The Kurukkan Salvation of the H'regonath

The Conflict

Prelude

The world was ending. The whole planet had been enveloped in the dark energies of its own hubris. As the surface boiled and writhed in its final death-throws, the final armadas of ships left the surface with those who were essential enough to be needed at their posts until the end, as well as those unlucky or unsuitable enough to be left on the surface until last. One hodgepodge mix of working-class heroes and cunning vagabonds departed on one of the last armadas to leave the planet. As if the planet was reaching out to keep them close, an electrical storm of planetary proportions chased the desperate fleet out of the atmosphere, disabling many of the escaping ships - crashing them on the nearest safe haven available. The First Ring. Nestled on the edge of the planet's immense shadow, the wrecked crews of the Last Fleet struggled to survive. For these grim, determined, and desperate characters, there seemed to be no hope.

Conditions

Stranded and left for dead by the escaping fleets, the wrecked survivors struggled to survive. The area where they landed did provide food, however, the destructive force of Cora Magicalis emanating from the surface ensured that each morsel of food was hard-won. As time went on, those who remained rebuilt and scavenged what they could from the rocks, the floatsom and jetsom floating toward the surface from the outer rings, and what they could gain by pure cunning. While subsistence was possible, growth and abundance were not.

The Engagement

The Kurukkan approached with caution. From the third ring, their ancestors had observed the crashed fleet, had sought it out. Out of fear and caution, they maintained their distance. Those who wanted to help initially found it impossible to do so. To travel further from the Circe Magicalis was to separate one's self from their own soul. Generations passed, and they continued to observe from afar.
Until one day, a single Kurukkan found himself peering across the void. The rock crumbled beneath their feet, and the pull of the planet seized them, hurling the innocent youth toward inevitable death. The creature, knowing its innate ability to remake its self, created a form that could maneuver the Kaos Manifestis, the between force. Now propelling themselves over the gaps, the fall became the first flight. Wonder and amazement at the newfound freedom, the young Kurukkan dove and swept over the isolated lone islands, descending dangerously close to the innermost ring. In doing so, they came across a settlement of H'regonath survivors.
The survivors witnessed the great flying birds, finding in their flight a shred of hope. After generations of waiting, had help come at last? After the initial shock came wonder and awe.
The first of the Great Birds landed near a dying fire, surrounded by starving and hopeless people. Wary of these strangers and unwilling to show their true form, the Kurukkan kept their distance initially... but the awestruck H'regonath reached out with their hands, and communicated with signals their desire to touch and caress the mysterious animal from above. The Kurukkan, discovering their goodwill, found his better nature-inspired. These hard folks were in need of help, in need of love. Their second trip returned with food, and then another with medicines and ointments capable of healing and renewing life.
The fourth return trip of the Kurukkan was supposed to be their last... but this time, the H'regonath produced something to give their benefactor in return for their help. A stone of pure Cora Magicallis pulled from the skull of the hated creatures which plagued the H'regonath from the shadowlands on their border. Something impossible for any Kurukkan to obtain, but an item which when combined with the powers of Circe Magicalis produced the life bringing Kaos Manifestis - a byproduct elemental magic that was the only fuel capable of powering the great machines left from the immense exodus of the planet surface, now abandoned and floating across the great rings for generations.
With the discovery of the Cora stones, the Kurukkan were driven from their place of protection - a trade route was established between the species. Harvested Cora in exchange for food, medicine, knowledge, life, and rejuvenation.

Outcome

The H'regonath and Kurukkan formed an alliance. Henceforward the Kurukkan provided healing, food, engineering, and non-violent support to the H'regonath, while the H'regonath in turn acted as muscle for the Kurukkan, hunting the rare monsters who carried Cora Crystals and giving the over to the Kurukkan.
The Kurukkan in turn took the crystals and found uses for them. At first, they were used to light fires and provide heat. A generation later, and the Kurukkan discovered that they could use the Cora Crystals by infusing them with Circe magicalis powers, forcing them to be repelled or drawn to each other. This lead to the creation of massive barges that linked floating island to floating island, being propelled by the simple application of Kaos magic produced by the synthesis of the Cora and Circe magics. Islands were connected from the third ring back to the first where the H'regonath were located.
After so much time living near the planet's surface, the H'regonath refused to permanently leave their home, happily scavenging what they can that falls to them from the other rings and hunting Cora Crystals for the Kurukkan. Likewise, the Kurukkan felt reluctant to travel all the way to the first ring to trade, often meeting on islands in between on the second ring to exchange goods with the H'regonath. A bond of friendship was formed, each side supplying the skills that the other lacked.

Aftermath

The H'regonath continue to live a hardscrabble existence, made sustainable by the help of the Kurukkan. They flourish and expand their scavenging and hunting operations across the first ring. Woe be it to the creature that encounters them who are not their Kurukkan ally.
The Kurukkan had to adapt a different main form than a fox-like creature that allowed them to build and maintain the transportation between the two races. They established few more transport routes between the two rings and their main dwellings became located near the start of the barge routes.