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(Credit to Ark Reahver)

History

About three thousand years ago a cataclysmic event known as Earthfall caused the destruction of the world. The earth began to shatter into pieces and the air became thick with miasma, both poisonous and corrosive it brought illness and death to anything it touched. Frightened of their impending doom the people of the earth looked to their greatest minds for salvation.

A year later a professor named Alexander Belmont, brought forward blue prints for massive ships that would carry the people to safety. The ships would float to the sky above the reach of the deadly poison. There they would wait out the suffering, wait for the earth to become pure again so that they could return to their beloved homeland. At first people were skeptical, and rejected his idea. After many trial and error experiments he finally succeeded in creating a functioning model. He took the model to his country leaders who provided funding for the project and allowed for him to build a fully functional life size ship. People were amazed by his scientific genius and adopted his idea as their best chance of survival.

The ships were built, but many were already dead from the poison. Sacrifices were made and thousands stayed behind, some by free will others through necessity. As the ships rose, one by one they watched as the world they once knew fell away before them. The miasma created thick clouds that enveloped the earth. The clouds grew on top of each other, creating a thick shield that prevented the miasma from reaching the ships. The world below could no longer be seen.

Many years passed and the ships prepared to return home, but before they made their journey they were greeted by a strange sign. Floating rock islands that carried parts of cities and towns, or parts of forest or mountains, rose up from beneath the clouds. It was an ominous sign for all who witnessed it. The captains and political leaders from all the ships held a meeting to discuss the significance of this event. Scientists discovered impossibly strong magnetic forces emanating from the islands. They could not explain how it happened, but now they truly believed that there would be no return to their previous home.

After the meeting people began to gather what they could from these islands. They added to the ships combining them together, creating cities, carriers of civilization which hovered above the surface of the adequately named Cloudsea. The cities took on specific roles, whether they were farming colonies that grew food for the cities, housing and urban cities meant to house as many people as possible, or military colonies to train the protective forces of the sky cities. They became a new people, created allegiances, new governments, a new world. Novus-Terra.

For several thousand years now the cities have grown, created new inventions like robots meant to serve many purposes, as well as building many smaller sky-ships resembling the size and shape of their previous boats. The world went on a steady climb of prosperity for a while, but the longer things dragged on the worse things became.

Now cities are covered in grime, populations are so high that resources are a major issue, and crime is becoming rampant and common.
The cities are experiencing many problems, and have no solution for how to solve them. The prosperity age of the sky-cities is faded.
What will become of the world?

Synopsis of the World

The world of Novus-Terra, is a world in the sky. The people of the world escaped a deadly and corrosive air that began to cover the world by fleeing to the sky. After learning that they might never get to return home, the ship inhabitants reformed their thoughts and decided to begin a new life in the sky. They recovered scraps and debris, that floated up to the sky due to a strange magnetic force. The additions to the ships became so large that multiple ships came together and became cities.

The world exist purely in the sky, no land except for the floating islands where most of the resources that created the sky-cities came from. Several centuries later the world faces a time period filled with struggle. Governments have become monarchies, and have strong segregation of the classes. The resources that they relied on are becoming scarce and conflict is beginning between sky-cities.

Pirates are attacking merchant ships and supply frigates, taking whatever they can to ensure their own survival. The population of the cities has become very high, and living conditions have become very poor. A few cities have fallen below the clouds, and an influx of wanderers (people with no permanent residence in one city), has created crime within the cities.

Not to mention one of the two original races that came to the skies is dying out. Elves, who faces extreme prejudice and are often traded as slaves, are becoming few and far between.

The Skycities

Many sky cities have become corrupt favoring the strong and leaving little to the weak. They come in many different shapes The cities have been separated into three different social districts.

Noble District

The Noble District is populated by High ranking military officers, political leaders, highly regarded scholars and the wealthy. It is by far the smallest district and usually exists at the very top of the sky cities. They have the purest and cleanest water, the cleanest air and the most living space, but few people ever get to live in this district.

In depth with the Noble district. Within the noble district everything you know about struggle vanishes. The streets are filled with happy smiling faces, all the people that live here are completely separated from the ills of the world. Living in beautiful houses which show architecture that is much more refined than the rest of the city. The noble district is the newest add on to any city. Often in capital cities the noble district is home to a palace for the royal family who is in charge of the city and all smaller cities within their jurisdiction. It is very hard to get to live in the noble district but it is not impossible. The border between the noble district and the central district is often referred to as Hightown.

Central District

The Central District is the largest of the three and is composed of many parts, the most important being the docks where ships come and go. The socond is the commercial section filled with large trading centers, hospitals, schools, military barracks, and recreational facilities. And the last is the housing sector which lies just above many of the shops, often just beginning on the third or fourth floors of building. This is as close as you get to standard city life.

In depth with the Central district. This part of the city has a mixture of new and old architecture, and often times can be described as the Noble district with much more wear and tear. This part of the city can be beautiful but unlike the ND it has multiple quirks. The living spaces are much smaller, and the cost for living can be a bit pricey some times. The streets are busier than any other part of the city and have the most diversity of people. This section is also home to the docks, where sky ships come and go. Some of these building are very old and were originally added onto a city after the Sky Council decided there would be no return to their home world and began preparing for a life among the clouds.

