Arborea Between Webs and Clouds

Arborea is a world of unearthly fantasy, set high within a forest of titanic trees. The creatures of Arborea live between two other realms: the vast and perilous webs that span the world below, and the great ocean of clouds above. Beneath the webs lies only darkness and monsters, known solely through legend. The clouds, as far as the people know, stretch on forever, home to beings more immense and strange than even the denizens of the trees.

Below, you will find the writings of Professor Nathaniel Henry Partridge, a human world walker who spent several years in Arborea and carefully recorded his observations. Beyond the professor’s words, however, you will encounter nothing human - nor even remotely human-like. The People of Arborea come in many forms, but none familiar to the inhabitants of earth-like realms.

Foreword

For some years now, I have - through the miracles of modern science - been privileged to visit many realms hidden from the common man, to observe and study the most fascinating creatures that dwell therein. As is the duty of all men of science, I have faithfully recorded my observations and published them, in the hope that they might prove edifying to such readers as chance to peruse them. Yet the worlds are many, and vast, and it is quite possible that this is the first of my humble volumes into which you have cast your eye. If so, allow me to present myself, my dear reader.

Professor Nathaniel Henry Partridge

My name is Nathaniel Henry Partridge. I hold a chair of Natural Philosophy in my homeland, where my pupils - no doubt amused by the accident of alliteration - style me simply Professor Partridge. In my youth I roamed the farther reaches of my native realm, eager to study the flora and fauna that flourished beyond my birthplace. It was upon one such expedition that I made the acquaintance of Doctor Arturo Aciago, a man of rare brilliance in both science and engineering, who had contrived a device capable of opening paths between our world and a multitude of others. These paths appear only in certain places, and the Doctor was at that time bound for a site where he believed his instrument might be tested. We struck up a firm friendship, and I petitioned to accompany him upon his daring jaunt beyond the bounds of our world. The device succeeded - but to our dismay, we soon discovered that most paths were unidirectional. The good Doctor and I endured many adventures before we contrived at last to return to our native land; but that, gentle reader, is a tale for another occasion.

When at length we did return, I set myself to the task of compiling and publishing the notes I had made upon our travels. These found a modest popularity, particularly among those who had likewise wandered between the worlds. Some, of course, dismissed them as idle fiction; yet among true world-walkers, I am gratified to report, my works are regarded as useful and trustworthy companions. After a season of rest, my desire for fresh discovery reasserted itself, and I resolved once more to venture forth, to seek out new realms and behold again the astonishing variety of the universe.

The present volume is the fruit of one such expedition. I have chosen to style this world Arborea, for reasons which will, I think, become immediately apparent as you read on. I sojourned there for a little more than two years, traversing its strange and unearthly expanses; and I may state without hesitation that it is unlike any other world I have yet encountered. It is my earnest hope that you will find pleasure in these pages, and perhaps profit from them - should you ever, by fate or contrivance, find yourself perched on the branches of a colossal tree, suspended between the dread Webs below and the boundless Clouds above.

Enter the world of Arborea Below