The "Physics" of Toll

Note: This article takes on a slightly different tone than most others on this wiki.

Comparing real-world physics to the physics for any fantasy game with magic is a difficult prospect, but we still expect to find a certain degree of normalcy in that world. Gravity for example is something that would be expected in most games. Gravity is actually a complicated example though-- Shattered World asks you to imagine a world that is a flat disc instead of a sphere and that continents float like flotsam in predictable patterns, so clearly gravity doesn't function as it does on our world. But when viewed on the fine scale the world functions more or less the same as our world (but with magic)-- there are however some interesting differences.

Weather and Climate on Toll:
In our world the main driver of weather systems is the sun's solar energy. On Toll most energy comes from the Scar Stone radiating energy into the Boiling Sea. The updraft of evaporating or even boiling water pushes outward towards the outer edge of the Great Ocean. This means for all places the prevailing winds will come from the center of the world. At the same time rushing simple mechanics. in to replace that water the Great Ocean pours into the Boiling Sea creating a general ocean current towards the world's center. At the Icebound Rim snow accumulates on top of glaciers crushing the layers below it into solid ice. Over time this ice extends out over the Great Ocean and eventually break up into weeping icebergs that drift away into warmer waters.

Seasons and Date on Toll:
Seasons on Toll are the result of the continents drifting in turn closer to the Boiling Sea, resulting in Summer, and to the Icebound Rim, resulting in Winter. The consequences of this are many-- firstly on Toll each continent experiences seasons independently. Also a continent does not necessarily experience four seasons in a year-- depending on the continent it might take take more or less than a year to complete a full cycle of seasons.

Because the seasons are divorced from the a solar year most common folk pay little attention to the actual numerical date as it matters little in their lives. The date is however still important for use by historians and archivists, and is essential for the navigators of Toll that read the stars. For these applications the position of the sun and the Numerical date are important.

Toll's place in the Solar System:
Toll exists in a rather simple solar system:
 * Toll is the second planet of three.
 * Toll takes 360 days to orbit it's sun.
 * Toll is orbited by many objects-- most of them formerly parts of the world tossed into space during the Sundering-- but only three bodies could be called proper Moons.
 * The day length on Toll remains constant throughout the year with 14 hours of effective sun light, and 10 hours of night.