Setting

[starlightmods]

The Last Sea

Wherever you're from, gentle traveller, it isn't this world. In fact, aside from the Starlight Isles and the few writings left behind from those who came before, there isn't a whole lot known about this world at all. Is this all there is? Is there more out there, beyond the Last Sea? One would assume so, given that it's called the "Last" Sea and not the "Only" Sea, but....

Whatever the case, the Last Sea is a place of wonders.

The Sun

The sun rising in the east is enormous. Much bigger than you would think it should be. That's because the Last Sea is literally the last place you come to before dropping off the eastern edge of the world. The sun isn't necessarily hotter or brighter, however. It's not going to fry you to a crisp. The light is gentle and warm.

The Sea

The sea water is crystal clear and glass-still. Only the gentlest of waves can be seen on the horizon. Moreover, if anyone accidentally takes a gulp of sea water or gets it into their heads to give it a taste, it's sweet. There's no salt, no disgusting briny taste. You can swig the sea water all day here. In fact, drinking enough of the water will make you feel full, as if you've eaten an entire meal (although you cannot live on the water alone for more than a few days).

The Edge of the World

If you sail out east far enough beyond the Starlight Isles you'll run into the literal edge of the world. As you sail farther out the sun gets bigger and bigger on the horizon. After sailing for days the water becomes shallow, so shallow that larger vessels can't keep going. Everything begins to glow a pale gold. Lilies appear in the water, a vast field of lilies as far as the eye can see. And beyond the lilies?

Well, no one's ever gone that far and come back to tell the tale.

(Characters will initially have no way of knowing about this, but it's too fun not to share. They'll discover it sooner or later!)



The Starlight Isles




The Starlight Isles are the island chain where the Keyholders begin their adventures on the Last Sea. There are eleven islands in all, although only five are of any decent size, the others being little more than slight hills rising out of the water and a couple of atolls. The largest islands are, in order of descending size: Cristobal, Verdahl, Irell, Castropol, and Arenal.



Why are they called the Starlight Isles? Wait and find out!



Verdahl

Map of Verdahl



Verdahl is largely covered in a misty, dense jungle. For those who can sense such things, magic is heavy in the air. Insects are not a problem, as the only ones that ever seem to make an appearance are butterflies of various shapes, sizes and colors. Wild animals are only ever sighted out of the corner of your eye before they vanish back into the foliage. The island isn't terribly large; it would probably take you a day to walk from end to end at the widest point.

Verdahl has one low mountain just north of center, and a couple other areas of slightly higher elevation than the rest. A lazy river originates at the mountain, spilling down from a hundred foot waterfall, and runs through the southern portion of the island.

Four different kinds of berries grow on the plants here: a large, deep burgundy colored berry that looks a bit like a cherry, clusters of tiny pink berries, fuzzy sky-blue berries the size of a person's thumbnail, and something that looks remarkably like a strawberry if strawberries stayed green. Only one of these kinds is poisonous! There's also edible moss that doesn't really taste very good, but will sustain a person if absolutely necessary. Hunting is difficult, as the wildlife (as has been noted) is both very shy and very good at hiding. Tracks of various kinds can be seen in the soft ground, and little holes and tunnels might be found if one is a good tracker, but the animals themselves are very, very hard to catch.

The trees seem to be pretty familiar to those from Earth-like settings, although the ubiquitous carpet of violet flowers along the jungle floor gives the entire island a purplish feeling.

The temperature on Verdahl averages about 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day with high humidity, and closer to 50 degrees F at night. It rains on the island at least once a day, every day. Usually it will rain pretty steadily for about an hour in the early afternoon and then be done for the day--afterward the humidity skyrockets, paving the way for the mist that seeps over everything when the temperatures start to cool at dusk.

I'm not saying clothing should be optional (cough), but those who tend to over-dress will wilt in the afternoon if they're not used to this kind of weather. Might be a good idea to adopt the practice of taking siestas in the afternoon, no?



» Arrival



Characters begin their journey in the little village called "Arrival." No one knows who painted the sign, or whether the word was intended to refer to the village itself or the simple fact that all arrivals to the Last Sea pass through the huts first. Either way, the name stuck.

There are twenty huts in all, roughly ten paces by five paces in size apiece, all clustered together. Each hut contains a woven grass cot, along with a crude wooden table and chair. Atop the table is where the characters will find their journals.

Arrival has no food, no weapons, no blankets. Nothing but the huts, the simple furniture, the journals, and you.

Arrival also has no doors.

Taking the path out of Arrival that leads farther into the jungle will eventually lead you, after a good three hour hike (give or take), to "Katestown."



»Katestown

Map of Katestown



If you ever needed proof that other Keyholders have been to the Starlight Isles before you, look no further than Katestown. The town is a hodge-podge of different materials, styles, and technologies; it's pretty obvious that most of the town was pieced together by people from vastly different worlds over a long stretch of time. There are apartments, a tiki bar, a small trading post, and even a very basic laboratory here. (Most of the buildings are made of bamboo/straw, cinder blocks, wood or bricks.) There's no running water or electricity, but that doesn't mean there wasn't at one point. Whoever used to live here, they've been gone for a long, long time.

Katestown has almost everything that Arrival lacks, including doors. There are blankets, spare items of clothing, tools, etc. The one notable thing that the town lacks is food. Amongst the things that can be found in town are writings from those who came before, including dimensions of the island, a very basic survey of the wildlife on Verdahl, and a map of the Starlight Isles.

The town is nestled up against the base of a low mountain, the only mountain on Verdahl, in almost the dead center of the island. Along the southern edge of Katestown is the Feast.



»The Feast

In the exact center of Verdahl there is a ruin, a pad of level stone surrounded by pillars of varying heights. In the center of the ruin is a long, low table of sturdy stone, fitted with chairs and place settings for forty people. Upon the table is a feast fit for the finest of kings of any world. Any food you can imagine is on this table, and all of it is utter perfection. Forty people could eat to satiety quite comfortably.

Every night the leftovers disappear, and every morning the food is replenished.



More setting details to be given as more is discovered! Page subject to rearranging as more content is added, please bear with the mess.