Category: World Building

Wormholes in Zalonia

Wormholes are an important concept because they connect our world with the universe that the world Azthanian is part of. Apparently, they can only be held open by exotic matter. The Soul Chaser is the only one capable of creating a wormhole to our realm. There are alien races that can create wormholes to Zalonia, but not to Earth. Wormholes happen when two sheets of spacetime are joined together. A wormhole closes because of gravity, so there would be a need for “negative energy” to hold them open. Negative energy is behind the acceleration of the universe’s expansion. Some believe they may exist at the center of very bright galaxies. Matter coming out of one side of the wormhole would collide with matter going in, and this would cause a spectacular display of gamma rays.

Unlike a black hole, a wormhole would leak some of the gravity from the other side. There are weird “odd radio circles” in the sky. Some believe that black holes are a type of wormhole that leads to a white hole.

Exotic matter does not behave like gases, liquids, or solids. Extremely cold helium is one example of exotic matter. It is called superfluid helium, which is a liquid that can climb walls. It might be a key ingredient in making wormholes. Exotic matter that could be related to wormholes is matter with negative mass. Matter with negative mass would push other matter away from it. ‘

In Zalonia, there is an alien race known as the gnonows. They have a base on one of the satellites that float around the planet of Aztharian. In the back of this satellite, there is a wormhole that is consistently open, which allows the Gnonows to return to their home planet at will.

There are sometimes wormholes that open for other alien species, but they don’t stay open for long. They are usually made because the alien was experimenting around. They have to leave quickly because the wormhole won’t last long. There have been some aliens who have gotten trapped in Zalonia for not returning to the wormhole in time.

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White Holes of Zalonia

White holes are sometimes seen by the inhabitants of Zalonia. They appear as sudden explosions, and the medes don’t really understand them much. There is a science to it, though:

There are white holes found in space that create explosions and disappear immediately, kind of the opposite of black holes. From afar, White Holes look exactly like black holes. It is like a time reversal from a black hole. It is impossible to enter a white hole. Objects from a white hole can interact with objects on the outside, but nothing can interfere with the white hole. Only the Soul Chaser knows what they are. There is a theory that black holes turn into white holes when they die. This may happen when the black hole gets so small that it no longer obeys the common-sense rules of stars and billiard balls. Quantum randomness takes over and transforms the black hole into a white hole. Some think the white hole might explain the Big Bang.

There is also a theory that white holes are on the opposite side of a black hole. In other words, when something is sucked into a black hole, it explodes out from a white hole in a different part of the universe, or a parallel universe.

White holes could experience a belch. It is described as a black hole’s “time reversal,” a video of a black hole played backwards. Nothing can enter a white hole. Things can leave the white hole, but because nothing can get in, the interior is cut off from the universe’s past: No outside event will ever affect the inside. It would be like a singularity in the past that can affect everything in the outside. In a black hole, the outside universe can influence the inside of a black hole’s horizon, but the interior can’t affect the exterior. No one knows how a white hole might form. Playing a video backwards of a black hole doesn’t make physical sense.

If white holes did form, they probably wouldn’t exist for long. Any outgoing matter would collide with the matter in orbit, and the system would collapse into a black hole.

There is a question of what happens to the internal record when a black hole evaporates away? General relativity won’t let the information out, and quantum mechanics forbids its deletion.

Some think that a white hole is the death of a black hole, but that would violate the general relativity equations. Maybe the black hole grows so small that it no longer obeys the common-sense rules of stars and billiard balls. Quantum randomness takes over, and the black hole transforms into a white hole.

A while hole, similar to a mass to a human hair, wouldn’t have the gravitation of a black hole but would hold all the information swallowed in a previous life. Too small to attract orbiting matter, the white hole might remain stable enough to eventually spit out all the information accumulated by its forerunner. This means that white holes could dominate the universe one day.

The Big Bang’s explosion of matter and energy looks like potential white hole behavior. They are even mathematically identical at times.

