The Skyborne live in the shadow of a technological apex they can barely comprehend — and they are determined not to repeat its mistakes.
The Reset & Technological Taboos
- Clockwork Supremacy — Mechanical, transparent engineering is the gold standard. Gears, springs, and visible mechanisms are trusted because they can be understood and repaired. A device that works by invisible means is treated with deep suspicion.
- Technological Infancy — Electricity, chemistry, and steam power are known but viewed warily. Nursery-tales of the precursor wars blame advanced energy sources for the destruction of the old world. Most communities actively discourage research in these areas.
- A Note on Medicine — The animalistic ancestries of the Skyborne resist many diseases, but injuries and infections are common. Most healing relies on herbal remedies, alchemical poultices, and mechanical prosthetics. Advanced precursor medical tech exists in ruins, but using it is a gamble.
Aether-Shards & Lattice-Drives
The twin technologies that keep the Skyborne aloft — literally.
- Aether-Shards — Crystalline fragments of unknown origin that generate lift when energized. They are found in ruins and are the most valuable resource in the known world.
- Lattice-Drives — Devices that harness Aether-Shards to produce controlled thrust and buoyancy. The larger the Shard, the larger the Drive it can power.
- Applications:
- Small — Hover-carts, personal lifters, small craft
- Medium — Airships, the backbone of Skyborne travel and trade
- Massive — Entire floating landmasses, rare and legendary
- Navigators & Tuners — Skilled operators who use tuning forks to resonate with Aether-Shards, adjusting lift and direction. A good Tuner is worth their weight in Bits.
- The Tactical Taboo — Shooting down an airship is considered unforgivable. The accepted practice is boarding and engine-stripping — taking the Drive and leaving the hull. Destroying a Ship risks sending an Aether-Shard plummeting into the depths.
- Valuation — A Small Shard costs from 10 to 100 Chests of Bits. A Medium Shard can fetch hundreds of Chests. A Massive Shard is priceless — and almost never sold.
Magic & Magi-Tech
- Applied Science — What the Skyborne call “magic” is simply precursor technology they do not yet understand. True mysticism is debated; most scholars insist everything has a mechanical or alchemical explanation.
- Preference for Mechanical Solutions — Even when magi-tech would be more efficient, most Skyborne prefer clockwork or muscle power. Trust in the tangible runs deep.
Aerial Mounts & Gryphons
- Standard Travel — For personal transport, nothing beats a trained aerial mount. Gryphons are the most common, prized for their intelligence, loyalty, and adaptability to high altitudes.
- The Roost Economy — Most Skyborne do not own gryphons. They rent them from breeders and roost-keepers, paying in Bits or barter. Roosts are a common feature in any settlement of significant size.
- Status Symbol — Owning a personal gryphon is a clear mark of wealth. The quality of its training, its ancestry line, and its barding all speak to the owner’s status.
For more on how these technologies shape the world, see locations and factions.