Timeline split from ours around WWII, current year is 2002. Resource war in the 90's resulting from shortages of food, fuels, and world powers testing one another. Story focused on the Celestial Archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. Magic, gods, and another dimension leaking in are the focus.

Celestial Archipelago-

Archipelago is located at about 40 degrees South / 110 degrees West in the South pacific Ocean. Closest landmasses are Easter Island at about 885 miles away, and Chile, nearly 2000 miles away. Climate is similar to Easter Island. It's an archipelago ruled by a family of benevolent alien beings who do their best to keep a peaceful existence for their country. Most people don't know they're aliens, as they are one of many species to utilize shapeshifting in this universe. Several groups are aware they aren't regular magic-using humans, but have yet to pinpoint what's off. the Queen has a very strong magic connection, specializing in water and ice, and employs several other elemental specialists. Decades ago, this shifted the island from being neutral to magic to being very connected, and it's now a part of their society to foster connections to nature and magic.

The main island is half situated on a large mountain. Most of the mountain is inhabited with the exception of the north face. It is said to be haunted, otherworldy, or negatively spiritual. Flora and fauna is large, unusual, and hostile. People regularly go missing regardless of weather, experience, and equipment. the other faces of the mountain are divided into high wilderness, often with thick forests and large animals like elk and condors, and low wilderness, with more meadows and smaller animals like blacktail deer and foxes. Background magic energy gets stronger the higher up the peak and the closer to the northern area you travel. Some animals are believed to be able to use magic, but it's very minor, like masking/hiding themselves and detecting other magics. Sacred animals include ravens, a native large deer, and animals with pure black fur. Black furred animals are said to be able to speak to those who use magic, and white furred animals are said to be able to communicate with and help lost souls.

There are several major cities, although they're much smaller than major cities in other countries, as the island is small and the population is under a half a million. Most of these cities are port cities, smaller towns being more inland. Only one major location is above the high/low wilderness divide

Locals are called Celestian people, often called grey (similar to people being called black or white). Skin tones are muted and vary from lightish to medium-dark tones. Hair is generally shades of black, grey, brown, tan, and blonde. Folks are curious and adventurous. Strong connections to magic are common, and rituals are regularly performed. Respect for nature is ingrained in the society.

Fish and fruit is the most common combo or dish type. Fowl is also common, but many natives are fishers or fish farmers. Soda is called carbo and often comes in mint, apple, pine, and sweet tomato flavors. An herb that looks and tastes like a sweet, mild green onion is very common and used in many dishes. A fruit with a creamy, citrusy interior grows all over the archipelago and is a favorite of dragons. Cuisine is described by outsiders are sharp, refreshing, and a mix of tropical and comforting. A type of porridge with small chopped fruit is a favorite comfort food of the locals. Soups and stews are common community foods and a sign of welcoming people in. They are traditional at weddings, funerals, and celebrations of emigrating or returning.

Hy-Brasil-

The island is rarely visible and almost never reachable. Storms and a thick sea fog mask the isle and make the exact location hard to pinpoint on a map. The island is roughly 100 miles off Ireland's coast, situated due west from about 2/3 up the coast. Stories of the isle flickering in and out of various realities may be true. Only one traveler from The Isle of Hy-Brasil, Clarence Mordrid, has made contact in recent history. He plans on going back someday, as part of his family line is made of "other-travelers" who visit exotic lands and return with stories.

English from the main land veered off in the 1500's or so, turning into a new dialect. It's still understandable to modern English speakers, but sounds "old timey" and very strange. Written language is a commoner form of caligraphy, and handwriting is taught throughout childhood in an attempt to keep good writing styles.

Physical contact is for friends and family only. Doctors, teachers, coworkers, etc. rarely touch other people unless needed. When amongst friends and family, individuals are very open to hugs, holding hands, and other physical contact. Common names include Hound, Wild, Feral, and old English names like Blithe and Shaw.