White holes appear in the theory of eternal black holes. There are no observed physical processes through which a white hole could be formed. Supermassive black holes might be at the center of all galaxies, and Hawking and others have proposed that these supermassive black holes spawn a supermassive white hole. Hawking argued that the time reversal of a black hole in thermal equilibrium results in a white hole in thermal equilibrium (each absorbing and emitting energy to equivalent degrees).

White holes are predicted as part of a solution to the Einstein field equations known as the maximally extended version of the Schwarzschild metric, describing an eternal black hole with no charge and no rotation. Here, “maximally extended” refers to the idea that the spacetime should not have any “edges” for any possible trajectory of a free-falling particle (following a geodesic) in the space time, it should be possible to continue this path arbitrarily far into the particle’s future, unless the trajectory hits a gravitational singularity like the one at the center of the black hole’s interior. In order to satisfy this requirement, it turns out that in addition to the black hole interior region that particles enter when they fall through the event horizon from the outside, there must be a separate white hole interior region, which allows us to extrapolate the trajectories of particles that an outside observer sees rising up away from the event horizon. The Einstein-Rosen bridge can either connect two black hole event horizons in each universe (with points in the interior of the bridge being part of the black hole region of the spacetime) or two white hole event horizons in each universe (with points in the interior of the bridge being part of the white hole region). It is impossible to enter the bridge, though.

Here is a little for you science nerds:

Some researchers have proposed that when a black hole forms, a Big Bang may occur at the core/singularity, which would create a new universe that expands outside of the parent universe (Fecund universes).

A 2012 paper argues that the Big Bang itself is a white hole. It further suggests that the emergence of a white hole, which was named a “Small Bang”, is spontaneous—all the matter is ejected at a single pulse.
In 2014, the idea of the Big Bang being produced by a supermassive white hole explosion was explored in the framework of a five-dimensional vacuum by Madriz Aguilar, Moreno and Bellini

For white holes to exist, there can’t be a single speck of matter within the event horizon.

Loop quantum gravity

In theory, a black hole singularity would compress down until the smallest possible size predicted by physics. Then it would rebound as a white hole. But because of the severe time dilation effect around a black hole, this event would take billions of years for even the lowest mass ones to finally get around to popping.

WHAT WHITE HOLES ARE IN ZALONIA

  • White holes don’t just release matter…
  • They release possibilities, timelines, and broken pieces of reality

WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DO

1. Reality Spill Points

Effect:

White holes eject things that don’t belong

  • creatures from unknown realms
  • fragments of other timelines
  • objects that shouldn’t exist

2. Time Fracturing Zones

Effect:

Time becomes unstable near a white hole

  • moments repeat
  • people experience future memories
  • time speeds up or slows down

Danger:

Someone could:

  • age rapidly
  • relive the same moment endlessly

3. Memory and Identity Distortion

Effect:

White holes don’t just affect reality—they affect minds

  • people remember things that never happened
  • identities begin to blur
  • someone might “remember” another life

Creepy angle:

Two people might remember being the same person

4. Raw Magic Eruption

Effect:

White holes flood the world with unfiltered magic

  • spells become wildly powerful
  • magic mutates unpredictably

Danger:

  • magic users lose control
  • spells gain unintended effects

 5. World Alteration Events

Effect:

Land itself changes

  • forests grow overnight
  • mountains crack open
  • new ecosystems appear

👉 reality is rewritten locally

 6. “Observers” Are Drawn to Them

Effect:

White holes attract:

  • powerful beings
  • unknown watchers
  • possibly your gnonows

Lore idea:

Some entities don’t want the white holes to stay open

THE BIG RULE

White holes are unstable—and eventually collapse.

