Traveler's Guide to the Umbra (Patreon)

Princes of Darkness has added the Umbra, a special domain beyond the material world. Numerous types of supernatural creatures can enter these strange domains, and between lifestyle experience, special events, and unique choices and benefits, there is much one can gain from exploring these interesting domains. Note: The Umbra is still in development, and thus, this guide can be subject to change. The Umbra is integral to the World of Darkness, so we are regularly working on it. We plan on expanding it more when we add in and expand upon Wraiths and Garou, but for now, it has more limited functionality.

Entering the Umbra

Entering the Umbra is a relatively straightforward process. On the right sight of the game on your toolbar, between the Decisions and the Royal Court Tab (As of 1.6.01). Clicking on that icon will bring up the 'Reaching: Skinlands' screen. These are the Gates into delving into the Umbra.

Here, you can access the 4 main places of the Umbra. The Spirit Wilds, the Shadowlands, the Astral Planes, and the Near Dreaming. Certain Supernaturals can enter certain parts of the Umbra, for example, Western Vampires can only enter the Shadowlands with certain disciplines like Auspex and Necromancy, while Kuei-Jin can enter any of the main four domains. Some areas are unique to certain supernaturals, like Mummies entering the Dark Kingdom of Sand through the Shadowlands, Wraiths entering Hades, Wyrm-aligned creatures in the Wyrm domains, and others. So no matter what you are, there is plenty to explore! If you cannot enter an area, a tooltip will tell you what traits you need to enter the Umbra. Now, let's enter the Umbra, in order of how they appear. Certain events will happen based on the perks and buildings you may have, so the more experienced you are, the safer entering and travelling the Umbra is. The Kuei-Jin can even get the Dah Modifier here as well! For the purposes of this Guide, I will explore the Umbra with Greater Ancestor Fan, the Retired Empress of the White Exiles, as a Kuei-Jin, she can enter of the four main domains. Without further ado, let's leave the world of the living.

The Spirit Wilds

The Spirit Wilds are another name for the Middle Umbra, particularly the space between the Near Realms. This part of the Umbra reflects the natural environment, both in its pristine state and the controlled domains of the areas humans dwell in throughout the Dark Ages. It is routinely visited by Garou, though some mages also make regular visit here. Kuei-Jin can also enter these wild places.

In the Spirit Wilds, you get access to Aetheria, Atrocity, the Battleground, Erebus, the Flux, Pangea, and the Wolfhome.

In Aetheria, you can visit three Incarna, the godlike beings that form the three main celestial bodies of the World of Darkness, Helios the Sun, Luna the Moon, and Gaia the Earth, as well as the firmament. But be wary, there are dangerous places to tread here, including the Dreaded Malfeas, the dreaded domains of the Wyrm. Here, stress abounds, which can have dire consequences...

Next, we have Atrocity, a domain of pain. At the moment, there isn't much to do here, but it will likely be expanded on later.

After Atrocity, we have the Battlegrounds. It doesn't expand into any realms currently, but meditating here might potentially yield insights into war, possible giving you a commander trait, based on your martial skill.

Next we go to Erebus. From here, we can examine the Domains of Spiritual Cleansing, a realm of Hell for the Garou, but purification for others. Currently, there isn't much to do yet in Erebus.

Following Erebus, we have the Flux. The Flux is a font of the purest energies of the Wyld, the energy of raw creation. Like Atrocity and Erebus, we will expand on the Flux Realm later.

The Legendary Realms are the place where the Garou commune with their ancestors. This will be an important place for them, and like the other realms save Aetheria, it is easy to go back into the Spirit Wilds for further exploration.

Pangaea is a reflection of the world before we knew it today, further into the dark ages, and before the classical ages, even dating back before civilization itself. It feeds back into the spirit wilds like the Legendary Realms.

Wolfhome is one of the dwelling places of the garou. It will be expanded upon later when the Garou are added to Princes of Darkness.

The Shadowlands

The Shadowlands are the domains of the Dead. An uncanny reflection of our own domain, this place is a mirror of our own. You can find wraiths here, and they feel at home in these wasted places. From here, you can enter the Spirit Wilds, or enter the Dreaded Tempest. Within the Tempest regions, you can get lost, but across its domains one can access a good deal of minor artifacts that you can have wraiths forge greater pieces. Additionally, you have access to stress farming, as being in this realm is quite maddeningly. Just be careful, it can be quite easy to get lost...

This place is one most can access, so be sure to explore it if you can, if you want to fully utilize the new power the manipulation of the dead can give you.

Astral Planes

The Astral Planes are, for the purposes of exploration, one of the smaller realms. The Courts of the Higher Heavens lie here, and are planned upon for doing more in the future.

For now, it also one of the hardest to get lost in, so if you want to mediate in the Umbra, this is the place to do so. Dah lies in plenty here, and is a safe place to take in the wisdom of creation.

Near Dreaming

The Dreaming is as it sounds, its the place closest to the Skinlands where our dreams permeate the Umbra. It isn't too deep currently, with the Near Dreaming leading into the Far Dreaming, which leads into the Deep Dreaming, in singular paths with no loops, so as long as you remember with direction you're going, leaving the Dreaming is easier than any other Umbral Realm, so, like the Astral Planes, this is a good place to mediate for experience when the material world doesn't need you.

• This wiki is subject to change with the release of new updates. This guide is up to date as of 'Iberia by Night' 1.6.01.
  

https://www.princesofdarknessmod.com/wiki/index.php/Traveler%27s_Guide_to_the_Umbra