1. Use of the psionic power, Clairvoyance, by a master of the Way to manifest a sensor upon the surface of Ral. This location is well-known to the any astronomer. It is, after all in plain sight. From this vantage, the macro-geography of the planet above is apparent. This experiment can be performed by even a relatively inexperienced seer, so long as he does not suffer from vertigo.
2. The Sea of Silt must be bounded. If it were not, and represented an unbounded ocean then certainly the Crimson Savannah would lie miles below the surface of the ocean. When it had once been ocean Rajaat's swamp would be a lot wetter than described in the history books.
3. In the Blue Age, we might surmise that the Savannah was indeed far beneath the surface of the ocean. The Tyr'agi region on the other hand lay relatively close to surface, enough for mountains to break the speculative sea level. Thus we could divide the surface of Athas into two parts, those that would have been deep ocean in the past and those that would have been close to the surface. That is, the surface of Athas consists of now-dry ocean floors and the more arid still continental plateaux. This accords with accounts of other worlds.
4. The Tyr Region then lies on the west coast of a large continent. The Jagged Cliffs represent the edge of the continental shelf. The Ringing Mountains (originally named because it was thought that they girdled the Sea of Silt) have been formed as the ocean floor slides beneath the Tyr'agi continent. They are fold mountains.
5. Perhaps such speculation is futile and there is no more to the Athas of the Red Age than the Tyr region. How can this be so? Consider at the start of the Cleansing Wars the pyreen stood against the Warbringer and their united psionic power quickly humbled the First Sorcerer. The last forty five King's Ages have been the fevered imaginings of Rajaat, trapped within a psionic Microcosm. His imprisonment within the Hollow shows that he is dimly aware that he has been defeated and trapped but he does not truly remember by who.
Just avoiding my degree project.
Now if you want to avoid your degree project, making maps for Whispers of the Storm is an excellent way of doing that. :fight!:
Originally posted by Afghan
Meditation upon the Macro-Geography of Athas
2. The Sea of Silt must be bounded. If it were not, and represented an unbounded ocean then certainly the Crimson Savannah would lie miles below the surface of the ocean. When it had once been ocean Rajaat's swamp would be a lot wetter than described in the history books.
Hmm, if the Crimson Savannah was under salt water (ocean) than why is it a savannah now, and why not a salt flat? And how came the Salt Flats into existence at the places they are today?