Tidespace
The origin of the name Tidespace is somewhat unclear,
as generally spheres are named for their primary world, examples being
Krynnspace, Realmspace and Bral/Spiralspace. There is no main world
of Tidespace, nor is there a center fire body known as the sun. Instead,
there is a massive whirlpool in the center of a great ocean that fills
half of Tidespace (As seen from the side). The 7 worlds of Tidespace
are huge islands carried by giant sea turtle shaped star beasts swimming
againstthe current, with only one exception, the first world, Aklann is
on the back of a giant fish which swims with the spin of the whirlpool.
The explanation for the name of Tidespace is the amazing tidal structure
of the ocean. In lieu of a central fire body, Tidespace has another
oddity. Another starbeast, shaped like an otter, swims around the
edge of Tidespace along the horizon. In its mouth it carries a giant
flaming fish. In its journeys around the sphere, which take but 30
hours (an amazing abnormality as most Starbeasts move so slow not even
a Falmadaraatha can measure changes in their motions), the otter displaces
a tremendous amount of water, which causes huge tidal waves to flow around
all the island planets. Thus there are heavy tides for the edges
of all the worldlets, These tides switch rapidly and often great swells
will raise individual islands far above the others. From this the sphere
is known as Tidespace. The odd behaviour of this Starbeast also creates
a nearly constant sunset, however every 30 hours the otter submerges, putting
out the flame until it re emerges 30 hours later and the fish bursts alight
once more. The atmosphere is 10 miles thick and above that wildspace
begins.
The Great Ocean
Within the great ocean, which literally spans billions
of miles, there are found any number of indigenous species. From
tiny minnows, to prehistoric monstrosities, they are all found here.
The majority of the sea is freshwater and warm, constantly heated by the
flaming fish, and yet one can find all manner of water here, salty, polar,
etc. Near the center of the Ocean, there are many icebergs and such,
and in fact, Aklann is entirely a polar region. The tidal structure
and heavy currents surrounding each 'Planet' have made it impossible to
traverse the waterways between worlds, although several such island worlds
can see one another with telescopes. Many water based societies abound,
including selkies and sea elves, however the underwater current is so powerful,
they are nomadic peoples at best and care little for those above water.
The one exception to this is the 4th world, Paddle which is always submerged
and has no atmosphere. It appears as one giant Atlantis like world
and is populated by sea elves and Sahuagin which fight constant wars against
one another. This submerged world is reachable, but only during the
hour long period of 'low' tide for Paddle, and only with extreme difficulty.
The rest of the ocean has great hundred mile stretches of free floating
kelp and several nomadic ship peoples descended from those who left their
islands and could never return past the currents. They consider themselves
free to wander and better than those trapped on island prisons, yet all
are quick to appreciate the worth of fruits, grains, and other such land
based amenities.