Last Daydream
World Dossier · WD-TEST

Yknirn

A bounded shelf of red light and drifting dust

The land spans thirteen thousand seven hundred fifty-six kilometres across a dead reef raised above water. Fine dust settles on everything and blots out distance while rain falls most days.

An arrival sees the flat shelf drop away into fill and the gate open on sector eight of the Dimensional Station.

Dimension
FINITE, LIMITEDA bounded space that was never larger
Population
About 686,772 people live among ruins they did not build.
Ruler
Economy
Herds are wealth and a family's standing is counted in animals.
Gate Fee
The land of Yknirn
01

The Land

The ground is porous and sharp underfoot while edges drop away into the fill.

from Annals of the Reef, by Fesvirn

The shelf supports a dead reef raised above water. Rain falls on the land most days and dry ground is scarce enough to be owned.

Extent
The whole space is thirteen thousand seven hundred fifty-six kilometres across.
Surface
The land is full of hollows and the ground is sharp underfoot.
Atmosphere
Light is dim and red while eyes here are large.
Cycle
Life comes in one burst each year and dies back.
02

The Gate

A drone meets any arrival carrying a weapon. The greeting always opens with these two sentences.

from Tide Table for Sector 8, by Gyfi

The gate opens on Dimensional Station sector eight as a door a person walks through. Its schedule moves without anyone having fully charted the pattern.

Toll
Cargo goes free while passage costs ten credits a head and a thousand a hull.
Security
A drone meets any arrival carrying a weapon before trade discussion begins.
Exception
Once a year the gate is thrown open without toll or question.
03

Rule and Recruitment

Ownership counts more than family ties here.

from Sermon on Dry Ground, by Reya

One region has declared itself independent and is recruiting through the gate. The oldest living person rules whoever they are until they die.

Wealth
Families count their standing by the number of animals they keep.
Conflict
One region breaks borders and recruits new arrivals against the old ruler's will.
Law
Some technology is forbidden by law and the ban is enforced harder than any other.
04

Places

The land holds four main places where customs and power concentrate.

Fodraugra
This place owns dry ground that families count as wealth.
Dreige
Dreige recruits new arrivals for the independent region.
Stugryld
Stugryld stands near the gate where weapons are turned back.
05

Peoples

  1. One of the Humans
    01

    Humans

    Bipedal mammals, the baseline; ordinary human bodies in every skin tone and build
    Alignment
    They stand neutral and adapt to any ruler.
    Economy
    They earn by trading animals for dry ground or credits at the gate entrance.
    Governance
    The oldest living person rules until death or term end.
    People
    Some humans trade forbidden tech for wealth, but others hide it to avoid exile laws on Yknirn.
    Looks
    Skin tones vary widely and eyes adjust to dim red light without needing special gear.
  2. One of the Rivau
    02

    Rivau

    Compact and dense, ash-white skin, whiskers, a feathered crest
    Alignment
    They are lawful, protecting their herd from violent outsiders.
    Economy
    Rivau wealth grows from herds that survive the annual life burst.
    Governance
    The eldest ruler reigns until death.
    People
    Rivau wear feathery crests high on their heads and groom whiskers daily to signal rank among themselves.
    Looks
    Ash-white skin covers compact frames while feathered crests stand tall above their brows.
  3. One of the Vehjeth
    03

    Vehjeth

    Tall and thin, olive skin, gold slit-pupil eyes
    Alignment
    Selfish traders seek unburning timber from the reef.
    Economy
    They earn credits by shipping cargo free while paying a thousand a hull to enter Nexus.
    Governance
    The eldest living ruler governs every land.
    People
    Vehjeth trade gold slit-pupil eyes for favor and keep thin bodies for long walks over sharp ground.
    Looks
    Olive skin gleams under dim red light while tall thin frames navigate hollowed terrain easily.
  4. One of the Vikneirn
    04

    Vikneirn

    Barrel-chested, slate-grey skin, large eyes without whites, four-fingered hands
    Alignment
    Benevolent healers tend wounds during the yearly burst.
    Economy
    Herds regrow yearly for income, yet forbidden technology remains banned everywhere.
    Governance
    The eldest person rules until death.
    People
    Vikneirn mend broken bones with their four-fingered hands during the annual harvest when life returns each year.
    Looks
    Slate-grey skin covers barrel-chested frames while large eyes without whites see well in red dimness.
Last Daydream · World Codex WD-TEST · Canon v0.1