Universe of the Game of Tomes "The GoTverse" (GOT-vurs | /'gɒt vɜrs/)

Continental layout and coastlines have undergone a major shift in the GoTverse, but otherwise, the geography of the GoT Universe resembles that of modern-day Earth. Cities and many countries are named just as they are in our own world, and share similar geographical layouts and locations. However, the power of Literomancy may cause significant changes to occur. For instance, volcanoes may erupt where none exist in our world, mountains may develop in the middle of plains, and massive storms might make considerable alterations to the landscape. Some significant points of note:

Much of the Eastern Seaboard has sunk into the ocean

The landscape and coastlines of the Arctic region have shifted significantly

There is an island known as Tiki Island off the coast of California

There are two sites where Meteor Swarms have crashed in recent history, leveling Mount Mitchell and leaving a massive crater in what was once Aldergrove, BC, Canada

There is a site known as The Great Crater where an entire city simply vanished, located in what used to be Oregon State

There is an underwater civilization in a deep fissure in the South Pacific Ocean called The Zafforza Trench. This might be the remnants of Atlantis.

The UK is connected to mainland Europe by a small land bridge

The Panama Canal had to be recreated due to shifts in the structure of the Gulf of Mexico

There are at least two parallel realms adjacent to the Tomeverse that can only be accessed through magic and literomancy. One is the realm of Faerie, and the other is known as The Void. There may be more.

The ecosystem is also subject to alteration by the power of literomancy. Phenomena that don't exist on Earth may exist in the Game of Tomes universe, phenomena that exist on Earth may not exist in the GoTverse, and chances are, anything that does exist in both worlds is likely to be bigger, more dramatic, and more dangerous in the GoT Universe.

Wibbly wobbly timey wimey is subject to literomantic manipulation, not unlike the realm of Faerie. Otherwise, systems work basically as they do in our own world.

Because the Game of Tomes Universe is created through the power of stories, there are several significant features that make it unique:

Reflections of the pop culture of our universe appear as reality in the GoTverse. This rarely includes everything from these creative works, but there are "echoes," as in Stephen King's Dark Tower series.

Science and technology, and mysticism and magic, exist simultaneously, and often intertwined, in the GoTverse.

The laws of physics are subject to influence by Literomancy. Through storytelling power, the laws of momentum and gravity may be optional, larger creatures exist than ought to be anatomically possible in Earth gravity, and death (for a Tome Knight anyway) is rarely permanent.

Anachronisms are common. Because it is storytelling power that governs the effectiveness of magic, fighting arts, or weaponry, it is perfectly reasonable for a Literomancer wielding a mace to face off with someone firing off a bazooka, and expect to have a reasonable chance of winning. Dinosaurs exist simultaneously with super-advanced Human technology.

Climate is similar to that of our own world, with two exceptions. The first is that the effects of climate change are being mitigated by the use of literomancy to find greener energy solutions. The second is that with two large meteor crashes in recent history, the world has undergone a lowering of temperature by a couple of degrees. This was not enough to create an extinction event, but was large enough to have noticeable effects on growing seasons.

Much of the flora and fauna of the Game of Tomes Universe resembles our own. However, it may have significant variances. For instance, almost all herbs have magical powers, as do crystals; herbs might come into being that don't exist in our universe; and any known mythological or fictional plant or creature may make an appearance, only to never be seen again. Confirmed mythological creatures include, but are not limited to:

Talking Animals

Ghosts

Vampires

Zombies

Dragons

Cryptids

Faeries

Werecreatures

Anthropomorphic animals

Sentient AIs

Demons

Totem animal spirits

Eldritch beings

Mythological creatures

A handful of high fantasy sapient species have begun to appear

All the natural resources of our own world can be found in the Game of Tomes Universe. However, there are other, more magical and legendary resources that exist in the GoTverse that do not exist in our own, like ley lines and nexuses as sources of magical power, enchanted items and artifacts, and literomantic unobtainium. The balance of resources we are familiar with may differ as well. For example, gold is much more common. The people of the Tomeverse have also begun incorporating magic and literomancy as a natural resource. They have even found ways to generate energy from Literomantic Power.

The GoTverse came into being as islands of possibility, given form by the leaders of The Great Houses. As Tome Knights, who are the only inhabitants of the universe who can use the art of Literomancy, create more of the story, those islands of existence gain breadth and detail. It is possible that The Iron Tome works something like the Infinity Stones, in that it grants the power to create and influence almost any aspect of the living universe.   The history of the GoTverse is very similar to our own history, except that Literomancy is far more significant to its formation. Major figures of history, especially those known for their ability as writers or who are ascribed mythical powers, are likely to have been literomancers.   There were at least two ancient civilizations of sentient beings that existed prior to humans. One was the Molluscan Civilization, who were the likely ancestors of House Mollusca. The other was the Dinosaur Civilization, which has been confirmed as the ancestors of House Sauropoda. Sauropoda claims that their ancestors were wiped out by a giant meteor. No one knows what happened to the Molluscans, as they are notorious for keeping their own secrets.   In medieval history, the Houses played an important role that does not exist in our own universe. People were likely to give their allegiance to the literomantic Houses, and they held temporal power that might equivalate to duchies or counties, depending on the period and politics. However, magic fell out of common use in the Renaissance, as proponents of technology began to gain influence over proponents of magic.   Taxation policies designed to get rid of nobility were also successful in eliminating the power and influence of the literomantic Houses, especially those geared against private libraries. This dwindling was enhanced by the disappearance of the Iron Tome. By the year 2020, magic was a fable, literomancers a mere curiosity, and even the oldest literomantic Houses were mostly working class nerds trying to make their way in a world that was either actively hostile, or didn't take them seriously.   With the reappearance of the Iron Tome and The Undead Horde in November of 2020, the literomantic Houses have once more gained prominence. Most nations survived the zombie apocalypse in some form, but they, or parts thereof, give their allegiance now to various Houses. The leaders of the Houses are effectively the rulers of kingdoms or empires.   The feudal oaths that bind the people to their service also bind the literomantic Houses to the people's protection. Tome Knights remain ever-vigilant against the Undead Horde and other supernatural threats.   Literomancy has shaped the world in more ways than just dealing with the Undead Horde. In 2022, through a combination of the Word War and large scale unexplained disappearances, the world lost 4% of its existing population, already reduced from the outbreak of the zombie apocalypse in 2020. A large literomantic effort was made to help 2.5 million people immigrate from another reality in 2023 when their world was about to be destroyed. And beings from other realities keep appearing from time to time, and many of them stay.