Editing The Dark Eye (section)

==The World==
===Cosmology===
In TDE, space-time is seven-dimensional. The seven Axes are: 3 Axes Spatiales (make up our three-dimensional space), Vector Temporalis (along that line be time travel), Axis Transglobulis (that way lie globules / demiplanes and pocket dimensions), Axis Nodicocausalum (this way to alternate realities / mirror universes) and Axis Orthosphaericus (along this line through the spheres). All of existence is made up from seven spheres, one inside the other. Thinking of it as an onion or a russian doll is wrong, but helpful for visualizing.
* The first sphere, also known as the mysterium of Kha, is infinetly small. Basically it has no space, so don’t try to travel there. It is the foundation of all existence and the source of all order and rules. Without the first sphere, there would be no other spheres, no causality, no time, nothing but ever-fluctuating pure chaos.
* The second sphere is the sphere of the elements. Here we have a proper flow of time and the source of all matter, divided into the six elements (Fire - Water, Rock - Air, Humus - Ice). The power of Elementals and Djinni originates from this sphere.
* The third sphere is where we exist. We have space and time and gravity. The elements are coming together and form air to breathe, ground to stand on, plants, animals and us. Nice place here.
* The fourth sphere is the realm of the dead. When something dies in the third, its soul goes here. Almost all of the sphere is controlled by the god Boron, who judges the dead. Worthy souls move on, not-so-worthy ones stay here until sufficiently purified - or for all eternity. A few tiny corners belong to death-gods of other races, but the vast majority are the Halls of Boron.
* The fifth sphere is the citadel of Alveran, the seat of the gods. Here the Twelve Gods and their allies have their paradises where they live and welcome worthy souls.
* The sixth sphere is called “Stars and Power” and is the source of all magic. Here dwell remnants of forgotten or defeated gods and a few things we don’t quite understand yet. The outer edge of the sixth sphere is the wall of stars, the bulwark against chaos. Maintained by gods and others, it keeps all those nasties from the seventh from pouring in.
* The seventh sphere, as a counterpoint to the first, is infinite. These are the hells, the broiling chaos. They can be divided into the “lower hells” and the “upper hells”. The lower hells surround creation and the tiny bit of order that leaks out is enough to give the chaos some form. Here be arch-demons, hellscapes and generally bad things. The upper hells are too chaotic even for that, nothing can exist here and anything venturing that far out would dissolve into pure chaos.

It has been speculated that somewhere out in the infinity of the seventh there might be other worlds existing, with their own foundation and cosmology, but whether or not they exist, travel there would be impossible so it’s a moot point.

Separating and connecting all these spheres, globules and mirror worlds is the Limbus. Basically an infinite, formless place of grey fog. Nothing to see here, nothing existing here. Also no way of moving since no ground. Teleportation magic warps the user through the limbus for a short hop, but in order to travel between planes one first needs to find a way to orient themselves and then move through the Limbus... Leave that to Gods, Demons and NPC-archmages.

===Derography===
TDE takes place mostly in the third sphere on the planet of Dere. Other planets or solar systems may exist, but are never mentioned. No aliens here. On Dere we have several continents each with their own flavour: The most explored and fleshed out is Aventuria, with the races and cultures mentioned above. Mostly medieval fantasy setting, generally pretty nice, despite the occasional war or evil dark plot. Until the invasion of the damned. Afterwards considerably grimmer and darker.

To the west of Aventuria lies Myranor or the Golden Land. The ancestors of the middlelanders emigrated from here, fleeing from an oppressive demon-worshipping empire. Nowadays here be magitech and occasional steampunk (still demons). Flying cities, titans (like from the other imperium), lots of magically “enhanced” hybrid species (catgirls, anyone?).

To the east of Aventuria lies Rakshazar or the Giant’s Land. Here be Conan. A divine curse of discord lies over the entire continent, preventing the rise of any nation or alliance. The biggest you can get is city-states, but even those are unstable. Additionally, spells do not work here. Try it and blow yourself up. With the proper knowledge and caution, ritual magic is possible but still dangerous. On top of that, most peoples do not have the knowledge or the resources to make steel, leading to mostly stone-age or bronze-age cultures.

To the south of Aventuria lies Uthuria, “the miraculous southern continent, about which almost nothing is known”. Aventurians have just discovered it and started to explore its northern shores.

Besides Dere, there are a number of other settings, mostly large Globules connected to the third sphere by stable gateways. Some examples are the fairy worlds, the islands in the mist (refuge of ancient elves), Zze Tha (suviving part of the Achaz-empire) and the hollow world of Tharun (the world is on the inside of a hollow sphere). Dere itself varies greatly depending on when you are setting your campaign. Aventuria has about 2000 years of really detailed history (and ancient history going back as far as 36000 years plus a few ages). Most common settings are the “current times”, before or after the invasion of the damned or the “dark ages”, the last centuries of the old empire and the diamond sultanate(about 1500-1000 years before “present”).