This section outlines the fundamental layers of existence that comprise the known universe and beyond. Understanding these layers is essential for comprehending the nature of magic, divinity, and metaphysical phenomena.
The Dark Realm is an extradimensional plane of existence that exists parallel to our own reality. It is characterized by its complete absence of light and its unique metaphysical properties that defy conventional physics.
The Beyond, also known as the Starry Expanse, represents the cosmic void between realms.
function navigateBeyond(origin, destination) {
const vector = calculateMetaphysicalVector(origin, destination);
const energyRequired = vector.magnitude * 1.5;
return { vector, energyRequired, safetyMargin: 0.7 };
}Multiple afterlife dimensions exist, each corresponding to different belief systems and metaphysical frameworks.
Roklem's Proclamations form the foundation of cosmic law. Originally 13 in number, they have been amended through divine consensus.
Long-distance travel across the sparsely populated, agrarian Dark Realm is difficult. Travel is primarily by horse.
Travel is primarily by horseback, wagon, or on foot. A journey from the frontier to the capital takes two weeks by horse (with remounts) or a month on foot. (#010)
Roads are primarily dirt or packed earth, uneven and rutted by wagon wheels, making travel "bumpy" and physically taxing. (#014)
Major roads and pilgrimage routes are maintained and patrolled by the Church, making them generally safe for unarmed travel. (#160)
Requires stopping every 2 hours in the morning and evening to rest horses. Warhorses require twice the fodder of a regular pack horse. (#007, #014)
Exist on noble estates, staffed by stable hands like Lorenzo. (#155)
Long journeys require planning, with camps and waystations (including chapels) set up along the way. (#155, #179)
Celestial navigation (using the stars) is a known method for traversing unfamiliar terrain. (#008)
Paths are unmarked, relying on local knowledge. Mountain passes are avoided in winter, even by traders. (#009)
Long-distance communication is slow. Even with a network of relay stations and riders pushing horses to the limit, it takes weeks for messages to cross the realm. (#160)
Encountering 10,000 different people, as required by some Othergod contracts, is a Herculean logistical task in this setting. (#130)
The political and spiritual heart of the empire, drawing nobles, pilgrims, and merchants from across the continent. It is the heart of the Order of Roklem's power, centered on the Cathedral-City complex. (#130, #160)
Nobles gather in the capital ahead of the Council, pretending to be on pilgrimage. Unexpected gatherings of major noble house heads cause significant political tension and speculation. (#119, #160)
The Holy Cathedral is considered the safest place during the Tutorial Phase due to the 'Emergency Rescue System' and the presence of Apostles. (#143)
Its primary feature is the Grand Bell-Cathedral complex. House Teres is located outside the capital's walls. (#179)
Represent the impoverished outskirts of the empire. Fabio's point of origin. (#006)
Remote, new settlements. The first structure built is always a bell tower (simple, rope-pulled from the ground). Characterized by simple dwellings (e.g., thatched roofs) and fields. (#007, #008)
A modest home with a thatched roof where Fabio hid silver coins beneath straw. A specific rock marked the boundary of land he intended to clear. (#006, #009)
Home of the local bell ringer who gave Fabio the Astrolabe. (#157, #160)
A place of learning containing many books. Though modest, it contains subtly expensive, high-quality items: a silver penknife and an ebony wax board. (#008, #010)
The fertile grain region southeast of the capital, overseen by House Floren. The land is ultimately under the domain of Egus, God of Fertility, with Floren playing a minor supporting role. (#130)
Small churches or shrines located along major pilgrimage routes to the Capital Cathedral, offering rest and sanctuary. (#160)
Can be places of refuge or betrayal (e.g., where Perpetua was betrayed). (#155)
They have a sanctified space, dormitory quarters, and a kitchen. Order members traveling in groups of two or more must eat and sleep only in chapels and cannot stay overnight in settlements without one. (#010)
Autonomous seats of power for divine bloodlines, centers of political intrigue, especially during succession crises. (#142, #160)
Lavish estate outside the capital, home of Marcello Teres (Pandomonium). He refers to it as "home," plans to take it over, and could offer sanctuary there. (#143, #171, #179)
Seat of the Saint's original house, devotees of the God of Solace. Home of Perpetua Ophea. Its "sanctuary" is legally autonomous from Church judgment. (#155, #156, #157)
A known landmark from Conclude; in reality, it is not the site for Othergod contract ceremonies (each player's altar is unique and secret). (#130)
[Previously noted as the universal starting point in the game.]
Located in the northeast, associated with the Watched One Francesco Horeum (House Lizard). (#063, #161)
Secluded religious communities where ordained members of divine bloodlines can be sent to live out their lives. (#156)
A settlement established and guarded by the Distorted One. (#182)
A vast complex constructed from stone and plaster, containing administrative, residential, research, and religious facilities. Rooms have windows and basic furnishings. (#134, #150, #157)
The entire structure is a sanctified panopticon. The stone is imbued with Roklem's blessing, allowing detection of unauthorized divine power. (#026)
Design encodes social hierarchy through restricted access. Damage (e.g., broken walls) can be repaired perfectly using advanced divine powers. Hallways are public spaces where gossip spreads quickly. (#134, #143)
The central, defining feature with over 600 steps. Its design is modeled after an ancient tool for measuring celestial altitude—a right-angle ruler or "X" shape—embedding the Order's connection to cosmic law. (#008, #020)
Doors to private rooms can be locked from the inside. (#064)
The complex contains service areas (laundry, kitchens), stables, maintenance quarters, and common dormitories—the mundane backbone run by lower-status workers. (#026)
The primary religious and administrative center. (#130)
A central tower housing the Bell of Worship and liturgical bells. Contains a hidden maintenance passage triggered by the Astrolabe relic. (#168, #169)
[See also i.c for architectural significance.]
