Shifting Cosmos
From ENWiki
Note: This proposal is very much in a half-way state. It's been more or less completely superseded by the Transitive Isles. However it's different in some ways, large and small, so this remains, as a partial set of setting elements.
The shifting cosmos is an array of worlds that were once one vast world split apart during prehistory.
The cosmos is vast, and poorly connected by shifts. An empire that dominates one segment of the cosmos may little more than rumor in another. Some worlds are isolated, having developed their own unique cultures, while others have regular contact with half a dozen or more different worlds.
The beginning as told by the rulers of the Imperium (and challenged by the elvin rebels) - or it will be once it's done.
It includes
- The shifting seas -- a massive transdiminsional plane; studded with small islands
- The Imperium -- a nominally democratic empire dominated by eladrin; they consider themselves the pinnacle of civilization. A violent rebellion by a group of eladrin who call themselves "the elves" has forced them to cease their military campaign, at least for now.
- Insectus - militant insect creatures. Until recently they where seldom encountered (usually only indirectly when a band of shifters stumbled upon an isolate where everything had been picked clean down to the bare rock). Divination has revealed the insectus isolate is particularly well connected to the cosmos; enabling shifts to many other isolates. Greater attention is being given to this in the wake of appearances of bands of mercenaries serving ritualists. Holding an insectus captive has become a crime punishable by death in the Imperium in the wake of the obliteration of the Geud Colosseum where a captured insectus had been sheduled to fight as the main attraction. They are to be terminated on sight.
- The valley of ivory and kingdom of jade. Two savage isolates dominated by powerful, if primitive cultures (from the standpoint of the Imperium). An unprecedented number of permanent shifts have opened between the two; a increasingly vocal group of scholars has been arguing that the isolates are merging. The cult of the unification are very active here.
- An in deepest depths even death may die. - cthulhu style things sleep beneath shifting seas - strange cults appear on the shifting seas and (worryingly) increasingly elsewhere
- The darklands - (psuedo ravenloft) - the proving grounds of the gods (to be called to the darklands is a sign of respect) - still like a prison once you get there
- Blasted desert land (several isolates linked by shifts?) dotted with city states and ruled by arcanists grown so powerful they outmatch demigods on their home plane. Several of the most powerful have transformed themselves partially or completely in creatures reminiscent of the lizard kings of the second age; attempting to tap into the near limitless power those primortals once commanded - items from outside degrade in the blasted land; native items are crude using natural materials or, rarely, iron.
- Dopplegangers - cursed by Poseidon but granted knowledge (mind reading) in exchange for service by goddess of wisdom
- The primortals - one or more competing ancient kingdoms - the second cycle
The primortals
+lizard kings - degraded into snake men who corrupt other civilizations +the gaunts - went to a transitive plane called the ether that no one can find (popular theory: it powers arcane magic); left behind memes a kind of virus infects magic and minds. Some villages get infected only to recover months last to find they've some how manufactured shifts that don't seem to go anywhere. Occasionally an arcanist is infected with a rare strain. Their limbs grow long and digits multiply; they develop a keen intelligence even as their heads (save for their eyes) shrink and mouths disappear) . What these mages are turning into is a mystery but there emaciated appearance is what gives them their name. +the makers: glyphs, stone circles, writing, may have taught the dwarves
