An Afterlife is a core part of the iVerse. The Essence is what contains the essential aspect of identity and memory as it is woven in The Pattern for reference in the afterlife, it is referred to as a Soul. The Follower’s consciousness is delivered, through the House of the Dead, to their final destination – an Afterlife. The process of going to an afterlife, through the House of the Dead, is typically not remembered by the transiting ‘soul’.
The Presence of an entity that is bound in some way to an existence will transit in some way through the House of the Dead once their primary existence is ended. There, their beliefs and/or their connection to their Principal entity as woven in The Pattern, will determine the final destination or the next transition. For some it may be oblivion – a return to the Aether, for others a dour shadow spirit of their former self, and others a place of reward and sublime achievement in a realm/plane created by a Principal.
Principals that are powerful enough to have followers, they can generally manifest a new realm as a reward or penalty for the follower. The surviving essential aspect varies between belief systems; it may be some partial element, or the entire soul or spirit, which carries with it one’s personal identity. Principals which are universal – they have a presence and span the iVerse, may have multiple names and/or manifestations that reflect both the identity they are known by, and their afterlife promised to their followers and specific sects.
Some destinations are universal across the entire iVerse. Many many not be aware of them, but they are accessible.
Those who arrive at an Afterlife as a promised destination will have their Essence bound to it.