows what lies beyond the Veil or how planes work. Knowledge (The Planes) gives information on Outsiders and the theories of the planes, but much of this is based on guess work.
-In my campaign, the people of Manifest fear Diabolists far more than Necromancers. Necromancers may steal bodies, but Diabolists prevent a soul from gaining its proper reward by capturing it and tormenting it for power. Some Diabolists are rumored to be able to funnel pure souls to Hell in order to increase their powers. This is represented in my campaign with the use of modified Incarnum classes.
-The threat of Necromancy, while present, is toned down in Manifest. It is far easier to get bodies in countries further from Manifest, where bodies are buried due to Manifest being too far off, or because the families (or government) cannot (or will not) pay to have them sent off quickly. Xaphan is biggest undead threat to Manifest, as the razing of that island's population before the Liche War has made it more difficult to raise "troop" number for an invasion quickly and without too much warning, which makes Manifest the obvious first stop to begin an invasion of the Continent.
-The Deathwardens hold a seat on Manifest's council, though more in an advisory role. The only rule they enforce is the right of all beings, of all species, to bring their dead to the Ghostwalk. This includes savages species, such as goblins, ogres and giants, and even the Yuan-Ti. They insist on this regardless of the situation, be it plague or war, and have made it clear that they would be willing to enforce it with arms if required. They work with the Arboreal Guardians and city watch to ensure that this truce is respected. Because of this, the Yuan-Ti are not the threat to Manifest as described in the book. Their role is taken by Diabolists who want to use the pull of the Ethereal Current for their own foul purposes.
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-The Soulwaters are a demiplane sitting in the Astral Plane. They exist to act as a one-way funnel, entrance hall, trap, and purgatory for the dead. It draws them from the Material and ensures they do not escape. The Dead rarely stay long in the Soulwaters, as the Ethereal Current that flows towards the Veil on the Material continues here, breaking into a variety of different streams one of which will continue the Calling for the Dead. Which one depends on the state of each Dead's soul.
The Dead may remain in the Soulwaters for a variety of reasons. They may be waiting for a loved one, or balk a continuing any further. Some become enthralled with speaking to the dead for other times and places and stay to learn all they can. Many wait to see if their bodies will be passed on to them, as being reunited with the body is something that all the Dead hope for. Dead who become bodied have the potential to rise beyond being merely dead and becoming truly "ascended beings" over time (such as Angels and Devils), but the joining must happen in the Soulwaters, as their bodies will otherwise disappear between the Veil and the Afterlife if they have already moved on. Not many Dead remain in the Soulwaters long enough to become rejoined with their bodies.
Outsiders travel the Soulwaters, looking for Dead (both incorporeal and bodied) that match their alignment (though nothing stops devils and demons from trying to tempt or steal other Dead, except for other Outsiders like Inevitables). They can even cause dead that decided to discorporate to reform in order to collect them. Once they find these Dead that have yet to leave the Soulwaters they ascertain whether or not to leave them behind. The criteria that one of the Dead must meet to be allowed to remain and wait depends on the Outsider, the life the Dead lived, what they are waiting for, and a hundred other factors that cannot even begin to be understood. Good Outsiders are likely to let the Dead wait for a reasonable time, while Evil ones usually need to be shown how they would benefit.
-Upon leaving the Soulwaters, the Dead passes on (either on the "Astral Current" or with the guidance of an Outsider) to the appropriate plane. (The Planes from the Pathfinder game are being used in my game). In this place the incorporeal Dead pass enjoy whatever their rewards were for ages until they eventually disperse and become part of the plane (or more likely, their god). Bodied Dead enjoy much the same life, but change overtime to become true Outsiders.
-The Rules of the Soulwaters only apply to living creatures in the Soulwaters. If a living creature can somehow escape the Soulwaters and reach another plane before dying, the negative levels they accrued can heal and they can gain more xp. If they die after leaving the Soulwaters, they become trapped as incorporeal Dead on the plane they died on. This is a terrible fate, even on a Good aligned plane as the newly Dead may not qualify for the Afterlife they have gained and will not be able to partake in it as a result. Evil aligned planes always welcome the extremely rare pure soul that gets trapped, and passes them on to the torment that other incorporeal dead suffer.
-No one has yet to escape the True Afterlife up to this point. There are stories of Heroes traveling into Hell to perform some great deed, but these all end with them taking their place at the hand of their God.
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So that's what I'm thinking at the moment. I'd appreciate any criticism.
I realize that the implementation of what lies Beyond the Veil was a bit rushed and short on space, but I found the seeming lack of Outsiders to be rather frustrating. After all, the way the Afterlife works they don't seem to be included, which is strange as images of them are carved onto the Grand Portal.
So here's my plan/suggestion, but first some quick rule changes.
