Shoals of the Betweenseas
A guide by Ritharius Mothal, PhD in Intermare Studies
The Betweensea roils underneath all worlds connected by the Whorls. These worlds, colloquially, are commonly called Shoals. A Shoal can range from anywhere between a small pocket dimension the size of a sandbar, to an entire planet and anything in-between. No two Shoals are alike either - the only thing that binds them together is the Betweensea itself. While there are far more Shoals than anyone can count, there are only a scant few that are inhabited by sapient life, which are colloquially known as “The People”. While some vacant worlds may have a small population of dragons, the vast majority of them are hostile to all thinking life. This document, preserved here in Izalia, will serve as a record of these worlds should the fate of Paradise befall us.
Izalia
Izalia represents the largest and most well-developed Shoal of all. One of the first worlds that Paradise contacted, our ancestors and those of Paradise worked together rather closely for the brief time we were blessed by their holy magitech. As such, out of all the Shoals Izalia has the highest concentration of Noquanan magitech across the Whorls, a fact that puts our world in direct conflict with Grolsha.
Izalia is also on the larger end of Shoals, boasting multiple continents and a wide variety of cultures. Numerous massive urban centers exist, towering cities of glass-and-steel that house millions of individuals. Ancient Noquanan magitech helps fuel these cities, providing enough food and drink to keep everyone in them from starving to death…though most would rather not consume the nutrient paste that the machines now produce.
A notable feature about Izalia is the abject lack of the otherwise most common kind of People in the Betweenseas - that of the human. In truth, even humans who arrive on Izalia find themselves temporarily transformed into one of the native residents - an unusual phenomena unique to Izalia. The majority of People that reside on Izalia are that of the Rattali, anthropomorphic ratfolk with a notably flatter muzzle than the rodents they most closely resemble. Smaller populations of other species - squirrel-like elves such as myself, sharklike merfolk, the canine Lupin who range from foxes to wolves, the feline Meusia, and the turtlelike dwarves - exist throughout Izalia as well.
One cannot speak of the People of Izalia without mentioning another unique factor of this Shoal - that of its dragons. Common legend states that most dragons hail from Paradise, and they proliferated through the Whorls from there. Recent exploration of the pre-Noquanan sky cities, however, has shown that Izalian dragons are far more ancient than that. Izalian dragons are not born in the way many other dragons are. In fact, two Izalian dragons breeding will produce a member of a different kind of People. This is due to how everyone on Izalia has the capacity to become a dragon at any moment. Triggers vary from dragon to dragon, though the most common one is exposure to their native element or the element antagonistic to theirs. All Izalian dragons were, at one point, a different kind of People. Sudden onset dracosis is not an uncommon condition, and has existed for millenia at this point. It is exceedingly rare for an individual who becomes a dragon to loathe their new state, with many claiming it is “far more comfortable than before”.
The Whorlgate that Izalia has is located off the coast of the city known as Port Maloan in the country of Kellis. Port Maloan is where most Offshoal individuals stay for a time, and as such it is considered one of the most cosmopolitan cities across all of Izalia. And with Izalia being the largest hub for intermare trade and transport, one of the most cosmopolitan cities across all the Whorls. It is a microcosm of the entirety of the Betweensea, for better and for worse - especially as housing prices and non-paste food prices continue to skyrocket. Every day people grow more and more restless. With all of this bounty passing through, after all, why are things only growing worse? A question for an economist, not me.
Port Maloan also sports the only space program across the Shoals due to its proximity to the equator. Recent explorations of the nearby moon of Izalia have yielded promising deposits of greatly needed raw materials, though the details are exceptionally secretive at this point. I have heard rumors, though, that they found ruins matching the sky cities up there…unsubstantiated, but the potential is incredible, is it not?
Grolsha
The second world Paradise visited, and the one most fervent in their worship of Paradise. Most Shoals view Paradise as something inhabited by mortals and forged by mortal hands - but the Church of Paradise claims differently. Sects of this religion exist across many Shoals, but none are more fervent than the one lead by Pontifex Koklaarsh on Grolsha. Through sheer military might and usage of ancient Noquanan magitech, Pontifex Koklaarsh has conquered most of the Shoal of Grolsha. A rather small Shoal, consisting of one island half the size of Izalia’s smallest continent, there is nothing there beyond Pontifex Koklaarsh’s Church now.
Extreme militarization has swept Grolsha now as Pontifex Koklaarsh’s lust for conquest turns towards other worlds. Each day they toil and work on producing a Betweenship capable of safely transporting their entire military force to other worlds to conquer them. Their fervor, their weapons, and the horrifying holy magitech they have presents a genuine threat to virtually every other Shoal including Izalia. They praise Paradise and those who live there, claiming they are the rightful inheritors of Noquana’s legacy - as their historical records show a large amount of Noquanan refugees living there. They loathe the blessings laid out on Izalia, and wish to take it all back for themselves.
