The Sky Forge
Government
The Sky Forge’s independence is a result of both historical and practical considerations. Centuries ago, the city’s founders negotiated with the Tekvalen government, arguing that the Sky Forge’s role as a hub of technological and magical advancement necessitated freedom from imperial bureaucracy. The Tekvalen Empire, recognising the Forge's unparalleled contributions to weaponry, enchantments, and architecture, granted it sovereignty in exchange for periodic contributions of its finest creations. This agreement has allowed the Sky Forge to flourish without the constraints of Tekvalen taxation, military drafts, or legal oversight, while maintaining a cordial, mutually beneficial relationship with the empire.
At the heart of the Sky Forge’s governance is the Council of Celestial Artisans, a body comprised of the most skilled and revered masters of craft and magic. This council rules through a meritocratic system, where members are selected based on their contributions to the Forge’s legacy. Each Artisan specialises in a critical field, such as metallurgy, enchantment, alchemical innovation, or architectural design, ensuring that the council's decisions align with the Forge’s core values of creativity and excellence.
The Celestial Artisans govern with a focus on collaboration and inspiration, blending traditional artisan guild structures with a centralised decision-making process. Major policies are decided through consensus during council meetings held in the Hall of Embers, a grand chamber situated near the Forge’s core. The council oversees everything from trade agreements and military commissions to education and resource allocation, all while prioritising the preservation of the Forge's independence and reputation.
Unlike traditional hierarchies, the Sky Forge places artisans and innovators at the top of its societal structure. Common citizens hold immense respect for the Celestial Artisans, as their leadership ensures the city’s prosperity. The government also fosters a strong sense of community and opportunity, offering apprenticeship programmes and educational initiatives to cultivate the next generation of master craftsmen.
Despite their lofty status, the Celestial Artisans are not untouchable. Every decade, the council undergoes a Rite of Rekindling, during which their achievements and contributions are evaluated by a body of guild representatives and civic leaders. This process ensures that only those truly worthy of their titles continue to serve, maintaining the Forge’s commitment to excellence and accountability.
Though the Sky Forge is independent, its relationship with the Tekvalen government remains symbiotic. The empire depends on the Forge for its high-quality arms and enchantments, while the Forge relies on the Tekvalen trade network to distribute its creations and acquire rare resources. This delicate balance has allowed the Sky Forge to maintain its sovereignty while ensuring a steady flow of wealth and resources.
Guilds and Factions
The Emberblade Guild
The Emberblade Guild is a legendary association of blacksmiths and weaponsmiths. Known for their unparalleled skill in forging blades, armour, and tools, its members are revered throughout the realm. The guild’s signature creations are crafted using mytharyll, an alloy of nyxium and aetherite that combines durability and magical conductivity. The guild’s forges, located in the Forgeheart District, burn hotter than any others in the city, using geothermal energy from the lava lake. Members of the Emberblade Guild are known for their rigorous training and dedication to perfection, often spending decades mastering their craft. Their work is in high demand, from enchanted swords for warriors to intricate mechanisms for clockwork machines. The Shimmerweave Syndicate
Dedicated to textiles and fashion, the Shimmerweave Syndicate is a guild of tailors, weavers, and designers who have elevated clothing to an art form. They incorporate magical elements into their work, creating garments that are both functional and visually stunning. For example, their fabrics can shift colours, regulate temperature, or even offer light protection against elemental forces. The syndicate is based in the Artisan’s Crescent, where they collaborate with other guilds to integrate materials like enchanted threads or lightweight mytharyll into their designs. Their work has made them sought after not only in the Sky Forge but across the realm, dressing nobility, adventurers, and performers alike. The Aetherbound Circle
The Aetherbound Circle is a prestigious guild of scholars, enchanters, and magical theorists. Focused on the study and application of magical energy, the Circle is credited with many of the city’s technological and magical breakthroughs. They were instrumental in developing mytharyll as a practical material by discovering how to stabilise its fusion with aetherite. Based in the Aetherium Ward, the guild’s laboratories and archives are among the most advanced in the city. Members of the Aetherbound Circle are known for their intellectual curiosity and collaborative spirit, often working with other guilds to enhance their crafts. Their contributions range from enchanted tools to the city’s protective wards and energy systems. The Gilded Cog Consortium
