*Disclaimer: I may in the post below have some words on theology based on an atheist's point of view. I do not intend to hurt, or convince, or anything. This is just part the process of constructing my world. In a word, if you're sensitive on that subject, don't read. Though I won't try to be mean.* ### The main idea My idea is to create a world where [essentialism][1], [teleology][2] and gods are not only a thing, but also not disputable. Through magic (and reliable testimony), everybody knows and can't discuss that. The main goal is to explore the consequences of those three items (and other things I consider to be based on belief) and try to find the implications of them. From basic to sociology, I intend to show what people's belief implies. Of course, the world is always more complex than we think, and I have to admit my ultimate goal is to show that whatever the world is made of, it doesn't matter as much as what we do with it. ## The world ### Geography The world is a flat. The surface is a disc roughly the area of Europe (or the USA). As of right now, there is no definitive map. The center is the most humanly active part of the world (and the center of my story). The North is cold, the South is warm. ### Geology / astronomy The world's surface is flat-ish, but the world is not a disc, it's a cylinder (it's height is unknown). As plate tectonics doesn't exist, mountains actually pop up like teeth. Most geological formations we know will exist too. <!-- To ask: how can a mountain pop up and what does it look like --> <!-- To search: what geological formations require plate tectonics --> That big cylinder is under a dome where the sun, stars and other are hung. Yes, that dome is blue. <!-- To ask: how the dome works --> ### Physics The [classical elements][3] are the basis of all mater. Not that matter is only made of those elements, it is also the way they are bound together through essence that really counts. <!-- To do: sort this out --> The [Aether][4] is totally a thing and it is hung to the dome. <!-- To ask/find: stuff on ether theories --> Light propagates in that medium and, through magic, that medium can be manipulated. The Aether is curved making light naturally go slightly up, [giving the impression of an horizon][5]. Note also that light is actually emitted by the eye and bounces until it reaches a source <!-- To ask: reality-check --> Gravity is a constant field, pointing down (duh). It is most probably the force that bends the aether. <!-- to do: calculations --> ### Biology [Humorism][6] is at the basis of how biology works. Why? Because the gods created everything that is living and that's how they saw things to be fitting. <!-- to do: everything --> ### Theology There are two gods, we know, because they pass by every thousand year or so. One is called The Spark. Known to defend life, freedom and compassion. Their holy book (a.k.a. The Holy Book) cannot be read by anyone but the high priests. According to the priests, it's a direct order from The Spark. According to (a very few and secret) others, the priests heard what they wanted to and interpreted it how they preferred. The other one is called The Shade. The Shade's reputation is... not good. Their holy book (a.k.a. The Book of Shadows) cannot be read, as the few known copies are destroyed by the fire. The Shade is worshiped by necromancers (see below) and is believed to want everybody dead. Even in the canonical church, The Shade is not considered to be all bad though. After all, they created their half of the world, and the light cannot exist without darkness. Basically, The Shade and The Spark have a beef. Humans must worship The Spark, as they're the source of life. However, no human will insult *any god*, even a dark and deadly one like The Shade. When The Spark passes by, summer lasts for the whole year. Wars stop. The elders feel young and the kingdom expands. When The Shade passes by, winter lasts for a whole year and a lot of people die. To the record, the gods haven't both been around at the same time since the creation of the world. ### Anthropology There are a lot of different races. I mean, not different skin colors. More like different sizes, shapes, hair and also color. Most races are near-humanoid though, and white skinned humans are the dominant race in the central kingdom. All non-humans endure a form of oppression, though with different forms and degrees. Some are just looked down as "a bit less than us", some are put to slavery, some have the mark of The Shade on their stomach and must be slain at birth. Race is *mostly* hereditary, though it doesn't seem to work in 1% of births, resulting usually in very disgruntled parents. Sex however, is much simpler in this world, as intersex people don't seem to exist. ### Politics The current King is the all-powerful ruler of the kingdom, and his word is law. The capital, which is *literally* the center of the world is a flamboyant testimony of his power. Meeting the king is quite the difficult task, as you have to navigate through a huge and diverse court of nobles representing the different duchies and external settlings, as well guild-masters and priests. The dukes hold most of the territory under their influence, they are together more powerful than the king, but mostly quarrel about duchy boundaries and taxations. Nobility comes from birth and with the exception of the royal crown, most titles are inherited by the eldest sibling (gender is not a problem). The king is decided between the dukes and cannot have children *after his/her nomination*. *To be completed* ### Economy ### Society ### Crystals ### Necromancy [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essentialism [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology [3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_element [4]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminiferous_aether [5]: http://worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/69741/how-could-there-be-a-horizon-on-a-flat-earth [6]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humorism