Rings of Tellandria
The Rings of Tellandria are a system of rings that have orbited the planet for the past 4500 years. Below is a description of the Rings, how they work, and their cultural and religious significance.
Description:
The rings are made up of billions of small rocks and asteroids that orbit around the equator of Tellandria. These rocks are organized into bands of varying sizes that are kept in place by the Shepherds, a collection of small moons that orbit within the rings and orbit at varying speeds.
The rings are always at least partially visible from the surface of Tellandria, both during the day and at night, due to the reflection fo Sol's light. When viewed (depending on the geographic location of the viewer), the rings appear very bright, as if they were made from billions of mage lights.
The appearance of the rings changes depending on the latitude of the viewer. If you are at one of the poles, the rings appear as a small bump connecting to either the Northern or Southern horizon, respectively. As you move closer to the equator, the rings appear to grow larger, broader, and more distant. At the equator, the rings appear as a straight line bisecting the sky above. In Chapel Valley, the rings appear as a great bridge crossing the sky above the horizon.
History of the Rings:
As far as historians, theologians, and scholars can tell, the rings did not exist prior to The Unmaking. There are many theories as to their origin, but most agree that they were either intentionally or unintentionally created by the Gods during their conflict. Oretrian Orthodox doctrine maintains that one of the Progenitors sacrificed themself to protect Tellandria, their physical body falling into orbit around the world as a sort of material component to the divine magics they were weaving; the Drakshin of Drak Tei believe that the rings are in fact the unified God Raasdrago, who is still very much alive. Whatever the truth may be, the fact remains that the rings formed around Tellandria rather suddenly, and not all that long ago.
The Rings and the Seasons:
The rings have had an immense impact on weather patterns and seasonal changes in Tellandria, with the relative impact increasing as you approach the poles.
In the Summer months in the Northern hemisphere, the rings reflect sunlight onto the planet of Tellandria, creating more intense sunlight and hotter weather conditions. At the same time in the Southern hemisphere, the rings cast a shadow over the land, creating colder temperatures and causing the sunlight filtered through the rings to appear red and hazy. At the poles, the rings' shadow creates oppressively cold temperatures, making the environment inhospitable to most creatures.
Magic and the Rings:
Likely as a result of their origin being tied to the Gods and The Unmaking, the rings seem to create a number of aberrant magic effects, most of which are benign in nature, but some which are incredibly deadly.
A common magical effect that can been from the surface of Tellandria is the Auroran Dance, the dancing trails of light that weave their way through the bands of the rings.
During the winter months, the rings' shadow can have a malevolent impact on the creatures of the land. Deadly creatures who thrive in the darkness find they can move in the open for much greater periods of time.
The magical mineral Osseite originates from the rings in the form of meteorites that break away from the rings and fall to Tellandria's surface.
Cultural Impact:
The emergence of the rings left a major impact upon all humanoid peoples of Tellandria, and has had a number of major and minor impacts on the cultural development of the civilizaitons of Tellandria. A few of these impacts are listed below, though many more can be found across the world of Tellandria:
Description:
The rings are made up of billions of small rocks and asteroids that orbit around the equator of Tellandria. These rocks are organized into bands of varying sizes that are kept in place by the Shepherds, a collection of small moons that orbit within the rings and orbit at varying speeds.
The rings are always at least partially visible from the surface of Tellandria, both during the day and at night, due to the reflection fo Sol's light. When viewed (depending on the geographic location of the viewer), the rings appear very bright, as if they were made from billions of mage lights.
The appearance of the rings changes depending on the latitude of the viewer. If you are at one of the poles, the rings appear as a small bump connecting to either the Northern or Southern horizon, respectively. As you move closer to the equator, the rings appear to grow larger, broader, and more distant. At the equator, the rings appear as a straight line bisecting the sky above. In Chapel Valley, the rings appear as a great bridge crossing the sky above the horizon.
History of the Rings:
As far as historians, theologians, and scholars can tell, the rings did not exist prior to The Unmaking. There are many theories as to their origin, but most agree that they were either intentionally or unintentionally created by the Gods during their conflict. Oretrian Orthodox doctrine maintains that one of the Progenitors sacrificed themself to protect Tellandria, their physical body falling into orbit around the world as a sort of material component to the divine magics they were weaving; the Drakshin of Drak Tei believe that the rings are in fact the unified God Raasdrago, who is still very much alive. Whatever the truth may be, the fact remains that the rings formed around Tellandria rather suddenly, and not all that long ago.
The Rings and the Seasons:
The rings have had an immense impact on weather patterns and seasonal changes in Tellandria, with the relative impact increasing as you approach the poles.
In the Summer months in the Northern hemisphere, the rings reflect sunlight onto the planet of Tellandria, creating more intense sunlight and hotter weather conditions. At the same time in the Southern hemisphere, the rings cast a shadow over the land, creating colder temperatures and causing the sunlight filtered through the rings to appear red and hazy. At the poles, the rings' shadow creates oppressively cold temperatures, making the environment inhospitable to most creatures.
Magic and the Rings:
Likely as a result of their origin being tied to the Gods and The Unmaking, the rings seem to create a number of aberrant magic effects, most of which are benign in nature, but some which are incredibly deadly.
A common magical effect that can been from the surface of Tellandria is the Auroran Dance, the dancing trails of light that weave their way through the bands of the rings.
During the winter months, the rings' shadow can have a malevolent impact on the creatures of the land. Deadly creatures who thrive in the darkness find they can move in the open for much greater periods of time.
The magical mineral Osseite originates from the rings in the form of meteorites that break away from the rings and fall to Tellandria's surface.
Cultural Impact:
The emergence of the rings left a major impact upon all humanoid peoples of Tellandria, and has had a number of major and minor impacts on the cultural development of the civilizaitons of Tellandria. A few of these impacts are listed below, though many more can be found across the world of Tellandria:
- Circles, arches, and archways feature heavily in post-Unmaking Tellandrian architecture
- The cardinal directions of North and South can always be found, thanks to the rings' presence in the skies above
Type
Asteroid belt