It is important to note that most are ignorant to the fact that the world was borne from the Fallen Ember, only the Essences and their more clever children have figured that out. Even knowledge of the Essences was lost to humanity by the end of the third age. It is the inevitables who are most commonly referred to and worshiped in the material world of Hadavi. In the sway the essences are still known as the supreme power.

Pure manifestations of the Fallen Ember’s fractured spirit, the Essences have dominion over the metaphysical layers of the Sway. Often referred to as the siblings of creation, they are beings of unfathomable power and indomitable will, holding allegiance to neither good nor evil. However, despite their privilege, they remain prisoners within the Sway, tethered to the lingering echoes of the Fallen Ember. A condition of their isolation is the limited influence they hold over Hadavi, a mere echo of the unfathomable power they wield within the demiplanes. Nonetheless, they are the divine authority over Hadavi, manipulating the destinies of mortals as if they were mere playthings in the hands of capricious children. And so it is rare to find the Essences worshiped in a formal capacity as most cultures regard them as forces of nature, to be respected but not revered.

Domain: Anger

Description: Rioth is frequently portrayed as a somber, enigmatic figure, shrouded in billowing smoke and flickering flames. Their eyes smolder with a searing, red fury that threatens to engulf any who dare meet their gaze. The power of Rioth is felt by all, and those who succumb to it are consumed by an uncontrollable rage, only to be later forsaken and burdened with the consequences of their actions. For some, this weight proves too heavy, driving them back to Rioth’s fury time and time again, leaving nothing but ruin in their path.

Domain: Destruction

Description: Unique among the essences, Gaulgulis is not of the Fallen Ember, but instead an intrusive force. They are an alien entity from a universe beyond Embergrave. A force of pure destruction brought to this reality by fate alone.

Domain: Happiness

Domain: Sadness

Domain: Want

Description: Sarthik has manifested to numerous individuals across the ages, presenting himself as a towering figure draped in a cloak adorned with innumerable keys of every conceivable design. His visage bears a human resemblance with devilish features, including blackened eyes and a golden keyhole in place of a nose. Contrary to other Essences, Sarthik frequently extends his influence directly, sowing seeds of temptation in the hearts of the influential and humble alike. Tales of his dealings with mortals appear throughout history, recounting stories of irresistible offers made to unsuspecting individuals, only to ensnare them in the god’s ever-growing collection.

From the smallest trinkets to entire kingdoms Tzrne serves as a menagerie for the Visitors amassed treasures. An overcast of dancing scarlet light illuminates the desolate landscape below, where innumerable ancient and otherworldly ruins pepper the terrain. Amongst the ruins a seemingly endless assortment of doors, ranging from modest to elaborate, are scattered throughout, acting as portals to other planes which only the Visitor may pass through. It is said that once an object of the Visitor’s desire enters Tzrne, only his mercy can grant escape. Even the souls of the captive deceased remain confined within its borders. However, not all objects of the demiplane originate from the material world; The Visitor amasses even his siblings’ creations, some of which are indescribable monstrosities that stake out territory within the collection like apex predators defending their hunting grounds.

Domain: Growth

Description: The final desire of the Fallen Ember was to create something beautiful, and thus, upon their demise and the emergence of the Essences, Lord was bestowed the power to usher life from the void into the material world. As a result, it is believed that he carries the largest shard of the Fallen Ember’s spirit, making him the most sovereign amongst his siblings. And yet Lord has secluded himself, retreating to his own demiplane and leaving the others to their schemes. He is often depicted as an immense figure, bound to a colossal throne, with the roots of the material world serving as his veins, sprouting from his flesh in countless number. For the natural order to which the wilds and beasts serve is the will of the Root Father.

Among Lord’s innumerable roots, some never take hold in the material world. These roots entwine themselves, coiling into solid forms before ultimately withering and detaching from the Root Father. These are known as the coins of Lord, imbued with the tremendous divine power. They are coveted treasures even amongst the gods, and rank among the most potent artifacts throughout Embergrave.

