Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- world [2007/01/02 00:21] – jims
+++ world [2025/08/17 11:11] (current) – jims
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-====== The World ======
+[[outline|Back to the Outline]]
-| {{WorldColor.jpg?600|My World Map}} | The world is comprised of three continents, known popularly as the Main, Eastern, and Northern continents (though their ancient names are [[Thentao]], [[N'galt]], and [[Immenri]], respectively).  The [[Immenri|Northern continent]] is primarily tundra and contains no population centers.  [[N'galt|The Eastern continent]] has on its western shore the great kingdom of [[Rota]] - which remains relatively unscathed from the recent world wars.  [[Thentao|The main continent]] has numerous population centers - though the "civilized" ones (on the northern shore) were either abandoned or destroyed in the wars. \\ \\ [[Cosmology|Cosmology overview]]\\ \\ [[Magic|The Nature of Magic]]\\ \\ [[History|World History (old)]]\\ \\ [[Recent|World History (Recent)]]\\ \\ [[Nations|Overview of the Modern Nations]]\\ \\ [[Recent#Current|The State of the World]]\\ \\ [[Glossary|A list of People, Places, and Things]]\\ \\ |
+==== The World ====
+//Common Knowledge//:
+The World has three major continents known simply as the [[thentao|"Main"]],
+[[n_galt|"Eastern"]], and [[immenri|"Northern"]] continents.  However, they are
+also sometimes referred to by their ancient and formal names of [["Thentao"]] (Main),
+[["N'Galt"]] (Eastern), and [["Immenri"]] (Northern).
+//Expert Knowledge//:
+Experts sometimes refer to "The World" as "The Prime World" to distinguish it from
+the rest of the [[twenty worlds]].  However, while most scholars are aware of
+other worlds, very few consider them seriously enough to require a modifier to
+the term "The World".
+The World exists as a flat, circular region surrounded by [[wall|The Wall]] and
+centered on [[well|The Well]]. Around it moves [[#the Sun]], [[#the Moon]],
+[[#Dancer]], and [[#the Stars]]. [[wall|The wall]] itself is a thousand-foot-tall
+waterfall that rings the entire world. [[well|The well]] is a great,
+swirling maelstrom at its center, where the water from [[wall|the wall]]
+collects. Since far more water seems to come over [[wall|the wall]] than goes
+out through [[well|the well]], scholars often argue about what happens to the
+remaining water. Many bizarre theories have been presented, but none have gained
+acceptance.
+Beyond [[wall|the wall]] is thought to be another land that is completely
+devoid of magic. If a person can make it to [[wall|the wall]], he will find a
+ferryman who will take him beyond it. However, the tale of the transgression
+(see [[Religion]]) details the origin and the purpose of [[wall|the wall]] from
+a religious perspective and the punishments for violating that purpose. This
+alone has kept most of the curious away from [[wall|the wall]], but history is
+full of stories of people traveling to [[wall|the wall]]. Since most failed to
+return, the trip is rarely undertaken.
+Several experiments have concluded that the world is not actually flat, but is
+in fact convex. Since [[well|the well]] resides in the center, it is thought
+that it somehow draws the water up the sides of this dome and that this
+force is powerful enough to offset the tilt of the surface. Therefore, even at
+the edges of the world, where a person would naturally fall down the slope, he
+is held up by this unseen force. It is believed that this force has something to
+do with the mana flow (see Magic), but no conclusive experiments have been
+performed.
+//Hidden Knowledge//:
+Beyond [[wall|the wall]], it is not known whether the tilt continues, but some
+claim that the slope does continue and that the world is a sphere. The most
+common supporting argument for this theory is that [[#the moon]] is a sphere (as can
+be demonstrated by its phases) and that [[#the sun]] is at least circular and could
+easily be spherical.  In the interest of order, so too should be the world.
+Measurements of the convex surface, however, indicate that if the world were a
+sphere, it would be vast, and the area within [[wall|the walls]] would be
+but a small fraction of its size. Since even the force of [[well|the well]] could
+obviously not hold up a person standing on the opposite side, most of this land
+is thought to be unlivable.
+\\ [[outline|Back to the Outline]]