Spirata

"Spirata is a wondrous world pushing the limits of creativity and imagination, an eclectic mix of sci-fi and fantasy elements. The world is flat, and spread out in a gigantic plane in large continents, at least fifteen times the size of Earth's area. Along with these lands are large oceanic continents, bordering most of the landmasses. In between those, however, are the arcdrifts, an abyssal mass of electric stormclouds."

The scene sets on a mountain path leading down to a misty rainforest, where a traveler leads a mule laden with supplies down the road. The traveler is clad in a stormcloud-gray suit of armor with a glowing blue trim, and glowing blue runic symbols around the trim. Strapped across his back is a circle shield, and at his waist a broadsword. Both are of the same design motif of his armor. The sword has a large cut-off barrel at its hilt, and in the center is a glowing magical rune. In the distance are several floating islands, inhabited and topped with villages and people. Many flying skiffs buzz around the islands; the usual traffic. The traveler takes a long breath of the mountain air, and prepares for his descent into the jungle.

In the jungle, the traipse through is peaceful until a multi-colored drake swoops down from the canopy, and assaults the mule, causing it to run off, dropping supplies along the way.

Ryo: No! My stuff! *draws his sword and shield, but gets knocked into a tree trunk by the jungle drake's tail* Urk!

A dark skinned felynari lunges at the drake and stabs at its neck.

Ryo: Ah! A native! *raises his sword, and the rune inside the barrel glows, and a blue magical missile shoots forth, and into the drake's wing membrane, causing it to scream, and run off into the foliage* Thank you so much for the assistance, young woman. I am Ryo, from the Alitaras Commonwealth. (one of the massive city-states)

Jasper: I'm Jasper from the long neck tribe. Even if none of us have long necks. But our founders did. What brings you here?

Ryo: I'm an archon on a pilgrimage to Sacratheia. *sheathes his sword* Are those...feline ears? I must say, I've never seen any of your kind before.

Jasper: I'm a felynari. We're native to Spirata's sky islands. I've heard from my elders that our kind don't make much contact with outsiders. I assume to avoid possible slave trades.

Ryo: From whom? The citizens of the city-states don't trade in slaves. It's outlawed there. Unless...are there other civilizations?

Jasper: Well I have heard of one such city-state, but I don't remember the name. So shall I lead you to my village?

Ryo: Sure. That drake scared off my pack mule, all my supplies with it. So I would love to stock up.

Jasper: Sorry about your mule though. ANyway, the vilalge isn't very far from here. Come on. *turns around and starts walking to the village*

Ryo: How long is it? I've been traveling far all day, and I grow weary. *grasps his stomach when it growls loudly* Also, I'm bloody hungry.

Jasper: Well I do have some berries and fruits I've gathered. We could get something more to eat at the village. *hands Ryo his rucksack full of berries*

Ryo: Ah, wonderful! Thank you indeed! *grabs an apple from the sack, and bites into it*

so, how should they get up to the village? should jasper have one of those skiffs I mentioned?

Sure, sure. Go ahead with that.

Ryo: You live upon the floating islands, right? How do you get up there?

Jasper: There are carrier birds specially domesticated and trained to carry us around the islands and down to the lower lands.

Ryo: What about those skiffs I saw?

Jasper: Well, those too. There's a few ways, I'm sure.

Ryo: Which way will we be taking?.?

Jasper: The skiffs, I guess. Not sure where my dad's bird landed. He's kinda stubborn and won't listen to me though.

Ryo: These birds sound magnificent, though. How would one acquire one?

Jasper: Well, they're raised and bred by the village's carrier bird farmer, for one. Before they were fully domesticated, my ancestors would go out in packs and trek the jungles for days to even find just one.

Ryo: Must've been dangerous, that.
(when they get to the landing/takeoff area for the island)
Ryo: So...how does this work?

Jasper: It's just like a horse, really. *blows into a bone whistle and a very large tropical bird swoops down*

Ryo: Oh my! Such a magnificent avian! How do we ride it?