What It Is
The Ethereal Plane is a ghostly realm that exists parallel to the material world. It is a misty, fog-bound dimension where spirits, ghosts, and certain creatures dwell.
What the Party Knows
From Victor Vallakovich in Session 13, the party learned:
- The Ethereal Plane is a separate dimension that exists alongside the material world
- Stella Wachter’s soul became trapped in the Ethereal Plane when a teleportation circle experiment failed catastrophically
- In the Ethereal Plane, Stella was attacked by a “gallows speaker”—a dark shadow entity that feeds on souls
- Erasmus van Richten’s ghost exists in the Ethereal Plane and has been protecting Stella’s soul from the shadows
- Stella’s soul is slowly fading in the Ethereal Plane; she sometimes can’t remember who she is and experiences strange sensations
- A ritual from Khazan’s books can temporarily transport living creatures into the Ethereal Plane for up to one hour
- The ritual requires a night hag’s heartstone to function
- Night hags naturally travel between the material world and the Ethereal Plane to prey on sleeping victims
Properties
Based on what Victor has shared:
- The Ethereal Plane is separate from the material world but connected to it
- Ghosts and certain undead can exist in the Ethereal Plane
- Souls can become trapped there under catastrophic magical circumstances
- Time appears to function differently—Stella has survived for two months when she should have faded in hours
- Dark entities inhabit the Ethereal Plane and prey on trapped souls
Appearance in Sessions
- Session 13 — Victor Vallakovich explained the Ethereal Plane and Stella Wachter’s predicament; revealed the plan to enter the Ethereal Plane to rescue her soul