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-[[start|Back to start page]]
-====== Cosmology ======
-===== Overview =====
-//Common Knowledge//:
-The study of the universe (including all the myriad worlds and dimensions it
-contains) is not a topic of great concern to the average person. Since they
-cannot see beyond the night sky, they know almost nothing of [[#other worlds]]
-or [[#the astral plane]]. What little they do know is told to them by their
-church and most churches have a tendency to exaggerate the importance of their
-deity. The only non-visible world they are aware of is [[#Godsland]] since that
-is the home of their god and their eventual destination when they die.
-//Expert Knowledge//:
-The World as we know it (sometimes referred to as [[#"The Prime World"]])
-resides in what is known as [[#the Material Plane]]. Around this is [[#the
-Astral plane]], and beyond that [[#the Elemental Energies]], [[#Godsland]], and
-other miscellaneous dimensions. It is known that there are nineteen [[#other
-worlds]] in [[#the material plane]], though little detail is known about these
-worlds.
-It is believed that [[#the material plane]] consists of an equal portion each of
-the four physical elements: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. These elements are
-constantly battling for supremacy and occasionally one or more will win out for
-a brief time. This explains many phenomena such as Floods, Storms, Volcanoes,
-and Earthquakes. Life in all its forms, is also an amalgam of the four elements,
-but the balance there is much more equal and stable than in nature.
-Cosmology has a great significance to certain spellcasters who, over the years,
-have devoted considerable research time to better understand the interactions of
-the various dimensions. The question of when and how the universe came to be has
-more theological than practical value and so has been largely ignored by
-magicians.
-Magicians, almost without exception, are taught about [[#the astral plane]] and the
-elemental world. Both realms are of crucial importance to the functioning of
-magic as they are the pathway and the source (respectively) of magical energy.
-[[#Godsland]] is an esoteric world and information about it is limited
-exclusively to divine scripture. The various [[religions]] differ on a number of
-important aspects of [[#Godsland]], such as its location, its size, and its
-origin. The [[#other worlds]] and miscellaneous dimensions have no bearing on
-normal magic or on theology and so are learned only by specialists.
-Regarding the beginnings of time and space, most [[religions]] agree that the
-gods (either individually or in concert) did not create all that exists. Despite
-this accepted belief, though, little philosophical thought has been given to
-exactly who or what is responsible for creation and the common worshiper is
-usually taught that the gods were responsible for creation since it makes for a
-more powerful story.
-//Hidden Knowledge//:
-Many texts refer to a division between the Terran gods and the elven gods (see
-[[Religion]] for more information). It is known that the elven gods are older,
-but it is still not believed that they were responsible for creation. Instead,
-an even earlier race of gods is rumored to exist. Several names are used for
-this race, but [["Earthmasters"]] seems to be the most common. Nothing is known
-for certain about the [[Earthmasters]], but legends say that they lived in
-[[#the material plane]] and left behind artifacts of tremendous power. Quests
-for [[Earthmaster]] artifacts have been undertaken throughout history, and while
-some have claimed success, none have been able to prove their success.  Many
-believe that the [[Earthmasters]] are entirely fiction.
-===== The Material Plane =====
-See the sub-categories below.
-==== The Prime 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 formal names of [["Thentao"]] (Main),
-[["N'Galt"]] (Eastern), and [["Immenri"]] (Northern).
-The term "The Prime World" is never used by commoners -- as they are entirely
-unaware of the existence of [[#other worlds]].
-//Expert Knowledge//:
-The term "The Prime World" is used only by the most esoteric of scholars.  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 which 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 of 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 which 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 for [[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 [[well|the well]] 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 that the area within [[wall|the walls]] would be
-but a 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.
-==== The Sun ====
-//Expert Knowledge//:
-The Sun has been estimated at anywhere from 1 to 300 million kilometers from the
-World and is believed to be either a great fireball left over from the creation
-or a world whose elemental balance went astray and fire won out. Whatever its
-origin, since there is no evidence that any elements other than Fire exist on
-[[#the Sun]], some use this as support for the theory that one day, one of the four
-elements will gain the upper hand on the World.