When They Collapse:

  • everything they released becomes unstable
  • creatures may vanish
  • people may disappear
  • entire areas may reset or distort

RARE EVENT: WHITE HOLE STORM

Multiple white holes appear at once:

  • reality breaks across regions
  • time fractures everywhere
  • magic becomes uncontrollable

This could be a major series-level event

Read More About White Holes

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Important Stars of Zalonia

  • There is no Northern star like we have.
  • They are used to navigate, especially by the quintum when they are at sea.
  • The closest star is 3 light-years away
  • When it comes to stars, they look similar to those in our world, except for the constellations, which are made of non-star material

Arcanis

Purpose: The Star of Magic

Description: Arcanis is a brilliant, deep violet star that pulses with magical energy. It serves as a focal point for all magical spells and rituals, especially those that require tapping into raw magical power. During certain times of the year, when Arcanis is at its zenith, magic users find their abilities greatly enhanced, and it’s a prime time for casting powerful spells or creating magical artifacts.

2. Solara

Purpose: The Star of Healing

Description: A warm, golden star that radiates a soothing light, Solara is revered as the source of all healing magic. It is believed that its rays can mend wounds, cure diseases, and restore vitality. Temples dedicated to healing often align their structures to catch the first light of Solara, and healers draw upon its energy in their practices.

3. Nocturnis

Purpose: The Star of Dreams

Description: Nocturnis is a dim, silver-blue star that only becomes visible during the darkest nights. It is closely associated with dreams, prophecy, and the subconscious. Those who meditate under its light are said to receive visions of the future or guidance from the dream realm. It’s also a star that influences sleep-related spells and rituals.

4. Aegis

Purpose: The Star of Protection

Description: Aegis shines with a steady, pale blue light and is known as the guardian star. It is invoked in protective spells and wards, believed to shield both individuals and entire settlements from harm. When Aegis is high in the sky, it is considered the best time to fortify defenses or to create amulets of protection.

5. Ignis

Purpose: The Star of War

Description: Ignis is a fiery red star that blazes with intensity. It is linked to the aspects of war, strength, and conflict. Warriors and military leaders often seek its favor before battles, believing that its light grants courage and power. During times of war, its presence in the sky is seen as an omen of victory or destruction.

6. Aquilon

Purpose: The Star of the Seas

Description: Aquilon is a bright turquoise star that seems to shimmer like the ocean. It is revered by sailors, fishermen, and anyone who makes their living from the sea. Aquilon is believed to control the tides and currents, and its light is thought to guide ships safely through treacherous waters. Ceremonies to bless voyages are often held when Aquilon is visible.The quintum are known to use this star’s power the most.

7. Umbra

Purpose: The Star of Shadows

Description: Umbra is a dark, almost black star that appears faintly in the sky, often mistaken for a shadow rather than a star. It governs the night, secrecy, and the unseen. Thieves, assassins, and those who operate in the shadows often pray to Umbra for stealth and success. It’s also a star associated with shadow magic and the concealment of truths.

8. Verdantis

Purpose: The Star of Life

Description: Verdantis is a vibrant green star that symbolizes growth, fertility, and the cycle of life. It is particularly important to farmers, druids, and those connected to nature. Verdantis is believed to enhance the growth of crops, the fertility of the land, and the health of living beings. Rituals for bountiful harvests and prosperous births are often conducted under Verdantis.

9. Luminara

Purpose: The Star of Knowledge

Description: Luminara is a radiant, white star that is a beacon of wisdom and enlightenment. Scholars, sages, and those seeking truth often look to Luminara for guidance. Its light is said to illuminate the path to knowledge, uncovering hidden truths and deep mysteries. Libraries and centers of learning are often aligned to this star, and it is said that reading or studying under its light enhances understanding and insight. This star is a favorite among the medes.

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Comets of Zalonia

 

Like Earth, there are comets that pass by the skies seen from Aztharian. Some people believe that certain kinds of magic can be used when a comet is visible in the sky. There are certain magic spells that are related to certain comets, especially the ones that pass by more regularly. Here are the known comets and their purpose.

Zagarth

This comet passes by about every 83 years and remains in the sky and can be seen by the human naked eye for about 2 weeks. Species with stronger eye sight can see it for longer. It appears about 6 weeks when it comes to elves and about 12 weeks when it comes to the medes. It is believed that this comet increases psychic abilities and it is a good time to use the Mystic Prophecy cards.