The primary administrative and research hub. Exhibits strange, potentially sentient or mutable properties. Houses the entrance to the deep basement system. (#136, #137, #150)
The private quarters and office of the Order's leader. The most sanctified space, bathed in permanent, ethereal soft white light from the Apostles. The air is thick with palpable divine energy, and sound-absorbing walls create solemn silence. Contains a cozy tea table for audiences and is a large room capable of holding dozens of storage chests. (#019, #020, #152, #159)
Where petitioners wait, often for days, for an audience. (#160)
A place of secular authority and intimidation. A commander personally sharpening a sword here is a recognized psychological tactic, signaling readiness for immediate execution. (#017)
A public dining hall where the concept of 'lunch' was once erased via 'Oblivion'. (#068)
A large communal area capable of holding dozens. (#043, #166)
A restricted, quiet wing reserved for Apostles and their guests. (#157, #160)
Basic living spaces for lower-ranked members; doors can be locked and soundproofed. A dedicated residential building for ordained Readers, containing individual or shared rooms. Fabio's former dorm room here was much smaller than his later quarters in the Apostle Hall. Its door was destroyed by Adna. (#040, #041, #064, #129, #143, #145, #157, #159)
Sparse rooms for the lowest ranks, part of the mundane backbone run by lower-status workers. (#026, #129, #134)
Housing and equipment for knights. (#132)
Houses children under 15, split by age groups. Contains classrooms, bedrooms, a playroom, a library, and underground archives with child registries. (#084, #087)
Found looted and in disarray. (#181)
Contains fabric and a brazier; a comatose priest was found here. (#181)
Where Andrea gathered the silent children, each with a bundled bedsheet of belongings. (#181)
For combat practice; includes personal grounds for Apostles. The ground was cratered by Adna's punch. (#152, #157)
Bustling areas for practice and sparring, used by apprentice knights and paladins; sites for public duels. (#033)
Reinforced, private facilities (e.g., Ada's yard) with incredibly solid flooring. Also function as private retreats for confidential conversations. (#024, #028, #033, #034)
A 4th-floor hall with a slate blackboard, used for scholarly gatherings and "collective unconscious" research. (#095, #096)
A smaller, secondary library, less frequented. Contains a secluded seating area frequented by Athanas for sleep and a large, iconic stained glass window. (#064, #073)
[Future Significance: Repurposed into the "Altar of the Sick" during the plague in Heretic Slayer.]
A modest room within the Main Library with Ouija board-like devices. (#096)
Small, soundproofed rooms for private devotion. (#140)
Contains a large bed and instructional texts on prayer through intimate acts. (#078)
A secured laboratory complex for forbidden research on Watched Ones, contracts, Holy Flesh, and divine history. (#111, #113, #164)
Includes reception areas, operating rooms, and containment chambers for subjects and "repositories." (#113)
A place of isolation, constant surveillance, and hazardous experiments; known for containing "borrowed" holy relics. Callister was created here. (#134, #136, #150, #174)
A facility for bathing with private baths and marble tables/beds for massages.
[Future Significance: Converted into a horrifying infirmary and operating room in Heretic Slayer timeline.] (#041)
A multi-level complex beneath the Main Building.
A known, accessible area.
A 6ft deep space with a stone coffin, accessed by burning a floor section. This is where Athanas discovered the power [Retrograde]. (#044, #045, #074, #075)
Accessed via a secret door in Andrea's office. (#120, #121)
Booby-trapped with wires; its existence/accessibility seems changeable. (#131)
Extends at least 24 levels deep. (#105)
The Basement Stairwell becomes a "suffocating blackness;" air grows cold and damp, with ink rising to ankle depth. (#184, #185)
Levels below Basement 20 induce cognitive breakdown (loss of the concept of ascent). (#161)
Knowledge and memory are affected by depth. The fragmented "God of Records" is connected to these floors. (#137)
A dead zone "beyond the system's jurisdiction" and "where Starlight cannot reach." Associated with temporal errors, "obliteration" boundaries, House Lizard, and the "Ultimate Answer." (#106, #107, #137, #161, #173, #176)
A non-Euclidean, garden-like space warped by Reyes's power, with bookshelves arranged impossibly. (#173)
Within the Distorted Library; a sea of blood-red poppies with a central, artistic skeleton. (#173)
Uses 'Oblivion' to wipe unauthorized knowledge from memory upon exit; restores it for authorized personnel upon return. (#096)
A domain where the Apostle of Ledeia (Research Director) can sense all Holy Flesh as sensory nodes. (#099)
A repository for holy relics, occasionally pilfered by the Research Director. (#150)
Underground facilities for containing Holy Flesh Repositories and other classified projects. (#165)
A sterile, white-tiled, cold, waiting-room version in Fabio's mind. (#186)
A state of absolute sensory deprivation (no sight, sound, touch, air) induced by System quarantine. (#185, #186)
The aesthetic of Fabio's systemic prison—clean, cold, artificial, empty. (#186)
There are seven recognized ethnic groups within the Empire.
The Imperial social structure is divided into 13 official castes.