work in progress
This document is a work-in-progress for Homebrew content based around a society known as the Skye People, living below, in and above the clouds on Mount Yari.
About this guide
To be perfectly blunt, this guide came into life thanks to a popular Chinese television series; Eternal Love. Not that I've ever seen or heard about this series before, but I had a vision in my mind, some related memories and then I saw an artist matte painting by Ming-yee Sheh for said show, and all pieces fell together.
These pieces consist of my rampant fantasy, passion for worldbuilding and growing love for D&D. I've been seeing this city in the mountains consisting of countless drawbridges and connecting peaks and plateaus. Memories travelling Japan, a fascination for mythology and the will to combine all of the above into something tangible. DnD proves to be a mighty good game to make use of these fantasies so when I saw this matte painting you see gracing this cover, it became all clear. I wanted to create the Skye Kingdom and make it real. Then I found out the actual Chinese name for that show translated to 'To The Sky Kingdom'; I kid you not. I guess it was meant to be.
Big part of making this guide is my wish to utilize the Asia-inspired Wuxia setting for D&D. Mostly because of the way Japanese myths and culture functions, and it can differ quite from the regular High Fantasy setting.
That said, it is still mostly flavour. I'm (mis)using the Japanese language and roughly interpreted ways of prononciating and writing of it because it adds to the fantasy atmosphere for me. Anyone actually fluent in Japanese will see that most are direct simple translations, note that I sometimes write names and descriptions 'wrong' because it would be easier to remember and pronounce.
Almost everything notable in this guide has a Japanese name, and an English translation for it. It is up to the DM to decide which to use and when. I can imagine for instance, the DM uses the English names for the PC's, but NPC's would refer to things by their 'original' Japanese name.
How to use this guide
Eventually this guide will contain three parts;
Lore Everything you need to create a compelling and lively imagining of a unique city in the skye
Practical Concrete details about the city, its layout and inhabitants as well as unique items and systems home to this city.
Adventure A main campaign setting with a bunch of possible angles, outcomes, types and flavours for all kinds of playstyles.
Table of Contents
Homebrewing
Some of the stuff written here is tied to a bigger homebrew universe we've been playing in for a while now. For example the world in which Mount Yari lies is called Apuarnostrovicug (don't ask..). You'll find some D&D lore mixed in with both Greek and Japanese myths and a fair dash of homebrew deities.
All of these things are ofcourse flavour and up to you to change to fit your own world or campaign. I'm just noting it here so I won't have to explain every time I mention something about the larger world in this guide.
Preface
Mount Yari is a huge mountain on an already huge mountain range. Yari translates to “Spear” for the way the mountain peaks spear through the clouds. On that mountain lies the fabled Sukaikingudamu, or the Skye Kingdom. It is said the city itself was founded by the God of Wind Fūjin himself; he blew across the lands to shape the mountains as they are. Shaped the mountains to peak above the clouds and carved a Holy Temple in its highest peak. So it is told that here Amaterasu, the Goddess of the Sun, was born.
For centuries, this temple was the goal for many Monks who came to honor Fujin and Amaterasu. The temple was held by a conclave of Sorcerers and Druids called Kazenoban’nin, also known as the Keepers of The Wind. Over time there grew a village around the temple, that village grew to be a city and that city grew to shape the rest of Mount Yari.
A massive city below, in and above the clouds. On clear days, if you could fly over the mountain peaks you would see terraces on different levels of the mountain, elaborate temples hewn out of and into the mountain face, waterfalls pouring out and creating lakes and rivers, which in turn are shaped into canals, squares and gardens bordered by markets, houses and farmlands. You’d see the highest peak being seemingly free of man-made structures except for the ancient temple, below that the most elaborate and decorated buildings where the city’s counsel is seated.
From there the city spreads out over the mountain, countless rope-bridges connecting platforms and peaks. Some buildings seemingly alone on a peak, other mountain faces crammed full with residential buildings.
