Okay, before we start there are two things I need to touch on real quick;

1.) As I've mentioned, by the end of the Scribe Grimoire arc, we each come into possession of a rare but weak medium in the form of a blank book attuned to one of the primary realms (excluding Vull) that means you can obtain either an Entropic, Ordered, Inner or Outer blank book medium, only one of these books of their respective types are up for grabs, so I'll allow you to have first dibs. Additionally, I know a way we could go about 'lucky dipping' it if you'd prefer that. Finally, in regard to this point, the book type you start off with is of course, no indication of what essent type I expect you to focus if you choose to focus on a specific type. It is merely to add a little diversity at the start of things.

2.) In regards to layers, going from one layer to another should never feel like a black and white experience, unless Rift layers are involved. What I mean primarily by this is that the layers just 'outside' of the Equilibrium, will have some features about them that can indicate "okay, I'm obviously in a layer close to the Equilibrium". This is the same for all the realms, that said, our characters first experiences in going to different layers will no doubt be layers near the Equilibrium.

These layers will appear similar to the Equilibrium/physical world expect there will be no definable day or night cycle and only organic, living brings will be viewable. Humans due to their ineptness at using their Victus forms will only appear as 'wisps', however, trees and other plants, fungi and animals will all appear very similar to how they appear in the Equilibrium. For this reason, a character who is able to use their Victus form will be able to see Victus creatures run through walls or pass through solid matter as if it were nothing. This is because you are viewing them from the Equilibrium while they are on a layer very close to the Equilibrium, where these physical items are not present.

~ With all that out of the way, I'm quite sure that's the only concept I've needed to cover since I threw that huge bulk of info at you. I had meant to cover it in 'Manifestation' but forgot, I've got a more detailed way of explaining it, but I'll save it unless you want to hear that specifically, it is quite a minor aspect of the system.