Frail and weathered strong hands grip a large worn book, one hand opens a green cover with ornate emblems in silver, black and gold on it before a rich, deep, carrying voice startles a room of children saying,

”Gather grandchildren, grand papa has stories passed down from many generations of great adventures and heroes that shaped this land and it's time you heard the tales.”

The children, loving grand papa’s story time, all gathered around as the snow fell outside their warm cozy home under the moonlit sky, he began.

   “Our story starts, children, in a land where magic flows and many powerful individuals exist, some good some bad. Year by year the land known as the “surface” in a region called Aldris began dwindling, resources began stopping and the land that was once rich with fertile soil and teaming rivers seemed to be dying. Vegetation subsided in almost all areas, as well as wildlife, causing the main surface to become inhabitable due to many years of discolored rain, snow and many other weather events in this region since an event only known in history as “The Sky Calamity” of the great bursting star. This event was supposedly seen from the surface by many. Soon after the Calamity, it was said the land shortly after became uninhabitable quickly, though that is only speculation in history. What is known is that many died and sacrificed so others could prosper and have a better future.” Grand papa continued reading into the night.

  With dwindling populations and little land left, civilization was forced to make a decision. To move up toward the clouds and the sky with newfound pillars of rock, dirt and clay formed, but uncharted and undiscovered, or try and find new surface land that was not affected by the calamity. The decision fell amongst the highest of leaders and though unsure, decided to take a chance and discover these unknown pillars of rock that stretched high into the sky and to use the remaining airships to transport all of the races that could make the trip. After scouting and learning of these large huge hulking pillars created by some unknown or some magic means, it was discovered these pillars were more than that. With close inspection it was found by mages and certain beastial magics that used flying methods for scouting; that large mountain plateaus were formed like ledges, able to be climbed going upwards towards the sky at an angle thousands of feet up, with habitable land filled with vegetation, wildlife and many resources lying high above the clouds with its own atmosphere and weather systems, separate from the surface of Aldris. Once this was discovered and land was readily able to be taken and settled by anyone,the skyward area became known as the “Cloud Tops” and a mad rush was made for discovering and settling it despite all the questions and unknown origins of it.

  The Cloud Tops, here is where refugees and new life have taken place, to rebuild, to restart. In the current year 75 ASC, after sky calamity, where 4 major regions lay above the clouds and mist surrounded like a white and gray wall of a hidden veil. All that is known is these are the only regions to currently hold civilization, unsure of the effects of the calamity on the rest of the surface and fog and mist so thick, any long range airship voyage spells doom and death for the crew. So the many races and magical creatures that make up the Cloud Tops try and work together to make the best of what they can. In doing so, peace is kept by creating regions. These regions were created by rulers or leaders at the time of creation and have since been reelected or passed down depending on the region's government. These regions are called Geom, Hexwell, Rox and Adre and are all separated with their own governments, cultures and ideals.  Many of the region's leaders will do anything to put their region ahead of the others, especially with new things being discovered every year.

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  The Grandfather stops reading for a second as one of the young children interrupts,”When does the story start and get good with the magic and adventurers grand papa?” the boy exclaimed.

  The grandfather laughed and flipped the green cover bound book a few pages before starting,” Here is where I shall start in a region called Geom, then I will introduce the adventurers.” As he read on with a smile on his face,  the children drew in closer, listening to his every word.

  Within the region of Geom a newly discovered Cloud Top region at the time of 73 ASC found far later than some of the other regions, sits high upon a large mountain like other regions, surrounded by clouds and mist hundreds of feet beneath. A very rich and lucrative place upon its founding with many gems and riches found beneath its crust and inside its soil where great minerals have been found and it seems there is no shortage. Some gems were so great that they held magical powers and abilities that no person or creature could explain. A story now circulates Geom in a large capital city called Alron with many new travelers telling of many tales and fables. But one story keeps coming up, about how a certain gem that was once fabled is not fable at all, and that it is something that truly exists, something of great power. This is known by all, the legend of the land changing after the calamity of the sky changing the land and those on it forever forming new creatures as well as changing some individuals forever granting great powers as some viewed them. While some granted horrors that were abominations in design. While new regions with many different riches might lay beyond the clouds and mist waiting to be discovered, Geom is an infant in comparison to the other 3 regions in age. All 3 other regions have been around since 2 ASC or shortly after the sky calamity.

   It seemed a tale of a Gem possibly being located in Geom stirred the community of Alron and those within the region, as finding the gem supposedly ensures a life of anything an adventurer could want, power, coin and possibly more. With mystery in the air and drink wet on many lips, taverns spill news of a new tunnel found beneath the dirt and an entryway lays beneath the dirt and rock with a emblem. This emblem was rumored around the city of a large gemstone in the shape of what looks like a creature bearing wings that sits etched around the entry point. What is beyond this entryway remains a mystery, though many adventures seek to find and understand what it is. 

   As the old man reaches for a tall wooden tankard with stained hues of maroon and purple from years of drinking rich wine without properly rinsing thoroughly, he sips and sits back in his large wooden rocking chair, and continues with a slight smile on his face as he smirks, ”Now it's time for the adventurers.”

The children grin and lean in with anticipation as they see their grand papa flip the page.