Tidal-Locked Unnamed Planet-

​​​​This is the world Midnight is from. It's a very large planet, roughly 4x the size of Earth, and is tidally locked to the star it orbits. The planet has a very thick atmosphere that helps distribute the heat and light that would otherwise bake one side of the world and freeze the other. The planet is broken into 3 zones: Light, Twilight, and Night. Both the Light and Night zones have 1 major city in the center of the zone. City population hovers around 1 billion each. There are other cities and towns, but all are situated near the major cities and are much, much smaller. Most are not named. Visibility in all zones is low. The light of a regular 60 watt lightbulb travels about 30 feet. For this reason, sounds, mostly metal bells, are used as landmarks, as the constantly moving air rings them.

Light - High heat and high humidity. The air itself glows and most buildings have awnings, shading the streets.

Twilight - A band of territory around the solar equator of the planet. Nomads travel in both directions and days are counted by how far they travel instead of by time. These people were the first to discover that both the Light and Night zones had people, previously assuming only the Twilight band to be inhabitable. Neither city knew of the other zones until the Twilight nomads made contact.

Night - Where Midnight is from. City has low temperatures, although geo-thermal vents keep the temperature livable. As so natural light makes it through the atmosphere, artificial light is borderline worshiped. Neon lights are used on most buildings, giving the air a constantly faint ambient glow.

Resource war- MAJOR WORK IN PROGRESS

Shortages of food and near depletion of fossil fuels lead to armed conflicts in attempts to secure more resources. The conflict was violent as common people, not just governments and militaries, defended their homes and towns. Guerilla warfare was typical. Main location was Central America, although skirmishes related to the conflict took place just about everywhere.

Factions and powers shifted partway through. For the first conflict, it was USA vs Mexico and others, with most of the world staying out of it officially. Parts of Europe allied to the US stepped in diplomatically to ease tension. For the main conflict, parts of Europe joined combat alongside the US. Several countries in this alliance later broke off when the US went rogue following a botched cover-up involving hostilities towards allies.

Timeline- Post WWII: Supply shortages cause tensions to rise after the war, with many blaming soldiers instead of welcoming them home. Tensions rose and fell in cycles for decades as supplies slowly dwindled. // 1980: Numerous atomic bomb sites in Mojave Desert detonated. Infiltration or sabotage most likely. Lead to the creation of "American Wasteland" region. Much of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah evacuated and uninhabitable. // 1981: America declares war on Mexico and parts of Central America, blaming them for attack on Mojave. War is short lived but puts stress on much of the world, fearing another major conflict. // 1992: War declared again following attacks and increased hostility, including rumors of larger countries in the North and South America and Europe stealing supplies from smaller Central American countries. This is the primary conflict talked about when the war is mentioned. Conflict is violent, with rumors of governments losing control of their armies, who are said to have looted towns and bases for their supplies. Whether or not this is true, and how much if so, the war is remembered as a "feral and uncontrolled" by all sides. // 1997: Treaties signed, largely thanks to new tech being rolled out to help with energy demands. Peaceful means to food shortages eventually found.

Magic and gods-

Core types- Dark, Wind, Light, Fire, Energy, Water, Earth, Void, Life, General/Unspecified.

Abilities- Matter manipulation is most common. Summoning gusts, flames, water, etc. and moving or moulding objects. Projectile attacks common. Shapeshifting is difficult and requires much training, but is possible. Even then, rarely more than 3 forms are achievable. Control of another's mind, body or mental influence isn't possible.

Gods- People are able to choose what major god they follow, if any. Roughly 2/3 of the archipelago follows a god, about 1/5 taking it rather seriously. Kinship may form from following the same god, but prejudices are rarely formed from who follows what. Major and minor gods are not related entities, rather two beings that share an element. Minor god affiliation is not chosen, but rather determined by the time, location, and circumstances of one's birth.

Major- Dark (Filth), Wind (Gale), Light (Evening Star), Fire (Uncontrolled), Energy (Tempest), Water (Abyss), Earth (The Earth We Walk), Void (Unobservable Universe), Life (Open Fields).

Minor- Dark (Funeral), Wind (Aether), Light (Lantern), Fire (Hearth), Energy (Singer), Water (Fog), Earth (Farmer), Void (Black Ram), Life (Great Tree).