-Only Outsiders and Elementals are able to travel the Planes "freely". They can be summoned, called, and work just like in any other setting, but all other creature types are limited to the Material, Ethereal and Shadow.
-All that is known of the True Afterlife is what the various gods promise their followers, and the bits and pieces gleaned from tight lipped Outsiders. Outsiders cannot be compelled to reveal anything that they do not want to, and they simply see no point in discussing such things. No one knows what lies beyond the Veil or how planes work. Knowledge (The Planes) gives information on Outsiders and the theories of the planes, but much of this is based on guess work.
-In my campaign, the people of Manifest fear Diabolists far more than Necromancers. Necromancers may steal bodies, but Diabolists prevent a soul from gaining its proper reward by capturing it and tormenting it for power. Some Diabolists are rumored to be able to funnel pure souls to Hell in order to increase their powers. This is represented in my campaign with the use of modified Incarnum classes.
-The threat of Necromancy, while present, is toned down in Manifest. It is far easier to get bodies in countries further from Manifest, where bodies are buried due to Manifest being too far off, or because the families (or government) cannot (or will not) pay to have them sent off quickly. Xaphan is biggest undead threat to Manifest, as the razing of that island's population before the Liche War has made it more difficult to raise "troop" number for an invasion quickly and without too much warning, which makes Manifest the obvious first stop to begin an invasion of the Continent.
-The Deathwardens hold a seat on Manifest's council, though more in an advisory role. The only rule they enforce is the right of all beings, of all species, to bring their dead to the Ghostwalk. This includes savages species, such as goblins, ogres and giants, and even the Yuan-Ti. They insist on this regardless of the situation, be it plague or war, and have made it clear that they would be willing to enforce it with arms if required. They work with the Arboreal Guardians and city watch to ensure that this truce is respected. Because of this, the Yuan-Ti are not the threat to Manifest as described in the book. Their role is taken by Diabolists who want to use the pull of the Ethereal Current for their own foul purposes.
******************************************
-The Soulwaters are a demiplane sitting in the Astral Plane. They exist to act as a one-way funnel, entrance hall, trap, and purgatory for the dead. It draws them from the Material and ensures they do not escape. The Dead rarely stay long in the Soulwaters, as the Ethereal Current that flows towards the Veil on the Material continues here, breaking into a variety of different streams one of which will continue the Calling for the Dead. Which one depends on the state of each Dead's soul.
The Dead may remain in the Soulwaters for a variety of reasons. They may be waiting for a loved one, or balk a continuing any further. Some become enthralled with speaking to the dead for other times and places and stay to learn all they can. Many wait to see if their bodies will be passed on to them, as being reunited with the body is something that all the Dead hope for. Dead who become bodied have the potential to rise beyond being merely dead and becoming truly "ascended beings" over time (such as Angels and Devils), but the joining must happen in the Soulwaters, as their bodies will otherwise disappear between the Veil and the Afterlife if they have already moved on. Not many Dead remain in the Soulwaters long enough to become rejoined with their bodies.
Outsiders travel the Soulwaters, looking for Dead (both incorporeal and bodied) that match their alignment (though nothing stops devils and demons from trying to tempt or steal other Dead, except for other Outsiders like Inevitables). They can even cause dead that decided to discorporate to reform in order to collect them. Once they find these Dead that have yet to leave the Soulwaters they ascertain whether or not to leave them behind. The criteria that one of the Dead must meet to be allowed to remain and wait depends on the Outsider, the life the Dead lived, what they are waiting for, and a hundred other factors that cannot even begin to be understood. Good Outsiders are likely to let the Dead wait for a reasonable time, while Evil ones usually need to be shown how they would benefit.
-Upon leaving the Soulwaters, the Dead passes on (either on the "Astral Current" or with the guidance of an Outsider) to the appropriate plane. (The Planes from the Pathfinder game are being used in my game). In this place the incorporeal Dead pass enjoy whatever their rewards were for ages until they eventually disperse and become part of the plane (or more likely, their god). Bodied Dead enjoy much the same life, but change overtime to become true Outsiders.
-The Rules of the Soulwaters only apply to living creatures in the Soulwaters. If a living creature can somehow escape the Soulwaters and reach another plane before dying, the negative levels they accrued can heal and they can gain more xp. If they die after leaving the Soulwaters, they become trapped as incorporeal Dead on the plane they died on. This is a terrible fate, even on a Good aligned plane as the newly Dead may not qualify for the Afterlife they have gained and will not be able to partake in it as a result. Evil aligned planes always welcome the extremely rare pure soul that gets trapped, and passes them on to the torment that other incorporeal dead suffer.
-No one has yet to escape the True Afterlife up to this point. There are stories of Heroes traveling into Hell to perform some great deed, but these all end with them taking their place at the hand of their God.
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So that's what I'm thinking at the moment. I'd appreciate any criticism.
