The Inner Sea

The Inner Sea, a vast expanse of sky cradled between the vast continents of Vesperia and Luminaria, is a place of breathtaking beauty, unpredictable winds, and a kaleidoscope of floating islands that beckon travelers with the promise of adventure and discovery. It is the busiest and most well-charted section of Yrdde’s sky-sea, its airways alive with the comings and goings of merchants, pilgrims, explorers, and those seeking fortune and freedom amidst the ever-shifting tapestry of clouds.
Dozens of sky-ways have been charted between the two continents and the countless islands between, and most are well maintained and patrolled. The Empire and the Sanctum Alliance are responsible for protecting the airways within a specific distance of their home continents, one of the many agreements solidified during the peace treaty that ended the Sanctum-Imperial war. The space between the two borders is more chaotic, but order is mostly maintained by the mercenary police of the Free States.

Notable Sky-lanes

The Golden Arc

This well-traveled route stretches between Aetheris, Nivora, and Sanctum. Marked by beacons powered by massive Yrddestones and under constant patrol, the Golden Arc is considered the safest and most efficient path between the two continents, although congestion and tolls imposed by various jurisdictions can make it a tedious journey. Some traders choose less maintained routes in an attempt to avoid the time and extra cost of the Golden Arc, leaving them tempting targets for pirate crews.

The Pilgrim’s Path

A network of sky-lanes connecting Sanctum to the various Sunstone locations scattered across the Alliance’s territories. The path is less clearly defined than the Golden Arc, with smaller beacons and fewer patrols. However, during the annual Sunstone Blessing, these routes become a vibrant procession of young pilgrims seeking the whispers of their goddess amidst the breathtaking vistas of the Inner Sea. Pirates rarely target these travelers, as pilgrim convoys are often protected by groups of overzealous warriors hoping to find favor with Elysia in battle.

Points of Interest

The Azure Cascade

A mesmerizing phenomenon that occurs along a string of uninhabited islands on the southern edge of the sea. Massive waterfalls cascade from within the islands themselves, creating swirling rainbows and a misty veil that refracts sunlight, painting the skies below with breathtaking iridescent hues. Merchant vessels are a common sight around these islands, capturing and bottling the endless streams of water for resale elsewhere in Yrdde, as it is said that these waters have many and varied healing properties. There is an entire Vinecrest vineyard whose claim to fame is that they solely water their crops with this water at an exorbitant cost.

The Stormheart Maelstrom

A massive, perpetual storm system situated north of Sanctum, its thunderous roars echoing across the sky-sea. Its swirling clouds are laced with lightning and unpredictable aetherial surges that can knock even the sturdiest airships off course. Those brave or foolish enough to navigate this storm claim the air within its eye is strangely calm, filled with whispered voices and fleeting glimpses of other realms. The storm was key to an early victory by the Empire in the Sanctum-Imperial war, when an Imperial scouting fleet defeated a large Sanctum warship by luring it into range of the lightning.