Above the Storm

by JMD Reid

  I

  Iiwroa: A Jwauahwiian diplomat and leader of the Hopeful Company. Only she and Qobthien survived to reach the summit of Mount Wraiucwii. She beseeched Riasruo and was given the Goddess’s Blessings. Qobthien perished on the return journey. With this new magic, the Desperate Alliance defeated the Wrackthar. Iiwroa perished at the end of the Wrackthar War.

  J

  Jwauahwiian: A race of Luastria characterized by brown feathers while the males have bright red feathers about their eyes and throat. They have eyes that range from green to gold. The Jwauahwii Flock dominates the Church of Riasruo. While they can be found throughout the skies ministering to the followers of Riasruo, they primarily dwell in the Theocracy of Riasruo in the northeastern skies.

  Jwiaswo: A minor deity and one of Riasruo’s lovers. He embodies the Red Moon. He is full every 104 days on the first evening of a new season. The only evening he and his brother are full at the same time is the Summer Solstice, which marks the start of a new year.

  K

  Kaltein: The Tyrant-King of the Wrackthar Humans. His lust for power led him to free Theisseg by sacrificing Hruvv, the last living Sacred Beast, atop Mount Wraiucwii. With the Dark Goddess’s Blessings, the Wrackthar quickly conquered and enslaved the world. Only the Desperate Alliance resisted. When Riasruo granted his enemies her Blessings, Kaltein’s forces were defeated. Forced back to Romeich, his castle, Kaltein summoned the Storm out of spite and perished.

  L

  Lanii: The daughter of Riasruo. On the Summer Solstice, right after the skylands were lifted above the Storm, a golden egg hatched on Jyuou, the easternmost skyland. Lanii emerged fully-grown. The survivors of the Wrackthar War proclaimed her their Dawn Empress by universal acclaim. Lanii ruled with wisdom before ascending into the Heavens to become the constellation called the Golden Daughter, leaving behind her daughter Xaiutwoa I, to rule the Empire of the Dawn.

  The Luastria: A species of bird-like humanoids. The most favored race of Riasruo. Only Luastria, primarily of the Jwauahwii Flock, are priestesses for Riasruo. Luastria live longer than Humans.

  M

  Marriage Day: A holiday celebrated on the Fourteenth of Hruvvoa in the southern skies of the Autonomy. Commemorates the day the Duchy of Vesche and the Kingdom of Arxo were united.

  Metal: The rarest material in the skies. The only sources were those the original inhabitants brought up from the ground below two thousand years ago, and the armor and weapons scavenged after a Cyclone attack. Most metal is hoarded by various governments, used to produce compasses and the dies that stamp coinage. Ceramics and bones have replaced most uses of metal in the skies.

  Moon Nymphs: A race of celestial beings who dwell on the two moons. Once every thousand years, they descend on the moonbeams to dance the night away in forested glades or lonely hills. When dawn comes, they have to return to the moons. Eyia is the most famous Moon Nymph.

  Mount Wraiucwii: The tallest peak in the world. At its summit lies the Temple of the Heights. Here was the only spot that Riasruo or Theisseg would step foot on the world. Haashwil used this knowledge to trap Theisseg at the end of the Sisters’ War. During the Wrackthar Wars, the Hopeful Company fought through the Wrackthar to reach the summit and speak with Riasruo.

  N

  The Neta Skywars: The Empire invaded the Autonomy to resubjugate the nation from 343-347 VF. At the end of the war, the Empire lost four skylands: Antil, Nyame, Rhebe, and Ambre.

  P

  The Petty Kingdom of the Agerzaks: Eight small kingdoms that formed out of the fractured Kingdom of the Agerz. The young kingdoms are constantly warring with each other while sheltering the various pirate bands that plague the skies. Two of the Petty Kingdoms, Thusseldem and Mecheissen, were conquered in 356 VF by the Autonomy. At present, the Petty Kingdoms are: Estapf, Femch, Lepfen, Ruppen, Sobben, and Yoharen.

  The Pirate War: To have safer access to the lucrative whales of the Great Empty, the Autonomy conquered the southern two Agerzak Kingdoms: Thusseldem and Mecheissen. The war lasted from 355-356 VF.

  The Principality of Wlensk: A lone skyland in the western skies independent from the other nations. Populated by Zzuki Gezitziz and ruled by the Grenl family, descendants of the first Prince of Wlensk.

  Q

  Qobthien: Huntsman of the Vaarckthians and member of the Hopeful Company. Only he and Iiwroa survived to reach the mountain’s summit. Qobthien had to carry her up the mountain. He died on the journey back from Mount Wraiucwii.

  R

  Riasruo: The Goddess of the Sun. The Goddess Above. When Priopii, the sky, sang Creation into being to cure her loneliness, she birthed the twin Goddesses, Riasruo and Theisseg. Together, the sisters sang the world and its inhabitants into being. For a time, the sisters lived in harmony. But Theisseg grew jealous of the attention the mortal races gave Riasruo.

