(from the wikipedia entry for endless - comics):
They have existed since the dawn of time and are thought to be among the most powerful beings in the existence. They are distinct from and more powerful than most gods. Dream is the protagonist of The Sandman series, but all of the Endless play major roles. ...
The Endless spend most of their time fulfilling their functions as embodiments of natural forces. For example, Death leads the souls of the dead away from the realm of the living, while Dream oversees the realm of dreams and imagination ("The Dreaming") and regulates dreams and inspiration. One notable facet of their depiction is that none of them are "representations" or "personifications" of their function, they simply are their function.
