The Tower
The structure of Solstice is a towered multiverse, where each floor serves as an independent universe. Individuals can move across universes using portals and waypoints. Levels of connectivity vary across universes.
Floor: an independent universe
Porosity: how many points of access there are between one floor and the others
Waypoints: points of intersection between floors. A weakness or opening in the barriers that separate the universes. Natural or artificial.
Natural: naturally occurring points of intersection. Can be overt (portals, lake, mirrors) or discrete (stepping in a particular spot where the barrier is weak, "clipping" between floors)
Artificial: creating points of intersection between floors (using technology or magic to "rip" holes between floors)
Various organizations (government, private firm) aim to manage and optimize waypoints for trade or leisure. Those in control of the waypoint can levy taxes/tariffs.
Solstice takes place in a multidimentional universe with a “tower” structure, where each floor acts as an independent world. It is easier to travel between floors that are closer to each other. Floor settings vary by technology and genre.
Awareness of other floors varies.
- Interdependent: aware of the existence of other floors. Trading, immigration, mixing of cultures. Porous.
- Metaware: aware of the entire structure of the tower. More technologically advanced floors. High porosity or other technology that allows them to see into other floors.
- Semiaware: aware of some other floors but not the scope of the tower.
- Zero contact: aware of the existence of other floors. Intentional no-contact policy. Porous.
- Unaware: cut-off from other floors. No or low porosity.
The tower has a mirrored antiverse, implying the existence of multiple towers that are a reflection of the primary dimension.
Species: floors are occupied by sentient beings (equivalent to humans) & non-sentient beings (farmed, consumed, pets). All species, sentient or non-sentient, are feral only.
Sentient: any species. The sentient species is cohesive in a floor.
Non-sentient: beings without a consciousness. Used for food, transportation, kept as pets, etc.
The only species that do not naturally occur within the tower are humans. Old Gods are of humanoid form. The oldest objects of archaeological significance feature humanoid figures, remnants of the Old World.
The Old Gods created the tower to exist in a delicate state of dynamic equilibrium. This equilibrium defies Entropy and runs through a self-sustaining cycling through life, death, and rebirth. Abnormal aggregates of energy risk tipping the scale in one direction or another. The old gods considered this and created Gods, angels, and demons to enforce this balance.