| The Known World of Ikol
|
 The World of Ikol -- at least in part! Crossroads MUSH is set in Gateway Empire, an island nation of the planet Ikol. It is somewhat centrally located among nearby nations, and beyond the known map there seems to be only water in any direction. Expeditions either return having found nothing, or never return at all.
The world of Ikol spans a wide range of cultures brought about by the-- sometimes drastically-- differing landscapes and geographical anomalies of each assembled nation. The level of familiarity and knowledge of these countries can differ drastically within the Empire as relations and practicality may help or hinder discovery.
As vastly as the world below it, the skies hold their own appeal and have been mapped out meticulously by Draughtian astronomers for centuries. Due to their personal contributions, the Empire generally recognizes a number of Constellations created by some of the more eccentric scholars.
|
The Barrier
|
|
The Barrier is a magical wall of water that surrounds the empire and completely isolated it from the rest of Ikol for two centuries. Now it is still a formidable wall that restricts transit, as all ships must pass through one single entrance. This is why we aren't Tyr's bitch right at the moment.
|
Gateway Empire
|
|
The Empire consists of five individual Isles of various topography. All of the Isles except Mists and Gateway were raised by the Champion each suited to various purposes that still stand to this day.
Currents run between the isles. The currents are invisible sources of energy that move anything that enters their path into the direction they are going. They alternate on timed schedules to allow travel back in the other direction.
Because of the flow of the Currents, travel within the Empire only moves from and to each isle from Gateway. For example ships cannot travel from Guardian to Green Fields without first going to Gateway and possibly wait for the Currents to shift before continuing on to Green Fields.
The sea within the currents is called the Sea of Veils. Though it has marine life like any body of water, it is also rumored to have creatures of mystical quality that do not seem to obey the whims of the currents.
|
|
|
|
Note: The main grid of the game and 95% of the RP takes place here. Everything else is considered 'off the grid'.
This is the central isle, the political center point. The castle is located on the northern portion of the Isle which also holds the main port of the Empire that all ships must dock on their way to other harbors.
The rest of the Isle consists of a couple of small fields and plenty of forests. Old ruins are easily spotted at Providence point, a major glimpses of the past history of the Empire.
The shoreline of Gateway Isle is rough and jagged with high cliffs.
Seal Cove is the other port city where Ambassadorial ships remain docked while the foreigners visit. Even though it is the furthest point on the Isle, it is only a days walk to cover its entirety. Gateway is comparable to the size of the small island of Hawaii, USA.
|
|
|
|
|
Made up significantly of mountains and rocky terrain, Guardians is one of the most difficult Isles to navigate. There are sporadic forests, swamp lands and salt marshes, but very little grassy lands. It is comparable to the size of Nevada, USA.
|
|
|
|
Green Fields is made up of mostly rolling hills of fertile soils with forests in the northwest corner. It is comparable to the size of California, USA.
|
|
|
|
There is a small amount of rocky terrain, but most of Draught consists of plains that are not very visually entertaining. It is comparable to the size of Iceland.
|
|
|
|
Mists has a variety of landscape types from swamps to mountains, and the overwhelming information on any of these areas is that they are just creepy and not suitable for solo exploration. It is comparable to the size of the big island of Hawaii.
|
|
|
|
Gateway is towards the south central area of a number of continents ranging from the warmest climates to the south and the coldest to the north. Each nation has as different a topography as their individual customs.
|
Travel Times
|
| For your RP guidance, estimated sailing times between various locations of Ikol is provided here. These times assume fair winds and a full sailed vessel. Fully loaded merchant ships could take longer, storms and other can also impact the estimated travel times.
Note these times and days are given as IC times. Feel free to use this information in your role play!
- Circumference of Barrier: 10 Days
Inside the Barrier
- From Gateway
| Draught - Destine: Omenal
|
7 hours
|
| Mists - Fang of Imperius: Polaris
|
2 hours
|
| Green Fields - Burgundy Terrace: Butterfly Fields
|
10 hours
|
| Guardian - Caerdach: Gwencalon
|
8 hours
|
| Guardian - Crucible: Sentinel Spire
|
24 hours
|
| The Barrier
|
32 hours
|
Outside the Barrier
- From the Mouth of the Barrier:
- From Pais de Leuvier:
|
|