  Rope: A unit of measurement. The average Human male stands two ropes tall.

  The Rosy Prayer: A wordless song of worship sung to the first rays of the rising sun on the Summer Solstice. Originally sung by the Dawn Empress from atop the Tower of Morning. After since the Great Cyclone, it is sung at every temple of Riasruo across the skies.

  S

  The Sisters’ War: When the mortal races reviled Theisseg’s monstrous children, the Goddess became incensed. She unleashed her children upon the world. The war raged until Haashwil tricked Theisseg and trapped her upon Mount Wraiucwii.

  The Skeins: Monastic orders of the Church of Riasruo made up of male Luastria. Each is devoted to a different calling. The Skein of Charity runs soup kitchens and collects clothing for the poor, the Skein of Devotion spend their days singing songs of love to Riasruo, the Skein of Hospitality runs hospitals and clinics, and the Skein of Adjudication settles disputes between the other parties.

  The Skein of Adjudication: Formed out of the Theological Treaty at the end of the Age of Isolation. The Church of Riasruo had fragmented into a myriad collection of sects, many with quite heretical views. The Bishriarch created the Skein of Adjudication to bring all these sects into the correct teachings through diplomacy, proselytizing, and compromise. In the present day, the skein has dwindled to almost nothing.

  Sky Tower: Artifacts left over from the Dawn Empire. Their use and purpose was lost during the Age of Isolation. There are only a few scattered across the skies. They are tall towers made out of crystal. Also known as: Dawnspires, Crystal Teeth, Sunrays, False Towers, and Diamond Hearts.

  Skyreef: Drifting rocks that float through the skies. Usually they move in large patches of tumbling boulders. Fish often live around skyreefs. They are a hazard to navigation, but usually drift so slow they can be avoided.

  Skyrift: Great walls of clouds rushing down to the Storm Below. Rifts suck up anything that gets too close. Most ships take a wide berth around them.

  Sowerese: A race of Luastria characterized by gray feathers spotted brown, with the males having bright-green crests on their heads and black feathers on their bodies. They have red or blue eyes. The Soweral Flock lives primarily in the Free Nests of the Soweral in the northern skies.

  Sowerese Talesinger: Trained upon the skyland of Sotrixel, Sowerese Talesingers are the most skilled storytellers of the skies. A Soweral hen or drake will start training almost after hatching, spending decades learning how to sing and orate in multiple voices simultaneously. With their songs, they can almost paint pictures in the minds of their audience. Talesingers never ask for pay, relying solely on the largess of those they perform for. They go where the winds take them, drifting around the skies. Even the rudest village would be honored to host a Sowerese Talesinger and give the performer what meager goods they could in thanks. The first Talesinger was trained by Shian in the distant past.

  The Stormriders: Foul monsters who ride the Cyclones and attack the skylands. They are believed to be the descendants of the Wrackthar. Clad entirely in metal armor, they wield metal swords and bows firing metal-tipped arrows. They fashion beasts to ride through the maelstrom. />
  The Synod of the Faithful: The council of fifteen archbishopresses who advise the Bishriarch in administration of the Church and leading the Theocracy of Riasruo.

  The Szezziith: A semi-mythical species of serpent-like sentient creatures that dwelled in the Age of Mist. Progenitors of the Gezitziz.

  T

  Theisseg: The Goddess of Storms, the Dark Goddess. When Priopii, the sky, sang Creation into being to cure her loneliness, she birthed the twin Goddesses, Riasruo and Theisseg. Together, the sisters created the world and its inhabitants through song. For a time, the sisters lived in harmony. But Theisseg grew jealous of the attention the mortals gave Riasruo. Theisseg longed for the love they showered on the sun, while cursing her storms. She birthed four monstrous children and set them loose on the world, starting the Sisters’ War. At the end, Haashwil trapped her atop Mount Wraiucwii. She was freed by Kaltein and armed the Wrackthar with her terrible power. When the tide turned against Kaltein, he called upon her to cover the entire world with her Storm.

  Theisseg’s Children: Theisseg, jealous of Riasruo’s sacred beasts, birthed her own children. But the mortals feared them. Her bitter hatred of Riasruo reached a breaking point, and Theisseg unleashed her children and began the Sisters’ War. Her four children are: Wuasril the Wind Wyrm, the Hydra, Neiddar the Great Shark, and Dread Mehnet the Five-Tusked Boar.

  The Theocracy of Riasruo: In 148 AF (1173 SR), the last Dawn Empress, Pwayii III, died without an heir. The Empress trusted the remnants of the Dawn Empire to the Bishopress of the Canton of Ulanii. The bishopress rechristened herself the Bishriarch, declaring herself the head of the Church of Riasruo. The Theocracy remained unconquered by the Empire of Vaarck thanks to the Theological Treaty. The Bishriarch is elected by the Synod of the Faithful and rules for life. The current Bishriarch is Swuiuprii IV.

