Fantasy Setting Proposal

1. Core Ethos Sentence.

The two halves of a single universe, sundered ages ago in a divine war, have drifted into proximity again, bringing their inhabitants into conflict and possible cooperation.

2. Who are the heroes?

The heroes are native to both worlds of the sundered universe. They are among the few who have managed to overcome the fear and prejudice common to natives of both worlds in order to work together against the evil forces of each.

3. What do they do?

The main objective of heroes in this setting is to prevent the evil forces of each world from dominating both. Secondary goals are to foster cooperation among the good peoples of both worlds while untangling conflicts, and to unravel the mystery of the collision of worlds by exploring the ancient ruins in both worlds that hint at their distant, unified past.

4. Threats, Conflicts, Villains

There are two primary dangers, one native to each world. Karatha is sharply divided along the lawful evil—chaotic good alignment axis. It is ruled by the lawful evil Maeth Imperium, an evil empire with strong Infernal influence, opposed by chaotic good pockets of resistance. The Imperium reacts to the encounter with a new world by seeking to conquer it.
The other world, Laethos, is divided along the lawful good—chaotic evil alignment axis. It is ruled by several strong lawful good kingdoms, but is also home to a number of cults dedicated to demon princes worshiped as deities. These cults seek the annihilation of both worlds and the ultimate corruption of their inhabitants.

5. Nature of magic

Arcane magic has its origin on the Plane of Shadow that connects the two worlds. Each world has its own tradition of tapping into this power—one dominated by sorcerers and the other by wizards. Arcane spellcasters in both worlds are rare and mysterious, but are now experiencing a surge of power as the Plane of Shadow more strongly influences both Material Planes. Divine spellcasters, naturally, receive their magic from the deities of the two worlds (members of a warring pantheon). They are widespread in both worlds, and are finding their longstanding dominance challenged both by the confluence of worlds and by the sudden rise of arcanists.

6. What's new? What's different?

The intersection of different worlds—indeed, separate cosmologies—is the primary unique feature of this setting. The setting also gives an important place to archdevils and demon princes as nearly divine figures, according them a more prominent role than they have typically held in previous D&D-related products.