In this world of eternal darkness, where black sands replace vast oceans and desert wastelands cover the earth instead of grass and trees; people cling to myth and religion, wishing and praying for a miracle. Now, their one and only hope for change, lies in the hand of a crew of sky pirates: will they defy the odds and overcome their obstacles or die trying?
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- Weather Glossary - A1
- Plant Dossier - A2
- Bestiary - A3
A1
Sandstorms: On occasion, great winds will sweep across the wastelands and conjure a sandstorm, a dangerous phenomenon for ground traveler and airship crew member alike. It is the height of foolishness to try and fly through one; even the Sky Faction’s best and fastest airships run the risk of being permanently grounded under such a circumstance.
Quicksand: Nearly indiscernible from ordinary sand, quicksand traps can be the death of you if you don’t know where to look for them. Generally, the absence of stones, plant life, or any irregularities is something to be wary of, especially if it occurs in a natural dip in the surrounding landscape. It’s not impossible to escape quicksand, but unless you have a friend or two willing to help drag you out, there’s a problem.
Dust Devil: Not a full-fledged sandstorm by any means, dust devils are still troublesome, as they tend to gather and fling shrapnel and debris about an area. They are simple enough to avoid, but can be difficult to spot from a distance and tend to wreak havoc on sails, rudders, and the more delicate parts of machines.
A2
Bioluminescence: Several, but certainly not all, of the plants in the world possess a certain amount of bioluminescence, that is, they shed useable light on their surroundings. Several of these species have been cultivated by surfacers as a means for extending vision over a darkened world, but many simply grow out in the wilderness. There is nothing toxic or dangerous about such light; indeed, it is rather useful.
Carnivorous Plants: Among the rather limited array of vegetation to be found in the desert, there are innocuous-looking plants with little to no bioluminescence that at first appear to be nothing extraordinary. Some of these, though, are actually carnivorous plants, possessed of a rather impressive camouflage but partial to meals of flesh rather than nutrients in the soil. There are several different trigger-mechanisms for such flora, but the most dangerous kinds are induced to attack by motion alone, making them quite dangerous for the unwary.
A3
Sand Worms: Of all the creatures that inhabit the world, few are as feared as the enormous sand worms. Most people will never see one in their lifetime, as they dwell exclusively in the depths of the black sand-oceans, but those few fortunate enough to spot one and survive have reported serpentine monstrosities in excess of a hundred an fifty feet long and twenty wide, capable of rising out of the sandseas and snapping at overhead ships that fly too low. It is hypothesized that those people which crash-land into the sandseas are eaten in one fell swoop.
Spynx: With a leathery wingspan of fifteen feet and furred bodies with sharpened teeth, spynx travel in large packs. Though not necessarily aggressive by nature, they have been known to attack sufficiently small groups of travelers when hungry.
Corpse-Eaters: Birds of large size but cowardly disposition, corpse-eaters are often found circling the recently-dead, waiting for whatever killed the dead thing to leave so that they can scavenge the remains. About six feet in length, they are easily spotted from relatively long distances due to their pale coloration. It is considered extremely bad luck for a corpse-eater to circle anything still living, and the more superstitious avoid them like the plague.
Jinfengo: Small at only around a foot of body and another foot and a half of tail, jinfengo are feathered reptiles capable of extensive flight. They come in many different colors, and, like their larger cousins the pterodon, are often domesticated by ravein herders and tradesmen as a means of carrying messages over long distances.
Scorpia: The average scorpia is twenty feet long, ten feet wide, and possessed of both a deadly stinger and a nasty attitude. Of all the desert creatures, these are the most aggressive and hostile, and attack pretty much anything on sight. Fortunately, they are most often alone, but woe unto the fool who stumbles into a nest of them.
Canids: Large wolflike creatures with vicious teeth roam the wastelands in packs, hunting other creatures (often much larger ones) for survival. On occasion, canids are domesticated, but rarely does the wild ever truly leave them. Of all the fell things one might run into in the wilderness, these may seem low on the danger-scale, and this is to some extent true, as each individual isn’t bigger than your average person. The problem is, they are territorial and also very intelligent, capable of formulating relatively complex group tactics. They also tend to go for the weakest first, as proper hunters do.
