#mostart

There are 3 planes in the 13 note realm: the Eight Echoes, the Sea of Noise, and the Void of Silence. The Echoes each represent the abstract concept of various aspects of music; how they appear to those residing within them, and the kinds of creatures borne out of them, reflect whatever aspect they are named for. Their landscapes are often dreamlike and incredibly surreal. The Core at the centre of the 8th echo is 13th note energy in its absolute purest form; it holds the entire realm together and is responsible for the generation of new entities to populate the realms.

The Sea of Noise is, as its name and appearance here suggest, an absolutely inscrutable plane of absolute chaos and white noise from every direction. It effectively creates a protective barrier between the Echoes and the Void; even for Sonic Lords and other beings from the realms, the Sea is nigh on impossible to navigate, and absolutely hellish to experience. It keeps the good guys in and the bad guys out.

The Void of Silence is basically 13th note exile. Sonic Lords’ existence is centred around their use of sound and music; the Void is basically one big, enormous mute chamber. There is no sound here, and without sound, anyone sentenced to serve time in there will struggle to make any use of their powers at all.

The primary populace of the 13th note realms are the Sonic Lords: powerful, deity-like beings who have far more masterful command of the 13th note than even the most dedicated human could even dream of. Seemingly immortal, they generally present themselves as humanoids, and can be either ethereal or corporeal at their own discretion. Some are simply born within the realms, but others are Guardian humans who effectively ascended to godhood to join the ranks of the Sonic Lords.

13th note energy itself is basically a form of magic utilised through sound and music. Certain people and certain instruments harbour a natural affinity for playing the 13th note, and those who can play it are typically known as its Guardians. It can have a wide range of effects, which vary between individual people and instruments; the Yamashito violin, for instance, enables time travel, and is specifically attuned to the Yamashito family, granting them an inherent knowledge of how to play it, even without ever having done so before. Every Guardian generally has at least one natural ability, but to properly control their power, develop new abilities and make the most effective use of their gift takes a lot of practice and focus.