"Introduction"
Since before the dawn of time, a war has raged across space and time, older than thought, played out across the grand backdrop of quantum probability itself. This is a war that is so vast it cannot even be described in three-dimensional terms. It is called the "Great War" or "The Divine Conflict" by some, or simply "The Wars of Divinity" by those who participate in it knowingly. Yet knowingly, or unknowingly, all sentient beings participate in this epic never-ending struggle between the dualistic concepts of Ultimate Good...and Ultimate Evil.
"THE WARS OF DIVINITY"
"The Pleroma"
Before the multiverse existed, there was an infinite tranquility and static perfection that proliferated a dimension called "The Pleroma." Causality did not yet exist - that is to say, there was no such thing as "space" and "time." For although there were such things as "cause" or "effect", "things" did not exist. Each and every part of the Pleroma was indistinguishable from the rest, and there was no seperation between each emination of "The One." Relativity could not exist, for there was nothing for "One" to compare itself to or relate to. There was nothing else like it.
"The Void"
And therein lay the great paradoxial essence of a dimension known as "The Outer-Darkness" or simply "The Void." Contrary in every way to the Pleroma, the Void was a dimension of infinite chaos and imperfection. Its only similarity was that "Causality" was also non-existent within this place, for within the pure chaos of the Void, although cause and effect existed, they had no relationship with one another. The Void was comprised of nothing, and nothing existed within it. For every emination of the "One" there was an anti-thesis for it within the Void - an absolute negative and opposite of "everything" that "existed" within the Pleroma.
"The Divine Conflict"
In summary, this constitutes the most basic principal of the Divine Conflict - the fundamental reason why these two sides are in opposition. Yet, there was a third faction in this war. One in which most mortals and non-transcendent beings exist and thrive. The Pleroma was "that-which-is-infinite" and the Void was "that-which-is-nothing" - this third dimension could be thought of as "that-which-was-not-infinite-and-that-which-is-not-nothing" or simply, "that-which-was-neither". This dimension was everything that neither the Void, nor the Pleroma was. Finite, seperated from itself and fragmented, a dimension of relativity. This dimension was called "The Multiverse."
"The Multiverse"
It was so named because it consisted of a near-infinite number of variations of itself called "universes". Each was a "verse" in that each was a single fragment of the "word" of the "One." The "word" was the Pleroma, and each emination of the "one" was one "aeon". Thus, collectively every Aeon reflected the transcendent essence that existed within the Multiverse, while the "Fallen Aeons" of the Void reflected the pure chaos that corrupted it. These twin dualistic forces could be thought of as "Good" and "Evil" but more accurately, they were the forces of "perfection" and "entropy".
"Causality"
Thus, the Multiverse became the battle-field, or the mixing point of these two forces, and the product of their blending was "Causality." Causality is the grand pattern itself - the cosmic chain of cause and effect played out from beginning to end, alpha and omega, within every variation of every universe in the multiverse. To better understand this, think of every universe as a linear set of dominos, each toppling the next, until all the chains converge, all the chains end, and all reality - the multiverse - ceases to exist. That is the eventual fate of all beings native to the multiverse. And it would be such that there was no hope of escape, and no means to avoid the inevitable catastrophe of an ultimate unweaving at the end of time, were the rules of cause and effect so absolute.
"Ascension"
But they are not. The rules only rule within the fabric of space and time that is called the multiverse. They do not apply within the infinite dimension of the Pleroma, or within the pure chaos of the Void. Were it possible for a being born within the multiverse to somehow enter the Pleroma and free itself from the chains of causality, it would be not be subject to the inviolate reign of pre-determinism. That is, it would not have a fate - free from destiny - free to move about within the Pleroma (or the Void) and choose the path it wished to walk without the restrictions of meaning, purpose, or value.