For all its size, the Skye Kingdom is recluse and remote, but it is home to a noble folk. People living in this Kingdom have all earned it some way or another. People of spiritual
prowess, political power, unique talents or just through sheer will; everyone in Skye is proud to be a citizen of this beautiful, magic place. Because of this, culture is abundant on Mount Yari.
There is always life and light on the sides of this mountain, always trade to be done and wares to be had. There is music, theater and schools of all sorts. Skye People are well versed in their history. But the light recedes in places deep in the mountain caverns, and although a walk through the beautiful center gardens would tell you, there is darkness there too.
The city is home to three major factions, one as the founders and keepers of the Peak, one as the governing party and one who holds the hearts and minds of most citizens. These three facets aren't always in a perfect balance and there is a constant shifting of importance and influence.
PART 1
Climbing Mt. Yari
Climbing Mount Yari
This part talks about the geology and creation myths of the mountain and the construction and layout of the city.
A tropical destination
Mount Yari lies in the southern parts of Apuarnostrovicug. Deep in a tropical rainforest surrounded by swamps and all manner of tropical critters lies the mountain range on which Yari is perched. If you would want to find it, you’d be hard pressed to do so for there are no cities closeby. You’d have to know where to look because most people who live on Mount Yari have very little reason to leave. The society in the Skye Kingdom is pretty much self-sufficient and there aren’t any main roads leading to the mountain base.
If you look around the base of the mountain, you will find signs etched in the mountain face guiding something of a path. It’s a rough climb for newcomers if you follow these signs, because the easier paths are hidden away well only to be used by people familiar with the Skye Kingdom. There is even talk about magical teleportation devices which could serve as elevators, but a random traveller first should have to find it, then figure out how it works and then be ready to explain themselves as these devices probably land in the Bengoshi district, high up in the city where the Counsel is situated.
But say you are brave, ready, prepared and well educated on where to go. Would you find your way up there, you’ll have stories to tell before you arrive at the lower cities gates. It would be a couple of days journey across tropical forest, steep rock formations and eventually the temperature would drop and drop lower as you get closer to the clouds.
Along the way you’d see many magical creatures, mostly Fey critters, in all shapes and sizes. So beware, when you make camp along the way, if you want to burn a few leaves to stoke a fire, you might set alight a Fey creature and they won’t take it in kind.
These Fey creatures however, won’t do much harm. Their bigger friends though, you do not want to cross. The mountain range is also home to various types of bears, goats, lions and many birds of prey.
Next to these perils, it is also a beautiful journey. Because the Magic of the Peak allows unnatural climates atop the mountain and having a dense jungle below, it is a sight to behold to find a giant waterfall hidden between cliffs and trees, and there are many beautiful campsites to be found near natural springs and waterfalls. Whenever the sun hits the right way and rainbows appear, it seems that the Fey critters around appear even more majestic
Would you eventually make it towards the clouds, you’d notice time diluting, or maybe it’s your perception of time. Maybe it’s your body? When doubts like these rise in your mind, know that you are close to the magic of the Kazenoban’nin. For a wide range around the cities outer limits a dome of magic is ever present to keep in what must be kept in, and keep out which is not meant to come in. Beings coming up to the city from below the mountain are magically slowed and disoriented. Not to cause harm, but to prevent surprise attacks from below as well as to give the City Guardians time enough to notice it, inspect it and determine its business.
After weeks of ploughing through the jungle, I finally stumbled upon a mighty mountain and started my ascend. Along the way I took care to be kind to the Fey critters, and it seems like they guided me along the way when I did. Though I can’t be sure, I feel they even turned the massive brown bear away from me for save passage. Though it might have been it had just fed on the pile of bones I came across earlier..
Fūjin and the Birth of the Sun
Anyone who made it to the city would confirm that this is no ordinary mountain. The tales being told support this claim. It is told that before the time of Light only darkness existed. There was land, there was water, but there was no sunlight. No plants could grow, few beings could live.