Rituals- Rituals are often varied by individuals more than by god or element. For most, it's meditation, although being in an area surrounded by the element (beach, forest, cave, etc.) is common. Food, trinkets, coins, art, and displays of affection or admiration are often given at an atlar. Blood or live sacrifices are extremely rare and frowned on from the general population.

Creatures-

Regular- Many new types of regular animals exist, including new species of raven, crow, fox, deer, and fish. most are as expected, often with minor changed to better suit an ocean and small island lifestyle. Adaptations include a diet with more fish, feet better suited to rock climbing, and slight magic connections.

Basic- Feralkin: Small imp-like creatures that stick to dark areas. By offering them scraps of food, they will hang around and act as an early warning system. They're skittish but curious and will eagerly take food and can be temporarily befriended.

Intelligent- Celestial Pyre Dragons: Large, magic, intelligent dragons sharing a common ancestor with monitors. Dragons are outgoing, noble, and have a very strong magic connection. Social groups are close-knit and between 5-20 individuals. Alliances with human towns are uncommon, but individual friendships with local humans are typical. // Celestial Island Gryphons: Broken into two categories, these magestic intelligent creatures are either mountain gryphons or coastal gryphons. The mountain variety are larger but lankier and are abmush predators, hunting mostly deer. They are solo animals and don't tend to make friends often. The coastal variety are stockier and more outgoing, living in ever-changing family groups. They eat almost exclusively fish and shellfish. Their feathers are waterproof and much sleeker than the mountain gryphons' warming coats. Mountain fur is similar to bear or wolf pelts, coastal fur being similar to aquatic bird feathers.

Societies- Werewolves: Nomadic tribal groups of wolf-like humanoids. Not true werewolves as they bear no curse and cannot naturally shapeshift. Sometimes called Wolven. Often hunter-gatheres, they are peaceful, resourceful, and skilled traders and crafters. Supply lines are established with human towns, with alliances going back centuries. Fights between the two races are rare, but are taken very seriously by those who mend conflicts. Wolven love finding reasons to sing, with song and spoken traditions being their main form of story telling.

Mythical- Wild folk: Celestians who spend too long in the deep wilderness become feral. Teeth and claws often are the first physical signs. // Undeads: Semi-common on the north side of the mountain. Something up there seems to reanimate those who die to the wilderness. Mostly hostile.

Other Dimension-

Often called the "Bleeding Dimension" as it bleeds into this one, it is a strong void force slowly seeping in from a rift between Earth and the Moon. A red-lined black gash is visible in the night sky due to it. Shadowy creatures have been spotted in less-inhabited areas. The dimension itself is an animate magic being and appears either extremely hostile, or in great pain. There is a connection to Skullamander appearing in this world and the rift opening, but how they are connected, and how strongly, is unknown. Introduction of negative or "void" magic started around this time.

Misc-

Many differences have been found in this dimension compared to where Skullamander came from. Oddities in this world found so far: The resource war was longer, much more intense, but ended in a treaty instead of nukes. Many country borders were kept as their post-war versions, though mostly in South and Central America. Touch screens being much more common, different world rulers or longer years of service (presidents, kings/queens, dictators, etc.), two extra space stations, colors appearing sightly washed out in the original world he's from, the absence of the Yucatan Peninsula, and the complete lack of any evidence that sauropods ever existed. Most surprisingly, the seasons of the hemispheres are flipped, with summer being in the middle of year in the south instead of the north​.​​​​ Such major changes have lead to a bit of a running joke with Skulla's friend circle, asking if certain things exist here or if it's an alien concept.

At one point, an entire town disappeared. Not just the people, not just the buildings, but evidence of the town, including memories and family members. Almost no one recalls a town being situated in the port cavern near the north coast, and no physical evidence supports people living their long enough to establish a permanent settlement. Only one major character recalls visiting family their as a child, but no other family member recalls it. The few who recall it remember it having the same name, population, and layout, down to the building sizes, purposes, and street names.