"The Price of Freedom"
The unfortunate and obvious side-effect of such a change, at least from the perspective of one native to the multiverse, would be the utter lack of any reason to exist. For to possess a reason for one's existence, there must be some effect that they can cause - some change, some kind of ultimate influence that they could somehow have on reality around them. Because this is completely impossible within both the Pleroma and the Void, mortals who become seperated from their native realities find themselves trapped within a different kind of paradox. That is to say, without boundries and limits, nothing ever changes. The value of existence is reduced to nothing. Furthermore, because their very essence, mind, and body is native to a reality in which these limits form the structure of their very being and the motivations for their behaviors, it becomes difficult for them to find any rational excuse to justify those same behaviors, and many fall into utter insanity or suicide.
"Death"
Yet there is another choice. Another realm into which one can enter besides the Pleroma. That dimension is a place of fear, a place of hate, and a place of death. Indeed, all mortal beings find their place there when they die, such that every death reinforces the Void. Everytime something is destroyed, or even perceived to have been destroyed (for example, if a chair is torn apart, or a human is killed), the shadow of that thing's existence finds a place for itself within the chaos of the Outer-Darkness. Immediately one might assume that this gives the Void an advantage against the Pleroma, for it would quickly surpass the volume of the Pleroma - which is perfect and unchanging - and rise up to destroy it, along with Causality.
"The Fall"
This assumption is true. The Void does find itself with a pressing advantage against the Pleroma, but only due to the inevitability of the "Fall". The Fall is, in fact, the inevitable collapse of Causality at the end of time, when all the strands of the multiverse come to an end and the Tapestry completes itself. At that time, it will become apparent which side has won, for there will be no more finite things to join either the Pleroma or the Void.
"The End of Ages"
The next assumption one might make would be to assume that this means the Void will win. This assumption is only flawed because it is made from the perspective of a reader who exists within a finite dimension where "winning" and "losing" exist. What is more accurate to say is that one side will "seem" to win, from the perspective of those mortal things that find themselves on one side or another in the final apocolypse. For the entities native to the Pleroma and the Void, nothing ever changes, and so everything will remain the same as it ever was. This will be the final end, but only for beings that have an end. What follows for them shall be either transcendence to join with the One and cast off their individuality or total annihilation to become nothing but formless possibility. In either case, they will be changed forever, and so drastic shall be the change that they will no longer be the same in any rational sense.
"The Paradox"
That is the paradox itself. For in the end, that which you choose to do will only matter to you. It will not matter to those around you, unless that also matters to you. The effects you create will seem meaningless, and so shall they be, until you cease to exist as you are - as a mortal finite thing - one way, or another. It is only when you finally embrace the chaos of formless probability and become a void, or choose to embrace the perfect stasis of infinite transcendence that an ultimate purpose for existence can be discerned. Only, in so choosing, you give up the ability to perceive it as anything else. You will have not the ability to discern, experience, or even conceive of any other way for things to be. So the paradox itself is not why one should choose; for no matter what, even if you decide not to choose, that will be counted as a choice. The paradox is what you must choose. The paradox is that it makes no difference either way, to you and to those like you, until you choose, and until the Fall, at the End of Ages.
"THE TELLURIAN"
"The Triune Multiverse"
There are ultimately three different experiences one can have of existence. If one is an Aeon, one perceives only the Pleroma, and there is nothing else. Meaning, from the perspective of a pleromic entity, one experiences the Void indirectly by not experiencing anything other than the Pleroma. Thus, to pleromic beings, the Void is only as a concept, with nothing to prove it exists. The multiverse is even more intangible to them, for they cannot even conceive of something existing that is limited and yet has value or purpose. Therefore, the Aeons perceive any being native to the multiverse as something like a wayward child - an Aeon seperated from the Pleroma that has been driven insane by the chaotic essence of the Void and should be purified of that essence in order to see things "the way they really are" and return to the fold.
The Fallen Aeons, native to the Void, surprisingly see things in almost the exact same way. To them, there is only utter chaos, and the very concept that something exists which is defined and yet still has value, would be like suggesting that "sheep black every whale and a dollar." In otherwords, the sentence wouldn't even seem rational in their minds. In fact, like the Aeons, they cannot even experience that which opposes them - the Pleroma - because they are limited to a mere conception of "something that is not like us" without the ability to experience it. Also, like the Aeons, the existence of the multiverse seems impossible to them - equally as irrational as the sentence used to describe it above. To them, they can only imagine some version of themselves that was somehow trapped within a single state of being by the static forces of infinity and must be taught that they in fact never existed in the first place and should give up a futile struggle to achieve a state of perfection that cannot exist, and is entirely contrary to their nature.
