Sky Island – Falthemar

The beautiful and majestic nation of the Avariel, Falthemar is a land of high mountains and scenic cliffs that can take anyone's breath away. The Aerie itself resembles a massive castle or tower of glass built on a sheared-off mountaintop situated on one of the highest mountains in the kingdom. Some of the famous sites in Aerie are the Crystal Dome, the Spire of Songs, and the Tree of Life.

Members of House Aetrisgreet travelers entering the Aerie.

The kingdom is built with winged creatures in mind; but the Blue Sapphire ("Tha py") tavern, a remnant of a distant time, has all the amenities and comforts for anyone not equipped for the Avariel lifestyle.

Geography

Large Skylands

Large Skylands are the centers of aerial culture, the seats of noble houses, and the largest Skylands as the capitols of entire nations. These large Skylands have varied territories and diverse populations, with few cities across their mileage and many small farming villages spaced between them. People take advantage of the opportunities to spread themselves out that they may not enjoy on other Skylands. These large and mid-sized Skylands are the seats of major cities and trade hubs. Every sailor knows the sight of the rooftops on these islands.

Small Skylands

Most smaller Skylands only hold a small number of people on the confines of their territory, usually a handful of families. The people living on these small islands - farmers, craftsmen, fishermen, breeders, people who don't need too much space - are entirely dependent on the trade networks connecting the islands. The trade networks are also employed to keep people on these small Skylands moving, such as taking them to annual gatherings at select locations or transporting them to hub islands for markets.

Ecosystem Cycles

Most people who live on the Skylands wear warm layered clothing. At high altitudes, the temperatures shift drastically between night and day but are typically colder than the regions below.
The People

Avariels came dangerously close to extinction long ago, and it has taken them years to recover. Still worried about the fate of their race, recently have they begun to think about expand back into the world, sending explorers, diplomats, and merchants into the land.
Avariels are free spirits who would like nothing better than to simply soar on the current high above the ground, taking in the views Asgard has to offer. They possess an irrepressible zest for life. Even in the darkest, most desperate situation, and avariel remains cheerful.
Unfortunately, while friendly to those they consider equals, avariels also tend to be condescending and even downright rude to land bound races. The avariels are usually unaware of this; it’s just their natural reaction to treat land bound races as lesser creatures. Given time and enough exposure to other cultures, avariels can overcome their natural bias.

Localized Phenomena

Skylands tend to not concern themselves with fortification walls, most creatures that might threaten a civilized Skyland would be able to fly over walls anyway. Instead, they focus on watchtowers and emergency shelters, hoping that adequate preparation can help prevent a disaster. Elite soldiers are dedicated to traveling between different Skylands, maintaining the rule of law, and defending the remote people from various dangers.
Given the risk of falling, the fences around livestock grazing areas are tall and sturdy and keep a few feet of space between the fence and the rim of the Skyland. Even Skylands without livestock have these simple fences as a simple reminder.

Fauna & Flora

Most people on the Skylands keep a diverse mix of primarily small livestock, sheep, chickens, goats, a few cattle, and other animals. Even people who are not strictly farmers usually have a few animals so long as they have the space for it and a small vegetable garden.
Livestock in the ranches of the Skyland is typically given large fenced-off spaces to graze. Large areas on occupied Skylands are set aside for agriculture or ranching to supplement any goods brought up from the farms and ranches on the ground territories below.
Ample space is occupied on some Skylands by ranches to breed and train flying mounts, often temperamental and difficult to control. Giant Eagles are a common species and easy to domesticate.

Natural Resources

Avariels have taken the craft of glassblowing and elevated it to an art form. When most races turn to metal, wood, or stone to craft gear, the avariels have turned to the fragile and delicate medium of glass. In a way, they affinity for glass as a medium reflects their very nature, for the avariels themselves are fragile and beautiful people.
While much avariel glass is delicate and decorative, the winged elves have also mastered glassteel, a form of glass as strong as metal. Many avariel outposts are made of glassteel, as are some armor, weapons, and tools.

History

Along with the high elves, the avariels are among the oldest elven races. Today, though, they are all but extinct, haunted mercilessly by the goblins and evil folk. Today's last redoubt of the avariels is the Floating Island, which broke off during the Black Tide. The avariels fly there still, fishing in the freezing waters and haunting the icy reaches. The Aerie itself resembles a massive castle or tower of glass built on a sheared-off mountaintop. The present-day Aerie is a wonder to behold. The walls of the glass aerie are magically hardened to the strength of steel. Inside, the Aerie supports a tropical climate, complete with jungles of plants and trees long extinct elsewhere in Asgard.

by Atomhawk

Type

Island, Floating

Law

The noble families (or appointed governors) living on Skylands are responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting taxes, and maintaining peace within their assigned territories.
Crime is rigorously controlled on the Skylands, but jail is an unusual punishment as the space is too precious to waste on incarceration. In extreme cases, most people are punished with forced labor or fines, or exile, slavery, or death.
Jails exist, but usually only on small, barren islands that would have been unsuitable for anything else. Simple holding cells are much more common.