The Prismatic Sea is a prominent geographical feature of the world created after the event known as [[The Shattering]]. It is characterized as an expansive body of liquid light that separates various realms, known as Shards, of the fractured world. # Formation During The Shattering, the vast oceans didn't simply disappear. Instead, they were drawn inward toward the planet's new center of gravity. Researchers have described the planet as a being akin to a cracked egg - the contents (in this case, [[Shard (Realm)|Shards]]) still exist, but they've shifted dramatically. ## Nature and Composition Unlike traditional oceans, the Prismatic Sea consists of light in a liquid state. It exhibits properties of both waves and fluid, allowing for a unique form of navigation. The sea is composed of various wavelengths of light, visible as different colors across its surface. ## Navigation Travel across the Prismatic Sea is accomplished using specially designed ships with extremely polished, sometimes even crystalline, hulls. These vessels sometimes employ a system of bellows to interact with and propel themselves across the light waves. Other, more advanced vessels, may use prisms to diffract incoming light, using its energy to propel themselves forward. The color and corresponding wavelength of light affect travel speed and maneuverability: - Red and orange wavelengths: Commonly used for controlled departures from harbors - Green wavelengths: Allows for quick starts and increased maneuverability - Blue and indigo wavelengths: Enables faster long-distance travel - Violet wavelengths: Provides extreme speed but is considered too dangerous for most navigators Notable features of ships designed for the Prismatic Sea include: - Polished mirror hulls for gliding on the liquid light - Bellows systems for propulsion and wavelength interaction - Specialized navigation techniques to "ride" specific wavelengths ## Ecological Impact With oceans no longer around to regulate temperatures, many regions experienced extreme shifts in climate. Formerly lush regions became arid deserts, while others transformed into frozen wastelands. Notable examples of this are the dramatic temperature increases within the deserts of [[Kald/Locations/Shards/Vastuum]], the most arid region of Kald even before The Shattering. In contrast, the [[Gath]] region dramatically dropped in temperature, causing the native population to abandon all existing farming techniques due to the impossibly frozen soil. ## Cultural and Economic Impact The Prismatic Sea plays a crucial role in inter-realm commerce and exploration. Skilled navigators are highly valued for their ability to traverse the seas efficiently and safely. The discovery and mapping of stable routes across the Prismatic Sea, along with the development of suitable vessels, has been vital to reconnecting the fragmented world following The Shattering. ## Dangers and Challenges Navigation of the Prismatic Sea requires considerable skill, it comes with many challenges. Unpredictable wave patterns create constantly changing routes, rendering it impossible to plot static routes among the Shards. There is also the potential of getting lost in unmapped areas of the sea, or falling through areas where the light remains unabsorbed, called shadow whirlpools. ## Inhabitants and Possibility of Life Sightings of creatures within the Prismatic Sea have long been reported, though all remain unverified. Most reports mention vague shapes in the light, or areas where the refraction of light occurs unnaturally. [[The Arcanum|Arcanum]] scholars remain steadfast in refuting even the possibility of a creature adapting to the Prismatic Seas, pointing to evidence of any organic being coming into contact with the "liquid" suffering an immediate and extreme temperature increase at the area of contact. Even so, some scientists maintain that adaptation isn't out of the question, speculating the appearance of light-refractive exteriors, adaptive organs, and even advanced forms of photosynthetic metabolisms. ## Scientific Understanding While some incredibly skilled pilots navigate the sea through sheer intuition, scholars from the [[The Arcanum]] continue to study its properties. The unique nature of the Prismatic Sea as a liquid form of light remains a subject of both scientific and magical inquiry in the shattered world.