And so, each side has an almost identical veiwpoint when it comes to mortal beings, who are native to the Causality of the multiverse. Each side sees the other as a ludicrous fallacy and finds it impossible to rationalize any behavior that would lead to joining with the opposite side. It is not that they cannot imagine such an act, but that it would seem totally illogical, without a shred of reasonable justification. But what they absolutely cannot even imagine is a state of existence between the two, in which one is neither infinite, nor void, yet possesses a purpose and a value. That is to say, they cannot experience or even conceive of Causality.
Yet to us, who are native to Causality, we cannot experience either. We cannot experience - although we can conceive - of a single variation of all things in which there is total perfection, or total chaos. We can imagine things being that way, but we cannot actually experience it. To do so, we would have to first cease existing as a part of Causality and become part of one side or the other. This limitation is so great that even though we can actually step into the Pleroma and look at it with our own eyes, we cannot see it as it truely is - for we cannot even conceive of what it should look like. Likewise, although we can actually exist and perceive the Void, we cannot even comprehend what we are seeing, or imagine what it truely looks like.
"Wormholes"
Because of the limitation of terms and concepts that all beings within the multiverse are subject to as the conditions of consciousness, the multiverse can only be defined in relative terms. Within these terms, then, the Pleroma could be thought of as "the space inside of a wormhole". That is, the Pleroma is "wormhole space" - the space between "here" and "there". And because wormholes are not simply linear conduits with only one entrance and one exit, but a vast impossibly infinite web of inter-connected tunnels with entrances and exits scattered throughout every variation of space and time, it is possible to step inside of one and travel these tunnels without ever returning to a normal continuity.
"Nexus Realms"
These wormhole tunnels begin to converge after awhile. They merge to form larger branches, until finally they lead to massive pockets of isolated space/time where matter and energy exist and often form galaxies, stars, and other cosmic phenomenon. Sometimes one can even find planets with stable ecosystems and atmospheric conditions that make life possible. In fact, our entire universe - the Nephyrexian Continuity - is just one Nexus Realm among many others.
"Continuity"
The Tellurian consists of every single possible variation of reality - every single possible "continuity" that can, could, and ever will exist. Each facet "Nexus Realm" within this multiverse of possibilities is a unique space/time continuity made up of many similar continuums. Sometimes the differences between two continuums in the same continuity are so slight that they cannot really be called important. Some are so similar that you could spend your entire life searching for the difference and never find it. And yet, others are so vastly different that you could spend the same amount of time and never find a single similarity between them and your own continuum. Still more impressive is that every one of these variations of the same continuum are all part of a single continuity which is just one "Nexus Realm" among many.
"Dimensional Travel"
Each continuity is seperated from one another by the Void, the nothingness in which the multiverse drifts. However, it is possible to travel between continuums and Nexus Realms by traveling through the Pleroma. Travel through the Pleroma is made possible with wormholes. Travel through the Void is a different matter entirely.
"Black Holes"
Black holes have often been conceived of as points of infinite collapse, where the matrix of reality warps to such an extent that nothing can escape once it has crossed the famous "event horizon." This is true. Once you enter a black hole, you cannot escape. Surviving them is also difficult - if one is traveling at relativistic speeds. But if one is traveling faster-than-light at super-luminal velocity, it is possible to enter a black hole without being destroyed. Where they lead is a realm that can be described as the ultimate opposite of wormhole space.
"Phase Space"
This space "inside" of a black hole is a point of absolute coorespondence which touches upon every point of every variation of space and time. It is a vast seemingly endless fog of matter and energy coterminious with nothing. This means that if you enter phase space, unless you can travel faster-than-light, you cannot leave it. The only reason one would explore phase space is because there are things that exist here. Just as in wormhole space, there are places where matter and energy form the same cosmic phenomena that can be observed within normal space/time. The only difference is that these places are never the origins of anything. On the contrary, they are places of ultimate exile - worlds where cruel and wicked sentient races from within Causality were banished by their enemies, often for being far too powerful and destructive to co-exist with other lifeforms or for posing too great a threat to the continued existence of their native continuity.