Lower District

The Lower district is the second largest but nowhere near as big as the central district. Because of the shape of sky cities the lower district receives less light than the others, creating a dark and gloomy appearance, and making the difference between day and night seem like nothing. This section is mostly populated by the poor, and the people who run maintenance of the city. The living conditions are severely affected by all the machinery that keeps the city functioning, in some cases the factories in which weapons and ships are built. The high crime rates, and risk of pirate attacks make it a dangerous place to travel at any time of day. Being the lowest level all the water they get has already been recycled from the above districts and is rarely clean. It is often referred to as the Undercity.

In depth with the Lower district. Not necessarily everyone that lives here has it rough, it?s just that the undercity has the worst living conditions. Inventors and engineers often make a lot of money but are required to live here for safety. This section is more susceptible to attacks because of its proximity to the clouds, from where sky pirates attack in cloud submarines.

The Four Winds

The Winds are the names of the continents and countries of the Cloudsea. They refer to the large group of Sky-Cities that travel together on the same wind current. The four Main continents are;

The Northern Wind- The largest and most militarized continent. A few decades ago the Northern Wind tried to take control of the other winds. They launched a war campaign that lasted over twenty years. The northern Wind launched an attack because it could not peacefully unify the sky. The leaders had claimed that the sky should be unified and that it should not be composed of individual monarchies. The people of the sky proved to be less forth giving to a new form of government. Their superior technology forced the other winds to fight together to ward off the attackers. They are now isolated from the other continents and live a life of seclusion, hidden behind their constantly patrolled borders. Their capital city is called Nordsvein.

The northern Wind launched an attack because it could not peacefully unify the sky. The leaders had claimed that the sky should be unified and that it should not be composed of individual monarchies. The people of the sky proved to be less forth giving to a new form of government.

::Cities of the North::

Galera- A city close to the borders, Contains a black market which secretly trades with other nations.

Ciel'caela- This is a free elven city, one of the very few in the entire Cloudsea and by far the largest. Ciel'caela is rich in elven culture, immersing itself within ancient traditions. The people are very united and happy.

The Southern Wind?The south wind is the most ravaged by pirate attacks. The people of the southern wind have a strong sense of unity and brotherhood; they have a very small difference between their social casts and have by far the least segregation. They are composed of much smaller sky-cities that float near each other instead of very large independent ones. This continent is home to small floating islands that have plenty of water. They are the only wind that receives snow more than just during winter. Their capitol is named Sadrael.

The SW is home to many beautiful floating islands, although frozen and covered in snow. The SW often experiences storms that are more blizzards than rain and lightning, by far the most difficult nation to live in, because of that it is also home to some of the toughest sailors and traders you will ever come across. If you meet someone who seems too bad ass for their own good, there?s a good chance they were raised in the southern wind.

::Cities of the South::

Skala- Home to the military force of the sW, the men and women known as the Dragonlance. They are strong and devoted warriors, when they charge into battle their strength and endurance inspires both admiration and fear.

Invar- The city is coated with ice and snow. The people that live in this city are there mostly through stubbornness. This cities biggest import is clean water, which is made in their special purification water plant.

Skypeak*(NEW)- Lies surrounded by several floating islands. This sky city is built into the side of a large floating island, it is one of the few cities across the sky that are built that way.

The Eastern Wind- Holds the largest population of citizens. They are the most culturally diverse nation and are the second strongest military power besides the north. They also have the most well-kept sky cities. The east wind is also home to the most academies and research institutes. The cities of the east have very large noble districts. The east has little patience for lawbreakers and many of it's laws are enforced somewhat forcefully upon the citizens. The capitol is Eiregard.

For now the east wind is the least bothered by troubles. Although unknown to the common man the East Wind is actually the base of operation for several rebellious organizations which often manipulate the political and military issues in their favor.

::Cities of the East::

Anatole: The city in which the Red Reaper Riots began. It is the shame of the east, a city full of dirt and sin. No longer under the control of Eiregard the city is home to many wanderers and pirates. It is one of the most well know cities responsible for slave trading.

Edelai: A quaint little city, composed of three different universities. There is only the central district and the lower district here. Many young ones from all over the sky hope to attend one of these universities, for graduating from any of the three is almost a surefire way to live in a noble district.

Dresh: A simple city, its is mostly know for it's massive docks. It's perfect location makes it a perfect halfway point for many traders, travelers and soldiers alike.

Eastcloud*(NEW): A beautiful a bustling city with wide streets and plenty of room to run and play. Eastcloud is known for it's gorgeous architecture and healthy living space. This is a prototype city that is propelled by experimental technologies which are making the air, and water much cleaner for it's citizens.

The Western Wind: Is the most agriculturally developed wind. The cities are often connected to several floating islands upon which they grow crops and raise animals. They also hold the smallest population and army, but are a major trading superpower. Has an abundant population of elves, though very few are free and discrimination is very strong in this section of the sky. Their capital city is Weishowe

One thing the west wind is also know for is the bountiful amount of artists and musicians. If you own a painting there's about a fifty percent chance that it's creator is from the west.

::Cities of the West::

Breluma: A city full of beauty and art, a classic vacation spot for many this city is simply one large Noble district. The city itself is very new, and almost every part of it was created and designed by the very artists that inhabit it.

Lis: Not really much of a city, Lis is actually just a radio station that exists upon a small flying Building. No one has ever seen or met the infamous "Shouter" the stations controversial Dj, who spews on and on about damn near every conspiracy you could think of in between songs.

Wingstead*(NEW): Home of the famous Lancer stadium, where people gather from around the sky to watch the dangerous and exiting Cloudrider races. Cloudriders are popular all over the sky, but Wigstead created the sport.

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