Floating Islands

The geography of the floating islands generally changes depending on the biome they are floating over, however if the islands drift enough, the biomes on the surface may not match. Generally they fit the classic biome descriptions as they drift through the skies, some carry rolling plains or small forests. While other's may feature cacti and and sandfalls. Some have pine trees and threaten to drop icicles from the skies. And some more unique items, like the "living islands" seen above the Defiled Woodland. Or the dried islands where all plant life on them has shriveled completely.

Now terrain features may be equally interesting. Generally the islands are not large enough to carry any massive land features and are usually limited to small outcroppings or rolling hills. However if they are big enough or there is a large enough collection of soul crystals they have been known to lift entire mountains. And in rare cases volcanoes have been lifted into the sky. The volcanoes being especially interesting as due to the unique properties the volcanoes may remain active even after being severed from their magma chamber.

Again the islands are very similar to the biomes you would find on the surface just in a much smaller localized format and often depending on the creatures lifted from the earth they may be over run with one animal species or they may evolve differently then their brethren on the ground. Often enough flying variants of some ground creatures have been noted in places with a lot of floating islands. There are also creatures that are known to develop a closer relationship with the weaker pressure in the upper atmosphere and uses that difference to their advantage allowing for "ballooning" appendages.

When water or other nutrients in the soil run out the life on some islands will perish. However on most islands the roots of the plant life extend deep enough to tap into the energy of the soul crystals. This energy supplements the nutrients missing from the soil and allows the plant and animal life to flourish. This may lead to unique variants of some plant species known as "Risen Flora" If consumed enough it has also had an effect on the lives of several different animals as well giving them unique aspects as well, these being known as "Ascended Fauna". If a person were to consume either of these it is unclear what effect it would have if there would be an effect.

The resources and minerals of these islands are almost identical to the land they rise above, however the floating islands generally have a greater concentration of soul crystals growing from the bottom of the islands. The rocks making up the islands vary from island to island but generally they are primarily made up of one primary rock with other smaller rocks mixed in. Several instances of floating marble chunks have been recorded, as well as basalt columns and sandstone slabs.