  The Tower of Morning: A red sandstone tower built on the Skyland of Jyuou where Lanii, Riasruo’s daughter, hatched. Until the Great Cyclone, the Dawn Empress climbed the Tower of Morning and sung the Rosy Prayer on the Summer Solstice.

  The Treaty of Protection: At the end of the Zzuk Aggression War, the Tribes of Zzuk signed the Treaty of Protection to end the war they had started. Humbled, the Tribes agreed to be a protectorate of the Autonomy, retaining some independence. As part of the treaty, the Tribes send warriors, the Zzuk Auxiliaries, to serve in the Autonomy’s Navy.

  The Tribes of Zzuk: A federation of Gezitziz made up of five fractious tribes (Shwelh, Szahl, Tezz, Zthug, and Wugrez) who war for control of the tribal federation. Entire broods of children are raised from birth to be warriors and fight for their tribe. Each tribe controls two or three skylands in the remote, southwestern skies. The Tribes were the first to rebel and win their independence from the Empire of Vaarck (267 VF). After the Zzuk Aggression War, the Tribes were forced to sign the Treaty of Protection, ceding their sovereignty to the Autonomy and becoming a semi-autonomous protectorate. The Tribes are ruled by a High Chieftain who is elected from the Chiefs.

  Twiuasra: A minor deity and one of Riasruo’s lovers. He embodies the Blue Moon. He moves swifter than his brother, going through his phases every 28 days. Twiuasra is full on the first evening of every month.

  V

  Vaarckthian Humans: A race of Humans characterized by black skin, brown to red hair, and blue or gray eyes. The majority of Vaarckthians live in the Empire, but many transplants are found across the skies, remnants from the Empire’s height. Vaarckthian last names are matronymic. Men take their mother’s first name and add the suffix -igk while women add -ick.

  Vionese Humans: A race of Humans characterized by brown skin, blond to light brown hair, and green or red eyes. The majority of Vionese live in the Autonomy of Les-Vion.

  W

  Weathertower: An engine that a Weathermaster can use to control local weather. Without Weathertowers, many of the southern skylands of the Autonomy would be deserts.

  Weathermaster: A person who possesses Major Mist and employed to control a Weathertower. A Weathermaster works with local representatives to determine the region’s local weather for the coming week.

  Whales: The large fish (though some naturalists dispute that classification) living in the Great Empty chasing the endless clouds of krill. They are hunted for their oil. The Autonomy went to war with the Agerzaks to secure shipping lanes to the lucrative whaling skies. Whalers often spend two years hunting the whales before returning to their port of call with enormous wealth filling their holding tanks.

  Windwarden: A person who possesses Major Wind and is employed to imbue a ship’s engine and generate winds to propel the vessel. Most ships sail with at least two.

  Wrackthar Humans: A race of Humans who dwell on the mythical ground. In the far past, the Tyrant-King Kaltein led them to war. Thanks to Theisseg’s powers, the Wrackthar almost conquered the world before the Desperate Alliance defeated them. The Stormriders are believed to be descendants of the Wrackthar Humans who managed to survive beneath the Storm, cut off from Riasruo’s life-giving sun.

  Z

  The Zalg: A species of mole-like humanoids. They are skilled in working with stone and crystals. Unlike the other species, they do not have their own nation, but form enclaves around rich mines. Because of their skills in working with crystals, they are welcomed for their craft.

  The Zzuk Aggression War: The Tribes attempted to conquer the Autonomy and create their own hegemony. After seven years of fighting (379-386 VF), the Autonomy’s Naval might crushed the tribes and forced them to sign the Treaty of Protection, transforming the Tribes of Zzuk into a protectorate of the Autonomy. During this time, the Autonomy granted citizen rights to any Agerzak living in the Fringe who converted to Riasruoism and enlisted in the Navy.

  Zzuki Gezitziz: A race of Gezitziz characterized by blue scales with green or yellow underbellies and black or yellow eyes.

  About the Author

  J.M.D. Reid has been a long-time fan of Fantasy ever since he read The Hobbit way back in the fourth grade. His head has always been filled with fantastical tales, and he is eager to share the worlds dwelling in his dreams with you.

  Reid is long-time resident of the Pacific Northwest in and around the City of Tacoma. The rainy, gloomy atmosphere of Western Washington, combined with the natural beauty of the evergreen forests and the looming Mount Rainier, provides the perfect climate to brew creative worlds and exciting stories!

  When he's not writing, Reid enjoys playing video games, playing D&D and listening to amazing music.

  You an follow him on twitter @JMDReid, like him on Facebook, visit his blog, and sign up for his newsletter.