So far I have three forms of power emanating from the dark staff:

1) Dark Mirest's Power
2) Walker's Power
3) Rider's Power

Dark Mirest

Going back a little to the history of the first dark mirest, Elkuund, the person who accepts the dark staff enters into a covenant with Satan. This person's main goal is to procure the most enduring power and prestige that he or she can in his/her battle against God. Satan told Elkuund long ago that together they could kill God and rule together. From there on, a battle has ensued for power within that future evil kingdom.

There is a hierarchy: Satan>Elkuund>Elkuund's Walkers>Next Generation Walkers>2nd Dark Mirest>etc.

Walkers: One of the foremost powers of the Dark Mirest, is the ability to make Walkers - those who look into his staff and thereby forsake their physical body in order to obtain a spiritual form. They are able to live in their physical body, but it is very painful - they do so only to procreate a new race called Crawlers, which are humans with even shorter lifespans that are already pledged to their parent. In the Spiritual Realm (SR), the Walkers gain power through numbers of Crawlers serving them and their rank (calculated by generations between Walker and grandcrawlers).

For example. Metathos is the first Walker. He is able to make 3,000 crawlers in his life before he is not strong enough to take physical form anymore, and now reigns in the SR. He gains more SR power for every crawler created by one of his crawlers. (Nobody's really sure if there is more inherent power in being a granddaddy walker of the 44th generation, of if one just commands more respect because all his crawler relatives draw their power from serving him.)

In the Spirit Realm, power can be "sucked" from weaker beings. Gangs, rivalries, and betrayal ensue between Walker Families.

Walkers

The drama comes from not being able to see the activities of the other realm. Thus, Walkers are vulnerable in the the Physical Realm (PR) when they seek a new concubine because they can't see if the area they are in is infested with enemy spirits. Also, traitors can get you to enter the SR into a trap and then be sucked of power that took generations to build.

The advantage to being a walker is that you get a headstart to power in the SR (it is believed that everyone is subjected to Satan in the SR, so why not start networking and investing now?). The downside, is you are never at peace in your own body. You can still feel pleasure, but not nearly as much as normal humans. There is a euphoric high when you enter the SR, but the downside is the longer you are there, the more intolerable PR becomes (and the more fragile your body becomes to disease, injury).

Deals are made where some Walkers will spend more time in PR to protect ones that spend time in SR, but alliances are frail in this dog-eat-dog world. This is where the Rider's come in.

Riders

They are able to ride borusks - larger than our world's boars that can be riden and are more ferocious. Riders must kneel and pledge allegiance to the Dark Mirest. In so doing, they receive a spot of the Mirest's blood on their hand. In time, the Mirest can increase or decrease that blood in their hand based on service. The blood gives them physical power, but also the ability to ride and command borusks.

Riders are the Mirest and his walker's army.

Huh, I've never heard of that series. I just looked it up and I guess it is for children? Is this a bad thing?

Assuming you read it, did you like how Miss Cooper executed on this similar idea?

Thanks for your observation, I've just picked it up from the library. We'll see how I can add my own twist if the ideas are too similar.

Your Spiritual Realm makes sense in how it operates.
What were the differences between the book you read and your story?

Unfortunately, this story has been trunked for some time. It's still back there waiting for me to pick it back up. The book turned out to be too YA for my tastes, and I didn't make it far.

Ah.