Great Rivers

Legend

“Water strangely became a major source of everything and where we tended to gather.”

“The creation of the world did not alter the habit of settling at shores.”

—Skjald Vinotis

 

History

Dark Ages

Rivers of streaming water are first mentioned in the Eskecalda saga, where a god followed a Mana leak into the Void. Swirling outwards from the leak’s lingering point, it eventually encountered an area of solid matter of rock and earth, and upon impact became some odd liquid matter streaming across the soil.

“From this, we conclude that further tainting merely added to the liquid matter, but never altered its original form.”

—Skjald Ulrich

 

First Age

The divines jointly tried their best to bless void garden inhabitants with streams of water tied to their former locations. But as many gardens were stitched into vast areas, some streams were merged and became broad dividers or cuts of rushing force due to the world’s shape and rotation. In fact, the void held more water than anticipated, causing the sea to flood much of the previously untouched or uninhabited garden soil.

“It’s strange that some matter changes, meanwhile others merely absorb.”

—Skjald Vinotis

 

Fourth Age

After being blessed for their unchanged ability to aid transport and serve as irrigation sources for several millennia, they suddenly caught a slight curse behind their mouths. When the tainted waters of the Deep Blue Tsunami surged deep into their areas, they even touched the original sources of some streams.

The taint has, though, not removed their immense strategic value. Thus, they are still a great defence, allowing for the quick dispatch of aid to those in need. The High King best illustrated this by copying the gargantuan mosaic tile from the coloured glass dome at Yikramil's Dome, the Cartographer Guild's great academy located in Ankoor Phûkat. It was a splendid copy, with the 50 largest rivers fanning out like rays from the sea in the centre to each one’s origin. All done in coloured mosaic marble tiles, brought in from each river’s own shorelands, with thinly cut obsidian defining countryside shores.

Oh, the times we saw Black Oak and the finest generals standing on the mosaic, discussing defence strategies with the court. Those memories are strong, and it saddens my heart that The Realm, Grimsborg, and that floor are all gone.

“Although depictions are gone, and memories are fading, the rivers persist.”

—Skjald Sigurd

 

Organisation

Any river has an offspring: generally one or more small streams, creeks, and similar. When the sources become extremely wide and long, some stretching hundreds of kilometers— it is a continued debate among cartographers.

“Regardless of their status, they are a wonderful source of nutrition and transport.”

—Skjald El Mary

 

Numerous sources often feed rivers as they run, enhancing their power to flush valleys and cut mountains. At places, their width and depth make them seem slow and gentle in their passing. But in narrow and shallow passages, they become swift, noisy, and turbulent. They bring death and destruction to anything and anyone attempting to transport it.

“Don’t neglect the power of water; it can even be used to cut through earth and gravel.”

—Skjald Sejrik

 

So long… quiet song…

So wide… gentle glide…

So thin… peeling skin…

So low… teeth show…

The fluid fangs… of fish and beasts…

They aid, cut, and shape our world.

“Led into narrow streams… fed into pipes… it’s a pressure cutter.”

—Skjald Kazumix

 

We have, along with the cartographers, made maps and considered the 50 major rivers. But there are still old shores being visited to ensure accuracy, and some are being redrawn as errors and changes are discovered. As the enormous library of Grimsborg burnt, we are redoing work on all 16 major rivers of Midgard. Luckily, I recall most of the best fishing places, reminding me that I could really do with some grilled salmon right now.

“Not only realm dividers and transportation paths. Also sources of many a table treat.”

—Skjald Yell'a'Beard

 

Special

Water is able to influence magic, in some cases totally nullifying it.

“It is as if water acts as a damping force between the astral realm and the physical world.”

—Skjald Valgrif