"THE FACTIONS"
"The Eldritch"
There are three factions in this war. Two sides, and a neutral one. "The Eldritch" is the collective name given to all sentient beings that side with the forces of entropy and the Void against the forces of perfection and eternity that exist within the Pleroma. They have nothing to do with their own native races. They were born of them - more than that would be too much grace to afford them. They are the twisted inversions of everything that resembles perfection, love, and redemption. While some are more fanatical than others about this, without a doubt every last one of them has come to a realization that absolute chaos is preferable over absolute unchanging perfection. This is not simply a belief. They can somehow intangibly comprehend and experience the Void, and know that it is the true ultimate reality. Thus they work to extend this vision and incorperate their brothers into the fold. Each has its way. Some use seduction, some use terror. Perhaps the most chilling thing is that their ways are not all that different from those of the Pleroma - only, far more unpredictable. One thing is certain. In choosing a side, they have cast off the shackles of mortality and have found a way to channel the very essence of the Void, making them both unaging and immensely powerful.
"The Aeons"
The Aeons work to prevent this, with powers and agelessness similar to those of the Eldritch. They use similar methods of enticement as the Eldritch, but they are never forceful. Instead, they attempt to make it seem as though the choice is limited to only one - the only one they can conceive of as rational. They cannot really be blamed for this, as they are simply incapable of seeing it any other way. Just as the Eldritch know that they are right, and that reality is nothing like the Aeons say it is, the Aeons know that the Eldritch are wrong, and that reality is perfect and unchanging. This produces a kind of stagnance on the behalf of the Aeons, who tend thus to allow themselves to be defeated by the Eldritch. However, in playing the part of the martyr, they are convinced that others will see their example and follow suit. Although, it is not always this way. Sometimes they will fight back against the Eldritch - indeed, usually they will, unless they have encountered an Eldritch being seemingly wiser than themselves. This is decidedly rare, however. And so the wars rage on, in every corner of every variation of reality.
"The Chronomasters"
And then there are those who see the Divine Conflict as a terrible tragedy. They know, as much as the Eldritch and the Aeons know their own knowings, that to choose either side is to strengthen its existence and effect on the outcome of Causality, when the Fall occurs, and the End of Ages becomes a reality. Indeed, the Chronomasters believe that the End of Ages is only made possible because people choose. And so they advocate not choosing either side. They are seen as ignorant by both sides, who are both convinced that choosing not to choose is simply a choice to have the choice be made for you by one side or the other. Unlike the Eldritch and the Aeons, there is nothing to convince the Chronomasters as the Eldritch and the Aeons have been convinced. However, they still possess a power of sorts as well as being ageless, so as to compete with both sides and protect those they call "innocent". They have mastered a scientific art they call "Chronomancy" - though it is only vaguely related to the manipulation of time itself. Instead, they view it as a manipulation of Causality, which in turn effects the outcome of time. They "interfere" with the "fate" of things using technology rather than the divine powers wielded by the Aeons and the Eldritch, effecting Causality with the energy and essence of Causality itself. And like both the Aeons and the Eldritch, they believe that each being they can convince to remain neutral strengthens their vision of reality.
"Conclusion"
So then, mortal, it falls upon you to choose, or not choose. But be warned. If you decide not to choose, your stability must be absolute, such that in the end, when you die, it cannot be said that there was a flaw in your wisdom. For should there be even the slightest indication that you are "missing the point" when your logic is determined to side with entropy or perfection - that shall become the ultimate reality to which you will belong. And forever it will be so. Eternaly shall it be. This is what you mortals consider "the final judgement" in which you shall be condemned to "Hell" or ascended to "Heaven". And if you will it that you should be impossible to judge, then so you must become and remain, until the End of Ages.
Until The Fall...
