What exactlly is a Rift????

This is a rift...It is like world PvP plus alot....

Essentially Rifts just open on their own over time or can be triggered by either faction when tears are seen. So , you can drop into an enemy zone , find a tear , pop a rift and watch the destructione ensue. If they don't defeat the Rift or Rifts that spwan (we had 13 open at once in our zone) the area is lost to that faction until next time. Towns can be run over and all kinds of awesome stuff.