World Machine

World Machines are massive constructs only seen in Slipspace. They are large enough to dwarf an entire world, including the universe with the Fortrais Galaxy Cluster. A World Machine is simply too large to fit inside a world, its scale making even the mighty Eternity Gate look microscopic. 

The Machines are designed to construct new worlds similar to those that already orbit the Machine, and each can have their own laws of physics. To the universe with the Fortrais cluster, its origin started with a Big Bang, though it is unknown that the World Machine directly caused it, as well as constructing the barrier around the world to keep it contained. Even to the Xadia Ancients, there are an unknown number of worlds orbiting this Machine, and there are an unknown number of Machines. However, the number of worlds orbiting the World Machine with the Xadia is known to be greater than 10 million, and more than 50 000 World Machines are known to the Xadia. It can take light trillions of years to travel from a world to the respective World Machine, and far longer between World Machines due to the immense distance. This is taking into account the significantly higher speed of light in Slipspace. 

World Machines normally take up the rough appearance of a large box, with a number of huge prongs which jut out at several points. On one face, near the center, are the parts that the World Machines use to build worlds - this process takes time so there are several that can function in parallel. However, the exact shape can vary between Machines, sometimes they are comprised of multiple 'box'-like objects and connected with large struts. They often take up a primarily dark colour with a somewhat stone-like texture, and when active some parts can glow in a light blue light.

It is unknown how they generate power and matter, but it is said that they harvest power from higher dimensions, which implies that Slipspace itself is within some sort of limited universe, and might be escapable to reveal a universe with even larger proportions, but this is extremely poorly understood, nor do the Xadia have any reason to leave the World Machine.