Introduction to Aeros

Aeros is a land of magic, exploration, and danger, filled with islands that long ago rose from the surface of the world and now float in the sky. The current known world consists of what scholars simply refer to as "the west", which is then typically divided into the north and south. It has a range of climates from the frozen north and south poles to the blistering heat of Rotarias in the center of the world. None alive know what caused the event referred to as The Rising of the World, or simply, The Rising, but the world has existed as it does now for some thousands of years, for as of yet no records of the pre-rising world have been found.
Many peoples survived whatever calamitous event caused the Rising to occur, and eventually became the varied nations we have discovered today. The world is hardly charted though, innumerable islands wait to be discovered, some with ancient ruins that can only have belonged to pre-rising civilizations. We know perilously little of our world, as the recent introduction of the Valantian Empire proves. Unknown creatures, peoples, and treasures can await adventurous souls who are brave and bold enough to contend with the mysteries and dangers of this world.

One of the most notable features of the west, are the two great rifts, powerful and endless storms that rise higher than the eye can see, and down into the deepest depths of our world, as of yet no skyship has been able to survive their currents, though many brave and unfortunate souls have made the attempt. Some believe these barriers help keep the world together, and there is nothing beyond them, others believe there are likely lands and peoples yet undiscovered on the other side, and long for the day when they can be successfully navigated. The surface of our world, if it still exists at all, is unreachable by modern skyships as well, while the skies where the islands rest are largely calm and float steadily within the ever-flowing winds of aether, below the serenity of our skies lies perpetual and violent winds and frequent aether storms, called the Eternal Storms, making descent through them impossible for modern skyships.

Initially, it is likely that each of the larger islands thought they were the only ones to survive, however the advent of skyship technology has allowed exploration to resume, and different cultures to once again interact with one another as they must have pre-rising. These ships are powered by crystals or shards of the lifeblood of this world, Aether. It has allowed advances in not only exploration, but technology and quality of life for all peoples who know how to harness its powers.