INTO THE AETHER

Into The Aether is a collection of stories that take place in the Aethernum Superior, the realm of Gods and the Underworld, which oversee the “overworld”, or mortal realm below.The key story of Into The Aether takes place roughly two-hundred and fifty years from the conclusion of the story “Spinal Tap” in the Growing Pains Universe.

THE HOUSE OF TERRA

The House of Terra is the pre-eminent house and largely the second-busiest, save for the House of Vita.Contained within the House of Terra is the larger community of Gods based around the happenings in the overworld, containing the God of Earth and Land, God of Sea and Water, God of Fire and Flame, God of Air and Sky, and the God of Nature and Plants.Each God within the House of Terra has two children, who act as Aspects-each one handles a specific focus area of their God’s overarching responsibility.The House of Terra is the upper-most house in the Aethernum Superior, and as such, has closest proximity to the sun and light of the world.

THE HOUSE OF VITA

the busiest House in the Aethernum, but is seen as far less prestigious than its terran sibling, for a myriad of reasons.Contained within the House of Vita is the God of Death and Dying, the God of Life and Living, the God of Time and The Passage, and the God of Limbo and The Shepherd.The physical House of Vita- often described as dour and depressing- is seen as a place of work, but not a place of residence. Few, if any of the Gods in the House of Vita live there full time, even if they maintain residences there.

THE HOUSE OF ARCANUM

the thirdmost of the “high-standing” houses, considered below Terra and Vita solely by technicality due to only housing one god.The House of Arcanum sits in the true middle of the spire, balancing output to all other realms.It’s believed the House of Arcanum is the oldest house, though its God’s notably floaty nature leaves few interested enough to dive deep into the house’s history and standing outside of what is known.Surely there is nothing of greater interest beneath the surface?

THE HOUSE OF ASTRA

House of Sun and Moon

THE HOUSE OF EGO

House of Feeling and Emotions - Encompasses love, Joy, revelry, etc

THE HOUSE OF ARMIS

House of War and peace

THE HOUSE OF PARITY

An honorary house above all else.The House of Parity is made up of two halves of a whole- the mortal-named concepts of Heaven and Hell and the denizens within who maintain the balance of good and evil in the overworld.The existence of Heaven and Hell means very little to the "rightness" or "wrongness" of religion. Heaven and Hell and subsequently demons and angels are not religious entities and their realms do not serve as afterlife in the way religions that believe in them would dictate. Angels are not inherently good and Demons are not inherently evil- they maintain a careful ebb and flow of sins and virtues.Hell is a glorified business park- a collection of high rise buildings and office spaces. Hell is largely a corporation running on tight quotas and timelines. They interface with mortals far more often than angels, who tend to play more into the afterlife period of a mortal soul's lifetime, and back up to the underworld proper."Heaven" on the other hand is an old style suburban shopping mall. No mortal souls reside within heaven full time, but can pass through it. Heaven serves more of a "purgatory" role and acts as a connector to the various afterlife realms.