"Artist rendition of the shattered Yggdrasil"

"The World Tree is speculated to have always linked all worlds and dimensions together. However, this link would have always been hidden by the same barrier which kept the different dimensions separate from each other's sights.

These days, it is speculated that it is a wound to this barrier, or the Tree itself, which caused the collapse which shattered the dimensions into the many shards we now know. None know for sure. However, when the tree stabilized again, the barrier was gone and the worlds which once were shattered into shards. All were tied to the trees again.... but with the barrier gone, now the tree was there for all to see as anyone who lives on the surface can attest by looking in the foggy depths of the aether and see it's silouhette in the far off distance, replacing the sun and stars most were used to behold.

Travel is possible between the shards, but to do so one must enter the enormous roots and branches of the Tree. Travel can be rapid, much more than the otherwise galactic distances of this enormous universe might imply, but it is in no way safe. Distances are misleading, and unless extremely familiar with "The Tree's Path" as guides have grown to call it, getting lost is easy. Laws of physics sometimes make no sense and unexplained phenomenon are some times common. It is a pity in fact that some shards reformed -within- this environment once the collapse was over and the people who live in the few settlement or ruins of these shards are unsuprisingly known as an hardy lot to survive in such a dark and dangerous environment... a feat indeed in this changed Age where all already defy most logic we had come to hold dear.

But then, in an universe and time where even the Gods have been shattered, their own shards sometimes embeded within mortals people... what else to expect?"