-The Sun travels across the sky in an arcing path that most view as circular.
-However, as the amount of time it spends above the World varies from month to
-month, the center of this circle is believed to revolve around the World as do
-[[#the Moon]] and [[#the Stars]].
-//Hidden Knowledge//:
-Another sun is known to exist on [[#the astral plane]] and many feel that these two
-suns are linked in some way. They do not seem to have the same period or
-intensity, though, and so many discard this theory. Some have even argued that
-the sun is not comprised of fire, but is a source of positive energy. Since an
-equal and opposite negative energy source has never been discovered, this theory
-is generally disregarded.
-==== The Moon ====
-//Expert Knowledge//:
-Whether or not the Moon is or was a world like our own, it is believed to
-consist almost exclusively of elemental earth. No evidence of fire or water can
-be seen, and it is assumed that air is also not present, as it is earth's
-opposite. The moon does have a link with water, though, as it has a noticeable
-influence on the tides. This link has never been satisfactorily explained.
-//Hidden Knowledge//:
-The mage [[Hrothnoth]] from the second age claims to have traveled to [[#the
-moon]], but never revealed his method. Since [[Hrothnoth]] was famous for
-building magical sailing ships, it is thought that he manufactured a flying ship
-and traveled to [[#the moon]] in that way. His account of [[#the moon]] is that
-of a lifeless and sterile world made entirely of sand and rock. He was forced to
-bring his own air, fire, and water in order to survive and so many use his
-account as further proof that [[#the moon]] is a world where earth won out over
-the other three elements. [[Hrothnoth]], though, was known to have a flair for
-the imaginative and many believe his tale was intended as fiction.
-==== Dancer ====
-//Expert Knowledge//:
-This body is an enigma to magicians and cosmologists worldwide. It is a
-relatively small object, just over one hundred kilometers wide, and it has no
-easily predictable path across the sky. When traversing from horizon to horizon,
-it has a measurable cycle of 76.5 days. However, during any given day, it moves
-across half the sky in a north-south direction, often times rising and setting
-several times.
-One school of thought believes it to be a mini-world, similar in most respects
-to [[#the moon]]. A more accepted belief, though, is that it is a small island
-piloted through the sky by a reclusive god.
-Its size and distance are known with quite an accuracy due to a pioneering
-observation made late in the second age by the mage Dyan. One day during an
-eclipse of Dancer and [[#the Moon]], Dyan teleported a great distance and noticed
-that Dancer's position varied noticeably on the face of [[#the Moon]]. By carefully
-measuring the angle of difference, and assuming that [[#the Moon]] was sufficiently
-far enough away, Dyan calculated that Dancer was approximately 40,000 kilometers
-above the World. Since eclipses of this nature occur frequently, this experiment
-has been confirmed several times and subsequent extrapolations have indicated
-that Dancer is no more than 150 kilometers in diameter. What has eternally
-confounded cosmologists, though, is the fact that Dancer is oblong in shape and
-that it appears to tumble as it traverses the sky. Many say, therefore, that no
-right-minded person, god or other, would ever pilot such an unstable craft.
-//Hidden Knowledge//:
-[[Hrothnoth]] was unable to travel to Dancer (he claimed it moved too fast for him
-to catch) and no other accounts exist as to conditions on Dancer. However, since
-its surface is visually similar to [[#the moon]]'s, its environment is thought to be
-identical. One theory states that Dancer was originally a part of [[#the moon]] and
-that it was either cast out by angry "moon-men", or was taken from [[#the moon]] by
-the god that now drives it. Some even say that Dancer is a kingdom that once was
-powerful on [[#the moon]] and fled the destruction of its world by escaping into the
-sky.
-==== The Stars ====
-//Expert Knowledge//:
-Unlike the previously mentioned worlds, most Stars are constant and move about
-the sky in a precise fashion, having one cycle every 24 hours. These points of
-light are thought to be weakenings in the fabric of the heavens where light and
-magical energy leak in from the other realms (primarily [[#the Elemental
-Energies]]). Stars exist on [[#the astral plane]], but are neither constant, nor have
-the same cycle.