Domain: Fear

Domain: Logic

Born from the mighty Essences, the Inevitables are their imperfect offspring, sometimes created with intention, but more often emerging as unintended byproducts of their parents’ vast powers. While they possess only a fraction of the Essences’ abilities, with some inheriting more power than others, they hold godlike status in their own right. These beings not only inherit themes from their progenitors but also develop unique attributes, shaped by the circumstances of their birth. Unlike the pure Essences, the Inevitables are deeply intertwined with the fabric of the material world, even possessing the ability to traverse the realm between realms to walk among mortals. This connection makes them more relatable to mortals, often becoming the focus of worship and invocation in various cultures. However, this connection also makes them vulnerable; unlike their all-powerful parents, the Inevitables are not invincible and can be destroyed.
*This list is not exhaustive

Progenitor(s): Sarthik

Description: Zarakleise is envisioned as a serpent large enough to consume the world, only thwarted by their own hunger as they eat their own tail. Few cultures worship the serpent, but the ones that do revere them as a god of death, and seek to bring about the end of times.

Progenitor(s): N, Lord

Description: More a state of existence than an entity, Endroth is a sentient demiplane that curates lucid dreams and nightmares. For much of history, Endroth remained concealed, accessible only to those who devoted their lives to dreaming in the deepest of slumbers. However, with the coming of the judge and seventh age, Endroth seeped into the material world, forming crystals in the deepest shadows of the tallest mountain. These crystals exude a gelatinous substance which, when ingested, enables the consumer’s mind to traverse the boundary between Endroth and reality freely. In exceptional cases, when a dream or nightmare is particularly potent, a fragment of it can accompany the user’s mind back into the material world, transforming a sliver of their dream into tangible reality.

Domain: Will

Progenitor(s): Lord, Sarthik

Domain: Morality

Progenitor(s): N, Andalae, Vath

Domain: Love

Progenitor(s): Andalae, Sarthik

Progenitor(s): Oap

Description: Once a mortal, a great sorceress who thrived in the fifth age, Ulvera has conquered death by being reborn into the body of another. Though her immortality is far from her greatest power as she binds fire to her will and can create formidable warriors from ash. Though she has lived many lives, in the seventh age she rules the Ulverian people as their god-empress, creating an entire culture around her abilities.

Magic is the residual dust of the Fallen Ember, a fundamental component in the creation within both Hadavi and The Sway. It pervades all existence, shaping and transforming reality over time, akin to radiation. Entities within Hadavi that have been altered, shaped, or advanced by magic are known as “Spellbound.”

Magic embodies the duality of boundless energy and the cognizance of the deity it originated from. Magic instinctively clusters together, eventually forming sentient beings when sufficiently concentrated, these beings are called “Spellmade.” Naturally-occurring Spellmade are often humanoid in shape (mirroring the Fallen Ember’s chosen form), vary in power based on the duration of their magical accumulation. Manufactured Spellmade can come in almost infinite variations depending on the nature of their creation.

In rare instances localized magic such as that which is infused in a relic can develop a personality of its own even without a physical form. How an ego communicates can range from audible language to empathic manipulation. Many myths surround egos, and in some cases they are worshiped as gods.

Because of magics volatile nature, spells cast by mortal hands must be placed into objects called relics in order to be harnessed. magic sight allows a user to see relic auras. The more power the spell, the brighter the aura is. Because of that a relic’s power is often described in terms of radiance or brightness.

An uncommon form of relic which requires years of practice and study to use. They are not dedicated to any one particular spell but instead act as a temporary container. Once mastered an individual can cast any known spell of a particular school up to a certain level by instantly infusing the spell within the focus. Unlike standard relic casting a focus takes a physical toll on it’s user, only limited by the user’s ability. Some focuses are believed to be blessed by divine beings and are wielded by fanatics.