The Rift

The Jewel of the Other Side of the World

"If you think you'd do better aaaaall by yourself, please go right ahead! Come on, I'm not keeping you here by force, go! But do mind the rivulets that diverge from the manastreams. And the crystalline drakes that roam the area. And I hope you have a way to detect the danger zone, you wouldn't want to accidentally stumble upon the Nexus! ...Oh, you're suddenly okay with listening to me? That's what I thought."

— Mikri, Rift guide

Situated at the Other Side of the World, the Rift is one of the most known natural wonders of the Meridian. The dull rocks are covered in glimmering green moss, and the mana particles shine both during the day and at night, making the area one of the most beautiful places in the world. It has formed over the ages under the action of the manastreams of Aclara; as the mana particles flow, they slowly erode the grey stones into dirt and dust. The Andal River, the only river that has salt water, flows through the passage created by the manastreams; in that aspect, the Rift's classification as a "canyon" is not 100% correct, since the water flows through an already-existing erosion.

The Rift is viewed by the nobility of the Meridian as the ideal place to visit and explore - simply surviving the trip can elevate one in the eyes of their peers, at least among those of royal or noble blood. Be warned: from the environment to the deadly predators, the Rift is too dangerous for most people; if you don't have any skills or innate abilities that could keep you alive and safe, don't even think about doing the trip. A common saying among the northen people is "careless men make one-way trips"; if you want to return home in one piece, you better be prepared for everything.

The Manastream Nexus

Perhaps the most important part of the Rift is the intersection point of the main mana "tunnels" that go across the Meridian plane. These "tunnels" are called manastreams and they are responsible for channelling the energy evenly throughout the plane; besides the few larger manastreams, there are thousands of lesser manastreams that diverge and converge in a way similar to river systems. The Nexus is the point where all the large streams connect; it is simply a coincidence that such a point exists, a natural curiosity that occured despite all odds. The clashing of mana particles and the difference in their attunement makes the surrounding area near the Nexus highly unstable and dangerous; not even the wildlife of the Rift can survive the raw power surging and spiraling inside.

Geography

The Rift is made of many rocky formations, both mountains and plateaus, splintered apart by the flux of mana over the ages. The mountain ranges of the north begin here before spreading to the Frozen North or down to the southeast towards the center of the Continent. It is situated right next to the ocean, marking the northwest margin of the landmass; its distance from the main countries of Meridian, as well as its otherworldliness, are the reason people call the entire region "the Other Side of the World".

The Andal River flows between the sides of the canyon; it forms in the ocean under the influence of the manastreams passing by, then it splits into two main branches at the Rift's Nexus, with one branch returning to the ocean while the other continues its course towards the east. Inside the cliffs of the Rift there are many tunnels and caves that form a larger system; most of the caverns were created by smaller manastreams that either diverge from the main ones or return to them.

Almost all categories of rocks can be found in the Rift, as the wildly fluctuating weather and temperature allow for faster erosion. The action of mana particles upon the stones also has the effect of heating the minerals and can even form mana crystals under the right conditions, through the process of mana-sillicate bonding. Many Exalted students that study geology consider the Rift "the Heaven of Minerals" for its incredible diversity.

History

Not much is known about the region's history. The Old Medeean Empire regarded its outer territories as "the undeserving countryside of our great nation", focusing their attention more on the matters related to its inner territories; the negligence (which bordered on disdain at times) is the primary factor for the region's downward trajectory over the decades. When forced to choose, many people living in the Other Side of the World chose to move to the more populated areas, especially those who were raised in the unforgiving environment of the Rift. These movements began at the peak of Old Medeea and continue to this day, as the Kingdom of Vespal continues to suffer from high emigration rates.

The remnants of bridges and walls indicate that many centuries ago, an ancient civilization (or at least one far older than Old Medeea) existed in this part of the Continent. Unfortunately, the largest portion of these remains are located too close to the Nexus to be explored by people; the manastreams become so dangerous that they can rip apart your flesh in seconds if you don't pay enough attention to them. The relics and ruins that are located in safer areas depict people (possible cultists belonging to a forgotten religion) worshipping what looks like a magic book, surrounded by mana; some Exalted scholars speculate that the lost civilization had the power to survive the Rift and the Nexus, and that they worshipped the essence of magic itself.
One must wonder how these structures are intact after centuries, considering the unstable nature of the Rift.

Tourism

To be able to say you've witnessed the raw beauty offered by the Rift is a rare accomplishment between the nobility of Meridian. Many have ventured over the years, so much so that the road toward Sammsted, the closest settlement, is considered the road most walked by non-military groups. It is of little surprise that the threats usually encountered on the road (thieves, mercenaries, beasts and so on) become fewer and fewer as one approaches the canyon. But don't let that piece of information fool you; the road's apparent safety is simply the byproduct of the natural phenomena that occur in the area, from storms to cyclones to inundations. For most people, just living in the proximity of the canyon is life-threatening; the dangers have driven most of the wild predators and outlaws away from the area.

Still, these facts about the canyon are not even close to being enough for the most vain rulers of the world; every now and then, people of high status organize expeditions to "conquer" the Rift as a way to display their power and leadership skills to others. Some of them live to tell the tale, although at the expense of many party members; some are never heard from again. This has led to the creation of a new job among the villagers of Sammsted - the Rift guides, townfolk who have "extensive knowledge of the area" and "the right skills to survive in this harsh environment". The guides offer their services in exchange for a sum of money paid upfront, as well as a smaller daily tax; by doing so, they can be sure to receive at least part of the payment in case the party chooses to run away. Some guides are also keen on stealing from their clients during their travel, and many will claim the treasures and equipment of anyone who dies during the expeditions.

A smaller portion of the visitors is represented by the Exalted mages of the Meridian plane, most of them students coming in organized groups alongside professors from Exarhi University. Since the Nexus is the only point of manastream convergence that can be reached by foot (the other one is on the opposite part of the globe, in the middle of the ocean surrounding the Continent). These groups travel to the Other Side of the World in order to research the various elements of the Rift, from its unique geographic features and mutated flora and fauna, to the quality and quantity of the mana particles inside the manastreams and the effects of prolonged exposure to high mana density.

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This article is an entry for Tyrdal's Longest Journey Challenge!

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Map made by Erixxl using Inkarnate.

Maps

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  The Rift

  Situated in the northen part of the Continent, the Rift is a canyon that formed over the centuries under the pressure of the manastreams that meet in its center. The high concentrations of mana makes the entire region unhabitable for most lifeforms; however, the remaining ruins, walls and bridges indicate the existence of an old civilization that lived in the area.

Type

Canyon

Owning Organization

The Kingdom of Vespal