Heart of the World

Resting atop the highest peak in the entire world lies the Fallen Heart. From this perch, magic pours from its openings, flowing down the sides of the mountain, into the bay of the Singing Sea, and from there dispersed into the waters of the world. As the Heart itself is located here, the island it sits upon at the center of the world is known as the Heart of the World.
Only rarely does anyone purposefully set foot on the island, as the high magical energy has the ability to rapidly change living things in a process known as Magical Overabundance. There are no permanent settlements, though there are a small number of observation outposts in the Singing Sea dedicated to watching the Heart.

Flowing Magic

Fluff

Atop the Peak

Fluff

Geography

Heart Island is a large and extremely varied natural landscape, the first land created when the Heart impacted the ocean. At the center lies the tallest mountain the world, Cardiana, that can be seen from any point on the inner ring on a clear day. The peak of this mountain is normally obscured by clouds, meaning few have ever set sight on the true Heart itself. As the Heart landed sideways, the mountain has a naturally steeper edge, where more magic has flowed down and eroded it to a sharp drop. This side faces the bay at the center of the Singing Sea, where the water has the highest concentration of magic and glows brilliantly at all times. The land portions of Heart Island are infused with almost as much magic, causing the land and the living things on it to take on unusual shapes and traits. It's not uncommon for sailors navigating the Shining Sea to spot floating chunks of land, connected barely by roots or vines to the rest of the island. There are rivers that flow upwards, ground that shifts underfoot, and geometry that seems to defy the sapient brains of visitors.

Ecosystem

The plant life endemic to Heart Island has adapted to the overwhelming magic over thousands of years. The plants and fungi of the island grow larger and in more varied colors and shapes than their ring relatives. Some even seem to think and act on their own. There are many reports of vines purposefully wrapping around living things or tree branches stretching away from one another to compete for sunlight. The rare animal life spotted on the island is unlike anything seen elsewhere, often extremely dangerous and capable of stunning magical feats. Visitors are rare and understand to leave quickly, as the magic in the ground and water can rapidly transform even the most prepared into one of these terrible beasts.

Localized Phenomena

Magical storms are common and come in a variety of forms. Thunderstorms are commonly seen around the coastline, the lightning blasting chunks of the island into the sky. Those caught in the rain unfortunately deal with the side effect of rapid exposure to lethal levels of magic. Occasionally, pink fogs roll off the mountains towards the sea, but disperse suddenly at the coastline. Travelers tell stories of voices and eyes in the fog that beckon them. In the worst cases, blizzard conditions can suddenly turn to firestorms, then rapidly shift to acid, a gentle breeze, or inversion of gravity.

Alternative Name(s)

Heart Island, Island of the Heart, Center Island, Center of the World.

Type

Region

Related Myths

• The God