The Rim · carriage connections
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The governing geography
The outer rim is the outer region of the galaxy in which this setting operates. In everyday speech it is shortened to “the rim”. The formal map label is the Outer Rim; the Rim is its familiar short name. Its inhabited worlds are called rim worlds. The term describes where a world lies; it does not tell a visitor whether that world is impoverished, dangerous, advanced, independent or ruled by an ancient dynasty.
Serev lies within this galactic Rim. So does the separate, distant system containing Tarsenne. Caelune, Damar and Nereth are therefore rim worlds, even though they possess established cities and strong institutions. Tarsenne is a frontier rim world: remote not only in the galactic sense, but also from the dependable routes and centres of imperial authority familiar to Aveline.
Keep the scales distinct
| Scale | Meaning here | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy | The broad stellar setting containing many systems | The Rim is its outer region |
| Galactic region | A large area containing many separate systems | The Rim contains Serev and Tarsenne’s unnamed system |
| Star system | A star and the worlds bound to it | Caelune and Damar orbit Serev; Nereth orbits Ossar |
| World | An inhabited planetary or lunar setting | Nereth is a moon and a rim world |
| Political territory | A jurisdiction that can cross physical boundaries | An empire can hold territory in several systems |
What an imperial core means
Caelune is central to Orinthian government. Velisar is central to the royal household. Neither statement places them near the centre of the galaxy. An Orinthian official speaking of the inner provinces means the closer, more established portions of imperial territory within the Rim.
Likewise, Ossar and Nereth occupy the outer part of the Serev system. Their position within that system is distinct from Serev’s position within the galaxy. A traveller can move inward towards Serev’s star while remaining in the galactic Rim throughout the journey.
An edge inhabited for generations
The Rim has mature societies, inherited institutions and local histories. A region can be remote from other galactic centres without being young. People on Caelune need not consider themselves temporary occupants of a frontier; people on Tarsenne need not measure their own history from the first imperial visit.
This geography leaves room for rival monarchies, independent cities, abandoned settlements, prosperous ports and routes where protection fails. Lawlessness belongs to particular circumstances and jurisdictions. It is not a physical property of every rim world.
Reading the atlas
The system diagram groups Serev and Tarsenne beneath the wider galactic Rim. Tarsenne remains outside Serev and no distance or journey time is implied by their placement on the page. Further named systems can be added without moving the story into a different galactic region.
These maps cover selected systems and settlements within the outer rim. They do not assign a hard physical border to the region or provide a complete chart of the galaxy.