Dawn Euphoria and the Scorpions in the Sky

Dawn Euphoria was the first fully-functioning solar-copter on Phasmatum. Piloted by Padmini Dalavi, the helicopter was meant to fly high into the atmosphere in order to examine the massively large and massively strange creatures which floated languishingly across every continent and ocean. Little was known about the giant scorpions of the sky. When humans pressed the native species, some believed them to be the first children. Others, just another animal.

The inquisitive drive of humans meant that they needed to know more. And thus, after they extracted enough metals to increase their solar panel production, Dawn Euphoria was built. Many pilots wanted to be the first to brave the skies. However, it was Padmini Dalavi who was chosen for the exploration of above.

The flight started out successfully. However, as the pilot Dalavi flew nearer to the creatures, a cloud of black swarmed off of the massively strange giant scorpion. Immediately, the solar-copter was engulfed. Dalavi tried to pilot herself to safety but they came too fast. By the time she crash-landed to the ground, the black swarm was gone, save for one dead creature.

The creature was the size of a small child, eight hairy legs connected to a bulbous body, it's back a disturbingly beautiful color cacophony. Black leather wings spread wide, one ripped halfway through. The thing could only be described as a spider-bat. And wrapped around the propellers of the helicopter was a sticky webbing stronger than any knife or tool the would-be rescuers possessed.

Even without prying open the door, her rescuers knew they were too late. Padmini was gone and the skies were more dangerous then humans ever could have dared feared.

Over the years, humans have tried to send other flying vehicles to the sky with little success. If one flew low enough, perhaps just a thousand feet in the air, they were generally safe. However, the higher one flew, the more risk they put themselves in. Over time, the risk of flight outweighed any potential benefits and people took to using boats and railways for long distance travel.

None the less, there will always be high-risk aviators who will take to the skies in airships. Whether it is to capture the swarming spider-bats for use of their webbing, to try to draw near the giant floating scorpions, or just to travel to locales that no train or boat can traverse.