The Hollow Strands

Overview The Hollow Strands are a shadowy organization of skilled thieves and daredevils who specialize in traveling between the sky realms and the ground world. Using their modified Arachnafoil Skimmers and their intimate knowledge of both realms, they descend through the cloud barriers to plunder artifacts, resources, and treasures from the ground world and bring them back to the skies.
Structure and Hierarchy The Weblord:
The enigmatic leader of the Hollow Strands. Known only by their title, the Weblord is a master strategist and elusive figure who communicates through encrypted messages woven into strands of spider silk. Legends say the Weblord was once an awakened sky spider who took humanoid form after a fateful encounter with Arachna Nýfada.
Strandmasters: Senior members who oversee operations and mentor new recruits. Each Strandmaster is responsible for a specific aspect of the Hollow Strands’ missions, such as reconnaissance, negotiation, or artifact appraisal.
Silken Wings: The elite thieves and raiders who pilot customized Arachnafoil Skimmers. These skimmers are outfitted with stealth-enhancing magic, grappling lines, and storage compartments for stolen goods.
Webweavers: Specialists who create enchanted spider-silk tools and artifacts, such as climbing ropes, gliders, and nets. They also decipher and encode messages in silk patterns.
Cloud Scouts: Operatives who map safe descent routes to the ground world and identify valuable targets. Scouts often have elemental magic or natural abilities that help them navigate the dangerous transitions between realms.
Operations and Activities
Treasure Raids: The Hollow Strands target ground-world ruins, noble estates, and temples, seeking artifacts infused with ancient magic or precious resources like rare metals and gemstones.
Their skimmers allow for rapid descents and equally swift escapes back to the sky.
Smuggling Network: Beyond theft, the Hollow Strands run a lucrative smuggling operation, bringing exotic goods from the ground world to the sky realms. Items like spices, alchemical reagents, and ancient texts are highly sought after in the skies.
Reconnaissance and Espionage: The organization often gathers intelligence on ground-world factions, selling this knowledge to sky-realm leaders or using it for strategic advantage. They are adept at intercepting messages and mapping enemy movements.
Skyground Bazaar: The Hollow Strands operate an underground market in a hidden web village, where stolen goods are sold to the highest bidder. This bazaar is accessible only by invitation and guarded by awakened spiders loyal to the Strands.
Symbolism and Identity
Sigil: A spider descending on a thread, symbolizing their ability to traverse both realms.
Motto: “Where threads touch earth, treasures rise to the skies.”
Appearance: Members wear lightweight, dark-toned attire reinforced with spider silk, designed for stealth and mobility. Masks adorned with spider motifs hide their identities.
Tactics and Tools
Modified Arachnafoil Skimmers: Outfitted with silent flight capabilities, retractable claws for grappling, and camouflage enchantments to blend into cloud cover.
Skimmers often carry silken nets or magical pouches for carrying stolen goods.
Spider-Silk Gear: Silkclimb Harnesses: Enable quick ascents and descents, even in high winds.
Webbombs: Small, enchanted orbs that explode into sticky webs, immobilizing foes or creating escape routes.
Silken Veil Cloaks: Render the wearer nearly invisible when in shadow or fog.
Skyground Codex: A magical map maintained by the Webweavers, showing safe routes between the sky realms and ground world. This codex is the Hollow Strands' most guarded secret.
Relations with the Sky Realms
Public Perception: The Hollow Strands are seen as romantic outlaws by some and dangerous criminals by others. Stories of their exploits often become exaggerated legends among the skyfolk.
Conflict with Authorities: Many sky-realm leaders view the Strands as a threat to stability, especially due to their habit of bypassing laws and smuggling contraband. Bounties are common for their capture.
Allies and Clients: The Strands often collaborate with rogue sky pirates, mercenaries, and even some web villages seeking access to ground-world goods. They also have informants within the more corrupt elements of sky politics.