Life above the clouds has forged a people as resilient and fragmented as the peaks they call home.
The Skyborne
A collective name for all people born above the clouds. Despite their shared origin, Skyborne culture varies wildly from peak to peak. What unites them is a common ancestry from the Nurseries, a scavenger’s resourcefulness, and a wary respect for the dangers of their world.
Premium Real Estate & Vertical Life
- Limited Land — Only the tips of the tallest mountains breach the cloud veil. Every flat surface is precious.
- Vertical Architecture — Towers, hanging structures, and cliff-side dwellings maximize space. A single peak may hold thousands of souls stacked hundreds of stories high.
- Bridges & Walkways — Rope bridges, stone arches, and mechanical gantries connect spires and neighboring peaks. Falling is a constant hazard; safety rails are a luxury.
- The Mining Taboo — Deep excavation is feared, as it risks waking a dormant Colossus Golem. Most mining is surface-level only. Tunnelers who push too deep are viewed with suspicion.
- Farming and the Elite — Land flat enough to farm is rare, making fresh food a sign of wealth. Those who control farms control the peak. Most Skyborne subsist on preserved rations and Spawner-grown produce.
The Scavenger Economy
The precursor ruins are the lifeblood of Skyborne civilization. There is no centralized coinage.
- Bits — Non-functional precursor tech components, used as currency. They are small, durable, and universally recognized.
- 1 Handful = 10 Bits
- 1 Bag = 10 Handfuls (100 Bits)
- 1 Chest = 10 Bags (1,000 Bits)
- Barter — Most everyday trade happens through barter. Bits are used for major purchases: equipment, Aether-Shards, gryphon rentals, and information.
- The Scavenger’s Creed — “Every Bit, till the last Bit.” A mantra of thrift, persistence, and the belief that everything of value can be found in the ruins — if you’re willing to dig deep enough.
- See Technology & Magic for what those Bits can buy.
The Animalistic Legacy & The Nurseries
The precursors did not simply preserve humanity — they reshaped it.
- The Overseer’s Gambit — The AI Overseers of the Phoenix Project incorporated animal genetics into their human stock. The reasons are debated: adaptability, hardiness, or simple experimentation.
- 60 Ancestry Strains — There are sixty distinct animalistic ancestry strains among the Skyborne. Each carries physical and sensory traits from their genetic donors: feline grace, canine loyalty, avian sight, ursine strength, and many more.
- Biological Integrity — Members of one ancestry can only procreate within the same strain. Cross-ancestry pairings are sterile. This has led to strong lineage identity and, in some peaks, troubling prejudice.
- Humanity Preserved — All ancestries remain humanoid and bipedal. The modifications are subtle — fur patterns, altered eyes, sharper teeth or claws — but unmistakable.
For a full listing of ancestries, see ancestries. For details on peak-specific cultures, see communities.