The Mortal Realms
Eight fractured worlds where gods wage war and mortals fight for survival.
The Mortal Realms constitute the shattered remnants of a once-unified universe, fractured into eight distinct planes of existence by the cataclysmic events known as the Great Warring. Each realm is dominated by a specific aspect of reality—such as fire, life, or death—and serves as both a battlefield and a home for the myriad races vying for survival against the encroaching Chaos Gods. These realms are the stage upon which the eternal conflict between Order and Chaos plays out, with their very fabric constantly shifting under the weight of magical storms and divine intervention.
- Central Figure
- Sigmar, the God-King of Azyr
Lore & Background
The stability of the Mortal Realms relies on the balance of the Winds of Magic, which flow differently in each plane. Sigmar, the god-king of Order, has rallied his followers across these planes to resist the total corruption by Chaos. However, the realms are not static; they shift, merge, and fracture as the tides of war change. The Mortal Realms are a prison for mortals who cannot escape the cycle of destruction, yet they remain the only place where true free will can be exercised against the predetermined doom of the Realm of Chaos.
In Their Own Story
The wind howled across the jagged peaks of Azyr, carrying the scent of ozone and ancient storms. Kaelen, a Stormcast Eternal newly awakened from his stasis, looked out over the fractured horizon where the sky met the churning clouds of Ghyran below. He could feel the tremors of the Realm-Shift beneath his boots, the ground groaning as the fabric of reality stretched thin. In the distance, a tear in the air spat fire and green slime—a breach from Chamon and Nurgle's domain alike. 'Hold the line,' he whispered to his brotherhood, raising his hammer as the first daemons clawed their way through the rift, their eyes burning with the madness of the Warp.
Reader's Guide
The Mortal Realms are the central setting for Age of Sigmar, representing a multiverse fractured by divine conflict. Originally one world, it was shattered into eight distinct planes during the Great Warring, each governed by a specific fundamental force like fire, life, or death. These realms serve as the primary battlegrounds where the forces of Order, led by gods like Sigmar and Grungni, fight to prevent total domination by the Chaos Gods. The geography is fluid; storms can merge realms, and portals allow armies to traverse between them instantly. Key locations include Azyr, the realm of air and light, and Shyish, the domain of death. Survival in these realms requires constant vigilance. Magic flows freely but dangerously, warping landscapes and creatures alike. Mortals and their divine creations must navigate this unstable multiverse to protect what remains of reality from being consumed by the eternal hunger of Chaos.
Did You Know?
- The eight realms were once a single world before being shattered by the Great Warring.
- Each realm is dominated by a specific aspect of reality, such as fire in Aqshy or death in Shyish.
- The Stormcast Eternals are forged in Azyr using the souls of fallen mortal heroes.
- The boundaries between realms are porous, allowing Chaos daemons to invade at will.