Infinite Sky

Portal for the world of Infinite Sky.

General

A Brief History of Infinite Sky

Description of the World

Meteography

Although the altitude of any landmass could change over time, Mean Altitude, much like our world's magnetic north, is still the most frequently used altitude reference. It is defined as the altitude matching the official indicator at Kirisame Observatory. While not useful to scientists for advanced work, it is simple and useful for virtually everything else, including aeronautical navigation. Mean Altitude is at the low end of the atmosphere's habitable band and matches up very well with estimations for the overall center of mass of all known land as a whole. Below MA, average temperature rapidly drops and turbulence becomes more frequent. Low altitude areas tend to be cold, non-specifically gloomy and will experience intense blizzards if they are low enough to be engulfed by swells from the Sea of Storms. Above MA, average temperature gradually increases, though altitude cooling dominates local temperatures over land. This means that higher altitude landmasses are more likely to be warm overall but mountain tops are still colder than low lying areas of the same island. Beyond 20-30km above MA, increased fuel requirements reach a significant level, stimying both commercial and military shipping.

Sea of Storms

The lower boundary of the habitable band, the Sea of Storms is an intensely cold atmospheric layer that rises to within 6km of Mean Altitude in winter and retreats to approximately 12km in summer. This is also approximately the altitude of the lowest known land. Land beneath a certain altitude would experience snow and ice buildup exceeding the rate of outflow from thaw and glacial drift and would inevitably be pulled into the Sea of Storms by a feedback loop of mass increase. Most ships want to have as little to do with this layer as possible but some vessels are designed to run in it. For those, the ability to shed ice and negotiate very limited visibility are essential.

The Tropics

The Tropics are a remote layer beginning approximately 40km above MA and continue upwards, ramping up in intensity as one ascends. While this layer can experience intense weather, the greater challenge to ships is producing the lift to get here in the first place. Fuel requirements for altitude increase at an ever greater rate the higher one ascends. A cruiser with weeks or months of endurance at MA could burn up its Luftum supply in a matter of days patrolling the Tropics. Hand in hand with the impact on fuel economy is a marked reduction in the amount of land the higher one goes. Landmass altitude is obviously correlated in some way with the amount of Luftum permeating it. Whether this wealth could be extracted from such remote locations is another matter entirely. Beyond a certain point, there is so little land and habitation that most ships simply aren't built to go there. As a related matter, extraction of Luftum from any landmass naturally lowers its altitude and therefore has a cooling effect on its climate. This has already occurred in some locales with disastrous results.

The Desert

At very high altitudes, water supply becomes a concern. While landmasses in the Tropics have plenty of water, humidity rapidly drops off beyond around 60km above MA and dredging for water with condensations nets becomes virtually impossible. What little land there is becomes increasingly harsh and arid. Some of the highest flying Luftum ships ever constructed were highly specialized tankers and colonial cruisers designed by Continental Powers to operate here. Today, this region of the sky is largely the domain of the airplane.

The Void

High above, beyond even the Desert is the Void. It is too high for even airplanes to reach.

Geography

The Continent

The Continent is by far the largest landmass in the known world. It has a temperate climate, though it was warmer in the past, and has seasons caused by regular atmospheric cycles.

While humans have dwelt on most landmasses since prehistory, the Continent is the cradle of civilization. Continental cultures have initiated periodic waves of influence and colonization outwards and it is only recently that the balance of power has shifted in favor of their oldest former colonies.

The West

A vast plain on which most of the Continent's rivers flow. The kingdoms of the region had unified under an imperial banner in the classical past and found their strength once more during the Age of Luftum. They emerged victorious but diminished from the Continental Wars but now wrestle with stability and integrity.

The North

A land of many characters. The countries of this region are mostly defeated ones in the midst of reconstruction.

The South

A rugged land of chasms, caverns and underground rivers. The small countries of the South had their time in the sun during the Age of Sail but have struggled to find relevance in modern times.

The East

A huge, roughly semi-circular archipelago adjoining the eastern shores of the continent to form a ring around the Great Gulf. Always more attached to the skies than fellow continental inhabitants, states of the East have been at the forefront of naval technology and imperialism for millennia but has been in devastating turmoil in recent decades.

The Pureland

The Pureland is a great mountain range that occupies the center of the continent.

Near World

The Near World refers generally to lands separate from but fairly close to the Continent – near enough that regular trade has been taking place for centuries or more. The countries in this region are presently the most advanced in the world, having largely overtaken the moribund Continental Powers in effectiveness if not size. Some are former colonies while others are indigenous cultures that have managed to preserve their independence whilst biding their time until today.

Middle Reach

The Middle Reach is the vast halo of lands that have been known since the Age of Sail but only fell into practical reach with the development of Luftum ships. These were the stomping grounds of the Continental Powers during their latter heyday though how much sway they still hold varies from case to case.

Far Shores

Storied lands even in the modern age, the Far Shores are at the limits of reach even for ships powered by modern Luftum turbines. Here exist vast and fabled lands.