Worldscar

The Mighty Rift Dividing Gondara and The Lorent

"To name a chasm "The Worldscar" might seem pompous or theatrical, but only to those who have not witnessed it. The 'Scar is a great, impossible thing, defiant to all sense of proportion or perspective. But is exists nonetheless, so our expectations must take a knee."

The Worldscar is a massive and geologically mysterious formation that divides the two major continents of the archipelago of The Broken Empire, with Gondara to the west and The Lorent to the east. Likely a much more humble chasm prior to The Deluge, it continues to be carved deeper and deeper as water moves between the Coreward Sunken Expanse and the Voidward seas.

It is sometimes believed the Worldscar is the reason the Broken Empire is so-named, though this is incorrect: the name instead refers to the breaking apart of the historical Holy Juran Empire, which once controlled much of the archipelago.

Geography

The Broken Empire

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And its myriad peripheries. Map represents much of Waking Materia's Gamma Quadrant.

Description

See also: The Worldscar Image Gallery (External)

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It is a chasm of extremely high relief; too high to have been carved by the river at its base. From sufficiently high above it looks like a massive crack in the ground, though that seems impossible (unlike the floating, spheroid realms of Pandæmonium, Mareltian planes have no plate tectonics). The chasm's width at the surface averages about 8,900 metres, excluding lateral fissures.

At the chasm's base is a large, often powerful river that connects the north and south seas. An eccentric culture resides in its surrounding platforms and cave systems, descended from a diaspora of slaves, liberated by the First Age heroes and eventual Material Gods, Ronom & Ranarim.

The Pillarlands

Ruins around the chasm suggest there were originally six enormous bridges crossing the Worldscar in the First Age, however only two remain, one of which was repaired by the former Juran Empire (origin of the archipelago's unofficial name). The regions with the ruins of the other four are called the Pillarlands for visually obvious reasons.

The Hagscrossings

The two remaining bridges are named after the Twin Hags of Calamity, Tariel, based on one legend where the Worldscar was carved by a mighty attack by the dual Goddess(es) of Destruction.

Koumei's Bridge

The Coreward bridge between the province of Brigantia in the Midlands and Kallor is called Koumei's Bridge, named after the "Sister" of Blizzards and Glaciers. The sentinel tower on the Kallorian is named Colossus Alpha by the Jurans and Hallowguard by the Kallorians. The sentinel tower in the Midlands is Colossus Delta by the Jurans and Saltspire by the Middish.

Koushei's Bridge

The Voidward bridge connecting Nurin and the province of Bantock in the Midlands is called Koushei's Bridge, named after the "Sister" of Infernos and Ash Flows. The sentinel tower in Nurin is named Colossus Beta by the Jurans and Sephulcra by the Nurinians. The sentinel tower in the southeast Midlands is Colossus Gamma by the Jurans and Bellstoll by the Middish.

Nikkal-at-Scarsend, at the base of the Worldscar on the far Voidward end.

The Worldscar

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Quadrant
Gamma

Region
Divides the continents of Gondara and The Lorent, The Broken Empire

Type

Gorge / Rift

Banner art credit: Hayao Miyazaki

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Other views of the Worldscar. The cliffside warrens, rooms, shrines, temples, et cetera date to the First Age. Their purpose(s) have been lost to time and any valuables have long since been plundered. They bear a striking resemblance to the architecture of Ket.