The fifth layer, Mertion, is made up of sweeping plains, beautiful mountain lakes, and massive black domes. Its sky, much like Solania’s, is a bright silver though this sky is so pure and the light so piercing that any undead who might make their way to this plane are blasted by its radiant light, causing them to burn to ash.

Dotting across the plains of this layer are citadels and spherical black domes made of some sort of smooth material. The black domes are the size of small mountains and most are perfectly smooth, making it incredibly hard to climb them unless you have wings. Some of these domes have stairs carved into them, and many pilgrims climb these domes so that they might pass on to the next layer, though they must find the right dome. It is said that these domes are the stepping stones that the gods used to ascend to godhood, though no one knows for sure the purpose of these domes.

Empyrea, the City of Tempered Souls

One of the cities on this layer is Empyrea and it is full of fountains of all types and sizes. These fountains are renown across the planes for their healing properties, they can heal any ailment or affliction, you must simply find the right fountain. Many pilgrims who undergo this journey are looking for Empyrea and their fountain, hoping to cure their ailments in its fountains.

Soqed Hezi, the City of Swords

This citadel is the home to the archons and is one of preparedness and defenses. It has high walls, defensive tunnels and is home to thousands of sword archons waiting for the day they are called to defend their plane. This city follows military disciplines and is ruled by a sword archon known as Bahram who rules from a throne of swords. All who reside in this city follow their orders without question and are always training.

Jovar, the Glittering Heaven

This sixth heaven of Mount Celestia, known as Jovar, is a land of beautiful gems the size of hills and houses strewn about the slopes. These gems provide a glittering light and their beauty causes many to lose themselves upon seeing it. Very few pilgrims ever make it to this layer, and very few, if any, ever make it from this layer to the final layer.

Little is known about this layer, except there are far more archons on this layer than any other layer of Mount Celestia.

Yetsirah, the Heavenly City

This city is only for archons and only archons reside here. They are ruled by a council of thone archons who weigh and value each and every archon, deciding whether to elevate them or not. This city lies inside of a seven-layered ziggurat of immense size. It is said that the only way to get to the seventh layer is to find it’s hidden entrance inside of the central ziggurat.

Bridge of al-Sihal

This bridge is guarded by the solar known as Xerona who judges every pilgrim and archon who makes it this far. Many are turned away, judged not pure enough to enter the seventh layer of Mount Celestia. No one knows what is beyond the bridge as no one has ever returned.

Chronias, the Illuminated Heaven

Some say that this layer leads directly to the Plane of Positive Energy, burning away mortal flesh and evil intentions until only what is pure remains. Others claim that this layer doesn’t actually exist and instead when a pilgrim crosses into this plane they become one with the plane, not even the gods know what resides here or, at least, they aren’t telling anyone if they do. Regardless, no one has ever returned from visiting this layer and so it remains one of the greatest mysteries of the planes.

Factions & People

Archons

The archons make up the largest group on this plane, and they are the souls of the petitioners. The archons are often compared to the demons of the Abyss, they exist because of this plane and the plane exists because of them. The archons are all lawful good and constantly seek to better themselves so that they may become part of this plane in a type of ascension. The archons are broken into different forms, though they typically follow a very set hierarchy.

Lantern Archons

These are the most plentiful of all the archons and are the first form that most petitioners become, though some souls are worthy of starting higher up the hierarchy if they were beyond exceptional in life. The lantern archons resemble a globe of light and lack any ability to interact with the physical world beyond lashing out with radiant rays of light.

These archons are often treated like children by the higher up archons, forgiven often for failing their paths and reproached with a gentle hand. The lantern archons are still just the souls of petitioners and have yet to reach purity.

Proxy Archons