-//Hidden Knowledge//:
-Some believe that the stars are [[#other worlds]] because their constant pattern
-is reminiscent of the dodecahedron shape of the [[twenty worlds]] (see below).
-Over the centuries, many scholars have tried to map out the heavens and deduce
-its patterns. The most widely circulated star charts are those drawn by the
-scholar [[Aldgar]] in the first age. The charts survive because they have been
-transcribed by thousands of scholars since [[Aldgar]]'s time. [[Aldgar]]'s
-charts were thought to be incredibly accurate, but more recent attempts to
-duplicate his work show some minor differences in the position of certain bright
-stars, bringing [[Aldgar]]'s work into question.
-==== Other Worlds ====
-//Expert Knowledge//:
-It is known that there are [[twenty worlds]] in [[#the material plane]],
-interconnected in the shape of a dodecahedron. Each world rests on a vertex and
-is connected to its three adjacent worlds by magical portals. It is not known
-whether this dodecahedron shape is figurative only or whether the worlds are
-physically positioned in such a manner. The World is one of these twenty and it
-is believed that neither [[#the Moon]] nor [[#the Sun]] belongs to the set since their
-descriptions do not match those of the three known neighbor worlds. [[#The stars]],
-however, have among them a group of four wanderers which current belief says are
-the three adjacent worlds of [[Xotei]], [[Greyhawk]], and [[Kona]]. The fourth
-visible world is difficult to see and is thought to be one of the next adjacent
-worlds. The fact that four worlds can be seen, rather than nine is proof to some
-that the dodecahedron is merely a figurative arrangement.
-Access to the portals which connect the World to its three nearest neighbors has
-been sporadic throughout the centuries. However, a vague description of the near
-worlds can be gleaned from the variety of adventures reported over the years.
-The World's three neighbors are called [[Xotei]], [[Greyhawk]], and [[Kona]].
-[[Xotei]] is believed to be a world rich in magic where every person is a
-wizard. [[Greyhawk]] is much more like [[#the Prime World]] and is settled by
-the same quartet of races: Human, Elf, Dwarf, and Orc. [[Kona]] is a savage
-land, full of beautiful plants and ferocious animals and it is said that the
-gods that rule [[Kona]] live among their worshipers.
-//Hidden Knowledge//:
-[[Kona]] is the name of the world which the [[Godslayer]] invaded. When he
-arrived, he slew the Sumerian gods (see [[Religion]]) and destroyed or corrupted
-all life on the world. When [[ozzie|Lord Ozzie]] destroyed the [[Godslayer]],
-the explosion seems to have destroyed the portal linking [[Kona]] with its three
-neighbors. No precedent for such a catastrophe exists and since the origin of
-the portals is unknown, it is not known whether they will ever reattach
-themselves.
-Literally hundreds of worlds are listed in various texts, but since no parallels
-can be drawn amongst the descriptions, few are accepted as fact. The crew of the
-spaceship [[Aquila]] came from a world they call [["Earth"]] and it is assumed
-that this world is part of the [[twenty worlds]], but its location in the
-dodecahedron is not known. The true mystery about [[Earth]] is that neither
-[[Aquila]] nor [[the Captain]] and [[the Engineer]] came to this world by way of
-the portals, the only known way to travel between worlds.
-===== The Astral Plane =====
-//Expert Knowledge//:
-Permeating all of [[#the material plane]] is an invisible, intangible substance
-known as "Ether". The ether links [[#the material plane]] with the Astral plane
-and is believed to be the medium through which all the heavenly bodies float and
-the substance with which the demons and spirits fly.  Some scholars refer to the
-ether as "The Ethereal Plane" -- though it is technically not separate from The
-Astral Plane.
-If a wizard becomes adept with the ether, he can use it to travel outside of
-[[#the material plane]] or to go great distances within [[#the material plane]].
-A few beings are said to actually live on the astral plane, feeding on the
-Elemental energies that flow to the [[twenty worlds]].
-The ether exists in parallel with [[#the material plane]], though there are
-often differences.  In most places, an "ethereal" entity can see objects on
-[[#the material plane]] -- though only indistinctly and only at a short
-distance.  The converse is true only if the observer is trained in such things.
