Cilostratans

History

Before the Shattering of the Cilostratan Expanse, the Cilostratan halflings lived quiet lives, farming and trying their best to avoid the ‘big folk’ who often took advantage of them. Living in fear was their usual state of being in those times.
After the shattering times were tough, but they no longer feared the ‘big folk’. They only had to fear the cold, the lack of oxygen and gravity. Which in their opinions were dangers they could deal with if it gave them the ability to look down on the people they now referred to as Lowlanders.
It took many years for their bodies to adapt to the new environment they found themselves in. They found themselves cut off from people they had known for many years, estranged from all they had known, and thrown into a hostile environment. Luckily, the Cilostratan people had always relished a challenge.
The ruling body did their best to travel from settlement to settlement to give them food and help rebuild their lives. This was a very trying time. Things were looking very bleak for them until the invention of the Orb-Stones of Cyvest. Created by an artificer of some skill, Keleb Cyvest, these stones gave the ability to break free of gravity. In short, these magical stones allowed the creating of air ships that sailed the open sky as if it were the oceans. This wondrous invention saved the Cilostratans and gave them mastery of the skies.
It wasn’t long before they noticed a species of bird that was, until then, undiscovered. It resembled a large raven or crow. At first they would see these birds from a distance, observing the skylands and their inhabitants, and then they came closer, investigating the settlements and the people. They didn’t attack the inhabitants, so they considered them a good omen sent from Astara, the goddess of the sky. They left out offerings for the birds, which only led them to stick around more. No one is sure which of the skyland settlements first cultivated and reared the birds, many of them vie for that distinction. What we know is that now most, if not all, settlements have their own stock of these giant corvids. Using them for lots of tasks from messages to riding.

Physiological Adaptation

One strength that the halfling people had been known for was the ability to adapt in one or two generations to any environment. They had often joked about that when people finally reached the bottom of the ocean that they would meet halflings already living there trying to sell them a piece of seabed to live on. Within a few generations living on the skylands their bodies had already adapted to the low oxygen levels and to a lesser extent the cold of the region. Before this event, they were having to rely on magically crafted globes that created bubbles of air around their settlements.

Dress Code

Because of the cold that high up the clothes of the people have developed into garments that prioritise warmth. The discovery and cultivation of the giant corvids was a godsend for them. The shed feathers have become an integral part of the clothes they make for themselves. Wind resistant, warm and easily waterproofed, they weave them together with twine made from some crops they grow to create a very recognisable outfit.
Matching the dark colours of the feathers that make up a large part of their clothing materials, they opt to have muted tones. Darker colours to absorb as much heat as they can.

Cultural Practices

Realising that their lives are very different, they have found themselves open to abandoning or adapting their previous ceremonies and practices to their alternative lifestyle.
Where once they buried their dead, looking to be absorbed into the soil and forever be a part of the land they lived upon, now they prepare their dead and leave them exposed for the carrion-eating birds to consume. They retrieve the bones after some time, clean them and then grind them down into a meal that’s used to fertilise the soil. Returning the deceased back to the earth as before but also honouring the sky while doing it.

Arts and Technology

Since taking to the sky the artistic focus of the Cilostratans has changed. Where before they orientated around things like pottery, now they treasure things like flags, chimes and other ornamentation that is enhanced by the wind. Streamers hang off most buildings in varieties of colours and materials, most houses have a flag atop it that is in their family colours. Bone chimes with feathers and other items are popular as well. There is often an ethereal, tinkling music floating on the breeze throughout the skylands.
Most settlements have at least one skyship to trade with neighbouring places. These can vary in size from the size of large ships carrying whole crews, down to small boats that carry only one or two people.

Settlements

The dimensions of the skyland that they are on restricts villages and small towns in the size they can grow to. Most stay small, close knit villages that trade between themselves however, some of them have grown larger, with multiple skylands being linked by a series of strong rope bridges.
Flyta Pao, considered the capitol, is the largest of these composed of five or six large skylands joined. It is also somewhat central to all the other settlements, making it a trade hub of significant wealth. The largest skydock in the expanse can also found here.
There is also hidden pirate settlement of Merir Neadair. Some consider it a made up story to frighten children and traders.
Also of note is the waystop of The Red Magpy Inn. A favoured sky-inn of some renown.