Part 11: Stratus in the Sky
Places of Interest: Floating Carnival (Stratus)
Stratus
Species: Guardian dragon, Mithral dragon, Elder Wyrm, Star drake
Stratus is an island continent that drifts through the skies of Colossus without ever touching down onto land or sea. Legend has it that Stratus came to be when the primordial god of dragons bound cloudmass in the heavens into a permanent shape. Although this god has been all but forgotten since before the onset of Dragpocalypse, life on the cloudmass has flourished, both flora and fauna. Plants unlike any seen on the continent proper growing on Stratus, their roots drawing water from the heart of the eternal cloud and their leaves absorbing the powerful sunrays within the upper limits of the troposphere.
Guardian dragons each control a territory full of architecture dedicated to the lost creator god of Stratus. Most of the buildings stand in ruins, but a rare few remain intact and these are guarded religiously. The solitary Guardians only stray from their territory if absolutely necessary, at times consuming only plant matter to sustain themselves to avoid hunting offsite.
Elder Wyrms are the sleeping nightmare of the denizens of Stratus. Though centuries can pass before one rouses from slumber, each period of Elder Wyrm Wakening rains a brief but near-apocalyptic tyranny of terror upon the denizens. None are truly safe from the hunting Elder Wyrms, and even the Guardians struggle to protect their territory from their ruthless, wanton onslaught of centuries of built-up hunger.
Mithral dragons are the only consistent governing force in Stratus. While they don't impose their wills on the sentient denizens of the island, they do negotiate boundary disputes and the like to keep the peace and delicate ecological balance between the species. Even Stratus's humanoids feel comfortable coming to the Mithrals as the designated arbiters.
Star drakes live in cluster upon cluster in their own metropolis at the southern tip of the island. Clusters are constantly coming and going from the settlement to the continents down below. The Stars keep records and travel logs of their journeys here. They have amiable relations with the Mithrals and humanoids on Stratus, but keep mostly to themselves and do not allow other species to settle in their metropolis.
Humanoids in Stratus are able to live as tribes in settlements as large as villages, but the delicate ecological balance on the cloudmass prevents them from expanding and even living too close to another tribe.
The tribes tend to support themselves through subsistence farming with additional hunting and gathering. Tribes are able to trade with each other, but the prevalence of contagious disease, especially between tribe animals, has discouraged such trade.
Although the settlements are far from each other, there are the occasional territorial disputes. When they arise, the Mithral dragons intervene to prevent war and settle the disputes as quickly as possible.
Dragonriders in Stratus
Most Riders in Stratus have bonded with Mithral dragons. Not only are the Mithrals the least hostile dragons, but with their regular intervention in the lives of humanoids, the humanoids have much more contact with Mitrals than other dragons.
Humanoids who develop an interest in the Mithrals can sometimes persuade the Mithrals to allow them to live with the dragons for a time. If they find favor with a dragon, the dragon will bond with them, but this does mean that the humanoid must forsake their life with their tribe forever.
