The Heavenly Plane, also referred to as simply Heaven is the homeland of angels, as well as the final resting place for the souls of "good" people. This place is generally regarded as a paradise, but like Hell...there's often more going on here than what meets the eye.

The Heavenly Plane is actually divided into seven smaller planes, called Spheres. Each Sphere serves as specific purpose and houses particular groups of people.


Seventh Sphere: Purgatorio

Purgatorio is nicknamed "The Waiting Room" for souls to either enter a higher Heavenly Plane, Hell, be returned to life, or be reincarnated altogether. It's unique in that every person there exists at a slightly different wavelength, so they are unaware of all the others' presence at any given time. Horizon was once the Seventh Heaven, until it was deemed too inefficient.



Sixth Sphere: Elysium

This is the most commonly associated place within Heaven. It's the final resting place for good people, and is a paradise. It's also the largest Heaven as it houses trillions of souls (en-counting). It should be noted that there are no angels living within Elysium, but there are appointed angel officials to maintain the peace.



Fifth Sphere: Ouranos

This is the homeland of natural born angelic citizens, and is primarily sky with floating islands. Midheaven of Gaia was artificially made to resemble Ouranos. Angelic citizens here often have contempt for humans and other mortals being in Heaven, believing they are the most superior race of mortals.



Fourth Sphere: Valhalla

This is the dominion of the Pantheon of Deities, mortals who were Exalted from mortals to deities. Each deity has a domain that mirrors their theme, and is allowed free passage to and from Gaia as long as it relates to their duties. For example, Vulcagni is allowed to enter Gaia when it's summer, as she is the Deity of Summer. It's also the resting place of great warriors, who can serve the deities as followers if they wish.



Third Sphere: Adventus

This is the Archangels' dominion, as well as the location of the War of Heaven where Saint Lucifer rebelled. It was decided that Heaven would be divided into several planes to prevent further casualties, and to segregate potential threats in quarantined environments.

Great angels are rewarded for their deeds and are exalted into Archangels, and are expected to live in harmony with natural born Archangels (unlike deities, Archangels can also be born naturally).

Exalted Angels and Archangels are considered two different races by some, though outsiders usually don't see much of a difference.


Second Sphere: Eden

This is the home of the Tree of Knowledge. There have been rumors that humans living here, but were tricked and thrown out. They say that angels conspired to do this to "keep Eden pure for angels", but there's no proof of this. The Tree of Knowledge is a sacred artifact, and is now heavily guarded at all times.



First Sphere: Sanctus

It is the plane exclusively for the Seraphim, and is by far the smallest. The Seraphim serve as Divine Judges, and are subconsciously aware of the deeds of mortals and their subordinates. Prayer Chants for Holy Magic draw their power from there.

Unlike other angels, a Seraph is not an Exalted being. The Seraphim have been present since the dawn of time. There have only been seven Seraphs, and it was a huge blow to Heaven when Saint Lucifer decided to rebel. It's impossible for a being to become a Seraph, and because of this angels and archangels deem them to be the superior life forms.




Empyrean**

Not actually a sphere of Heaven, though technically Heaven itself..as well as the rest of creation. It exists everywhere, and also nowhere. Some believe it only to be a myth, but saying this in Heaven is considered blasphemy....as it's rumored to be the throne room of "God".

Saint Seraphiel often preaches and emphasizes that "God" is different to everyone, yet is the same because everyone is part of the same existence. That every religion is correct, and that every personal theory is correct. There are an infinite number of correct answers, as they all come from creation. The only theory that's frowned upon in Heaven is atheism, as the angels in-charge personally believe this is the same as denying your own existence, and thus taking your existence for granted. Not everyone necessarily agrees though, and is a subject of debate behind closed doors.

The other Seraphs have their own individual interpretations, but still worship "God" as their exalted "leader".


"What lies within Empyrean is God, and perhaps The World, and perhaps The Universe, and perhaps Truth, and perhaps All, and perhaps One, and also You. Within Empyrean is everything, and nothing. A being's mind is a part of it, but also disconnected from it. The beginning and the end, and what comes before and beyond. That is the divine of Empyrean." - Book of Metatron 1:1

** ((The idea of "God" is a tricky issue, especially with so many variables. I tried to make it obscure and all-encompassing. If you have suggestions for the atheism issue, feel free to throw ideas out there. It's RP, so it's not really that important...but yeah... xp ))