Metafalss (メタ・ファルス, Meta Farusu?, lit. "Meta Falss"), also known as Meta Falss (which means "Province of Falss" in Hymmnos) is the region that serves as the setting for Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica. Its current capital is the city of Pastalia, built on the top of the Second Tower of Ar tonelico.
Location[]
Metafalss was originally located in a valley on the same continent where Sol Ciel is located, though its location was far northeast from it, its first settlement being the Elm Valley Village. Said village was founded by nomads that came from the Sol Cluster continent located on the other side of the planet, much like the founders of Sol Ciel.
However, as depicted by the final part of the Tale of Rhaplanca: the Infelious Rhaplanca line, the Elm Valley was buried in lava after the nearby volcano Mt. Listea erupted, which forced the survivors of the disaster to climb the lofty mountains around them to keep themselves alive, until they found a wide plateau fit for being populated. This plateau was initially called Metel Filios, but later on were renamed as the Metafalss Heights.
People, Culture & Characteristics[]
Metafalss used to be very well known through all Ar Ciel during the final years of the First Era thanks to its deeply spiritual ideologies and because of the many legends that come from this region about the creation of a Utopia, of which the Tale of Rhaplanca is the most widely known. However, the harsh environment and geography caused this region to keep itself isolated for most of its history, which is the reason why its culture and civilization differ so much from the ones found in the regions of Sol Ciel and Sol Cluster.
Physically, the Metafalssian people have characteristically golden hair, and temperament-wise they are fastidious, but still humble and introverted due to their origins. As shown by the Infelious Rhaplanca legend, the plateau in which they inhabited until the Grathnode Inferia was formed by the cooled lava that Mt. Listea spewed, and said disaster was also what made them have this nature: they believed themselves to be the chosen ones that had survived the end of the world and were forgiven by the Gods, and as such, they had to uphold that honor left by their ancestors by living in an honest way. This also caused them to see romance and love in a stoic way due to the negative connotations that said feelings brings: jealously, envy, betrayal... all of which are considered taboos by them.
History[]
Main article: History of Metafalss
As mentioned previously, the region of Metafalss was formed by the lava spewed by Mt. Listea, which came to be inhabited by those that survived the volcano's eruption. Far before the First Era, they kept believing on the creation of the Metafalica Utopia preached by their legends, so they summoned the Moon Chanters from around the world in order to make use of their powers in order to make it a reality. By scientifically and mathematically analyzing the Moon Chanters' powers, and following the spiritual practices and beliefs unique to their region, the people of Metafalss ultimately came to create the Hymmnos dialect that is still recognized as the most powerful and most complicated to use among the ones belonging to the Standard Hymmnos variant: the Ancient Metafalss Note.
However, afterward they kept themselves isolated until year 3016 AD, in which they had their first contact with the outside world due to an accidental encounter with the Sol Ciel people. The diplomatic negotiations between both regions went smoothly, and so they carried out an exchange: Metafalss would hand over their Ancient Metafalss Note to Sol Ciel for them to use in the Ar tonelico Project, while Sol Ciel framed up a project to make the Metafalssians' utopia a reality: Project Metafalica. Therefore, the Sol Ciel scientists designed and created the second Reyvateil Origin, Frelia, both for the project's realization and as a gesture of goodwill toward Metafalss. They also designed the blueprints for a second Ar tonelico Tower to be built in Metafalss, and they also constructed together with the Metafalssians the means to create it: the satellite Sol Marta.
However, these plans came to an abrupt halt because of the Grathnode Inferia, and thus the people had to establish themselves on the Tower to escape death, which was unfit for being populated by humans. The region was entirely covered by the Sea of Death a few years later.
Simple Harmonic World Oscillation[]
Due to the fact that Metafalss is an enormous pendulum, in which Sol Marta is the summit, this region has a unique movement pattern called the Simple Harmonic World Oscillation.
In simple terms, the region sways at a microscopic width while its inhabitants are sleeping. Strictly speaking, the amplitude of the oscillation is of approximately 500 Stons (1.5 km), and its simple harmonic oscillation for coming and going has been calculated: it takes around 581 seconds (9 minutes and 41 seconds) to carry out its complete movement.
This oscillatory movement causes the region to rotate 180 degrees per day, meaning its north and south exchange positions one day, and they return to their original positions the following day, just like it is stated in the Foucault Pendulum Theory.
As it can be surmised, this movement is behind several phenomena unique to Metafalss, such as the sunrise and the sunset reversing their positions every single day. Therefore, odd-numbered days are called Eastern Days in Metafalss, while even-numbered days are called Western Days.
Current Population[]
By 3772 AD, Metafalss had a total of approximately 850,000 inhabitants, its exact composition being as follows:
Current Population | Pastalia Residents: Approximately 69,000 people Rim Residents: Approximately 780,000 people |
---|---|
Reyvateil Population |
339,600 people. |
Racial Composition | 71% Metafalssian 18% Cielian |
Places of Importance[]
- Second Tower of Ar tonelico
- Pastalia
- The Rim
- Sol Marta