The Universe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Universe as perceived from the Lands extends both into the space of the stars and planets and the concurrent space of the supernatural realms.
The Firmament
The Lands are the most diversely inhabited part of a world which is named Orb. Most inhabitants of The Lands however prefer the name The World or even The Lands. These inhabitants are also aware of other objects in the Firmament as follows...
There is one Sun which is orbited in concentric orbits by five planets (three of which are orbited by moons). In order by distance from the Sun the five planets are Oryon, Vareck, Orb, Udolfo and Tara. Most of these worlds are named for significant historical figures.
* Oryon is the smallest planet and has a rusty tone to its dusty surface. It is the only planet apart from the Orb to keep its original Lehenic name (the others having been given Erimanic names). Sages speculate it is a hot and desolate world.
* Vareck is the second smallest planet and has a misty white look. Its permanent coverage of cloud allows sages to speculate endlessly on its surface conditions and inhabitants.
* Orb is the world of which The Lands are a part. From space it is a beautiful pattern of swirling whites, blues and greens. Orb is orbited by one object known only as the Moon. The Moon however is followed by a string of even smaller objects - the Followers (known commonly as the Moon Dust).
* Udolfo is the second largest planet and covered in a pattern of ever-moving flame-and-golden bands. It also is orbited by two moons - Tilda and Brennan. These are at best seen as white dots in the strongest of spy glasses.
* Tara is the largest and furthest planet from the Sun. Like Udolfo it has a pattern of bands but in shades of pink and purple. It is encircled at its equator by a ring. Further away it is also orbited by the solitary moon of Hakon (which is usually too dark to be seen at all and is only sometimes seen as a grey dot).
It is noted that there are ten named objects in the Firmament - Sun, Oryon, Vareck, Orb, Moon, Udolfo, Tilda, Brennan, Tara and Hakon - and that this may be why inhabitants of The Lands count in tens.
Beyond the planets are the multitude of stars fixed in the night sky. They have been arranged by observers into Constellations. Many think that the stars are holes in the walls of night while others speculate that they are incredibly distant suns!
All information on objects beyond Orb is garnered solely from observation using composite spy glasses (telescopes) and by consulting ancient texts. Legends tell that in the Age of Glory however the empires operated ships of the sky that took them as far as the Moon but sages have never found any strong evidence for these sky ships.
Supernatural Realms
The Firmament is just one of many realms existing in parallel with one another. Much more is know of these other realms than of the stars and planets. In answer to why this is the case the sage Eldwin Lombard says:
"Even the Moon is hundreds of thousands of miles distant.
In contrast the Halls of Eternity are but a fatal injury away."
The realms intimately associated with the Lands are as follows...
The Elemental Planes are four in number and are eternal realms of pure substance. They are as follows:
- The Realm of Fire
- The Realm of Air
- The Realm of Water
- The Realm of Earth
It is these four elements that compose all matter in the Firmament in infinite combinations.
The Ether is the eternal realm of Animus - that force that grants movement and vitality. In the Ether all Animus is inert and it is only once it is combined with Elements that it becomes active. In the Ether all is misty greyness. They say that the Firmament was once just Ether till it was mixed with the Elements. Tiny pockets of Ether can be produced by removing all Elemental content and powerful arch-mages use these as temporary personalised realms.
The Spirit Planes are six in number and are the territory of Gods & Goddesses. They are the eternal habitation of immortal spirits. These planes are as follows:
- Paradise
- Netherworld
- Harmonium
- Discordia
- Shadowlands
- Eternal Halls
All these realms are of infinite size but sometimes only along particular dimensions rather than in all directions. It is suggested by some however that the Eternal Halls are more correctly understood to be a pocket of Ether and of finite size.
Information on these Realms is gathered by a process of magically assisted communication and transportation. Most adventurers will never experience anything of these other realms or if they do it will be in the very rare instance of meeting a native of such realms visiting the mortal world.
