Skew Geography Explained
DOMAINS
DESCENDING DEEPER
The Skew is split into nine Domains that contain hundreds of smaller Subdomains. Domains can be hard to define, but are identifiable by a few key characteristics.
Subdomains
LOOKING CLOSER
Everything is possible within the Skew, from whispering flowers to horizontal mountains. Subdomains can contain anything. They vary wildly in size from a few feet to several miles. The atmosphere is typically breathable with a gravitation field between 5 -11 m/s².
Subdomains usually connect seamlessly, allowing travel through the Skew on foot. It can sometimes be difficult to tell if you have entered a new location, especially if the Subdomains are quite similar.
Subdomains can have many connections at once. Sometimes you will be able to navigate these multiple connections visually, such as walking towards the City instead of into the forest. However, you may need to use Waypoints or your own sense of purpose to access Subdomains that are not immediately apparent. The BSTCE uses SMM technology to effectively travel between Subdomains.
Connections between Subdomains are not static. This makes traditional cartography useless, as no one journey is the same. It is possible to create a new connection between your current Subdomain and a desired Subdomain by willing it into existence. This technique can become more difficult in inner Domains, which are harder to telepathically influence.
Most Subdomains appear within a singular Domain, but that isn’t always the case. This can make navigating the Skew even more difficult, and can result in accidentally travelling deeper when trying to leave.
GATEWAYS
ENTERING THE SKEW
Gateways are entrances into the Skew. There are three main ways of entering the Skew:
Skew Gateways
A typical Skew Gateway will look like some kind of entrance. Sometimes this will be a literal gate or doorway, but they can also be pools of water, crossroads, crawlspaces or other thresholds. Skew Gateways usually look rather ordinary, which makes them difficult to identify. Passing through a Skew Gateway can bring on physical symptoms, such as goosebumps, nausea or a chill. It is unknown how Skew Gateways are created.
The BSTCE highly guards its knowledge of all known Skew Gateways. If you believe you have found a Skew Gateway, please contact the BSTCE as soon as possible. Unauthorised access into the Skew can be very dangerous, especially for those who are untrained.
Dream Gateways
This is a more unusual kind of Gateway, typically only forming in the presence of children and those who lucid dream. These gates are not static and only appear briefly, usually during REM sleep. The frequency of these gateways is difficult to track, as people only discover them when they have been woken during the night.
It is unknown what causes these gates to appear. Some theories suggest that it is the individuals who are constructing the gateways, while others posit that this is a function of the Skew itself — that the Skew is drawn towards REM brainwaves and attempts to establish a link. Some believe that this mechanism is the way that all Skew Gateways are created, though how they transition into becoming permanent structures is not known.
Spontaneous Gatefall
This is the most uncommon way to enter the Skew, with its existence somewhat debated. Some claim to have spontaneously entered the Skew without having passed through a gateway. Accounts include literal falling as well as an abrupt and unprompted location change.
It is difficult to prove or deny Spontaneous Gatefall. As there is no known catalyst for its occurrence, studying the phenomenon is exceedingly difficult. It is possible that gateways do open up briefly and randomly, but it is also possible that a person may be unaware that they have passed through a Skew Gateway. There have been known occurrences of people living in Skew Replicas for years without knowing it (see ARTEFACT-RECORD-3056). Sudden transition between subdomains is uncommon, but well documented, and seems a more likely explanation for this occurrence.
Waypoints
FINDING THE PATH
Waypoints are landmarks that signal a specific path. They can be very useful (and lifesaving) if you are lost and not equipped with SMM technology.
