Sky Angler

The practice of Sky Angling general requires a insatiable thirst for adventure. The Airmen need to have a sense of security while flying, including leaping to quarry during capture. The airmen should understand the air currents and navigation to prevent becoming disoriented during the initial engagements. Finally, the airmen should be able to support the other airmen. The hunt is not worth the life of a friend. While most Sky Anglers are independent and the qualifications vary from person to person, the guilds stress that these principles are maintained.

For those who are seeking to join the hunt for aerial creatures, taverns are the place to start. As skyfaring is not as common as seafaring, knowing those actively engaged is the primary step. Once you have been accepted into a crew, you are likely to be assigned to the launch. Servicing the ship, understanding its operation, and supporting the other airmen. Eventually, the opportunity will arise where you are brought on a hunt. Your duties will likely include "baiting and waiting." Unlike in the ocean where the are few indications of where the quarry are, the prey is clear in the sky. You will deploy balloons in the air that carry certain types of nasty, pungent bait. It is your job to make sure that the bait is properly maintained and remains aloft. You might accompany many hunts where that is your sole-responsibility, but always be prepared. This is your time to understand the ship and how the hunts work. Finally, the captain may tell you to "get ready." As this time, you have joined the Anglers. You'll take a harness and spear, waiting for the call. Once you have proven yourself capable (not dying, not failing to jump, and not doing something incredibly stupid), you can call yourself a Sky Angler. The guild will give you a rank that will permit you to join any crew with whom the guild has an association (assuming that they are searching for crew). In time, with enough success and a good reputation, you gain the rank of master angler. This will allow you to identify potential candidates for initiation into the guild.

Independent rates are generally supplied for the various captains, though those associated with the guilds are required to pay the guild fee. The guild fee represents 20% of the proceeds of the capture. The 20% is then used to pay the stipend of the guild members. Thus, assuming that a Billowing Whale fetched 2000 pieces of gold, 400 pieces of gold would go to the guild. The pay distribution goes first to the highest ranking members to the lowest members.   Master Angler: 10 gp per week Sky Angler: 2 gp per week Member Angler: 4 sp per week Initiate: 5 cp per day chosen for work   It is expected that the members of the guild support their income by being active in the hunts. While independent captains may choose their crew, those associated with the guilds much use members of the guild as their crew. Captains that break this rule, without prior approval or extraordinary circumstance, may face penalties from the guild that may also warrant removal from the guild itself. Members of the guild, of course, may take part in hunts not associated with the guild as long as service to the guild is properly attributed. Thus, if a guild captain is in need of crew and you elect to serve under a non-guild captain, you risk your position in the guild.

Apart from the weekly stipend, guild members are also given travel permits. Periodically, airships will be contracted to travel to certain destinations. When this happens, there will be a number of crew positions available. The captain will indicate this number to the guild and the destination. Those interested will petition the guild for a seat and (pending approval) will be given out in the order of seniority. Through this, airmen are able to see destinations that would they would likely never see otherwise.

Serving a similar purpose to fishing, Sky Angling is a means of providing food and materials to a population. Additionally, Sky Anglers may be employed to remove threats that are otherwise impossible to reach and beyond the experience of the armadas. As an essential part of the ecosystem, Sky Anglers serve to preserve the natural order and safety of populations.

While Sky Anglers receive popular attention due to their ability to fly on airships, they are publically seen as daredevils and a novelty within Isfa. This is due to the Sky Anglers using equipment that was originally intended for the protection of the kingdom. However, most of the crafts that are used in the profession are outdated or obsolete. Among the high classes, Sky Anglers are seen as a labor source, much akin to ocean anglers. "I use a horse to ride or a boat to sail, why wouldn't I use a balloon to fly. It's logical, but unimpressive."

While originated in Isfa, the novelty of Sky Angling attracts the unique attention of hunters the world around. Seeking to prove themselves, hundreds make their way to Isfa to join the guilds. However, many are turned away. It is at the discretion of the master anglers to identify new initiates into the guild. Notwithstanding, the guild remains diverse that include humans, dwarves, and hadg'ledi. There are no restrictions to those seeking to join as long as a captain is willing to take them.

Over mountains, forests, oceans, and deserts, creatures take flight. From small birds flying low and settling on branches, to massive Billowing Whales that lumber far overhead. Ingenious hunters have sought to tame and hunt the greatest creatures. When fishers first saw the monstrous sea serpents thrashing the waters, they built boats to find them. Yet, for the hunters bound to the world, there was no boat that could reach them.   Initially, hunters would use bait in attempts to draw these creatures down. While effective for the carrion creatures, this proved effective, though the largest hunts still evaded them. Balloons were the following option. Taking the bait and placing it on colorful balloon that attracted the aggressive creatures, too often the lines connecting the balloon to the ground would be broken. Even worse, when the hunter themselves waited in the balloons seeking to capture their prey off-guard, the balloon would be damaged and send the hunters plummeting to the ground. While the endeavors continued to attempt to improve the balloons by fortifying it, such as placing a cage around the tender structure, the sheer weight of the creature would often cause the balloon to tumble.   It was the advent of dirigible airship, a craft that utilized a balloon yet used propulsion to move, that Sky Anglers found their opportunity. These dirigibles were originally intended to haul cargo to the mountain ranges where outposts and other settlements existed. It was assumed, however, that these vessels would likely be the target of predatory creatures. This led for captains of these vessels to hire guards specifically to defend the vessel during transit in the air. The Sky Anglers that had been attempting to find a means of hunting in the air volunteered as guards for the vessels. This would be the turning point for the profession.   The instinct proved correct. The large lumbering airships were targetted by many varieties of predatory creatures. As defenses for these vessels grew, the positions began to change. The Sky Anglers, born hunters, wanted to pursue the large creatures and would bunt heads with the captain's of the ships. Inevitably, the Sky Anglers were relegated again to the ground. It would be years before a craft would be procured with the specific purpose of hunting. An eccentric by the name of Aloysi Albego was seeking a thrill and purchased a decommissioned airship to refurbished the craft with the intention of traveling. However, his venture was met with concern and caution by all the people who knew him. In an effort to assuage their fears, Aloysi sent for guards for the traveling vessel. Eventually, the decision was made that the Sky Anglers would offer the best experience (eager, ambitious, and daring) over the merchant guard that appeared to exercise greater caution.   Numerous encounters followed where Aloysi's vessel engaged with vicious creatures, but Aloysi was undeterred. Following the excitement that Banan, the leader of the Sky Anglers, ignited, Aloysi sought these encounters. Upon returning to Isfa with quarry in tow, Aloysi was reverred as a Skyfarer. The creatures fetched incredible prices from antiquarians and guilds seeking to use the material for artisanal wares. While Aloysi's thrill seeking subsided, he permitted the Sky Anglers to use the airship for their needs. In time, the Sky Angler's guild was established. The Leaning Scrag, Aloysi's airship, gained a reputation for hunting the skies. Rumors quickly grew and many sought to join.   Eventually, as airships became available, several more captains joined the guild and membership continued to grow. The profession provided opportunities for new and exciting experiences. Though dangers still abound, many argue, "At least I can see what's coming. The ocean is a dark and treacherous place."