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Post by Puck on Mar 3, 2011 14:59:15 GMT -8
Overview
There are two basic categories of locations here at Friends in High Places: Worlds and Verses.
A Verse is a collection of Worlds- all the worlds of Disney are known collectively as the Disneyverse. Marvel has the Marvelverse (which is slowly forming connections to the Disneyverse). Other Verses exist, but connections between them and the Disneyverse where FIHP is set are almost nonexistent.
The Worlds are smaller, and contain within them the many movies and shows that make up the Disneyverse. Additionally, there are a few additional Worlds that bear mentioning.
The major Worlds in the Disneyverse follow: Live-Action Earth (LAE) Animated Near-Earth (ANE) Fantasia Toonville The Separate Worlds The Other Side Shadow
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Post by Puck on Mar 3, 2011 15:05:30 GMT -8
Traveling Between Worlds
Travel through the Worlds is tricky and difficult, but can be facilitated through the use of portals and certain types of very rare magic. A number of locations in the Worlds have permanent portals that link to another world. Perhaps the most well-known at this time is the Wishing Well in Andalasia, which acts as a link between the Worlds of LAE and ANE.
There are a few locations that have multiple permanent portals, called Nexii (singular: Nexus). At the moment, there are only two known major Nexii, the Wood Between Worlds and the Woods of the Seven Holiday Kingdoms. These link multiple locations together and are relatively simple to use.
Some extremely powerful magic-users and beings can travel between worlds. This is a particular skill of the Court Faeries, a collection of neutral and disinterested faeries divided into the Seelie (Ruled by Oberon and his Queen, Titania) and Unseelie courts (Ruled by Nicnivin). The only faeries with the innate ability to travel between all the Worlds are the Old Ones, though some other faeries can travel freely between one or two. Faeries allied with the FOTOS or the High Council, however, do not have this power.
No one truly knows who created the Portals (if anyone did) or why. It is believed that the Wood Between Worlds may be a naturally occurring phenomenon, a natural intersection point between Worlds where they intersect just a little.
Some powerful magical artifacts may create temporary portals between Worlds- or even time.
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Post by Puck on Mar 3, 2011 15:33:30 GMT -8
The Greater WorldsFor a breakdown of what goes where, refer to this topicThe Greater Worlds are the largest, with the most tales hailing from these regions. Live Action EarthThis World is the one containing Earth in its non-animated form. By default, live-action shows and films are located here. Some of the Animated tales are extremely close to Earth, but they form a parallel Earth that is related but separate. This World is often designated as LAE (pronounced 'lay'). There is magic here, but oftentimes it is well-hidden. Tech level is typically modern, though may vary according to location and tale. Animals typically don't talk to humans here, unless magic is involved. Chernabog's influence here is weakest, though that may be due to lack of opportunity and the low levels of native magic here. He has a few agents in place and his eye on a few others. Portal of note: A manhole in Times Square, New York City, linking to Andalasia in Fantasia. Portal of note: The Rabbit Hole, linking England to Wonderland. Portal of note: The Wardrobe, linking England to Narnia, though this only works intermittently. Animated Near-EarthThis World is closely related to LAE, though there are differences. Magic and mythology are far more intertwined with the mundane worlds, and the laws of physics are rather more flexible. In general, all myths are true here and the fantastic interweaves with the mundane with much more regularity. At bottom though, this is a version of Earth. If an Earth location is mentioned in an animated tale, it probably goes here. Technology levels vary according to location and tale. Chernabog and his forces have a fair bit of influence here. Animals typically don't talk to humans here, though many are more intelligent than their LAE counterparts. There are a handful of magical animals that may talk, but they are rare. Portal of note: FantasiaMagic is extremely common in Fantasia. This is the classic land of adventure and fantasy, split into a number of kingdoms. Generally, Fantasia has a technology level equivalent to the late Medieval period. Talking animals are common and it is not unusual for them to speak directly to humans. Chernabog's influence is strongest here, as Bald Mountain, the greatest gateway from The Other Side, is located in Fantasia. He has many powerful agents here. Also notable is the many Princesses of Heart that hail from Fantasia's kingdoms. Portal of note: The Wishing Well, a link from the Palace in Andalasia to a manhole in LAE's Times Square. ToonvilleA rather bizarre world inhabited by anthropomorphic creatures and humans alike. Here, the laws of physics are not so much broken as warped into odd shapes. Natives of this world are notoriously durable, and most have an innate desire to make people laugh. A common feature of Toonville natives are four-fingered hands covered in white gloves. No one is entirely sure what the significance of the gloves are, but nearly every anthopomorph wears them. There are a handful that do not sport the gloves, but most of these still have the four fingered hands. Location of note: The House of Mouse, a location held neutral by all parties. Members of any faction may visit the House of Mouse for dining and entertainment. A great deal of espionage and attempts at conversion takes place here.
