(pron. whale rhine)
Old English for whale + water path
Welcome to the world of Hwaelryne, a world enveloped entirely by the Sea of Constant Drift. In this world, many islands and continents exist by purely floating on the sea and not being connected to the tectonic plates of the earth itself. This means that they are in constant drift and move all the time. There are only a handful of islands and continents that are actually locked in position on the surface of the world – these are known as the Focal Lands, or Focal Islands depending on their size.
See Myths for more details
The Sea of Constant Drift is a changeable sea, fickle, tempestuous and playful. She can throw up tremendous storms one day and offer smooth sailing conditions the next – sometimes the weather can switch between the two in less than an hour.
Navigating this sea is not that straightforward and the world has developed its own, specialised system [please see the tab at the top of this article].
There are different theories as to the origins of the Sea of Constant Drift and the nature of Hwaelryne. Some claim this is how the world came into being and how it originally was created by the Gods. Others claim it was a magic event that surged the seas to cover the lands. No one knows for certain, but there are two popular myths that surround the creation of the Sea of Constant Drift, though others exist.
Like many others, both myths assume the existence of an older world, long lost stable continents hidden beneath the depths of the turbulent seas that now envelop the world. The amazing depths of the world, filled with its own set of dangers, have not yet been explored enough to confirm nor deny the existence of such a history.
The deities, spirits and beings described in the myths often also have different names attributed to them. For example, some claim the Moon God(dess) is Eilistraee, the humans often speak of them as Selune, the elves name them Sehanine while the dwarfs claim them to be Sharindlar.
See Myths for more details
Within the Sea of Constant Drift, there are only a handful of land masses that never shift but are seemingly tied to a stationary point and the core of the earth itself. These are known as the Focal Lands.
Some do not question the existence of these lands and see them as a natural consequence to the nature of this world. Others claim them to be the peaks of the highest mountains and landmasses of the old continents that now hide beneath the surface of the sea. But again, there are many different tales that surround the origins of the Focal Lands.
1025 years ago, following the Point of Peril, it was determined that all the focal lands should serve as safe havens. This was agreed upon and sealed in agreement in an arcane promise by all in the ancient Pact of Protection. This Pact determines:
The people of this world are bound to keep the Focal Lands protected as stable places.
Anyone who attempts to break the Pact will be executed.
If Evil tries to invade – through magical means or otherwise – all islands and continents are bound to unite to eliminate the threat.
Details of the Point of Peril have faded into history. There are very few who were there to witness the Point of Peril and the Sealing of the Pact that still roam the earth. Records of the Point of Peril have not always stood the test of time and much of the history and knowledge has faded into myths, legends and folklore.
Some now claim the Pact was established because the focal lands were sacred spaces of the Earth Deity. Others claim to keep the Focal Lands safe to prevent the Evil Creature from rising to the surface of the world from beneath the depths of the sea.