Celestara’s Glimmer

Known for its radiant blue tail that lights up the night sky. It passes by every 233 years. The magical quality of this comet is Starlight Infusion, which temporarily enhances the caster’s magical abilities, making their spells more potent. The ritual is performed under the comet’s glow, the caster draws starlight into a crystal, which is then worn or held to channel the enhanced power. Celestara’s Glimmer: Appearing once every 233 years, it is said that those who make a wish upon Celestara’s Glimmer are granted clarity and vision for their future.

Frostfire Comet

Emits a shimmering, icy glow and is said to bring a chill wherever it passes. This comet comes around every 124 years. The type of magic used with this comet is called the Celestial Ward. It creates a protective barrier around a person or place, imbued with the comet’s energy. The ritual requires the caster to inscribe protective runes on the ground or on an object, invoking the comet’s name.

Dragon’s Breath Comet

Leaves a fiery trail and is associated with powerful elemental magic. This comet is the shortest one and comes around every 59 years. This comet wasn’t known until the Fifth Age, which is the only age that uses air, fire, water, earth, and spirit as the elements. Simple to very complex rituals can be performed when this comet comes around. Note:

Mystra’s Veil

Named after a legendary sorceress, this comet is said to veil the world in a mystical aura. The comet comes by every 147 years. This magic used with this comet is Astral Beacon:

Effect: Summons celestial beings or spirits to aid the caster. Ritual: Performed by lighting a special beacon or bonfire under the comet’s light, using specific herbs and incantations. Believed to be the manifestation of the sorceress Mystra’s power, this comet’s sighting is often accompanied by a surge in magical phenomena.

Glows with a golden light, believed to be a sign of divine favor. The comet comes around once every 401 years. and Rituals During Comet Sightings have to do with prosperity. However, one must approach the ritual in a certain way while facing the north and burning a green and brown candle. Magical Spells Seraph’s Wing.

Seraph’s Wing

A harbinger of hope, its golden light is seen as a divine blessing, and its arrival is celebrated with festivals and rituals of thanksgiving. Eclipse Enchantment Effect: Temporarily cloaks the caster or an object in shadow, rendering them invisible. Comes around every 72 years. Ritual: Must be cast when the comet is directly overhead, using a piece of obsidian and a reflective surface. Chrono

Shift Effect: Allows the caster to manipulate time slightly, either slowing it down or speeding it up. Comes around every 78 years. Ritual: Involves creating a timepiece infused with comet dust, which is used to channel the temporal magic.

Frostfire Comet Appearing during the coldest winters, it brings with it both destruction and renewal, as its icy flames cleanse the land. Usually, a destructive kind of magic comes from magic under this comet, which comes around every 90 years.

Dragon’s Breath Comet

Feared and revered, its appearance is often a sign of great change, marking the rise of new leaders or the fall of old empires. It orbits every 86 years and can be seen for over a week when it passes by. The magic used for this type of magic is generally dark and used on those who are under attack.

Like Earth, there are comets that pass by the skies seen from Aztharian. Some people believe that certain kinds of magic can be used when a comet is visible in the sky. There are certain magic spells that are related to certain comets, especially the ones that pass by more regularly. Here are the known comets and their purpose.

Zagarth

This comet passes by about every 83 years and remains in the sky and can be seen by the human naked eye for about 2 weeks. Species with stronger eye sight can see it for longer. It appears about 6 weeks when it comes to elves and about 12 weeks when it comes to the medes. It is believed that this comet increases psychic abilities and it is a good time to use the Mystic Prophecy cards.

Celestara’s Glimmer:

Known for its radiant blue tail that lights up the night sky. It passes by every 233 years. The magical quality of this comet is Starlight Infusion, which temporarily enhances the caster’s magical abilities, making their spells more potent. The ritual is performed under the comet’s glow, the caster draws starlight into a crystal, which is then worn or held to channel the enhanced power.