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Post by Puck on Mar 3, 2011 15:58:24 GMT -8
The Lesser Worlds
These worlds are not 'lesser' in that they are somehow inferior to the Greater Worlds. They are just smaller, with fewer tales. Some of them are the sole domains of the various factions.
The Separate Worlds
These are unusual worlds that stand on their own. Some are mistakenly believed to be part of Fantasia. Some of them actually are rather close to Fantasia. But all have their own rules. Magic is common here, especially wild, chaotic, or primal magic.
Wonderland
A realm of high chaotic magic. Few physical laws can stand up to the peculiarities of Wonderland, and almost nothing is as it seems. Some areas can be likened to dreams- for the most part, pleasant nonsense. Some areas, however, are dangerous, surreal nightmares. The denizens are bizarre and, by most standards, have only a passing acquaintance with the concepts of 'sanity' and 'lucidity'.
Most of Wonderland is ruled over by the three Queens- the powerful if somewhat psychotic Queen of Hearts, and the opposing Red and White Queens. However, in the dark heart of Wonderland, there lurks one of Chernabog's most dangerous allies, a demon created of chaos magic, called the Jabberwock.
Trust your eyes and intellect little in Wonderland. Trust your intuition above all.
Portal of note: The Rabbit Hole, linking to LAE's England.
Neverland
An odd little island ruled over by the mischievous eternal boy-child Peter Pan. It is a land of childish adventure, home to a number of Lost Boys. The levels of good magic here are nearly astronomical, meaning the FOTOS have little opportunity for influence here. Neverland is used by the High Council as a safe haven for children who need to be evacuated from other locations due to the war.
Note: Pixies (small, winged faeries known for their glow, their bell-like speech, one-track minds, and magical 'dust') are native to this area. They are some of the weakest species of Faeries and are almost never found associated with the Courts, being firmly on the side of the Council.
Portal of note: Not technically a portal, but a little pixie dust and a few good thoughts, plus a little help from Evangaline the Second Star on the Right, facilitates travel to and from Neverland.
Narnia
An unusual medieval-level world, created by ruled over by a benevolent (though never tame) Lion, Aslan. Humans, magical beings, and Talking Animals all coexist freely here. Very mysterious. Aslan likes to hold his world apart from the War between the Friends and the High Council where possible, but he is an ally of the Council, as are most of his people. There are some agents of the Friends here, but as Aslan is a rather hands-on godlike being, the Friends tend to have their hands full in Narnia.
Portal of Note: Narnia is the closest World to the Wood Between Worlds, and can only be accessed through here or with Aslan's aid.
The Monster World
A World inhabited by monsters. This World is notable because it has perfected portal technology as a way to gain energy (in the forms of children's screams or laughter) for use in their world. How they do this is not entirely certain, but specially-trained monsters can link their World to ANE (and possibly LAE) through special doors.
Portal of note: Monsters Inc., a factory full of portals that link to ANE and LAE
The Other Side
This is the domain ruled by the Friends, part hellish underworld, part some of the most forbidding territory known. Chernabog rules over this realm with an iron-clawed fist, directing his troops and organizing his agents, always seeking to gain another victory over the forces of the High Council. Chernabog is, at this point, unable to leave the Other Side. However, with enough magic at his command, he may yet be able to break free...
Portal of Note: Bald Mountain, one of the two portals from the Other Side. Chernabog may hang around here as he oversees the Samhein and Walpugisnacht 'festivities', but he is prevented from leaving by a group of monks in a nearby abbey.
Portal of Note: Wonderland. A high level of native chaotic magic makes it easy for Friends to slip through to Wonderland, and from there to other Worlds. They keep this a secret so as not to lose their ticket out of their own World.
Shadow
Shadow is an interesting World. It is not inhabited, and it touches on all the other Worlds. It is, more accurately, a World-between-Worlds. It allows beings who can teleport to get from one place to another, by exiting their World, passing through Shadow, and then returning to their World in a different location. Shadow 'wraps around' the Worlds, and it is difficult (though possible for a few) to travel between Worlds via Shadow.
The Faeries use Shadow as a sort of shortcut as an innate ability, but only the Old Ones are capable of using Shadow to travel between all the Worlds. Some of the stronger Faeries can travel between two Worlds, or perhaps three, but not many. All may, however, use Shadow to travel between locations in a given World.
There is a theory that the Portals work by passing through Shadow, though this is unconfirmed.
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