The primary People on Grolsha are humans, though there are small amounts of Avia - birdlike beings - as well. Grolsha is unique in its vicious hatred of dragons, barring any from entering through their Whorlgate…and killing any dragons who may awaken there as well, for they claim that draconic beings are false prophets who distract from the truth of Paradise. Because of this, it’s uncommon to hear much news from Grolsha. Few people willingly go there, and fewer people ever leave.
I pray that what we know of Grolsha is wrong, in that case. The alternative is far more terrifying.
Brelakia
A world that is slowly growing more abandoned by the day. Brelakia was once, in times long past, a rather pleasant place to live. While somewhat cooler than other Shoals, it nevertheless was fully inhabitable and prosperous. But, as time stretched on, something changed. The large, crystalline orb that hangs over the ringlike disc of Brelakia began to dim. Now, Brelakia has two seasons - Winter, and Deep Freeze. The temperature there rarely climbs above freezing for more than a week at a time. Farming is relegated to underground chambers focused on mushrooms and other crops that don’t require sunlight or large amounts of heat.
The people here are either desperate to leave, or stubbornly refuse to. I admire the tenacity, though worry for their health. The Deep Freeze has only gotten longer and longer as time goes on. Brelakia, like most Shoals aside from Izalia and Grolsha, only has a small amount of ancient Noquanan magitech present. Perhaps if they had more, it would be easier…regardless.
Brelakia is a continent that loops back in on itself much like a round world like Izalia does. However, Brelakia is entirely flat, its edges contiguous with itself. High above in the sky is a crystalline orb that serves as the sun for it, though as mentioned it is growing weaker by the day. Studying it yields no results - and reaching it is utterly impossible. At the center of Brelakia is a now-frozen sea, and at the center of that sea is the Whorlgate. No other large-scale bodies of water exist on Brelakia.
The People of Brelakia are humans and the native Brelak - large, wooly-furred people that vaguely resemble more animalistic humans. The Brelak consist of those willing to stay behind, and they tell tales of how this is not the first time their sun had dimmed. Ancient stories from before Paradise arrived, but there may be truth to them. For their sake, I hope there is. Most of the human population is attempting to flee at this point, their bodies unable to handle the Deep Freeze season. While other populations existed on Brelakia before, by now they have all fled. The Rattali who once lived there have mostly settled on Izalia, though they complain often of high temperatures due to their naturally thicker coats. Dragons on Brelakia are primarily ice-aligned and often leave the Shoal during Deep Freeze.
The winters will only grow worse, and there is a pervasive fear that the Whorl itself may freeze over - though there is no indication that’s even possible. After all, the Whorl is not made of physical material, but liquid reality itself. I doubt it could freeze in place.
Hilato
Hilato is a fascinating Shoal. Unlike any others we know of, the Betweensea leaks directly into it beyond just the Whorl. Massive gashes in the ground are full of the starlit nonwaters of the Betweensea, and these gashes only grow larger each year. Diving into the Betweensea in this way is horrifically dangerous - most who do never emerge, and those who do are afflicted with a condition known as “starblight”. These gashes represent a massive level of danger for Hilato, especially as they grow and consume more of the land.
Hilato lacks any massive bodies of water for a Whorl to form in, so instead one formed in the center of the vast desert that stretches out over Hilato. From this Whorlgate the cracks have spread outwards - a concerning development, to be sure. The desert-dwellers who live on Hilato scorn the workings of Paradise, blaming them for the ongoing disaster that has befallen Hilato. Understandably so - the oral traditions of Hilato paint a picture of a world that was already struggling, and the Whorl has only caused more trouble.
The population of Hilato primarily consists of the Faroxi - a species of People who most closely resemble that of a desert-dwelling fox. Large ears, short and light fur, and primarily nocturnal. They are able to survive and thrive on this desert world, building their cities within the craggier, rockier terrain of Hilato rather than the open deserts. Water is the greatest commodity there is in these cities, and the only piece of Noquanan technology they do not spurn is that which makes water. These devices have allowed Hilatan cities to grow far more than before, supporting a growing and thriving population despite the dangers of the Betweensea. A few desert-adapted Rattali exist as well, but the second most populous type of People are humans. Clothing tends to be brightly colored or white and very lightweight, to keep people cool in the desert heat.
Dragons in Hilato tend to be fire-aspected, though they all hail from outside of Hilato. While not to the level of violence expressed on Grolsha, most Hilatans view dragons with an inherent distrust the same way they view anyone from outside Hilato. After all, they wouldn’t be present if their world was not being torn asunder. Despite this, there is a sizable population of dragons that live out in the open deserts of Hilato, where few others tread. Curiously, dragons are utterly immune to starblight - and those with draconic blood oftentimes find their draconic ancestry awakening if they become afflicted once they reach the final stages of the condition.
