The Borderworld

From DALpedia

The Borderworld is a parallel realm to Gaian, discovered by Asgarnian scientists, but explored only recently by Alex. The Borderworld has been cited as the source of the destructive portal storms that laid waste to the city of Asgarnia.

Appearance

Rather than being an actual planet, the Borderworld is a network of islands floating in what appears to be an swirling void, extending an infinite distance in all directions. The only way to gain access to another island is to somehow bridge the two islands, or jump from one to another. The abyssal void is essentially a swirling purplish-black vortex whose center is at the top, and the bottom, to meet in the "center." There is no defined source of illumination, no sun or moon, everything is bathed in an eerie purple glow that seems to illuminate everything to some extent.

Physics

It is worth noting that the physics of the Borderworld differ greatly than those of Gaian. Gravity is significantly less, being only approximately one-twentieth of Gaian's. Contrary to modern physics, gravity always pulls down, rather than towards the centers of the island-asteroids. Liquids and fluids also flow in the opposite direction of what little gravity there is. Instead of waterfalls, which flow down, the Borderworld has "water-rises." Gravity is reduced enough so that anyone with considerable athletic ability or a significant source of propulsion can jump a very long distance.

Atmosphere

The Borderworld essentially has a terrestrial atmosphere, about 20% oxygen, 79% nitrogen, and 1% trace elements. However, the entirety of the Borderworld is bathed in a harmful radiation that will drive anyone without adequate protection to insanity within 18 hours, death within 36. Symptoms of the insanity range from murderous bloodlust to hollow hopelessness, to the point where the victim will either get in a fight that he has no chance of winning or throw themselves into the swirling abyss.

Flora and Fauna

The Borderworld is home to unique walks of life not seen anywhere on Gaian. Only one has been observed so far, the headcrab. Any flora appears to be crystalline-based, feeding off water and leaching minerals from the island asteroids they are rooted to.