Skybounder Dwarves
Once exiles, now masters of the skies, the Skybounder Dwarves are an anomaly among their kin, living upon the floating islands that were once the shattered peaks of great fortress-mountains. A people of lightness and grace, their diminutive forms drift through the air with ease, their cloud-like hair swirling with emotion, marking them as one of the most mystical of the dwarven bloodlines. Artisans of the wind, weavers of the heavens, and the peaceful stewards of the floating lands, the Skybounders are unlike any other race in Astralethera.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The Skybounder dwarves are the smallest of their kin, standing between 3.5 to 4.5 feet (1.06 - 1.37 meters) tall with rotund, compact bodies. Their limbs are slightly shorter than those of other dwarves, but their frames are uniquely lightweight, an adaptation that allows them to maneuver effortlessly through the air.
Their most defining feature, however, is their hair and beards, which are composed of a cloud-like substance rather than true hair. Their flowing locks ripple like mist, shifting and curling as if caught in an eternal breeze. While normally a pristine white, their hair changes with emotion—darkening to stormy grey or crackling with sparks when angered, taking on the soft hues of a sunset when embarrassed, and glowing faintly under the light of the moons when in deep thought.
Biological Traits
Genetics and Reproduction
Skybounder dwarves reproduce in a manner similar to their mountain-dwelling kin, though their children are born exceptionally light, almost weightless for the first few years of life. Infants have almost no physical weight until they begin to develop muscle mass, leading to a long period where young Skybounders must be tethered to their cradles to avoid accidental floating.
Their cloud-like hair begins developing within the first few months and becomes fully expressive of their emotions by adolescence.
Growth Rate & Stages
- Infancy (0-5 years): Nearly weightless, requiring careful monitoring.
- Childhood (6-20 years): Develops the ability to control their floating abilities.
- Adolescence (21-50 years): Hair gains full emotional responsiveness; light but physically capable.
- Adulthood (51-250 years): Fully grown, masterful in textile arts and airbound movement.
- Elderhood (250+ years): Slower, but deeply respected for wisdom; hair becomes permanently silvered with age.
Ecology and Habitats
The Skybounders inhabit the floating islands formed from the shattered peaks of their ancestral mountains, where Float Stone keeps the land aloft. Their homes are woven from sky-silk and lightweight metals, forming breathtaking aerial settlements connected by delicate bridges and air-suspended platforms.
Due to their floating environment, they have mastered cloud farming, harvesting moisture from passing clouds and growing lightweight plants suited to their ecosystem. They also raise wind-gliders, large avian creatures that assist in transportation between isles.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The Skybounders have a largely plant-based diet, consisting of aerial crops, sky-fruits, and floating fungi. They also cultivate a special type of feathered grain, which is used to create light, nutrient-dense bread that sustains them for long periods. They rarely consume meat, though some isolated islands practice the rearing of cloudfish—a rare breed of flying fish that drifts between the floating isles.
Biological Cycle
Due to their high-altitude environment, the Skybounders experience slower aging than most other dwarves, possibly due to the unique properties of Float Stone exposure. Their metabolism fluctuates with atmospheric shifts, requiring them to adjust their diet and movement patterns depending on the season.
Behaviour
Unlike their ground-dwelling kin, the Skybounders are a peaceful and introspective people, valuing artistic expression, emotional harmony, and communal living. They have no standing military, relying instead on diplomacy and the isolation of their floating islands to keep them safe.
Additional Information
Social Structure
The Skybounders live in communal settlements, where every individual contributes to the well-being of the whole. Leadership is given to elders and master artisans, rather than warriors or kings. Their society values wisdom, craftsmanship, and emotional balance above all else.
Facial characteristics
Skybounders have rounded faces, wide, luminous eyes, and gentle, expressive features. Their cheeks often have a faint glow.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Limited to floating islands above the ruined mountain ranges
Average Intelligence
High, particularly in textiles, engineering, and aerodynamics
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The Skybounders have exceptional balance and proprioception, allowing them to move gracefully through the air and across water with ease. Their light bones and attunement to Float Stone grant them an innate ability to slow their falls, leap extraordinary distances, and even drift on strong winds.
Their eyesight is adapted to high-altitude living, making them particularly sensitive to movement and changes in atmospheric pressure. This ability allows them to detect storms long before they arrive, a crucial trait for their airborne way of life.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Names are often soft and flowing, inspired by the wind, clouds, and sky.
- Common Names: Zephyrin, Auriel, Nimbas, Cirra, Veyros, Tialith
- Surnames: Skyweave, Cloudmantle, Windwhisper, Mistveil
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Skybounders are widely beloved for their kindness, though often seen as too pacifistic by more militant cultures. Their expertise in textiles makes them highly sought-after trade partners, though their floating islands remain difficult to reach, ensuring their continued isolation.
Small, rotund, yet incredibly agile and lightweight
Their light blue skin mimics the shades of the sky, blending into their surroundings. Some Skybounders develop wispy cloud-like markings across their arms and chests, further emphasizing their connection to the heavens.
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