World of Kralis

Alusyms and Kithars

The skies above the world is filled with more than just clouds and flying beasts, beyond the various flying bhatoon airships, the long gliding dragoons, and the occasional rwikahra explorer making landfall and the void traveling reikosjharna there are floating islands that move about the world floating in the air currents like icebergs in the seas, these are known as alusym.

Most are ancient landmasses naturally ripped loose from the surface of the world. These are ancient wild places that are known to have their own eco-systems, rivers, streams, and large lakes. There are wild plains, deep caves and thick forests on many of these. They often become homes of dragons, gryphons, and hundreds of other flying beasts.

Then there are others that are ripped from the earth by magical or divine means, these are known as kithars. Long ago the wizards of the ancient kingdom of Renarthal, lead by the archmage sorcerer Artintium Greysoul, create the first kithars or “cities of the sky”. These were huge pieces of earth that were ripped from the earth by powerful magics, and often had huge cities built upon them. Many of these islands of earth were used by Renarthal to attack many other realms in Ta Los from the skies during the Time of Chaos.

When Renarthal fell, most of these ancient islands of earth fell crashing into the earth from which they were raised. These created thousands of ruins through out the world, most of which have become haunted and lost to the passage of time. Yet, there remain hundreds of these floating islands of earth through out the skies, moving slowly around the world. Most have been abandoned from fear of the magic within them ending and the whole island crashing into the earth. These islands of earth float gently about pushed by the winds of the world or propelled by their ancient magics.

Many times the abandoned kithars become floating realms unto themselves becoming homes to sky-pirates, legions of shouryn, and those that pursue evil deeds through out the world. Many have become the home of ancient organizations that have removed themselves from the world for various reasons, others have developed their own civilization and minor realms.

In terms of size both the wild alusym and the “settled” kithars range in their sizes from 1,500 feet to 20 miles in diameter. Many times these floating landmasses are accessed via overgrown vines and foliage or airships. The land masses have strangely jutting granite peaks and are often surrounded by thick clouds as the mist from falling streams and rivers collects around the atmosphere of these places.

The most famous or infamous alusym is called Port Ayskar and for centuries it has been a pirate haven and the best place to sell captured plunder. It also has become a floating-island full of buccaneers that have referred to themselves as the Council of the Skies. From here air pirates plunder and pillage local settlements around the world. As a result it has become full of stolen jewels, silver and other riches and has become a pirate's paradise, with a plethora of gambling parlors, brothels, and taverns. Legitimate businesses such as blacksmith shops, gun shops, and jewelry stores do exist, as do houses of worship such as churches and temples.