The First World (/mɛrɪljɒn/)

The First World, known to the elves as Merillion, or the "jewel of life", encompasses an expansive supercontinent that stretches across varying climates and diverse landscapes. Its reach spans from frigid northern coastlines, down to the arid hot landscapes south of its central mountainous region, known as the Granite Spine, and further down to the cold regions of the extreme south. The temperate coastlines offer a gentle climate that has been home to countless civilizations over millennia.
From a geographical standpoint, the most notable feature of the First World is the Sundering Sea, bisecting the land where there formerly was Eäloron, the "heart of the land". This expansive inland sea once marked a divide between the two tectonic plates which formed this immense landmass. However, due to a cataclysmic event known as the Terminal Catastrophe, the First World was fractured along this line, turning Eäloron into the Sundering Sea and forever altering the geographical continuity of the world.
As rich in magic as it is in natural resources, the First World is infused with powerful wild magics. The land is crisscrossed by vibrant ley lines, creating areas of dense magic, often referred to as zones of wild magic, interspersed with areas where magic is less pronounced. These magical currents contribute to the inherent mysticism and sense of wonder associated with the First World, as well as the deep spiritual connection felt by its inhabitants.

History

The sagas of the First World's history unfurl themselves over the passage of millennia, presenting stories of triumph, loss, wisdom, and resilience that have shaped the world as it is known today.
In the Age of Mortals, the nascent mortal civilizations sprung up in the shadow of dominant monster kingdoms, giving rise to a period known as the Thousand Holy Wars. This era saw a continuous struggle between the mortals and the monstrous inhabitants of the land. The two sides were balanced in might and terror, locked in a seemingly endless cycle of conflict. The mortal civilizations fought for their survival and the right to claim the lands as their own.
Following this era of strife, a celestial entity known as Luminifer, the Illuminated Enchanter, descended onto the stage of history. A harbinger of a new age, she traversed across the vast stretches of the First World, spreading the knowledge of magic among mortals. During her journey, she breathed life into a new race, the kitsune. Her Enlightenment tipped the scales in favor of the mortals, igniting what would come to be known as the Magic Renaissance. The blossoming of magic breathed new life into the mortal civilizations, leading to the rise of the Volion Lesethocracy, a nation founded upon the exaltation of magic.
The flow of history took a new course with the discovery of crium, an energy-rich gemstone growing on the criumite trees of Sarentekia. With this discovery, the Sarentek Confederation came to prominence, developing technology to harness the power of crium. The exploitation of crium led to an era of accelerated technological advancements known as the Great Revolutions, which inevitably ignited ideological conflicts and wars with the Volion Lesethocracy.
The face of the world was forever altered when Meteorite "Prometheus" crashed into Hailindor, transforming the once verdant region into a frigid wasteland. Despite the devastation it caused, the meteorite shards had the potential to be crafted into powerful magic weapons, a fact that was not lost on the Volion Lesethocracy, fueling their bitter rivalry with the Sarentek Confederation.
The escalating tensions culminated in the War of the Mirror, over the control of an artifact known as the Mirror of Dominion. On the brink of defeat, the Volion Lesethocracy, driven to desperation, invoked a potent Promethean magic that triggered the Terminal Catastrophe. The Spell of Sundering tore through the First World, fracturing it along the line of the Eäloron, thus ending the period known as the "Fracture".
In the aftermath of the Catastrophe, the First World entered its Age of Rebirth. The once mighty empires crumbled under the weight of their past actions, and the world had to adapt to the irreversible changes that had befallen it. With the fall of the Sarentek Confederation, the monster kingdoms experienced a resurgence, capitalizing on the upheaval and reclaiming their lost territories.
Yet, life finds a way to persist and even flourish amidst the direst of circumstances. Marking the dawn of a new era, a ship called the Arcane Serpent successfully traversed the Sundering Sea, bridging the gulf between Aevolacor and Lesefaron. This unprecedented event signaled the start of the Age of Rekindling, a period of hope, exploration, and potential reconciliation.