Celestara’s Glimmer: Appearing once every 233 years, it is said that those who make a wish upon Celestara’s Glimmer are granted clarity and vision for their future.

Frostfire Comet

Emits a shimmering, icy glow and is said to bring a chill wherever it passes. This comet comes around every 124 years. The type of magic used with this comet is called the Celestial Ward. It creates a protective barrier around a person or place, imbued with the comet’s energy. The ritual requires the caster to inscribe protective runes on the ground or on an object, invoking the comet’s name.

Dragon’s Breath Comet:

Leaves a fiery trail and is associated with powerful elemental magic. This comet is the shortest one and comes around every 59 years. This comet wasn’t known until the Fifth Age, which is the only age that uses air, fire, water, earth, and spirit as the elements. Simple to very complex rituals can be performed when this comet comes around. Note: Perhaps Xandria uses this magic in the fourth book.

Mystra’s Veil

Named after a legendary sorceress, this comet is said to veil the world in a mystical aura. The comet comes by every 147 years. This magic used with this comet is Astral Beacon: Effect: Summons celestial beings or spirits to aid the caster. Ritual: Performed by lighting a special beacon or bonfire under the comet’s light, using specific herbs and incantations. Believed to be the manifestation of the sorceress Mystra’s power, this comet’s sighting is often accompanied by a surge in magical phenomena.

Seraph’s Wing

Glows with a golden light, believed to be a sign of divine favor. The comet comes around once every 401 years. Magical Spells and Rituals During Comet Sightings have to do with prosperity. However, one must approach the ritual in a certain way while facing the north and burning a green and brown candle.

Seraph’s Wing: A harbinger of hope, its golden light is seen as a divine blessing, and its arrival is celebrated with festivals and rituals of thanksgiving.

Eclipse Enchantment

Effect: Temporarily cloaks the caster or an object in shadow, rendering them invisible. Comes around every 72 years. Ritual: Must be cast when the comet is directly overhead, using a piece of obsidian and a reflective surface.

Chrono Shift

Effect: Allows the caster to manipulate time slightly, either slowing it down or speeding it up. Comes around every 78 years. Ritual: Involves creating a timepiece infused with comet dust, which is used to channel the temporal magic.

Frostfire Comet

Appearing during the coldest winters, it brings with it both destruction and renewal, as its icy flames cleanse the land. Usually, a destructive kind of magic comes from magic under this comet, which comes around every 90 years.

Dragon’s Breath Comet

Feared and revered, its appearance is often a sign of great change, marking the rise of new leaders or the fall of old empires. It orbits every 86 years and can be seen for over a week when it passes by. The magic used for this type of magic is generally dark and used on those who are under attack.

Inventing Tectonic Logic for a Science/Fantasy World

A science-fantasy worldbuilding guide

If your world has mountains, volcanoes, floating continents, shattered lands, or impossible geography, there’s an invisible question readers feel even if they don’t ask it:

Why does the world look like this? That’s where tectonic logic comes in.
You don’t need Earth-style plate tectonics—but you do need an internal system that explains how landforms form, move, collide, break, or heal. In science fantasy, tectonics can be magical, alien, artificial, or alive. What matters is that they shape history, cultures, disasters, and myths in a consistent way.

This guide shows you how to invent tectonic logic that feels grounded—even when physics is optional.

1. Start with the Role Tectonics Play in Your Story

Before mechanics, ask a narrative question:

What problems does your planet’s geology create?

Tectonic systems are engines of conflict:

  • Earthquakes that destroy empires
  • Continents drifting apart culturally and politically
  • Volcanic zones powering civilizations
  • Sacred fault lines dividing belief systems

If tectonics don’t affect history, trade, religion, or war, they’ll feel decorative instead of foundational.

2. Replace Plates with Something More Interesting

Earth uses rigid plates floating on a molten mantle. Your world doesn’t have to.