-There are regional differences in the ether.  In some places, the ether contains
-a verdant wilderness known as the Feywild.  In other places, it is a dark,
-shadowy world known as the Shadowfell.  Around the [[Dark Bay]], the land
-remains intact as it was before the [[end of the world]], though tremendous
-storms rage and the region is hard to explore.
-The astral plane is a strange place where the mind is supreme over the body. The
-most common form of astral travel is to leave your physical body behind and
-release your mind to roam on its own. Once the step is taken away from [[#the
-material plane]], the traveler will find that his astral body is not necessarily
-similar to his physical body. Often times, great warriors have traveled to the
-astral plane and found themselves barely strong enough to move. On the other
-hand, an infirm old man could find himself wearing warrior's armor and
-possessing great strength in his astral form.
-A less common mode of travel to the astral plane is taking your physical body
-with you. The advantage of this method is that you can often times travel great
-distances on the astral plane much easier than on [[#the material plane]].
-Normally, a person has only a tenuous link with the astral plane. It is believed
-that the astral plane is the home for a person's spirit, though astral travelers
-are rarely able to kill someone whose body remains on [[#the material plane]].
-When a person's physical body is killed, their astral self is released and
-drifts through the ether until it arrives at the gateway to [[#Godsland]]. Once
-there, the spirit is granted admittance to the halls of the dead.
-A trained mind can use the astral plane as a starting point for travel to the
-elemental world and this journey has been made a number of times by adept astral
-travelers. However, since the elemental world is a land seething with war and
-turbulence, such a journey must be taken with extreme care.
-//Hidden Knowledge//:
-The route taken by the deceased from the astral plane to [[#Godsland]] is a
-carefully guarded secret, though it is possible to learn it while alive.
-Entrance to [[#Godsland]], though, is strictly controlled by a being known as
-the guardian. The guardian can take any form it desires and has supreme
-authority over the admission of souls through his gate. Still, stories exist of
-clever travelers who have tricked the guardian to gain admittance. Most of these
-stories, though, end up in tragedy when the traveler annoys one of the many gods
-who live in this realm.
-Other routes from the astral plane will take a traveler to Limbo, the Shadow
-realm, or the plane of Time. These routes are extremely dangerous and difficult
-as the traveler must venture far away from the relatively safety of [[#the
-material plane]].
-It is known that in the first age a great war raged between denizens of the
-astral plane. Their origin is unknown, but they are believed to have been
-descendants of a mortal race which learned the innate ability to travel
-astrally. The two races most often mentioned are called the Githzerai and the
-Githyanki. It is rumored that a few of these beings remain to this day and that
-their powers on the astral plane are incredible.
-===== The Elemental Energies =====
-//Expert Knowledge//:
-The Elemental Energies have as their source a realm often called the Elemental
-World. It is not a world in the traditional sense and some even say that it is
-infinite in size. Still, it is arranged (at least figuratively) in a spherical
-shape with the four physical elements equally placed around the equator and the
-two poles occupied by the spiritual elements of positive and negative energy,
-also known by their generalizations: Good and Evil.
-The structure of the elemental world:
-^  **POSITIVE**  ^^^^^^^^
-|  Lightning  |  [Spark]  |  Radiance  |  [Obsidian] | Minerals  |  [Clay]  |  Steam  |  [Crystal]  |
-|  **AIR**  |  (Smoke)  |  **FIRE**  |  (Magma)  |  **EARTH**  |  (Ooze)  |  **WATER**  |  (Mist)  |
-|  Vacuum  |  [Fumes]  |  Ash  |  [Pumice]  |  Dust  |  [Silt]  |  Salt  |  [Frost] |
-^  **NEGATIVE**  ^^^^^^^^
-Only in the border regions where two or more elements mingle together does life
-as we know it flourish. In these regions, there exist entire kingdoms of man-
-like beings known collectively as the elemental spirits. These spirits guide the
-activities of the elements on [[#the material plane]] as well as in their home realm.