The Shimeran Jungle: A Bridge into the Feywild

The relationship between the First World and the Feywild, as mediated by the Shimeran Jungle, is unique and incredibly significant. Due to the high concentration of Merillian ley lines within the Shimeran Jungle, an integral part of what is now the Shimeran Isle, there was an intense and intricate meshing of the First World and the Feywild.
The Shimeran Jungle acted as a powerful conduit between the two realms. Its dense ley lines drew in the potent energies of the Feywild, superimposing their influence onto the material landscape of the First World. This resulted in a substantial overlap of the two realms within the confines of the Jungle, blurring the boundaries and creating an area of vibrant and complex coexistence.
While the First World remained distinct in many ways from the Feywild, this area of overlap, of melding, created a unique environment that combined elements of both realms. The Jungle did not simply contain elements of the Feywild; it sought to grow and expand, its fey magic spilling over into the wider First World, transforming and shaping it to mirror the fey realm.
The influence of the Shimeran Jungle on the First World can be seen as a "taming" or "harmonizing" force. The potent magic of the Feywild, carried and expanded by the Jungle imbued the First World with an air of mystery, enchantment, and heightened connection to the natural and magical world. This Feywild essence served to make the First World more vibrant, enhancing the strength and diversity of magic and life therein.
The presence of the kitsune on the Shimeran Isle, despite their origins being deeply rooted in the First World, attests to this. Fey-like in nature, the kitsune found a new home on the Isle, attracted by the fey energies and unique conditions that result from the intermingling of the two realms.
Before the Terminal Catastrophe, it seemed like the First World and the Feywild were heading towards a distant, yet inevitable unification, with the Shimeran Jungle at the forefront of this convergence. However, the Catastrophe disrupted this progression, isolating the Shimeran Isle and effectively stalling the merger. Despite this, the Isle still serves as a powerful symbol of what could have been — a tangible echo of a world where the fey magic of the Feywild and the material plane of the First World coexisted and thrived.

The Merillian Calendar

The Merillian Calendar, based on the annual cycle of the First World, is an elaborate yet profoundly intuitive system marking the passage of time. It is centered around the unique cycle of the Valinetis Shiel, a plant that changes its blossom colors throughout the year, a feature that led to the creation of the calendar itself.
A Merillian year lasts 365 days. The year is divided into nine months, each corresponding to the color of the Valinetis Shiel's blossoms. Each month lasts between 40 and 41 days, meticulously designed to accommodate the entire 365-day period. Within each Merillian month, time is further segmented into weeks, with six days each, derived from cultural and religious Merillian traditions and not directly tied to the Valinetis Shiel.
A feature of the Merillian Calendar is its distinctive approach to the concept of seasons. The calendar recognizes only two distinct periods — Summer and Winter, while the time between these seasons is known as Seasontide.

Cosmology

The First World is graced by two moons, Elyndra and Alarumis. The nearer of the two, Elyndra, was named after Elyndra, the Dreamweaver, revered for governing the domain of dreams and inspiration. It mirrors this divine influence in its silvery purple hue, casting a soft, dreamlike glow over the world beneath. It undergoes a cycle of ten distinct phases, each one symbolizing a different aspect of Elyndra's divine influence, from inspiration to introspection. The moon's luminosity and color subtly shift depending on the positioning of other celestial bodies, providing the onlooker with an ever-changing spectacle of celestial enchantment.
The second moon, Alarumis, sits farther from the First World. Unlike its nearer companion, Alarumis exists in a permanent state of waxing crescent, a celestial observer silently overseeing the world's nights. Its deep crimson light paints the night sky with hues of a lingering sunset, a phenomenon fondly known as "sunset sky at night". This effect is especially prominent when Elyndra enters the New Moon phase, allowing Alarumis to take center stage in the Merillian night sky.
This dynamic pairing of moons has significantly influenced Merillian culture and mythology. Many native rituals and traditions are based on the cycle of Elyndra, while the constant presence of Alarumis has become a symbol of dependability and quiet observation, stories have been written around these celestial bodies.
This two-mooned system has also shaped the First World's physical characteristics. The combined gravitational pull of Elyndra and Alarumis affects the planet's tides, leading to unique patterns that have influenced the evolution of marine life and coastal ecosystems. Furthermore, the interplay of light from the two moons creates a unique night-time environment, influencing the behaviors of nocturnal creatures and plant life.

Alternative Name(s)

Merillion

Type

Supercontinent