The World of the Dead

The existence of the Shadowlands, the Underworld, raises a number of interesting philosophical questions. The oldest ghosts speak of creatures which were never flesh and bone and which were imprisoned by the Creator in the Shadowlands for time and all eternity, but no one has ever seen these creatures which are collectively known as the Neverborn. There have been some ghosts whoh claim to be servants of the Neverborn, but no evidence or proof that the Neverborn actually exist has been forthcoming. Instead, the most legendary figure in the Shadowlands is the Ferryman, Charon.

Said to be the first true inhabitant of the Shadowlands, the ghost of Abel perhaps, Charon is a figure of myth and legend who created and structured the society of ghosts along certain lines which have acquired a sort of holiness after thousands of years of traditions.

The Deathlord

The Deathlord is akin to a medieval King or an Emperor, who governs a Necropolis and its surrounding territory as a fief-in-total. Some Deathlords are known to rule over multiple Necropoli in the Shadowlands and style themselves as Emperors of the Dead. The truth, is just like those medieval and feudal rulers, the Deathlord has absolute power over their domain only in so far as other ghosts are willing to do what he wishes, whether through fear, respect, loyalty, or other reasoning.

The Deathlord can create subordinate posts or positions to its own which operate different sections or have differing areas of control - just as a modern city mayor delegates certain powers to subordinates.

Life After Death

Unfortunately for those that thought Death would be an escape from the monotony of real life, the Shadowlands and a ghost's existence are remarkably similar to life among the living. There are ghosts which are employed in a variety of different functions, and ghosts which go about their own business. Because ghosts do not need to eat, sleep, or drink, a number of constraints common to the living no longer apply to the dead, making things like shelter, bathrooms, worry over enough food to eat or clean water no longer relevant. Many ghosts find this freeing, even if they do miss the taste of food and drink and other such pleasures.

The difference between the two worlds is that being free of mortality's burdens, Ghosts can do whatever they desire to do. They can spend their time reworking theories, perfecting their crafts, or focusing on the business that keeps them as Ghosts. They can watch the living, torment and tease the living, or any other combination of things. Ghosts know their fate - and just perhaps, a few remain after death in order to improve their lot and expiate their sins in order to gain Heaven.

Goods & Money in the Shadowlands

Ghosts themselves have a spirit body made up of a substance called Plasm, but there are other items which appear in the Shadowlands which are not made of plasm. These objects take on two distinct types: relics and artifacts.

• Relics - Objects which have great significance to a ghost, or are offered to them through ancestor worship that become tangible on the other side of the Veil. Many relics are old, having been buried with their owners, but in cultures that still respect their dead actively, objects offered can appear near the Ghost.
• Artifacts - Despite their grand name, artifacts are any objects that are made through the process of soulforging. Ghosts manufacture everything such as wheels, beams, walls, bricks, boards, and more from the souls of other ghosts and entities that dwell in the Shadowlands.

Soulforging is the fate of lesser ghosts (aka "Drones") and of criminals and malcontents who've earned the ire of one of the Deathlords. A soul that is soulforged remains 'conscious', but is trapped in its new shape and cannot use its powers and abilities, nor reach or touch its fetters. It is a form of permanent incarceration and few ghosts survive either the process of being forged or being trapped as a soul-forged object.

Culture Among the Dead

While each major continent of the world seems to have its own structure and nature, the general culture of the local Necropolis is likely to reflect the nature of the Deathlord that governs it and the ghosts that dwell within that domain.

The countries of Asia (Japan, China, Malaysia, etc.) have a unique underworld they call The Kingdom of Dark Jade, led by an Emperor that rules over all the territory claimed by the Asian countries of the Orient. For much of North America and Europe, the Necropolis of Stygia (Rome) is the seat of the power of the Dead, and the Necropoli located on these continents tend to reflect western philosophy and thought.