The Shattered World

The Shattered World is a dark, corrupted mirror of the Material Plane, suspended between it and the Void below. This realm resembles the world we know but is twisted, decayed, and shrouded in an eternal fog. Its landscapes are hauntingly familiar yet warped, reflecting ruins of real-world locations where structures crumble and natural light cannot penetrate the gloom. ALTERs and Shadows dominate this plane, creating a dimension of perpetual suffering and despair.

The Shattered World is a dimension that mirrors our own in form but is a twisted reflection, locked in a state of ruin and decay. The air is thick with fog, obscuring vision and distorting the surroundings. Darkness pervades every corner, and conventional light sources — torches, flashlights, or fire — are ineffective here. Only TRACE Weapons and specially cast TRACE Lights can provide the necessary illumination to pierce the darkness, making these essential for any who attempt to traverse the Shattered World.

The oppressive atmosphere weighs heavily on anyone who enters, instilling a deep sense of dread. The environment itself seems to feed off despair, wearing down the mind and spirit. Non-TRACE sensitives who enter are almost instantly driven to madness, while even seasoned TRACE users experience mental strain and the risk of insanity if they remain too long in its depths.

The Shattered World is overrun with ALTERs and Shadows — twisted beings drawn from or corrupted by TRACE energy. These entities are manifestations of pain, negative emotion, and TRACE corruption, thriving in the darkness that cloaks this plane. Shadows are the lingering remnants of souls consumed by ALTERs, acting as drones or lesser soldiers that attack anything they perceive as a threat.

ALTERs, being closely tied to the Void below, use the Shattered World as their primary hunting grounds. This realm provides them with ample energy and negative emotions to feed on, allowing them to grow in power. Tracers who enter the Shattered World often find themselves outnumbered, fighting against swarms of Shadows or formidable high-level ALTERs.

The primary means of entering the Shattered World from the Material Plane is through Voidcracks — rare breaches in reality where TRACE corruption has weakened the seam between planes. Voidcracks occur unpredictably, appearing as temporary portals that allow transit between the Material Plane and the Shattered World for brief moments. These openings are both a threat and an opportunity, as Tracers may enter the Shattered World to hunt ALTERs or recover lost artifacts, though the risks are immense.

Voidcracks often exert a powerful pull, capable of sucking in anything nearby, from people to entire objects. Talismans crafted by the Tracer Order are used to seal these Voidcracks, but some breaches evade detection or reopening over time, allowing ALTERs or TRACE-corrupted energy to seep into the Material Plane.

Experienced TRACE users can sometimes perform Plane Shifting, a rare and dangerous technique that allows intentional crossing between the Material Plane and the Shattered World. Plane Shifting requires absolute mastery over TRACE energy and is only used in extreme cases. This technique can serve as a quick means of travel, though prolonged use or failed shifts risk the TRACE user becoming trapped in the Shattered World permanently.

The Shattered World’s darkness is more than the absence of light; it is a corruptive force that gnaws at the sanity of anyone within it. Ordinary people cannot survive here for long without succumbing to madness. Non-TRACE sensitives are especially vulnerable, experiencing intense hallucinations, paranoia, and despair almost immediately. TRACE users fare slightly better, but even they are not immune to the effects of the darkness. Prolonged exposure can lead to Void Sickness, causing progressive mental degradation that eventually results in insanity.

TRACE Lights and TRACE Weapons are the only reliable sources of light in the Shattered World, allowing TRACE users to ward off the darkness and fend off its corruptive influence. However, maintaining this protection drains energy over time, forcing TRACE users to be cautious in their movements and conserve power to avoid being overtaken by the dark.

While the Shattered World is a hostile and dangerous realm, Tracers are sometimes required to enter it to carry out critical missions. These missions might involve sealing Voidcracks, hunting high-level ALTERs, or recovering important artifacts. Tracers venturing into the Shattered World are often among the most skilled and prepared, equipped with powerful TRACE Weapons and Talismans designed to protect them.

The Tracer Order strictly regulates access to the Shattered World, as the dangers of madness, corruption, and death are ever-present. Each mission is carefully weighed, and only those with extensive training are authorized to enter. Even so, many Tracers who venture into the Shattered World return changed, if they return at all, bearing the psychological scars of their journey.

For more information on the darker realm below the Shattered World, see The Void.