Since before the dawn of time, a war has raged across space and time, older than thought, played out across the grand backdrop of quantum probability itself. This is a war that is so vast it cannot even be described in three-dimensional terms. It is called the "Great War" or "The Divine Conflict" by some, or simply "The Wars of Divinity" by those who participate in it knowingly. Yet knowingly, or unknowingly, all sentient beings participate in this epic never-ending struggle between the dualistic concepts of Ultimate Good...and Ultimate Evil.
"THE WARS OF DIVINITY"
"The Pleroma"
Before the multiverse existed, there was an infinite tranquility and static perfection that proliferated a dimension called "The Pleroma." Causality did not yet exist - that is to say, there was no such thing as "space" and "time." For although there were such things as "cause" or "effect", "things" did not exist. Each and every part of the Pleroma was indistinguishable from the rest, and there was no seperation between each emination of "The One." Relativity could not exist, for there was nothing for "One" to compare itself to or relate to. There was nothing else like it.
"The Void"
And therein lay the great paradoxial essence of a dimension known as "The Outer-Darkness" or simply "The Void." Contrary in every way to the Pleroma, the Void was a dimension of infinite chaos and imperfection. Its only similarity was that "Causality" was also non-existent within this place, for within the pure chaos of the Void, although cause and effect existed, they had no relationship with one another. The Void was comprised of nothing, and nothing existed within it. For every emination of the "One" there was an anti-thesis for it within the Void - an absolute negative and opposite of "everything" that "existed" within the Pleroma.
"The Divine Conflict"
In summary, this constitutes the most basic principal of the Divine Conflict - the fundamental reason why these two sides are in opposition. Yet, there was a third faction in this war. One in which most mortals and non-transcendent beings exist and thrive. The Pleroma was "that-which-is-infinite" and the Void was "that-which-is-nothing" - this third dimension could be thought of as "that-which-was-not-infinite-and-that-which-is-not-nothing" or simply, "that-which-was-neither". This dimension was everything that neither the Void, nor the Pleroma was. Finite, seperated from itself and fragmented, a dimension of relativity. This dimension was called "The Multiverse."
"The Multiverse"
It was so named because it consisted of a near-infinite number of variations of itself called "universes". Each was a "verse" in that each was a single fragment of the "word" of the "One." The "word" was the Pleroma, and each emination of the "one" was one "aeon". Thus, collectively every Aeon reflected the transcendent essence that existed within the Multiverse, while the "Fallen Aeons" of the Void reflected the pure chaos that corrupted it. These twin dualistic forces could be thought of as "Good" and "Evil" but more accurately, they were the forces of "perfection" and "entropy".
"Causality"
Thus, the Multiverse became the battle-field, or the mixing point of these two forces, and the product of their blending was "Causality." Causality is the grand pattern itself - the cosmic chain of cause and effect played out from beginning to end, alpha and omega, within every variation of every universe in the multiverse. To better understand this, think of every universe as a linear set of dominos, each toppling the next, until all the chains converge, all the chains end, and all reality - the multiverse - ceases to exist. That is the eventual fate of all beings native to the multiverse. And it would be such that there was no hope of escape, and no means to avoid the inevitable catastrophe of an ultimate unweaving at the end of time, were the rules of cause and effect so absolute.
"Ascension"
But they are not. The rules only rule within the fabric of space and time that is called the multiverse. They do not apply within the infinite dimension of the Pleroma, or within the pure chaos of the Void. Were it possible for a being born within the multiverse to somehow enter the Pleroma and free itself from the chains of causality, it would be not be subject to the inviolate reign of pre-determinism. That is, it would not have a fate - free from destiny - free to move about within the Pleroma (or the Void) and choose the path it wished to walk without the restrictions of meaning, purpose, or value.
