MIDGARD

Andromeda, relatively remote in comparison to other worlds


A planet much like Terra, but under the subtle influence of a mysterious particle known as Dust and ruled by an ever-stricter religious Magisterium. Inhabitants’ souls are not inside their body; rather, they walk beside them as animals called dæmons. These dæmons are nothing malevolent, only unfortunately named, and human/near-human beings are the only ones that have them (though in cases such as the ice bears, there are comparable substitutes--namely, their self-forged armor). As children, dæmons frequently change shape while their person learns who they are, and settles on one form in adolescence.

All continents are in their rightful places, though in some cases names have been changed slightly: Norway to Norroway, most notably. containing cities with such names as Trollesund. Some locations are subtly different (for example, London contains a boarding school known as Jordan College), but for the most part a Terran would be able to make their way around.

The biggest geographical change is Svalbard: a globally recognized Arctic kingdom inhabited by the armored bears and currently ruled by the usurper Ragnar Sturlusson.




Dæmons, Dust, sentient armored ice bears (known natively as panserbjørne); Midgard sits close enough to an asteroid belt that “falling stars” frequently land near the North Pole—these asteroids are rich in titanium alloy and used by the bears to craft their armor piece by piece. The planet itself knows of no extraterrestrial trade, as the Magisterium controls both relations with other worlds and information released to the general public.

Witches, water-faring nomads called Gyptians, Arctic-dwelling Siberian bandits known as Samoyeds, and high-flying aeronauts can also be found here.

Scholars have taken advantage of Dust to create a device called an alethiometer (literally, "truth measurer"), a clockwork device used to answer questions. Most require formal training to read it.

Dust itself is yet another form of aether, rather like magic or the Force--its primary use is access. In the case of the alethiometer, access to truth, but those who know how to look for them, Dust-made shortcuts to other worlds are rather common--especially in the North.


The aforementioned Magisterium has recently aligned themselves with the League, hoping to spread their iron fist to other planets until the entire galaxy—and perhaps the universe—is under their control. These days, however, they have no shortage whatsoever of enemies on the home front, and that is where their war starts.