User:Mbartelsm/Spirit Lands

Geography

Layers

The outer surfaces of the lands are divided on four indiscrete layers

Nether

The Nether refers to the deepest layer of lands in the world, consisting of enormous caverns and ravines that carve deep into the world. Most of the Nether is underground, below the Lowlands, but it is not uncommon to find caverns and ravines that run all the way up to the surface of the lowlands. Due to its depth and volcanic fumes, the air in the nether is unbreathable by most living beings, on top of it having a very high temperature. Spirits are perfectly fine with such a habitat and many of them, both uncorrupted and demonic, have made it their home.

Lowlands

The Lowlands is the term given to a discontinuous group of lands that lie on top of the Nether caverns. Air in the lowlands is dense and hard to breathe, but it isn't toxic, unlike that found below. While it isn't very hospitable, a number of human nomadic tribes have made their home there, as well as being the primary source of metals for most of humanity. However, the Lowlands are not without danger, as they are the home to most of the demonic entities of the world.

Highlands

The Highlands are large formations that rise above the Lowlands, often linked by small rock bridges. The Highlands are the last geological stage of the land before turning into floating islands. The Highlands make up a very large percentage of inhabited land in the world, as the have easy access to the resources of the lowlands combined with the safety of not being filled with demonic spirits. Because of the danger that the Lowlands present, transportation between highlands is often done by air.

Lower and Higher Islands

The flaoting islands are pieces of land of varying sizes which have risen enough to become separated of the lowlands and begin drifting. There is not a clear separation between the lower and higher islands, but the dividing line is often said to be the point at which humans can no longer live. Islands will continue to rise after their separation from the land until the material wich keeps them afloat has decayed enough that the weight of the rock is larger than the lift excerted on the island, at which point it will begin to descend. Islands will often rise almost to space, though the 'fall' can happen at any time, even before the island fully separates from the lowlands.

Island cycle

The island's cycle describes the process by which the land dislodges, rises and falls.

Rock is permeated by a substance which locks land (akin to flux pinning) in a magical field that's constantly moving outwards from the center of the planet. This substance decays through time and is rejuvenated in the core of the planet. As the substance is pushed out by the field from the core of the planet, it drags with it enormous amounts of magma. The magma cools, forming rocks and trapping the substance inside it. The difference between new substance and decayed substance creates the large caves and canyons of the Nether. As the field continues to push outwards, the highlands begin to form and rise until they eventually separate from the lowlands, forming islands. Islands rise until the substance inside them decays enough that the weight of the rock overcomes the locking in the magical field, and the island begins to descend. Once it finally lands, it 'sinks' below the rising lands and goes back to the core, where the rock is molten and the substance rejuvenated.

Life

Spirits

Spirits are magical beings which have the power to modify their environment in specific ways. Spirits are immortal, they cannot be killed and cannot be created. They can, however, be reborn into a new different entity provided that certain conditions are met. Spirits can be high and low depending on whether they can willingly control more than one element of their environment or not. Spirits can also be considered demonic if they have been corrupted by the energy of the dead gods.

Mortals

Mortals are the creatures that live and die on the world. Humans, plants and animals.