World Map and Regions
An overview of the world that the majority of Ulivari inhabit, an explanation as to how it diverges from Earth's physics, and an exploration of its primary areas of interest. Keep in mind that you're more than welcome to place your Ulivari outside of this world, as well as create your own spaces within it! While most Uli inhabit Morveris, the portal magic they utilize allows them to visit other dimensions and planes of existence, meaning they can live just about anywhere outside of their homeworld.
Morveris, existing in a pocket dimension derived entirely from the magic of the gods, is able to have some odd physics. Despite the fact that it generally follows the rules of physics within our own world, their planes seem physically joined together as a single slightly flattened saucer shaped mass approximately 6,000 miles in diameter, the edge of which can be traversed to reach the opposite side (provided you're willing to brave the sea that separates the landmasses of either plane!). It's unknown whether this mass has a core, but either side is designated as a plane -- the top being the celestial plane, [NAME???], and the bottom being the terrestrial plane, [NAME???]. In the very center of each plane is a near identical city surrounding a fairly architecturally advanced castle structure, the whole of which is colloquially referred to as the Citadel. These two Citadels have, at their heart, a large pulsating portal set into the ground that connects one to the other and allows for instantaneous travel, available for free use by all.
The world is divided into four primary sections (along with transitional zones), each corresponding to and shaped in the spirit of one of the four Ulivari gods, and each realm having a primary landmark that can be seen far on the horizon from either plane's Citadel.
On the terrestrial plane, there's the land of Frignilfyr to the east -- made up of vast hot desert red and white sand dunes and sparse vegetation, chaparral zones on the western coast, a few oases and rivers throughout being the centers of civilization and ecological life, and the looming, unnatural mountain in the middle of the desert rumored to be where the portal to Frignilfyr's true realm of existence can be found. Sandstone ruins litter the landscape, suggestive of some historical treasures buried below -- it's quite common to find archaeological and anthropological dig sites here, often headed by mind domain scholars searching for informative relics. As one goes further west, the desert becomes a shrubland until transitioning to Ghilavyr's temperate forests.
To the west is the land of Ghilavyr, a sprawling landscape of vibrant, colorful plant-life and bountiful rivers that pour out into the open sea, granting this realm its diverse temperate forest, jungle, tropical, wetland, freshwater, and marine biomes. This portion of the world is the closest to the edge, and a great waterfall flows from the roots of the gargantuan World Tree -- the supposed portal-keeper to Ghilavyr's true realm -- all the way to the other side of the world. Instead of ancient sandstone architecture, this land has vine-covered, moss-ridden grey ruins that mark the first Ulivari civilizations, most of which have been thoroughly excavated and now house all manner of dangerous beasts! As one goes further east, the temperate forests become shrublands until transitioning to Frignilfyr's deserts.
Separating the terrestrial and celestial planes is the sea at the edge of the world, easily crossed through flight -- though there are a number of ports on either plane and several large ships and ferries that traverse them, carrying cargo and passengers alike! Given that the rough edges of the disc-shaped land are obscured by water, the transition from one side to another isn't too terrible... still, those unfamiliar with the trip might be perplexed by the odd physics.
On the celestial plane, there is the land of Celanesra to the east, a land of purple dawns and perpetually moonlit nights dotted liberally with perfectly carved marble pillars and floating islands, where the laws of gravity seem to break constantly. From Ghilavyr's land on the other side of the world, waterfalls flow upwards into the skies of this place, often lending to foggy, cloudy surroundings in the boreal taigas, tundras, cold deserts, and sparse temperate forests. The portal to Celanesra's true realm is rumored to be found at the top of the largest marble tower, nicknamed Celanesra's Eye, which is surrounded by the many towers that make up the headquarters of the Nel-Arcanis. As one goes further west, the tundras become steppes until transitioning to Pelefora's savannas.
To the west is the land of Pelefora, a partially dry and partially tropical zone dotted with colorful hotsprings and pillars of long-hardened volcanic rock. The eastern side of the large, imposing volcano -- Pelefora's Heart, which is of course rumored to house the portal to their true realm -- breaks against the sea and receives the heaviest rainfall, lending it a tropical, wet volcanic biome. To the west of the volcano, the environment is much drier -- a savanna interspersed with mineral-rich hotsprings that serve as a rather popular travel destination -- be sure not to confuse them for the sulfur pits! As one goes further east, the savannas become steppes until transitioning to Celanesra's tundras.