Research: A Shortcut via the Rime Wastes

Charles pulls out another volume: “Planar Convergences and Natural Gates” by Elara Moonwhisper, 4602 AR. The book discusses locations where planes naturally touch or overlap. Charles’s finger stops on a particular passage:

“The Rime Wastes of the far north represent a unique confluence rarely studied due to their extreme inaccessibility. Here, the Elemental Planes of Air and Water meet the Material Plane with such force that the boundary between worlds becomes gossamer-thin. Travelers report strange phenomena: sounds carrying from impossible distances, visions of places that should not be visible, and time flowing at inconstant rates.

Most intriguing are the reports of Dreamlands intrusion. Approximately one in every seven expeditions to the Rime Wastes reports encountering entities or locations that should only exist in dreams. This has led some scholars to theorize that the Rime Wastes represent a three-way planar convergence—Air, Water, AND the Dreamlands all touching our reality simultaneously.”

Charles sets down his pen, staring at the passage and the writes down his thoughts.

Three-way convergence. Air, Water, Dreamlands. The severed end of the Owl Gate floats in the Dreamlands. But if there’s a place where the Dreamlands NATURALLY touch the Material Plane, and that place also has strong elemental resonance creating a stable anchor point…

The severed end might be able to latch onto it. Like a severed rope finding something solid to wrap around.

But why would we want to go to the Rime Wastes?

He pulls out a map of the far north, tracing the distance from Ustalav to the Crown of the World. Charles’s notes:

Overland journey from Lepidstadt to Crown of the World: Over 2,600 miles as the crow flies. Add the reality of terrain—mountains, tundra, the Worldwound region we’d have to skirt—and we’re looking at 6-8 months minimum. Through some of the most inhospitable terrain on Golarion. We don’t have that kind of time if Ossoyo’s bindings are weakening NOW.

But if we could use the gate to jump to somewhere closer…

Sarenrae forgive me, I’m actually considering this. Using a damaged gate, risking everyone’s lives, based on theory and desperation. Is this the same kind of arrogance that led me down dark paths before? Or is this what redemption looks like—taking risks to save others even when you’re afraid?

He measures distances on the map with a piece of string. The Rime Wastes, did tend to move about depending on what sources your read but if they were lucky the would be no farther than approximately 800 miles south of the Crown of the World, some reports had them appearing closer. Still far, but manageable with teleportation magic or even conventional travel. 800 miles was a far bit better than 3,000+ miles from Lepidstadt. This could work. If we’re desperate enough. If I can figure out how to make the severed end attach to the Rime Wastes convergence.