The Universe as perceived from the Lands extends both into the space of the stars and planets and the concurrent space of the supernatural realms.
The Firmament
The Lands are the most diversely inhabited part of a world which is named Orb. Most inhabitants of The Lands however prefer the name The World or even The Lands. These inhabitants are also aware of other objects in the Firmament as follows...
There is one Sun which is orbited in concentric orbits by five planets (three of which are orbited by moons). In order by distance from the Sun the five planets are Oryon, Vareck, Orb, Udolfo and Tara. Most of these worlds are named for significant historical figures.
* Oryon is the smallest planet and has a rusty tone to its dusty surface. It is the only planet apart from the Orb to keep its original Lehenic name (the others having been given Erimanic names). Sages speculate it is a hot and desolate world.
* Vareck is the second smallest planet and has a misty white look. Its permanent coverage of cloud allows sages to speculate endlessly on its surface conditions and inhabitants.
* Orb is the world of which The Lands are a part. From space it is a beautiful pattern of swirling whites, blues and greens. Orb is orbited by one object known only as the Moon. The Moon however is followed by a string of even smaller objects - the Followers (known commonly as the Moon Dust).
* Udolfo is the second largest planet and covered in a pattern of ever-moving flame-and-golden bands. It also is orbited by two moons - Tilda and Brennan. These are at best seen as white dots in the strongest of spy glasses.
* Tara is the largest and furthest planet from the Sun. Like Udolfo it has a pattern of bands but in shades of pink and purple. It is encircled at its equator by a ring. Further away it is also orbited by the solitary moon of Hakon (which is usually too dark to be seen at all and is only sometimes seen as a grey dot).
It is noted that there are ten named objects in the Firmament - Sun, Oryon, Vareck, Orb, Moon, Udolfo, Tilda, Brennan, Tara and Hakon - and that this may be why inhabitants of The Lands count in tens.
Beyond the planets are the multitude of stars fixed in the night sky. They have been arranged by observers into Constellations. Many think that the stars are holes in the walls of night while others speculate that they are incredibly distant suns!
All information on objects beyond Orb is garnered solely from observation using composite spy glasses (telescopes) and by consulting ancient texts. Legends tell that in the Age of Glory however the empires operated ships of the sky that took them as far as the Moon but sages have never found any strong evidence for these sky ships.
Supernatural Realms
The Firmament is just one of many realms existing in parallel with one another. Much more is know of these other realms than of the stars and planets. In answer to why this is the case the sage Eldwin Lombard says:
"Even the Moon is hundreds of thousands of miles distant.
In contrast the Halls of Eternity are but a fatal injury away."
The realms intimately associated with the Lands are as follows...
The Elemental Planes are four in number and are eternal realms of pure substance. They are as follows:
- The Realm of Fire
- The Realm of Air
- The Realm of Water
- The Realm of Earth
It is these four elements that compose all matter in the Firmament in infinite combinations.
The Ether is the eternal realm of Animus - that force that grants movement and vitality. In the Ether all Animus is inert and it is only once it is combined with Elements that it becomes active. In the Ether all is misty greyness. They say that the Firmament was once just Ether till it was mixed with the Elements. Tiny pockets of Ether can be produced by removing all Elemental content and powerful arch-mages use these as temporary personalised realms.
The Spirit Planes are six in number and are the territory of Gods & Goddesses. They are the eternal habitation of immortal spirits. These planes are as follows:
- Paradise
- Netherworld
- Harmonium
- Discordia
- Shadowlands
- Eternal Halls
All these realms are of infinite size but sometimes only along particular dimensions rather than in all directions. It is suggested by some however that the Eternal Halls are more correctly understood to be a pocket of Ether and of finite size.
Information on these Realms is gathered by a process of magically assisted communication and transportation. Most adventurers will never experience anything of these other realms or if they do it will be in the very rare instance of meeting a native of such realms visiting the mortal world.
posted by Daniel | 8.5.06
<< Home