Here are alternative tectonic frameworks that work especially well in magical or alien settings:

A. Energy-Driven Tectonics

Instead of heat and pressure, movement is caused by:

  • Ley lines
  • Planetary mana currents
  • Exotic particles or cosmic radiation
  • Where energy converges:
  • Mountains rise
  • Reality thins
  • Cities flourish—or collapse
  • Where energy drains:
  • Land sinks
  • Deserts spread
  • Civilizations die

This lets geology respond to magic usage, not just time.

B. Living Tectonics

The planet itself is alive—or hosts something that is.

Examples:

  • A world-beast whose muscle shifts continents
  • Crust made of regenerative bio-stone
  • Fault lines acting like nerves
  • Earthquakes become:
  • Pain responses
  • Immune reactions
    Signs of illness or awakening

This turns geology into a character, not a background system.

C. Artificial or Engineered Tectonics

Ancient builders may have shaped the planet intentionally.

Possibilities:

  • Planetary stabilizers holding continents in place
  • Gravity anchors buried beneath landmasses
  • Failsafe collapse systems
  • Over time:
  • Maintenance fails
  • Knowledge is lost
  • “Natural disasters” are actually system errors

This is especially effective for hollow worlds, ringworlds, or post-precursor settings.

3. Mountains Should Tell a Story

Mountains aren’t random. They’re scars, pressure points, or growths.

Ask:

  • Do mountains form where energies collide?
  • Are they crystallized magic overflow?
  • Are they the exposed skeleton of the planet?
  • Different origins create different cultures:
  • Mountain peoples near energy convergence may develop mysticism
  • Volcanic societies may worship renewal and destruction
  • Floating mountain chains imply unstable gravity zones

A good rule: If you move the mountains, history must change.

4. Rethink Volcanoes and Fault Lines

In science fantasy, volcanoes don’t need magma.

They might erupt:

  • Raw mana
  • Living crystal
  • Nanotech ash
  • Reality-distorting energy
  • Alien spores
  • Fault lines could be:
  • Borders between dimensions
  • Zones of time distortion
  • Magical pressure valves
  • Civilizations would:
  • Build temples there
  • Harvest energy
  • Avoid them entirely
  • Weaponize eruptions
  • A “Ring of Fire” might be a Ring of Power, fiercely contested and mythologized.

5. Floating Continents Need Anchors

If land floats, something holds it there.

  • Possible anchors:
  • Gravitational nodes
  • Magnetic crystal lattices
  • Orbital resonance points
  • Planetary consciousness
  • These anchors become:
  • Strategic military targets
  • Religious pilgrimage sites
  • Points of catastrophic failure

Floating tectonics should still obey rules. Islands drift, collide, decay, or fall—just on different timescales.

6. Geological Time Doesn’t Have to Be Slow

Earth’s tectonics work over millions of years. Yours don’t have to.
In magical or alien worlds:

  • A century can reshape continents
  • Wars can crack the crust
  • Rituals can raise islands overnight
  • But consistency matters:
  • Fast tectonics = unstable societies
  • Slow tectonics = deep traditions and long memory
  • Match geological speed to narrative tone.

7. How Tectonics Shape Belief Systems

People explain geology long before they understand it.

  • Tectonic logic naturally creates:
  • Earth gods and sky gods
  • Myths of punishment or blessing
  • Sacred mountains and forbidden rifts
  • Prophecies tied to seismic events

Even if some characters know the truth, most won’t—and that tension is powerful.

8. Maps Should Reflect Your Logic

When drawing maps, ask:

  • Why are these continents shaped this way?
  • Why is this desert here?
  • Why does this ocean exist?

If you can explain every major feature using your tectonic system, your world will feel cohesive, not accidental.

You don’t need realism—you need cause and effect.

Final Thought: Tectonics Are Invisible Worldbuilding Muscle

Readers may never consciously analyze your planet’s geology—but they’ll feel when it’s missing.

  • Invented tectonic logic:
  • Grounds fantastical visuals
  • Generates organic conflict
  • Makes worlds feel ancient and alive

In science fantasy, tectonics don’t just move land. They move history.

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