Charter of the First Descent

The Charter of the First Descent is a historically infamous document among the Altaneans, a symbol of ambition, betrayal, and the delicate balance between the sky realms and the world below. Its creation marked the beginning of Altanean exploration of the ground world but also laid the groundwork for conflict and mistrust that lingers to this day.
The Charter was drafted centuries ago by Synnefo Erimo, the legendary explorer who led the first voyage to the skies above Etoria. This document, written aboard the airship Apollo’s Breath, was intended to establish a set of laws and principles governing travel and interaction between Altanaeum and the ground world.
Signed by the most influential leaders of Altanaeum—druids, airship captains, and elemental elders—the Charter outlined three key decrees:
Altaneans would respect the autonomy of the ground world and its inhabitants.
Resources taken from the ground world must be replenished or traded for fairly.
No Altanean may bring objects or entities from the ground world that could destabilize the balance of the sky realms.
At the time, the Charter was hailed as a visionary attempt to ensure peaceful coexistence between the two worlds.
Infamous Betrayal The Charter’s infamy stems from its catastrophic violation during the Pearl Conflict, also known as the Skyfey Raids. Decades after the Charter was signed, a group of sky pirates, emboldened by rogue fey and opportunistic merchants, began descending to the ground world in search of the legendary pink pearls of the Titan Snails. These pearls, rumored to amplify magical abilities, were highly coveted in Altanaeum.
The Altanean High Council discovered that members of their own ranks—leaders who had signed the Charter—had secretly funded these expeditions. The raids devastated the ground-world communities, drawing the ire of fey, giants, and humans alike. Worse still, the pearls, when brought back to the sky, disrupted the magical currents, causing violent storms and threatening the stability of entire floating regions.
The resulting fallout nearly shattered Altanaeum. Trust between its people and the ground world collapsed, and the Charter was deemed a hollow promise. To this day, it serves as a cautionary tale of greed and hubris.
Current Status The Charter of the First Descent now resides in the Skyglass Archive, a heavily guarded library in the Whispering Spires. Its faded parchment bears the signatures of its original authors, though several names have been scratched out in disgrace. The ink, enchanted with air magic, still shimmers faintly, a reminder of the hope and betrayal tied to its legacy.
Some Altaneans argue the Charter should be destroyed, as it represents a shameful period in their history. Others believe it must be preserved to ensure the mistakes of the past are never repeated. Among the younger generation, it is often used as a rallying cry for reform, with some calling for a new charter to redefine Altanaeum’s relationship with the ground world.