"The Price of Freedom"
The unfortunate and obvious side-effect of such a change, at least from the perspective of one native to the multiverse, would be the utter lack of any reason to exist. For to possess a reason for one's existence, there must be some effect that they can cause - some change, some kind of ultimate influence that they could somehow have on reality around them. Because this is completely impossible within both the Pleroma and the Void, mortals who become seperated from their native realities find themselves trapped within a different kind of paradox. That is to say, without boundries and limits, nothing ever changes. The value of existence is reduced to nothing. Furthermore, because their very essence, mind, and body is native to a reality in which these limits form the structure of their very being and the motivations for their behaviors, it becomes difficult for them to find any rational excuse to justify those same behaviors, and many fall into utter insanity or suicide.
"Death"
Yet there is another choice. Another realm into which one can enter besides the Pleroma. That dimension is a place of fear, a place of hate, and a place of death. Indeed, all mortal beings find their place there when they die, such that every death reinforces the Void. Everytime something is destroyed, or even perceived to have been destroyed (for example, if a chair is torn apart, or a human is killed), the shadow of that thing's existence finds a place for itself within the chaos of the Outer-Darkness. Immediately one might assume that this gives the Void an advantage against the Pleroma, for it would quickly surpass the volume of the Pleroma - which is perfect and unchanging - and rise up to destroy it, along with Causality.
"The Fall"
This assumption is true. The Void does find itself with a pressing advantage against the Pleroma, but only due to the inevitability of the "Fall". The Fall is, in fact, the inevitable collapse of Causality at the end of time, when all the strands of the multiverse come to an end and the Tapestry completes itself. At that time, it will become apparent which side has won, for there will be no more finite things to join either the Pleroma or the Void.
"The End of Ages"
The next assumption one might make would be to assume that this means the Void will win. This assumption is only flawed because it is made from the perspective of a reader who exists within a finite dimension where "winning" and "losing" exist. What is more accurate to say is that one side will "seem" to win, from the perspective of those mortal things that find themselves on one side or another in the final apocolypse. For the entities native to the Pleroma and the Void, nothing ever changes, and so everything will remain the same as it ever was. This will be the final end, but only for beings that have an end. What follows for them shall be either transcendence to join with the One and cast off their individuality or total annihilation to become nothing but formless possibility. In either case, they will be changed forever, and so drastic shall be the change that they will no longer be the same in any rational sense.
"The Paradox"
That is the paradox itself. For in the end, that which you choose to do will only matter to you. It will not matter to those around you, unless that also matters to you. The effects you create will seem meaningless, and so shall they be, until you cease to exist as you are - as a mortal finite thing - one way, or another. It is only when you finally embrace the chaos of formless probability and become a void, or choose to embrace the perfect stasis of infinite transcendence that an ultimate purpose for existence can be discerned. Only, in so choosing, you give up the ability to perceive it as anything else. You will have not the ability to discern, experience, or even conceive of any other way for things to be. So the paradox itself is not why one should choose; for no matter what, even if you decide not to choose, that will be counted as a choice. The paradox is what you must choose. The paradox is that it makes no difference either way, to you and to those like you, until you choose, and until the Fall, at the End of Ages.
"THE TELLURIAN"
"The Triune Multiverse"
There are ultimately three different experiences one can have of existence. If one is an Aeon, one perceives only the Pleroma, and there is nothing else. Meaning, from the perspective of a pleromic entity, one experiences the Void indirectly by not experiencing anything other than the Pleroma. Thus, to pleromic beings, the Void is only as a concept, with nothing to prove it exists. The multiverse is even more intangible to them, for they cannot even conceive of something existing that is limited and yet has value or purpose. Therefore, the Aeons perceive any being native to the multiverse as something like a wayward child - an Aeon seperated from the Pleroma that has been driven insane by the chaotic essence of the Void and should be purified of that essence in order to see things "the way they really are" and return to the fold.
The Fallen Aeons, native to the Void, surprisingly see things in almost the exact same way. To them, there is only utter chaos, and the very concept that something exists which is defined and yet still has value, would be like suggesting that "sheep black every whale and a dollar." In otherwords, the sentence wouldn't even seem rational in their minds. In fact, like the Aeons, they cannot even experience that which opposes them - the Pleroma - because they are limited to a mere conception of "something that is not like us" without the ability to experience it. Also, like the Aeons, the existence of the multiverse seems impossible to them - equally as irrational as the sentence used to describe it above. To them, they can only imagine some version of themselves that was somehow trapped within a single state of being by the static forces of infinity and must be taught that they in fact never existed in the first place and should give up a futile struggle to achieve a state of perfection that cannot exist, and is entirely contrary to their nature.
