Study

The archives of Gran Breton & Valadain’s research into Limbo, the Reaper and the journey of the souls

The library of Ledgor, the chief archivist of Gran Breton, is extensive. Marry that with Bishop Ollis’ work-in-progress – The Chronicles of the Faith – and you have the richest source of knowledge on Grayhawk. Your natural aptitude for history steers you to make a few interesting opening discoveries. Limbo seems to be at the crux of what is happening on Grayhawk presently and that is where you start your studies.

The plane is unique in the universe…though there are differences in opinion between various scholars all can accurately ascertain how it differs from all others. For a start there is no escape for a bodiless soul that enters. At first that may seem obvious but a soul can be summoned from anywhere (even a dead soul) but as soon as they reach Limbo they are sacrosanct. Many creatures have been to Limbo and returned, though this is not an easy journey and there are many dangers within that would trap the unwary or the less powerful.

So what is Limbo?

It is the final resting place for all souls that die. Assume that nothing interferes with a dead man after his demise. If all things were equal his soul would seep back down to Limbo over time (possibly thousands of years) – the last receptacle for power. The soul is the physical power of a creature…it is tangible, it has inner energy. The body crumbles and breaks and rots, an ever-changing state but only the soul endures. It is the battery that powers the being. The more powerful the creature the greater the potential of his soul. In demonology it is possible to extract that power and turn it into other energy (think of a soul draining sword that bestows the power to the wielder). To a demon or demonologist this is a simple process so the soul suddenly becomes the dominant energy one can possess. (Later you will speak to Malkar – in the palace – and he will further clarify your study of Limbo).

That brings you to the Reaper. First you research his role…a role given to him by Nature, the Eternal Woman, who realised that the greatest threat to her precarious hold on the universe was the reconstitution of souls. It was important for her, therefore, to appoint an individual that would act as guardian of Limbo and reaper of the lost souls. This guardian had to be right. A unique individual that she could rely on to be totally impartial…thus the Reaper came into being…in fact he was created. Your study contradicts itself here, as there are many theories about his ascension but no definite evidence of his true heritage.

The Reaper appeared at the point of death and took the soul of the deceased…though not every soul. Some were minor and inconsequential; others demanded more of a guide back to Limbo. It is not clear how the souls were chosen but popular opinion between the sorcerers of the academy suggests that once a soul past a certain undefined point (reached a certain potential?) the Reaper was alerted and would certainly show up. Many see the Reaper’s appearance to the living as a mark that the individual’s progress was being monitored – Death’s calling card. Nature did not want what Muziel perpetrated before he arrived on Grayhawk – the gathering of unfettered souls to produce an army.

Nature gave the Reaper the task of soul policeman, never did she give this ability to a god, she just could not trust even the most lawful and good deities to resist the urge to perpetuate the soul of a great and devoted worshipper. It just wasn’t fair. So the Reaper was chosen because of his uniqueness and because Nature trusted him…she even allowed Death his little schemes and games – for no matter what he got up to she knew, ultimately, that the care of lost souls was in safe hands.

So what happens to souls now?

They drift…they can be reaped by those with enough skill (Muziel) or they can be hunted by creatures from Hell or the Abyss. There are no rules any more regarding souls…worse there are no referees to ensure fair play. The gods would be natural successors but they have little time to manage all the lost souls. That was Death’s peculiar talent…he could anticipate the death of a man months before it happened. He could arrive exactly on time with prescient accuracy. There is no creature alive that can do this.

Why Limbo?

It is the only plane in the universe that is detached from all others…its only flimsy link is a one way door that abuts the Astral Plane. All other planes are connected in series (to each other) or at the topmost level to the Astral Plane (the first plane of Hell is a good example – it is the only one of Hell’s nine planes to touch the Astral…the others connect to themselves like rungs on a ladder). There is another more profound difference. It is impossible to summon anything out of Limbo, whereas with the right magic you can draw something from the deepest Hell or the loftiest plane of the Abyss. Also it is impossible to enter Limbo via anything else but the gate. Once in Limbo you are trapped. (More info from Malkar, who has just returned from Limbo).

What would be the effect of smashing down the gate of Limbo?

Again there are two distinct theories; the demonologists have strong views on this but the majority of the academics (mages and above) have a different opinion. This is not a definitive science. The demonologists would welcome the smashing of the gates…the entire collected power of the ages rests in there and they would love to delve and sift through its vaults of lost souls. The rest of the magical world believe that smashing the gates of Limbo would detach it forever from the universe…as is well known Limbo hangs by the merest thread to the rest of the universe.

What of Echeron and Muziel?

Obviously the academy at Gran Breton has become more interested in the plane and the man recently. Echeron is known to a few scholars, the unique social structure means that on Echeron they have virtually eliminated death, due to their uncanny mastery of the power of souls. As a consequence of this power however they have become infertile – doomed to an immortal and lonely existence. Muziel was a renegade, an outlaw that perpetrated the very worst crime…murder. They hunted him to Grayhawk but the volatile conditions and hostile environment were too dangerous so they were forced to flee (some perished in the hunt). Muziel has a mastery of souls beyond our study. His first port of call was the Abyss, where he gathered whatever support or power he required for his campaign on Grayhawk.

Many of the mages believe that Muziel has been planning this for a very long time. They fear his sorcery – they cite the kidnap of Sarrik Ramadius from the most secure palace on Grayhawk – the emperor was not without awesome power but Muziel has a few tricks that none of them have seen yet. Many mages believe that Muziel has kept his powder dry (a Bretonian expression!) and relies on deception and treachery to mask his real intent. Currently the chaos in Elenoria and Bretonia serves him well – he even uses the discord between prominent Grayhawkians to mask his goals…