The Darkworld

The Sixth is either the parent of Wonder or its child. Born of the passions of the Fifth, the Sixth is formed of belief. This is not the same as faith, as one does not need to worship a thing to believe in it. Secrets and spells and hopes and dreams dwell in this place, some gossamer as tendrils of smoke and others having more substance than anything found in the mortal realm. Time is more elastic, bending now to both will and belief. One may spend a lifetime here and wake an hour later an old man in a child's bed. It is impossible to explain just how the Fifth and Sixth interact in a general manner. There is no formula, no exact science one could employ. There are approachable concepts, specific to one world or another, but there is no hard and fast rule one could rely on. The Sixth only exists where the people of the Fifth dwell, yet is larger and at least as ancient, and more complex than any of the mortal realm should wish to know.

Earth's Dreamland

Each night, when a person sleeps, they pass from their bodies and travel to this realm. The crowded shores of Dream are filled with the flotsam of life — the images, the sounds. It is here the mind edits. The majority of dreamers are too concerned with the scraps, it seems, staying at the water's edge and stirring what's left there. Beyond lies a land of beauty and horror. Gifted Dreamers, however, go deeper, into the cities, and explore the limitless spectacle of the twisted imaginings of Man. Not everything on display is safe to be seen and not all those who die in their sleep go peacefully into that good night. Lucid Dreamers are a breed apart. While Dreamers may interact with the Sixth while they visit, Lucids can change things. The greatest Lucids have challenged gods in the Sixth. All children are natural Lucids, but they are young and untrained. Indeed, children actually exist partially in the Sixth at all times until they "grow up" and "know better."

Nova

To what one would take to be North is Nova. It glows in the soft light of a warm summer's late, lazy afternoon. Lush fields and verdant woods intermingle with cozy villages and quiet, lakeside getaways. A heady scent fills the air as blossoms are stirred by the gentle breeze. The lord of sleep, the god Hypnos walks as light through the ether, smiling upon the flocks. Hypnos is the elder brother, the keeper of the gate and master of the realm, locally speaking.

Threshold

Morpheus, lord of dream, is South. The sickly illumination of Luna's wan light chills the bleak landscape of steel and stone. Where Hypnos is everywhere, Morpheus is everything. The endless city of Threshold is the younger fallen across the land and forever growing. Twisted skyscrapers claw at the turbulent sky roiling so close above. The streets are packed with dreamers and dreamed, the latter avoiding the former who mostly do not notice.

Beneath are vast caverns and twisting tunnels that connect them and other, secret places. While technically the province of Hypnos, neither brother is the true power there. Bogres, hunters of children, rule by council of five. The bogres war with each other, vying for power amongst themselves, pitching their minions into endless battle. None in Threshold and Nova dare oppose them.

People

Artifacts

Factions

Acolytes

A gang of Dreamwalkers, Hypnomancers, and others who often work for Nocturnos and oppose nearly all others. They are criminals who use their Glints for power above mortals, Darkworlders, and those In-Between.

Bogeymen

Do their thing (terrorize; hunt children).

Enemies:

All but each other (save Dark Man) and Morpheus

Truce:

Each other (save Dark Man) and Morpheus

Members:

• Dark Man
• Mumpoker
• Morkuldan
• Ik
• Baelzebell

Personalities

Clops

Seeks power, especially in the Waking World.

Enemies:

All but Nocturnos.

Truce:

Nocturnos

Dark Man

Does his thing (hunting children). Some think him a god (not yet). Ponders Awakening the entire world.

Enemies:

All but Shadow Lord

Truce:

Shadow Lord