And so, each side has an almost identical veiwpoint when it comes to mortal beings, who are native to the Causality of the multiverse. Each side sees the other as a ludicrous fallacy and finds it impossible to rationalize any behavior that would lead to joining with the opposite side. It is not that they cannot imagine such an act, but that it would seem totally illogical, without a shred of reasonable justification. But what they absolutely cannot even imagine is a state of existence between the two, in which one is neither infinite, nor void, yet possesses a purpose and a value. That is to say, they cannot experience or even conceive of Causality.
Yet to us, who are native to Causality, we cannot experience either. We cannot experience - although we can conceive - of a single variation of all things in which there is total perfection, or total chaos. We can imagine things being that way, but we cannot actually experience it. To do so, we would have to first cease existing as a part of Causality and become part of one side or the other. This limitation is so great that even though we can actually step into the Pleroma and look at it with our own eyes, we cannot see it as it truely is - for we cannot even conceive of what it should look like. Likewise, although we can actually exist and perceive the Void, we cannot even comprehend what we are seeing, or imagine what it truely looks like.
"Wormholes"
Because of the limitation of terms and concepts that all beings within the multiverse are subject to as the conditions of consciousness, the multiverse can only be defined in relative terms. Within these terms, then, the Pleroma could be thought of as "the space inside of a wormhole". That is, the Pleroma is "wormhole space" - the space between "here" and "there". And because wormholes are not simply linear conduits with only one entrance and one exit, but a vast impossibly infinite web of inter-connected tunnels with entrances and exits scattered throughout every variation of space and time, it is possible to step inside of one and travel these tunnels without ever returning to a normal continuity.
"Nexus Realms"
These wormhole tunnels begin to converge after awhile. They merge to form larger branches, until finally they lead to massive pockets of isolated space/time where matter and energy exist and often form galaxies, stars, and other cosmic phenomenon. Sometimes one can even find planets with stable ecosystems and atmospheric conditions that make life possible. In fact, our entire universe - the Nephyrexian Continuity - is just one Nexus Realm among many others.
"Continuity"
The Tellurian consists of every single possible variation of reality - every single possible "continuity" that can, could, and ever will exist. Each facet "Nexus Realm" within this multiverse of possibilities is a unique space/time continuity made up of many similar continuums. Sometimes the differences between two continuums in the same continuity are so slight that they cannot really be called important. Some are so similar that you could spend your entire life searching for the difference and never find it. And yet, others are so vastly different that you could spend the same amount of time and never find a single similarity between them and your own continuum. Still more impressive is that every one of these variations of the same continuum are all part of a single continuity which is just one "Nexus Realm" among many.
"Dimensional Travel"
Each continuity is seperated from one another by the Void, the nothingness in which the multiverse drifts. However, it is possible to travel between continuums and Nexus Realms by traveling through the Pleroma. Travel through the Pleroma is made possible with wormholes. Travel through the Void is a different matter entirely.
"Black Holes"
Black holes have often been conceived of as points of infinite collapse, where the matrix of reality warps to such an extent that nothing can escape once it has crossed the famous "event horizon." This is true. Once you enter a black hole, you cannot escape. Surviving them is also difficult - if one is traveling at relativistic speeds. But if one is traveling faster-than-light at super-luminal velocity, it is possible to enter a black hole without being destroyed. Where they lead is a realm that can be described as the ultimate opposite of wormhole space.
"Phase Space"
This space "inside" of a black hole is a point of absolute coorespondence which touches upon every point of every variation of space and time. It is a vast seemingly endless fog of matter and energy coterminious with nothing. This means that if you enter phase space, unless you can travel faster-than-light, you cannot leave it. The only reason one would explore phase space is because there are things that exist here. Just as in wormhole space, there are places where matter and energy form the same cosmic phenomena that can be observed within normal space/time. The only difference is that these places are never the origins of anything. On the contrary, they are places of ultimate exile - worlds where cruel and wicked sentient races from within Causality were banished by their enemies, often for being far too powerful and destructive to co-exist with other lifeforms or for posing too great a threat to the continued existence of their native continuity.
