The Lifestream

The Lifestream is a river of aetheric energy coursing through Sharum Mal'Kari and beyond. It exists alongside the physical world but is normally invisible to the naked eye; it becomes visible the deeper one ventures into metaphysically charged spaces.

The Lifestream contains the essence of Sharum Mal'Kari, as well as the memories, emotions, and knowledge of all who have lived on it. Portions of the Lifestream are believed to be used to create new life on the Sharum Mal'Kari, which will eventually return to the planet after they die. In ancient times, it was common practice to bury the dead, as it was believed that this was the best way to expediently return one's Aether to The Lifestream. Nowadays, fears of necromancy have put an end to this practice, with the public opting to cremate the dead instead-- though there are those who worry that some of the energy meant for The Lifestream is lost in this way.

The Lifestream also acts as an afterlife of sorts for the conscious spirits of Sharum Mal'Kari, where they reside until they are eventually judged and sorted either into or out of the Cycle of Regeneration. Certain souls with a particularly powerful will may remain here long after they have been judged, resisting the call to their intended destination. It is generally assumed that any spells that contact the deceased are only successful with souls that are still within The Lifestream; once they have left The Lifestream, it is too late. However, if a soul resides in The Lifestream for too long, they risk becoming a wraith.

The Lifestream is protected by an assortment of supernatural beings-- particularly psychopomps. In fact, one of the only things that nearly all supernatural entities can agree upon is the sanctity of The Lifestream and the necessity of its protection, as most souls are destined to empower them or benefit them in some way at some point. As a result, a soul's journey along The Lifestream is generally a safe one... though demons have become a greater and greater threat to that system as time has gone on.