A Malevolent Rebirth: A D&D Story

An Overview of The Far Realm

The Far Realm is an expansive space of stars, lost landmasses, forgotten histories, and many more wonders. Some say horrors beyond comprehension reside here, others say the ancestors of many known races first came from here, and even fewer believe this land connects spaces, times, realities, and dimensions that number beyond what can be counted. However, most don't even know of the Far Realm's existence if they do not live there.

The location of the Far Realm, is within the center of existence, with everything being built around it. Similar to a mug with liquid in it. The rim is the realms beyond and the deeper liquid within the mug is the Far Realm, an area more vast than the mere brim of a cup. However, this is but one of the many examples and analogies that those of the Far Realm use to explain the void they call home.

Beings not from the Far Realm are rightly dubbed Outsiders, as they come from outside the mug, from outside the liquid, from beyond the void. Though they are few and far between, Outsiders do show up from the many planes of the cosmology wheel, but they are not the people of this space.

This place has no coherency to races, cultures, or beliefs. Things simply exist and events just occur. If there were to be a place most familiar to any beings from the great wheel of cosmology, it would be The Hearth. A sprawling continent floating amidst the twinkling stars, frozen beasts, and cosmic storms.

The Hearth holds a number of races, some look familiar, and others are all too alien. 

Precursors. Human-like creatures, only taller, and more resilient both physically and mentally, but without a thread of magic to grant them powers like their kin in the material plane. However, many have a knack for specific skills, almost every individual of the race would be considered a prodigy in their field were they in the material plane. They develop skills faster, and eventually, if they dedicate their energy to it, they can gain powers that rival the advanced magics of the cosmology wheel.

The Children of The Great Machine also known as The Forged, are mechanical beings that work on some unknown celestial mechanisms and steam engines. They vary in size, purpose, strength, and intelligence, but all worship The Great Machine.

The Celestials. The fragments of a mighty cosmic being, created to be archivists and preservers of powers and technologies from all races they encounter. Tall, slender, but majestic, beautiful, the embodiment of celestial glory.

The Grafted. A subrace of Precursors that found purpose and faith in The Great Machine. Taking mechanical parts, becoming experts in medicines and biological technology and augmentations. Never fully abandoning their humanity, but willing to stray far from it in order to advance their society and race. They stand tall, but their augmentations make them even more resilient and formidable than their kin. The only thing they lack that their kin does not, are the genetics and mentality required to unlock the latent potential and powers within the Precursor race.

The final known race of the Far Realm, are the Aberrations. The Far Realm is their home, beings created by forgotten races, powerful eldritch entities, and horrid abominations that exceed what any sane creature can comprehend. The aberrations range from the known within the planes of the cosmology wheel; Beholders, Abeloth's, Flumphs, Mind Flayers, and more. A lesser known, but still prominent race would be Daegul's, massive hulking feral beasts that know nothing but hunger and bloodlust. They tower over even the trolls and ogres of the material plane and have the strength and fortitude to match giants. It's no wonder most are hunted or caged, even one can rival the champions of kingdoms.

These races, these beings, and these lands are The Far Realm. Now what stories they hold, is seldom known, but always incredible.