"THE FACTIONS"
"The Eldritch"
There are three factions in this war. Two sides, and a neutral one. "The Eldritch" is the collective name given to all sentient beings that side with the forces of entropy and the Void against the forces of perfection and eternity that exist within the Pleroma. They have nothing to do with their own native races. They were born of them - more than that would be too much grace to afford them. They are the twisted inversions of everything that resembles perfection, love, and redemption. While some are more fanatical than others about this, without a doubt every last one of them has come to a realization that absolute chaos is preferable over absolute unchanging perfection. This is not simply a belief. They can somehow intangibly comprehend and experience the Void, and know that it is the true ultimate reality. Thus they work to extend this vision and incorperate their brothers into the fold. Each has its way. Some use seduction, some use terror. Perhaps the most chilling thing is that their ways are not all that different from those of the Pleroma - only, far more unpredictable. One thing is certain. In choosing a side, they have cast off the shackles of mortality and have found a way to channel the very essence of the Void, making them both unaging and immensely powerful.
"The Aeons"
The Aeons work to prevent this, with powers and agelessness similar to those of the Eldritch. They use similar methods of enticement as the Eldritch, but they are never forceful. Instead, they attempt to make it seem as though the choice is limited to only one - the only one they can conceive of as rational. They cannot really be blamed for this, as they are simply incapable of seeing it any other way. Just as the Eldritch know that they are right, and that reality is nothing like the Aeons say it is, the Aeons know that the Eldritch are wrong, and that reality is perfect and unchanging. This produces a kind of stagnance on the behalf of the Aeons, who tend thus to allow themselves to be defeated by the Eldritch. However, in playing the part of the martyr, they are convinced that others will see their example and follow suit. Although, it is not always this way. Sometimes they will fight back against the Eldritch - indeed, usually they will, unless they have encountered an Eldritch being seemingly wiser than themselves. This is decidedly rare, however. And so the wars rage on, in every corner of every variation of reality.
"The Chronomasters"
And then there are those who see the Divine Conflict as a terrible tragedy. They know, as much as the Eldritch and the Aeons know their own knowings, that to choose either side is to strengthen its existence and effect on the outcome of Causality, when the Fall occurs, and the End of Ages becomes a reality. Indeed, the Chronomasters believe that the End of Ages is only made possible because people choose. And so they advocate not choosing either side. They are seen as ignorant by both sides, who are both convinced that choosing not to choose is simply a choice to have the choice be made for you by one side or the other. Unlike the Eldritch and the Aeons, there is nothing to convince the Chronomasters as the Eldritch and the Aeons have been convinced. However, they still possess a power of sorts as well as being ageless, so as to compete with both sides and protect those they call "innocent". They have mastered a scientific art they call "Chronomancy" - though it is only vaguely related to the manipulation of time itself. Instead, they view it as a manipulation of Causality, which in turn effects the outcome of time. They "interfere" with the "fate" of things using technology rather than the divine powers wielded by the Aeons and the Eldritch, effecting Causality with the energy and essence of Causality itself. And like both the Aeons and the Eldritch, they believe that each being they can convince to remain neutral strengthens their vision of reality.
"Conclusion"
So then, mortal, it falls upon you to choose, or not choose. But be warned. If you decide not to choose, your stability must be absolute, such that in the end, when you die, it cannot be said that there was a flaw in your wisdom. For should there be even the slightest indication that you are "missing the point" when your logic is determined to side with entropy or perfection - that shall become the ultimate reality to which you will belong. And forever it will be so. Eternaly shall it be. This is what you mortals consider "the final judgement" in which you shall be condemned to "Hell" or ascended to "Heaven". And if you will it that you should be impossible to judge, then so you must become and remain, until the End of Ages.
Until The Fall...
