Aerilith

The clouds open up and you see the clad iron beams of the sky.

— Bianca from Thalmyr

 

History

Early History

On an early morning, Vael’Rith felt a pull for something greater. The skies felt empty and lonely, and so the Wind God raised the mountains high into the air. Along with this came the three dominant species of Aerilith: aakocroca, faeries, and avarians. The three banded together to create the capital- Vaeloris. It was a beautiful lush isle full of fauna and flora, the views simply shocked the creatures.  

Golden Age

The Golden Age came sooner than later, sweeping the kingdom off its feet. Three major inventions were made.


Sky Ships: Massive oval shaped ships with a pointed bow. Instead of normal sails on a boat, the ship has enchanted and translucent fabric that stretched across metallic frames. The fabric looks like stained glass and grounds, shimmering in any light. When in flight, they can adjust their angle to get the right angle of wind. A set of small rotating propellers is what makes it fly. These engines make a soft hum, occasionally sparking with fire. They can help with direction and speed.







Levitation Crystal: Levitation crystals are a natural resource found on the isles. They only appeared after Vael’Rith raised them mountains. They are scattered around the islands on top and even on the undersides. They have a mysterious glow that can light up the area around them— meaning most streets don’t need street lights! When touched, they feel cool and have a slight hum running through them. These keep the islands levitating, a crucial role in the survival of Aerilith.







Sky Sails: the sky sails are another way to keep the islands afloat. Much like how the sails on the sky ships change the general direction they’re going, so can sky sails! They are often made from similar material. They are attached to the islands via large poles and have manual ways of changing direction.   The sky sails are mostly gone in the current age, only a few islands still having them.








These inventions weren’t the only thing that thrived, though! Orchestral music started to get popular, which formed dances no one had deemed possible. Some dances were on the islands, swishing dresses and flowy pants while other dances were done in the sky. These aerial dancers performed shows, leaving trails of color behind them for all of Aerilith to see.  

The Omen

The Golden Age was something to revel at. That is until Lady Merienne received a dark omen. It told her that a disaster would form on Aerilith, giving almost nothing to the Aeril about what this meant. All they knew was that something big was coming fast and soon.   This put the entire kingdom of Aerilith on edge. Nobody knew what to do, if they should evacuate or act like everything is fine. It was a time of stress and anxiety.   One day, a massive storm engulfed Vaeloris. Lady Merienne knew this is what the omen predicted. She went to the Sky Monarch and pleaded for evacuation. He set an evacuation order, but not everyone on Vaeloris had the time to leave. Not enough skyships, not enough time before the evacuation and the event, all of this caused a huge death count.   Soon the storm was completely engulfing Vaeloris and everyone in it. Screams and yelps could be heard from neighboring isles and the ground far below.   Five thousand Aeril’s died that day.   Everyone was distraught. Their home had been destroyed. Because of this, when picking an island for the new capitol- Caelora, they chose the most solid and sound isle. They chose safety over beauty.   Next to the capitol isle was a much smaller isle, one they thought would be perfect for the memorial. They carved every Aerial who died into a rock.  

Modern Era

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Culture

Hierarchy

The Sky Council

Sky King/Queen: The rulers of Aerlith, always descendants of Aetherion. Their authority is strong, but they are expected to rule with the kindness Vael'Rith brought to them. Once or twice somebody who is not blood of Aetherion has tried to snatch the throne, but none have been successful. The Aetherion bloodline is strong.

Sky Wing Committees

The Wind Weavers Guild: This guild is put in place to make and keep track of the Sky Sails. They make sure the Sky Sails are in good condition, doing any repairs needed, and even crafting some! They aren't crafted often, so the Guild Master is a role rarely given out.

The Artisans' Collective: Skilled craftsmen that make beautiful things for Aerilith, they are often the ones building bridges and buildings.

The Wind Singers' Conclave: Priests and priestesses dedicated to Vael'Rith. They are like oracles- receiving and depicting omens and prophecies before they are shown to the public.

The Skywatchers' Order: Much like weathermen, these Aeril people watch over the skies. They can tell the weather and report it back to the High Astrologer- who will confirm or deny and then tell the general public.

The Sky Riders' Legion: This is the army. They are composed of Aeril who ride massive giant, trained birds or use specialized wingsuits. They defend the city from outside threats and also act as police for the inside of the isle as well.

Important Families

Merienne: Early supporters of the kingdoms coming together as one, older family members often depicted as oracles.