Starblight is not unique to Hilato - in truth, anyone who falls within the Betweensea may be subject to it. There is nowhere else with as many starblight-afflicted individuals as Hilato, though. Symptoms onset rapidly - skin and fur turn a glassy-black sheen, and are dotted with the same stars that suffuse the nonwaters of the Betweensea. This state fades after approximately 48 hours, progressing to the next stage - blackened fur or skin, like they had been scorched to ashes. Many who reach this stage describe the feeling that their body was being burned from the inside-out by some unholy fire. Most afflicted with starblight perish at this stage, their bodies collapsing in on themselves into a shell of ash and starlight. Some survive though - and those that do tend to be deeply magical individuals. Survivors still face challenges however, notably in how their magic is twisted and reshaped to something…else. Curses and blights that suffuse the body and warp the mind replace whatever magic was there previously, causing starblighted individuals to need to relearn any magic they knew before. Those afflicted with Starblight are rarely shunned as it is not contagious. Community care for a starblighted individual is common, and without it many more would fall to it than they already do. Starblighted groups exist and do their best to use their newfound strange magic to give back to the communities that saved them. I dread what the state of affairs would be if they were shunned…
Meuthocha
Considered a primitive backwater by most, Meuthocha is the only fully feudal Shoal left in the Betweenseas. The ruler of Meuthocha, Louk Dro the 3rd, is a brutal tyrant who lavishes himself with all the luxuries Meuthocha has to offer. Even in the capital city of Dro, founded by the Dro bloodline in the last 400 years, poverty and suffering abound. The sheer greed in which Louk Dro indulges in makes it difficult to discuss anything else. For the vibrant, wonderful people of Meuthocha I pray they can take his head soon.
The Whorlgate is constantly patrolled by royal guards, ensuring anyone entering and leaving has tithes to pay to Louk Dro. If they don’t, then the guards are instructed to capture the boat and crew so they themselves can become the tithes. A horrific policy that has choked out virtually all travel. Even dragons struggle to get through, oftentimes getting shot down. What little we know now is from the few dragons who awoke and escaped.
Primarily inhabited by humans, though lizardlike Uthos are also present. Most dragons from Meuthocha claim to have been Utho prior to their awakening, though unlike most worlds it seems that most memory is lost upon awakening. It is that, or the sheer level of trauma they experience makes it difficult to remember. I am inclined to the second explanation, given what little memories are shared consist of a lot of dungeons and a lot of torture. General opinion on the Uthos by the Dro bloodline is exceptionally low, and that likely is due to them being potentially able to flee the nightmare they have constructed. Tyrants hate it when knowledge spreads, after all.
Kiv
Kiv is a world where the land is entirely composed of steel and machinery. A Whorlgate formed here in the ocean, though Paradise is not responsible for what it is. It is unclear how old the ancient machinery of Kiv is - all attempts to date it have failed. The mechanisms have long since failed, and whatever created the machines has also long since passed. All that remains are ghostshells - empty robotic bodies possessed by spirits of Kiv. Few elect to stay in the empty mechanized wasteland of Kiv, and the ghostshells that awaken often wait to be ferried out of Kiv to other Shoals for repairs and to live there.
Akamia
Few records of Akamia survive to the modern day, as its Whorlgate was sealed shortly after Paradise’s fall. What little we know is that it consisted of seven floating islands layered atop each other, and at the very top was the city of Lazarus - a city built by Paradise, but unfinished. Records show mostly humans being present, though some Rattali also may have been. It is unclear why the Whorlgate at the bottom of Akamia was sealed or how it occurred.
Noquana
Home of Paradise. No records of its culture or history persist, lost to the sands of time. Perhaps the refugees wished to forget the glory of Paradise. Perhaps they thought it was best left in the past. All we know is they inadvertently connected all the Shoals together, and were capable of creating irreplicable magitech utilizing both standard spellcasting and unique, only-creatable-there runic magic. A plague of water ended it. It is unclear what it’s like in the modern era, if there is anything left.
Other Shoals
Numerous other Shoals exist, though they are significantly smaller than any of the previous ones, and mostly inhabited by humans. Dragons are the primary visitors to these Shoals, as oftentimes the populations of these Shoals have no reason to brave the Betweensea. Still, these quiet, smaller Shoals offer potential places for some to retreat to, and in time they may grow to be far more relevant.
The Betweensea
A shifting, ever-changing nonplace. Nothing solid exists here beyond traveling Betweenships - though many have tried to form outposts there to no avail. All Whorls connect here and allow for passage between Shoals. Ship crews must be small - as travel is determined by thought, too many thinking beings in one place may cause complications in the journey. Ancient Whorlships from Noquana could counteract this to a degree, allowing for far larger crews and for the ark-ships to carry refugees from there.
Do not leave the ship. Do not fall into the Whorl itself. Only dragons can brave it unprotected, all other People fall prey to starblight. It is a matter of safety over all other things.
While nothing solid exists in the Betweenseas, there are rumors of some ancient behemoth of steel-and-sinew lurking in some part of this space between spaces. Unsubstantiated, of course. But dragons oftentimes do report that there may be life between the nonwater waves of the Betweensea…things that simply should not be, that shouldn’t be acknowledged. It is a good thing that they can travel so much more swiftly than Betweenships in that case. I fear what might exist in this absolute nonplace that defies understanding.
whoops! more stuff about the Betweenseas, now there's more info on each of the worlds (or Shoals) within it! glad i was able to get this done honestly, after how hard the initial primer document was i was worried this would be worse but i have a bit of my writing drive back babyyy