Glider

Gliders generally follow the laws of aviation - they have wings that generate enough lift to remain airborne, and are propelled by some manner of thrust to move forward. However, the similarities end there, and they are broadly split into two categories based on how they utilize those forces: magical and technical.

Magical gliders can take any shape and size and so do not have any set construction process. They typically require items that are personal to the user and sometimes need materials able to harness the power of the winds, gravity, raw magic, or some other medium of lift and propulsion. These materials are taken to a Wind Sage who blend the essences of these materials into a frame and allow the natural magic to shape the result of the Glider. Technical Gliders are largely mass produced, having standard configurations that are then modified by users upon acquisition. They are most often created by tearing apart Old Realm flying technology for parts and using them to construct most of a glider that can then be modified. Sometimes, they are designed and built from the ground up with the intention of being easily built with local materials, though this process tends to increase the price compared to recycling older technology. Many technical gliders are manufactured in factories along assembly lines by a few skilled technicians who oversee familiars and sparky controlled machines, then handed off to a Wind Sage for final approval.

Gliders are representative of individuals, often telling the story of who someone is and what they value by virtue of their construction and decoration. The Laulari believe that everything in the world is connected to spirits, and that an individual, their glider, and the wind must be in harmony in order to take to the skies. The Sky Tribes of the island push this belief further and have built their entire culture and society around the use of gliders, kites, airships, and are striving to harness all of their understanding to create a flying city. They believe that they came from the sea and that their ultimate destiny is the sky and what might be beyond it.   In other parts of the world, gliders are a symbol of wealth and prestige - acquiring Laulari gliders is a difficult and lengthy endeavor, and only the wealthiest can do so, even if they are secondhand. However, some nations and kingdoms value the small collections they have acquired for elite bands of aerial troops, able to execute strikes deep behind enemy lines and exfiltrate quickly or reposition key assets through inhospitable terrain at a moment’s notice.  

Rarity

Gliders aren’t a restricted or rare item in locations that use them - those with significant magical density, high elevation with limited obstructions, and/or frequent high speed winds. However, the number of locations around the world that meet one or more of these restrictions are few and far between, and all but one do not meet all three as Laulari does. As such, their use is largely left to the island nation, and seen as an envious luxury by much of the mainland. Their creation and export is not restricted, but the cost to export them such great distances often makes them prohibitively expensive.