The Infinite Seas

What lies the end of the world? At the end of existence itself?

The Infinite Seas are the oceans that surround the lands of Quentriandal. Every day, thousands of Sleepers make their ways across the waters of the Near Ocean to fish, war, trade or travel. But the further away from the inhabited lands that one gets, the less distinct the world becomes. Sleepers never go past the Near Oceans limits, but the Awakened that do tell tales of a strange world.

The Near Oceans

The seas closest to the lands of Quentriandal are called the Near Oceans. As a whole, these oceans are vast and contain an infinite multitude of life, from whales to alien deep sea creatures. Islands and archipelagos are relatively common and these oceans see many tales told. It isn't until the edges of the Near Ocean's end that things begin to change. Muted blue ocean currents mix with the normal waters and travel along the edge

Sleepers will not pass the edge. If forced, their reactions range from panic to catatonia. The Awakened suffer no ill effects and some use this fear to their advantage to escape pursuit by Sleepers.

Life here is no different than what would expect from the rest of the ocean, but there is less of it. Even animals stay away from the other parts of the Infinite Seas.

The Slumbering Seas

Past the Near Ocean lies the Slumbering Seas. The dividing line between the two is not very clear and is more a change in a persons perception than a physical change in the waters. There are much fewer islands here and none of very great size. Those that do crop up tend to be barren or simplistic, containing only a single thing repeated across the entire land. Color changes deeper into the Slumbering Seas, either gaining in intensity or becoming soft and muted: often the two extremes will flow side by sides, two streams in the same ocean.

Sleepers forced to pass into the Slumbering Seas will begin to suffer from a sort of Fading, losing cohesion and becoming vague. Masque become blank, lifeless things and the Sleepers with them.

There are few creatures here and none of them are natural. Most take the form of an idealized version of another creature, with stark and simple colors without shades or texture to their hides or scales. Travel through the Slumbering Seas are still anchored in realities of time and distance, but the further one goes into the Seas, the slower progress becomes. On the other hand, turning to escape back to the Near Seas is often much quicker than one would think.

The Endless Ocean

There are no waves at this part of the Infinite Seas, not movement. The waters are still and hold no life. Only shadows walk here, half-formed thoughts that could have been something. These phantoms are harmless apparitions, dissolving on the faintest touch. There are no islands at all here, no landmarks, no weather. Only an endless expanse of water marred by extreme, stark colors that turn it into a mishmash of different hues.

The water of the Endless Ocean is such only in name. This far from solid reality, it is more akin to the concept or idea of water. Boats still float, but people will either sink as if they'd stepped onto nothing or walk the surface as if it were solid.

The sky is a single color, often of an unnatural hue. Travel her e is more conceptual than physical. Movement doesn't mean as much as the idea of it. Unlike the Slumbering Seas, the seeming infinite distances of the Endless Ocean can make escape devilishly difficult.

The End

After a distance that cannot be easily measured in miles or time traveled, there is the End. Here, at the furthermost edge of the Dreaming-World, there is nothing more. The End is impossible to mistake or miss: a wall of void black that stretches as far as the eye can see in all direction. It only becomes visible within half a mile or so. Any who step into the void are gone forever, passing beyond existence.

There are those who see the End not as an gateway to annihilating oblivion, but to salvation or escape. A pathway out of this world and to a greater plane of existance. The Awakened zealots who make this journey are never heard from again.

The Creatures of the Sea

Is that fish really supposed to look like that?

— Chandra, Awakened Hunter

Beyond the Near Oceans, life becomes increasingly scarce and increasing poorly defined. With less to anchor things to the way they should be, animals become crude, simplistic versions of themselves or ethereal shadows. On occasion, these creatures merge into strange and bizarre amalgamations that were never meant to be any more than an odd thought. While they are not usually dangerous, the Infinite Seas is nothing if not unpredictable.

There is one being who make their home far into these waters: the Unformed. These primordial terrors are survivors of the time between dreams and have learned to survive in even the Endless Ocean: worse yet, some thrive like an infection in a wound.
Read more about the Unformed

This isn't on my map...

Even in the far away parts of the Near Oceans, things can get strange. A common narrative is that of the island that isn't on the map or that of discovering something unknown. In waters less frequented, these islands can sink into the waters or emerge fully formed so suit the story, waiting to be found by the ship heading their way.

The Fading

Sleepers forced into the Slumbering Seas or beyond will begin suffer from the Fading: being forgotten by the world. These poor unfortunates begin to fade and wither away, until they are little more then shadows - then gone entirely.
Read more about the Fading

Awakened are usually immune to the fading - they are their own anchors, their tales too grand to be forgotten. But those who spend an extended amount of time out in the Endless Ocean begin to fray and they feel the touch of dissolution on their being. It can take weeks or months but not even the Awakened can avoid ill effect when straying so far from reality.

Weather and Wind

Much like living beings, the weather of the Infinite Seas become simplified. In the Slumbering Seas, the wind seem to be always blowing or never. Storms sometimes lack elements, like thunderstorms without rain or snow that is warm to touch. In the Endless Ocean, all such things end and the traveler is left by nothing but a stifling quiet and monotone skies.