The Gilded Cog Consortium specialises in engineering and mechanical innovation. From intricate clockwork mechanisms to large-scale constructs, their creations blend practicality and artistry. The guild’s workshops in the Artisan’s Crescent are filled with complex machinery, where gears, levers, and enchanted components are assembled into marvels of craftsmanship. The consortium has gained fame for its autonomous constructs, which assist with labour, security, and even entertainment in the city. Their partnership with the Aetherbound Circle has enabled them to create machines powered by magical energy, further solidifying their reputation as pioneers in their field. The Pyrestone Guild The Pyrestone Guild is dedicated to mining and resource extraction, particularly focused on rare materials like nyxium, aetherite, and volcanic gemstones. Members of this guild brave the treacherous conditions of the lava lake and the mountain’s depths to secure the raw materials that fuel the city’s economy. Operating from the Emberhaven Markets, the guild maintains a strong presence in the city’s trade networks, ensuring a steady supply of resources to other guilds. Pyrestone miners are highly respected for their resilience and expertise, using advanced equipment and protective enchantments to navigate dangerous environments.
The Emberblade Guild is a legendary association of blacksmiths and weaponsmiths. Known for their unparalleled skill in forging blades, armour, and tools, its members are revered throughout the realm. The guild’s signature creations are crafted using mytharyll, an alloy of nyxium and aetherite that combines durability and magical conductivity. The guild’s forges, located in the Forgeheart District, burn hotter than any others in the city, using geothermal energy from the lava lake. Members of the Emberblade Guild are known for their rigorous training and dedication to perfection, often spending decades mastering their craft. Their work is in high demand, from enchanted swords for warriors to intricate mechanisms for clockwork machines. The Shimmerweave Syndicate
Dedicated to textiles and fashion, the Shimmerweave Syndicate is a guild of tailors, weavers, and designers who have elevated clothing to an art form. They incorporate magical elements into their work, creating garments that are both functional and visually stunning. For example, their fabrics can shift colours, regulate temperature, or even offer light protection against elemental forces. The syndicate is based in the Artisan’s Crescent, where they collaborate with other guilds to integrate materials like enchanted threads or lightweight mytharyll into their designs. Their work has made them sought after not only in the Sky Forge but across the realm, dressing nobility, adventurers, and performers alike. The Aetherbound Circle
The Aetherbound Circle is a prestigious guild of scholars, enchanters, and magical theorists. Focused on the study and application of magical energy, the Circle is credited with many of the city’s technological and magical breakthroughs. They were instrumental in developing mytharyll as a practical material by discovering how to stabilise its fusion with aetherite. Based in the Aetherium Ward, the guild’s laboratories and archives are among the most advanced in the city. Members of the Aetherbound Circle are known for their intellectual curiosity and collaborative spirit, often working with other guilds to enhance their crafts. Their contributions range from enchanted tools to the city’s protective wards and energy systems. The Gilded Cog Consortium
The Gilded Cog Consortium specialises in engineering and mechanical innovation. From intricate clockwork mechanisms to large-scale constructs, their creations blend practicality and artistry. The guild’s workshops in the Artisan’s Crescent are filled with complex machinery, where gears, levers, and enchanted components are assembled into marvels of craftsmanship. The consortium has gained fame for its autonomous constructs, which assist with labour, security, and even entertainment in the city. Their partnership with the Aetherbound Circle has enabled them to create machines powered by magical energy, further solidifying their reputation as pioneers in their field. The Pyrestone Guild The Pyrestone Guild is dedicated to mining and resource extraction, particularly focused on rare materials like nyxium, aetherite, and volcanic gemstones. Members of this guild brave the treacherous conditions of the lava lake and the mountain’s depths to secure the raw materials that fuel the city’s economy. Operating from the Emberhaven Markets, the guild maintains a strong presence in the city’s trade networks, ensuring a steady supply of resources to other guilds. Pyrestone miners are highly respected for their resilience and expertise, using advanced equipment and protective enchantments to navigate dangerous environments.
