In the vast, eternal cosmos, existed a newborn ember, a cosmic god with an insatiable thirst for the wonders of existence. Compelled by their curiosity, this divine spark donned a corporeal form and embarked on a odyssey across the stars, eager to experience all of reality. Yet fate, an inexorable force woven into the fabric of all existence, had other plans. In a twist of cosmic irony, the Ember was struck dead by the very universe it longed to explore, meeting its demise it plummeted into a desolate moon, with a cataclysmic impact. The event nearly destroyed the planet, reducing the god to the primordial ashes of creation and gouging a colossal chasm into the lunar landscape.
In this moment of cosmic upheaval, the god’s ethereal essence underwent a transcendent metamorphosis. Within the crater of it’s demise a seemingly endless labyrinth of demiplanes known as the Sway burst forth, a tapestry of layered realities born from divine consciousness. The Fallen Ember’s ego fragmented into its most fundamental parts, giving birth to the Essences. These nascent gods, each a sovereign of immeasurable dominion, wielded powers beyond mortal comprehension, yet were imprisoned within the confines of the Sway.
As aeons passed, the primordial ashes, once aimless and chaotic, birthed a storm of raw, untamed energy within the moon’s vast crater. From this maelstrom of creation and destruction, an equilibrium was eventually wrought. The threshold which separates the sway from reality formed, giving way to material creation. And so, from the final wills of a cosmic maker was born the world of Hadavi. The first and last creation of the Fallen Ember.
Material World
As the Fallen Ember’s being collided with the moon, it carved a colossal crater, forever altering the lunar surface. Within that crater, the material world of Hadavi emerged from the ashes of creation. Contained within an insurmountable perimeter of jagged peaks, its oceans flooded with freshwater and its wilderness and beasts flourished. Though that was only the beginning. Throughout the ages, Hadavi has assumed many forms. From a verdant wilderness to a snow-covered wonderland. Though none have been as unrecognizable as its current form. In the seventh age it has become a harsh wasteland, with oceans of sand spanning the horizon, and only the most tenacious of nature’s creations endure.
The Sway
The Sway is the metaphysical consciousness of the Fallen Ember, consisting of innumerable ‘layers’ reflective of endless thoughts. Each layer it’s own world governed by its own laws. ‘Top layers’ are closely intertwined with Hadavi, and have potential to be gateways for beings to traverse the boundaries between the sway and material world. The sway’s layers are born from both the deliberate acts of the Essences and spontaneous creations, much like a mind’s introspection or dreams. ‘Bottom layers’ are distant from reality, where progeny of the Essences may spontaneously emerge, leading to potential chaos or order.
The seemingly infinite demiplanes of the sway occupy the same space as the material world of Hadavi, but yet separated by an expanse of metaphysical reality. Many layers possess an ethereal quality, providing a sanctuary for the souls of those who have departed the material world, while others embody realms of pure chaos. From within the Sway its boundaries appear to extend to the far reaches of the cosmos, though both the demiplanes and their denizens remain tethered to the resting place of the Fallen Ember.
In the Hadavian solar system there are eight major celestial bodies which are used in culture. These celestial objects hold deep meaning for the world’s inhabitants, and are used to measure not only time but various other aspects of their lives.
The Sun
The Sun, known as Unav among the Hadavians, is regarded as a relentless demon, both a source of warmth and life, and of fire and destruction.
Eterio
Eterio is the mysterious planet in which holds Hadavi and all of the moons in its orbit.
Hadavi
Hadavi, the planetary body which the known material world resides, is itself a moon. Tidally locked in an outward position, its parental planet, Eterio, remains forever beneath the horizon of the crater’s mountainous edge.
The Crater
Extending across some 7,000 miles in diameter, this massive impact crater confines the entirety of the known world. The crater’s perimeter is ringed with mountainous walls that extend beyond the atmosphere, an impossible barrier miles tall, dominating the horizon from every side.
The Kin
A cluster of asteroids, known as the Kin, orbits Hadavi. These asteroids are the debris of the Fallen Ember’s collision with Hadavi, captured in the moon’s orbit. They complete their journey around Hadavi every 28 hours, and at times, fragments from the Kin enter the world’s atmosphere, producing mesmerizing displays of light.
The Moons
Because they orbit the same planetary body, the other moons often seem to approach from a distance, or appear on the horizon, only to then recede into the heavens.
The Companion
The moon closest to Hadavi, the Companion, frequently graces the sky and exerts a significant influence on the planet’s ocean tides. This particular moon also holds the distinction of being the nearest celestial body to Hadavi.
The Wanderers
In the distant skies, two moons, referred to as the Elder and Child, periodically appear. These emergences happen roughly every few months. Initially, they manifest on the eastern horizon, and gradually float away from Hadavi, until they vanish beyond the western horizon.
These lunar phenomena can be observed separately on occasion, and at other times, both moons simultaneously adorn the heavens. Various cultures often attribute significance to these events, interpreting them as omens that may convey either favorable or unfavorable signs.
The Stranger
The only moon that orbits between Hadavi and Eterio, the stranger plays a unique role in this celestial arrangement. It becomes visible exclusively when positioned along the outermost edges of it’s orbit. For the majority of the year, however, it remains concealed from view beneath the horizon.