The Sky Barrons

Aye, lad. They come on solar sails, if there be sails at all, with Ether pulsing out their engines. I've never seen a man radiate with such light as he descended to kill us all. He wore a key around his neck... Aye... They call him The Bloody Baron for a reason... dont be around when that key starts to glow.

— Account of The House of Blood.

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The term "Sky Barron" emerged in response to cultural changes and growth among airships that drift from place to place, often for long periods of time and over great distances. A Sky Barron is effectively an admiral of an armada, and also serves as a leader for this culture that grows under their watch. Each Barron has a house, a "family" that each member of their crew on each ship under their command is a part of. These houses resemble criminal syndicates, having structures similar to that of street gangs and cartels. Every Barron is unique, and while their culture is just as unique as they are, there are many elements that link them together as a single unified culture.

• Unity: No Barron will accept a lack of unity among their crew. You're only as strong as your weakest link, and they are more than willing to let you go... sometimes forcefully... and painfully.
• Reputation: A Barron is a living legend. They take great care in handcrafting each and every detail that they become known for. Some are true, some are not, but a Barron with a rep can rely on it in many ways/
• Belief: The crew that fights under a Barron is more than a bunch of pirates. They are the believers. They have faith in their Barron, and sometimes it can often be similar to a cult. Crew members are proud to be members of their house, and will fight to keep their banner flying high.
• Dreadnoughts: Every house will have a dreadnought that the Barron and those closest to them call home. It is common for a members of a house to spend their lives in the sky. Some have not set foot on solid ground for many years.

The Aurorum Tribunal

Contrary to popular belief, The Barrons have a strict code of ethics, or at least a set of rules, that they follow as close as their patience allows. Once every year, The Barrons gather to determine who owns what, who will fight who to prove they own it, and many other redundant and often petty disputes. Most Barrons refuse to attend, but do still follow the code it represents. The Aurorum Tribunal has proven to be a failed experiment to unite the nations of the sky in some way shape or form. In its current state, The Tribunal serves only as a way to sign declarations of peace and war, trade agreements, and other useless documents that likely wont be followed for the full time agreed upon. The barrons are clever and never expect less from each other.

Cultural Differences

Each Baron makes their own additions and changes to the overall culture The Sky Barons are known for. These tiny cultural changes allow for each bearing to create their own identity and allows for that identity to be shared by those who follow them.
The House of Night, for example, refuses to fight during the day and the Night Barron routinely executes those who kill during the day aboard her dreadnought, The Fist of Nox. She does this even if they are not her own followers. She is remarkably rigid in her beliefs many would claim she is a criminal, others see her as their only defender.
The House of Jitters is known for consuming many illicit substances in an attempt to enhance their skill in battle and routinely sell these substances to those who find themselves in their skies. They are a ragtag group of misfits who are hated by almost all who meet then aboard their poorly modified and thrown together "dreadnought" named The Feast of Fools.

by Aleksey Bayura

by michalkus

House Dreadnoughts

No one would dare call themselves a Barron without a dreadnought to call home. Dreadnoughts are massive airships that are usually unique in design. They are one of a kind and become synonomous with the Barron that owns it, and their house. Dreadnoughts are rarely seen, and if you happen to see one, its far to late.
A dreadnought represents the Barron's power, and as such, are always heavily defended and even if you could catch one alone, few airships could stand toe to toe with one. They are armed to the teeth, heavily manned, and live up to the symbol they represent.

The Sky Barrons were some of the first Pauper Kings. They emerged as the first airships took flight from the hangers of the Locksmith, and never touched the ground again. Their culture is Infamous for its feudal turf wars, as each Barron fights for control of the sky. It is common to hear the explosions of battle when traveling across, what they refer to as 12 Skies.