-Ruling over the Elemental Energies are the Elemental Lords. There are six
-in all, and under each of the physical elemental lords are two princes, one
-governing the border with Positive Energy, and the other governing the border
-with Negative Energy. To act as intermediaries between the ever-warring lords, a
-race of mixed elementals were created called the Djann. The Djann often travel
-between the elemental world and [[#the material plane]] and are believed to know a
-tremendous amount about the [[twenty worlds]].
-One of the fundamental treatises on the elemental energies is known as
-[[Melf|Melf's Guidance of Symmetry]].  It covers the relationship between the
-elements and how they can be combined to produce effects greater than their
-parts.
-//Hidden Knowledge//:
-To defeat the [[Godslayer]], [[ozzie|Lord Ozzie]] drained the energies from the
-positive and negative energy realms and the physical realms were thrown into
-anarchy. The borders between all six realms became indistinct and the mysterious
-shadow force advanced throughout the elemental world. It is now believed that
-only pockets of the original elements remain and that the entire realm has been
-converted to shadow. Whether this is a permanent effect remains to be seen.
-===== Godsland =====
-//Expert Knowledge//:
-Though it is in many ways like another World, this special world is not part of
-the [[twenty_worlds|twenty material worlds]]. This is the world where the gods
-live and where all mortal souls go to rest between lives. On this world reside
-the great cities of Olympus, Heliopolis, Asgard, and others. Deep under this
-world is the Underworld((not to be confused with the [[underdark]] on this World
--- which some people still call "The Underworld")) where evil souls are held for
-punishment.
-//Hidden Knowledge//:
-Since information concerning Godsland is almost entirely from divine scripture,
-most unbiased scholars take it with a grain of salt. No accounts of Godsland
-exist outside of religious texts and since annoying the gods is not a hobby of
-most magicians, few have attempted to seek additional information.
-===== Other dimensions =====
-//Expert Knowledge//:
-Despite all attempts to rationalize the structure of the cosmos, there still
-exist realms which do not fit in with the structure. These places, occasionally
-are found by lost explorers of [[#the Astral plane]] and their descriptions
-sometimes defy logic. Among the myriad of stories, though, three realms stand
-out: Shadow, Limbo, and Time.
-Shadow is a pocket dimension between the elemental realms. It is said to be the
-perfect equilibrium between all elements. It's denizens are thought to be devoid
-of intellect, though there are tales of a [[Shadowlord]] which rules the realm
-much like the Elemental Lords rule [[#the Elemental Energies]]. In recent years,
-this [[Shadowlord]] has been proved to exist, though very little is yet known
-about him.
-Limbo is the realm of chaos. It is the antithesis to [[#the material plane]].
-Much of this dimension is unfathomable to the mortal mind and the only tales
-that exist usually end up with the hero going insane. The only common aspect is
-the omni-present "Winds of Limbo", a mean-spirited wind that constantly shifts
-and changes intensity.
-Time is not so much a realm as a concept. Still, travel through time is part of
-a few stories and there are indications that a realm exists, complete with a
-Time Lord to govern it.
-//Hidden Knowledge//:
-The Shadow realm is largely obsolete now, since the [[Shadowlord]] advanced into
-the elemental world. It is not known whether the original dimension remains in
-its original form.
-Limbo is home to a group of entities commonly called the [[Lords of Chaos]]. It
-is said that they are eternally at war with the gods in [[#Godsland]] and that
-they seek nothing short of the destruction of [[#the material plane]]. Some
-accounts of Limbo say that the Githzerai from the first age fled here when their
-war with the Githyanki went poorly. Their current status is unknown, though
-evidence exists that a race of warriors called the Slaad do exist in Limbo and
-some have tied the two races together in their texts.
-The realm of time is not known to exist for certain, but is believed to be a
-place from which a traveler can access any time in the past or future. The ruler
-of time, though, is known to exist and he is a merciless being named [[Parádoxa]],
-whose power in many ways exceeds the gods. His duty is to correct or prevent
-paradoxes. Only the time mage [[Kwalish]] from the early second age has recorded a
-believable account of the time lord and in that account, [[Kwalish]] mentions the
-existence of an army of servants to [[Parádoxa]], whom he called Time Elementals.
-\\ [[start|Back to start page]]