History
The Sky Forge, one of the most revered and enigmatic cities in the realm, was founded by Yuvahn, the goddess of the Sun and Fire, whose radiant powers guided its creation. As a goddess associated with the eternal flame and the forging of the heavens themselves, Yuvahn sought to create a place where the brightest minds and the most skilled hands could channel her divine essence into the crafting of wondrous objects, from the mundane to the extraordinary. She envisioned a place where the secrets of the universe would be unlocked through the union of fire, light, and the art of crafting. Thus, in the early days of the world, the Sky Forge was born.
The forge was established at the very peak of a vast mountain range, chosen by Yuvahn herself for its proximity to the stars and the divine fire she wielded. The gods blessed the land, and with Yuvahn’s touch, the first forges were kindled. The forge’s flames were said to have been crafted from the very essence of the sun, a fire that could melt even the toughest metals and illuminate the darkest reaches of the world. Yuvahn imbued the city with magic and light, ensuring that its creations would be unparalleled in beauty, strength, and power.
As a symbol of her eternal presence, Yuvahn set the forge at the city’s heart, an immense structure that radiated with divine energy. The forge itself became a sacred space, not only a place of craft but also a spiritual sanctuary where those who sought to connect with the divine could gather and work. It is said that those who forged at the Sky Forge could hear the whispers of Yuvahn’s wisdom as they shaped their creations, and that her blessing made every object crafted there a work of divine artistry.
For centuries, the Sky Forge flourished under Yuvahn’s guidance, attracting artisans, smiths, and enchanters from across the lands. These craftsmen, known as the Celestial Artisans, were the first to learn the sacred art of forging under the goddess’s watchful eye. Over time, these artisans became the ruling body of the city, governing not only the craft of smithing but also the spiritual and political life of the city. The Celestial Artisans formed a council, ensuring that the forge would continue to burn brightly as a place of creativity and innovation for generations to come.
A turning point in the history of the Sky Forge came in 2472, with the discovery of Nyxium by Master Artificer Rhaedryn Vael. While searching for new materials to enhance the craft of the city, Vael unearthed a curious crystalline metal deep beneath the mountains. Dark and glasslike, Nyxium shimmered faintly with an inner light, but its properties initially puzzled the Celestial Artisans. The material was brittle and unsuited for traditional forging, shattering under the intense heat and pressure of the forge.
For decades, nyxium was regarded as a curiosity rather than a breakthrough. Its physical frailty made it unsuitable for weapons or armour. It wasn’t until centuries later that the discovery of aetherite, a rare ethereal metal capable of stabilising nyxium’s flaws, led to the invention of mytharyll- a revolutionary alloy that combined the magical potential of nyxium with the strength and flexibility of aetherite.
The creation of mytharyll marked the true beginning of nyxium’s legacy. The alloy was lightweight, durable, and retained nyxium’s unique magical properties, making it ideal for enchanted items, weapons, and intricate constructs. Mytharyll became the cornerstone of the Sky Forge’s innovation, enabling the creation of artefacts and tools that pushed the boundaries of magical craftsmanship.
Despite its growing influence, the Sky Forge found itself at odds with the Tekvalen Empire, a neighbouring power that sought to control the production and distribution of nyxium. Tensions between the Forge and the Empire escalated over time, as the Tekvalen sought to monopolise the trade of this powerful material. The Celestial Artisans, however, valued their independence and resisted any attempts to place their city under the Empire's control.
