Phase World Specifics

Phase World is the foremost trading point of the Three Galaxies, and perhaps of the Megaverse. Connected to hundreds of dimensions and accessible to thousands of planets on its own dimension, this world is often referred to as the "Center of the Universe." While this is an exaggeration, everybody who has visited the planet agrees that very few places in the Megaverse share the diversity and strangeness of this world.

The landscape is dotted by farms and cities. However, visitors rarely get to see how the majority of Phase World's inhabitants live, because they are confined to Center, an enormous enclosed city or arcology. Center is an artificial mountain that stands one mile high. It is made up of hundreds of levels that go all the way down beneath the surface to a mile in depth. Six hundred million sentients inhabit Center, making it one of the largest cities in the Three Galaxies. Inside, there are the equivalent of a dozen full cities, each on top of the other. Throughout the recorded history of the Three Galaxies, Center stands as one of the wonders of the universe, an unmatched feat of engineering.

Ships in orbit around phase world can see an intricate network of ley lines crisscrossing the planet. Center itself has no less than a twelve ley line nexus in diverse levels of the city! Ley line storms occur occasionally on the planet's surface, but somehow they are always controlled without damaging people or property. Surrounding the planet is a ring of sixteen large space stations where large ships and cargo vessels dock. Also within orbit are hundreds of smaller satellites, including military stations and sixty-four spacegates. The spacegates are unique devices that bend time and space to allow instant transportation anywhere in the Three Galaxies to Phase World. It is important to understand that the spacegates are a one-way trip to Phase World; they cannot be used to return home (although some of the Rifts gates at Center can be used for such purposes, but most cannot accommodate spaceships). Every hour, hundreds of ships arrive through the spacegates. Meanwhile, hundreds of others arrive and depart using more conventional methods of travel. Not everybody trusts the spacegates, although there has never been any problems with them .

Everything from small shuttle-sized vessels to giant cargo ships are allowed to land at Center 's huge spaceport on the planet's surface. However, much of the trade takes place in orbit, with ships exchanging cargoes and passengers with other ships and orbital stations . Consequently, one never has to land on the planet itself. However, most travelers cannot resist visiting the planet itself. For one, the choicest merchandise, especially those of extra-dimensional origins, can only be found "groundside" at the city of Center. In fact, it is said that anything can be found at Center, be it rare pieces of equipment, weapons, magic souvenirs or exotic entertainment. There is danger, especially in the lower levels where maintenance and law-enforcement are scarce, and where Rift activity is a constant threat, but many risk themselves in those areas, because forbidden pleasures and equipment can be purchased there.

Visitors to Phase World include merchants buying and selling wares from places in the Three Galaxies as well as more distant worlds and other dimensions; criminals trying to hide among Center 's teeming multitudes; bounty hunters trying to root out those criminals; mercenaries, assassins and other "professionals" selling their talents to the highest bidder; smugglers trying to buy or sell illegal cargoes from all comers of the Megaverse; entertainers looking for work; scientists looking for new technologies to study; magicians searching for unique artifacts; dimensional travelers on their way to other destinations; and thrill-seekers, adventurers and refugees, each of them driven by personal reasons.

Despite its incredible strategic importance, Phase World has remained an independent world throughout its history. Every would-be conqueror who has tried to take the planet has failed, usually losing his life in the process. This independence places Phase World above the laws of most civilizations, which makes it a haven for criminals, refugees, and unsavory characters of all kind. Visitors go there at their own risk.

### Phase World Government

Phase World is controlled by the Prometheans, the only known races to have natural phase powers. Besides the prometheans, only the draconic and phantom races have a significant presence on the planet, and even those have 80% of their population in Center or the orbiting spaceports.

Prometheans are humanoids, who regardless of their species, consider themselves one people with two classes: Tyro & Elder. Diplomacy and all direct contact with other races are also conducted by Tyro, who then consult with their Elders and return with their final judgment. Many races find this insulting, arguing that the Prometheans consider other races beneath their notice and send their "children" to talk to them. At least two wars have been fought over this perceived slight. Since the offended races lost the wars both times, the rest have decided to accept this facet of Promethean culture, whether it is an insult or not.

Phase World is independent and neutral in matters of galactic policy. The planet does not take sides in any conflict and will trade with all sides of a dispute. Any ship can find safe haven in Phase World space and the planet has no extradition treaties with anybody. Often, vessels from opposite sides in a war may find themselves docked side by side at a port orbiting the planet. Any attempt to launch an attack while in Phase World space (which happens to include most of the solar system from the prometheans ' point of view) will result in an attack by the Phase World fleet and the confiscation or destruction of the offending vessel. However, the neutrality policy does not apply to the entire city of Center (see that section for details).

### Society

As far as any outsiders can tell, Phase World has a very harmonious society, without conflict or disturbances. The Tyro prometheans are intelligent and capable beings in their own right, but seem to be perfectly content with obeying their elders on most things. Those who feel rebellious or discontent usually decide to travel beyond the planet, or reside in Center where the influence of their elders is minimal.

When they are allowed to stay, non-prometheans are treated fairly but kept under a watchful eye, and have very limited rights. Most non-prometheans, with the exception of Tarak and phantoms, are not allowed to visit or travel to the rest of the world or any spaceports, except under strict supervision. Very few are ever granted residence rights. The Tarak and phantoms tend to live in their own communities and select their own local governments; most of them stay at Center and avoid the rest of the planet.

The harmonious nature found on most of the planet clashes badly with the reputation Phase World has throughout the Megaverse as a lawless world where everything is for sale. This reputation is only deserved in the megalopolis known as Center. The decadence and abandon found at Center and on the surrounding space stations (which are little more than extensions of the city itself) are what most people picture when they think of Phase World.

### Foreign Relations

Every major civilization in the Three Galaxies uses Phase World as a trading nexus. About 15 % to 35% of all trade conducted by the Consortium of Civilized Worlds (CCW), the Transgalactic Empire, the United Worlds of Warlock (UWW), and most planetary collectives will pass through Phase World. If the planet were blockaded or captured by a hostile force, the economies of all these worlds would suffer a crippling blow.

However, at least from a historical point of view, capturing Phase World has proven to be an impossible task. It might be possible to blockade the orbital spaceports, if the blockaders had a massive fleet of ships and were able to defeat Phase World's fearsome Defense Forces, but such a move would not be tolerated by the other "nations" of the Three Galaxies. Such an action would cause them tremendous suffering and incite them to immediately declare war on the blockaders and take action to liberate the port. Also, since reinforcements can be teleported instantly to Phase World through the Spacegates, the attackers would have to move very quickly to win a victory. The occasional fool, both mortal and immortal (godlings), who has attempted such an invasion has met with defeat. These facts have all helped to preserve Phase World's independence. The civilizations of the Three Galaxies have to accept the fact that all manner of illegal and immoral transactions occur there – almost everything done on Phase World is illegal somewhere in the Three Galaxies, from slavery and bloodsports to freedom of speech or the right to purchase and carry arms.