Environment

The world above the clouds is one of stark beauty, constant danger, and ecological strangeness. Below the veil lies a realm few dare to enter.

The Cloud Veil & The Blight Tide

The Cloud Veil — A thick layer of alchemical mist that blankets the surface, remnants of the ancient war. It blocks most sunlight and hides the ground from view.
Toxicity — Lower elevations are laced with alchemical residues. Prolonged exposure causes wasting sickness, hallucinations, and worse.
Mutated Beasts — Creatures that dwell in or near the veil are twisted by its influence, growing aggressive, resilient, and often monstrous.
The Blight Tide — A cyclical phenomenon where the veil rises, pushing mutated fauna and toxic mists higher up the peaks. Communities brace for these events with fortified walls and constant patrols.

Life in the peaks is both abundant and artificial in origin.

The Spawners — Precursor relics that produce plants and animals, scattered across the mountains. They maintain the ecosystem, generating everything from fruit-bearing vines to herd beasts. Most are stable, but none are fully understood.
Corrupted Spawners — A nightmare scenario. When a Spawner is damaged or exposed to the Blight Tide, it begins producing twisted, hostile life. A corrupted Spawner left unchecked can overrun a peak.
Mutants — Flora and fauna exposed to the Blight Tide or precursor toxins, adapted for survival in the lower elevations. Some are useful; most are deadly.

Elevation determines everything — climate, resources, and danger.

Low — Deep in the clouds. Humid, toxic, and swarming with Blight-corrupted life. Only the most desperate or well-equipped scavengers venture here.
Medium — The most comfortable and densely populated band. Mild temperatures, breathable air, and the most abundant ruins.
High — Dry, cold, and thin-aired. The peaks here offer strategic advantages and valuable mineral deposits, but life is harsh and resources scarce.

See locations for elevation details on specific peaks and settlements.