In response to these pressures, the Celestial Artisans negotiated a deal with the Tekvalen Empire, securing the city’s independence in exchange for a steady supply of Nyxium and the occasional commission for weapons or artifacts. This agreement allowed the Forge to maintain its sovereignty, ensuring that its creations were shared with the wider world while allowing it to retain full control over its governance.
Over the centuries, the Sky Forge has continued to evolve, expanding its influence as both a city and a symbol of mastery in the arts of crafting. The city remains independent, governed by the Celestial Artisans, who continue to uphold the ideals of creativity, innovation, and spiritual connection to Yuvahn. The Forge’s population has grown into a thriving metropolis, attracting artisans, scholars, and adventurers alike. The discovery of Nyxium remains a defining moment in its history, but the city’s true strength lies in its ability to adapt and innovate, always striving to push the boundaries of what is possible in both craftsmanship and magic.
Today, the Sky Forge stands as a beacon of artistic and magical achievement, a place where the divine and the mortal meet, and where the fires of creation burn brighter than ever. Its legacy, forged by the goddess Yuvahn herself and carried forward by generations of master craftsmen, continues to inspire all who seek to create, innovate, and connect with the divine fire that burns at the heart of the Forge.
Climate
The Sky Forge is a city of extremes, shaped by its extraordinary geography and the dramatic interplay of heat and cold. Perched high in the mountains, the city overlooks a vast, fiery lake of lava that lies at the base of the peaks on one side. This unique combination creates a striking climate, where the warmth of molten rock clashes with the icy conditions of high-altitude living.
The lava lake, fed by deep volcanic veins, dominates the region at the mountain's base. Its unrelenting heat radiates upward, warming the lower slopes and influencing the weather in the surrounding areas. The intense temperatures near the lake create a perpetual updraft of hot air, which extends partway up the mountain. This results in balmy conditions on the lower slopes, in stark contrast to the frigid peaks above.
The heat also affects rainfall patterns, as moisture from nearby regions condenses rapidly when it encounters the warm air rising from the lava lake. This leads to frequent but brief thunderstorms around the lake, with lightning crackling over the glowing expanse. At night, the lava lake’s fiery glow illuminates the surroundings, casting a reddish hue on the mountain's base and creating an eerie, otherworldly atmosphere.
In contrast to the warmth below, the city itself, situated near the mountain's summit, experiences a high-altitude climate. The thin air, brisk winds, and dramatic temperature drops at night define life in the Sky Forge. During the day, the sun and occasional warm drafts from the lava below make conditions comfortable. However, as night falls, the temperature often plunges to near-freezing, and frost can form on exposed surfaces.
Above the city, the mountain peaks remain cloaked in snow and ice, standing in stark opposition to the fiery landscape below. This dramatic juxtaposition of frozen summits and molten depths is a defining characteristic of the region, inspiring awe in residents and visitors alike.
The Sky Forge itself has developed microclimates that reflect its unique geography and reliance on fire magic. The heart of the city, where the forges burn day and night, remains perpetually warm. The constant heat of the smithies is supplemented by bioluminescent moss and magical wards, ensuring that artisans can work comfortably despite the intense warmth.
Residential areas are strategically located to avoid direct exposure to both the forge’s heat and the mountain’s cold winds. Magical wards and geothermal systems help maintain an ideal temperature in these living spaces, providing comfort for the city’s inhabitants. On the outskirts of the city, closer to the mountain’s edge, the climate becomes cooler and windier. These areas provide a refreshing contrast to the warmth of the forge, offering residents and visitors a reprieve from the city’s heat.
The collision of heat from the lava lake and cold from the mountain peaks creates a host of unique weather phenomena. Morning fogs and mists are common, as warm air rising from the lava meets the cooler mountain air. Thunderstorms frequently erupt over the lava lake.
Founders
Alternative Name(s)
Ashspire Summit (the mountain it sits on)
Type
Large city
Population
357,428
Inhabitant Demonym
Asher
Location under
Owning Organization
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