The Wild Mother, being the Goddess of all nature searched for light across the lands, finding none. Everywhere she looked she upturned the earth, leaving caverns and hills in her wake. But no light was to be found. In a final frenzy she dug and dug, creating whole mountain ranges. But no light. Therefore the Wild Mother was sad, small and weak, and she prayed to her brother the Wind to help.
Fūjin, God of the Winds saw her anguish and tasked himself to warm the Earth. He blew and blew furiously against the mountain range, icy waters sweeping across the cliffs. He blew and trembled, tore earth apart and he blew the mountains closer together, perching them upwards and upwards, until they formed a peak above the clouds.
Here the wind became still, and after a few days it raged in a whirlwind on the peak of the mountain, and from the peak Amaterasu rose in the shape of a giant white wolf. Golden light emanating from the peak, shining warmth and light across the lands. Trees and plants grew, birds hatched from the eggs and the sheer power emanating from the peak made water fall from all mountains.
Amaterasu leapt up into the sky in a ball of fire and goes round the earth every day to appease the Wild Mother. She follows Mena, the Moon in a friendly game of catch as a never ending cycle.
As a thanks to Fūjin, the Wild Mother made Yari the most breathtaking mountain of them all. Dressing it in lively nature, blessing it with vibrant life and beautiful waters. Fujin was so impressed with the Wild Mothers art, he made his home atop this mountain.
And so it is said that every wind that blows comes from Yari, and once per year Amaterasu comes home, as the Sun lines up in perfect unison with the peak, marking the beginning of Spring, a season of new life, a celebration of nature and the Wild Mother. And whether or not you as a traveller would believe these creation myths, the fact is undeniable that Yari is a majestic mountain filled with magical views and creatures. A fact no one who ever climbed can deny.
The Plains and Peaks of Skye
Skye Kingdom is a unique city most notably because it sits atop a mountain. This means that there is no traditional city-center or predictable growth and expansion of the city. In matter of fact, Skye Kingdom has a highly regarded and dedicated construction crew called Kensetsu, a club consisting of various brutes, tacticians and druids who get trained by the Kazenoban’nin on how to construct on this holy mountain with regards to the Gods they say inhabit it.
Over the decades the Kensetsu terraformed the mountain to create countless platforms, plateaus and connecting peaks. Most public functions are set outside the mountain on these plateaus, most living areas are inside the mountain caverns and alongside the cliffs.
The most notable thing is traversing this city. To reach a shop on the market from, say, a home in the caverns might mean that you would have to walk a long way around to traverse up the mountain via plateaus and slopes, maybe you have to cross a big ropebridge over a chasm. Or you could take the shorter route which might mean climbing long, steep stairs or even a steep mountainside. There are also more efficient, magical ways to get around, but those are only accessible to a certain class of people.
Due to the magic around the peak of the mountain the climate is very nice and not as harsh as a normal mountain peak would be. This means there is also an abundance of trees and pieces of sprawling nature around waterfalls. Waterfalls of which there are plenty. Most of them that are located in the city get used for farming irrigation and made into canals and water gardens around temples.
That said, Skye is a huge city with close to 20.000 inhabitants so there is a lot to see and do.
City layout
Skye Kingdom can be divided into three major parts; The Peak, where the Kazonoban'nin reside in the Holy Temple at the highest peak. Below that is The Seat where the Council operates from and below that you can find The City.
Kaze no bochi (Ash Peak)
Ash Peak is a lonely peak on the eastern side of the mountain with an open plateau. It has railing on two sides and there are two connecting bridges running towards it.
Along the sides are various shrines lined up and at the eastern end of the platform stands a huge statue of Fūjin. The statue can be seen holding a big sack of wind to it's side, and before that is a little raised platform on which the ashes would be placed, to be given to the Wind.
Curiously, the wind only blows on this peak at times of active prayer on it.
Neko no Ichiba (The Cat's Market)
One of the biggest central plateaus in the city is filled with colourful tents and carts. Exotic sounds and smells eminate from the Cat's Market day and night. The market square gets its nickname from the fact that most all merchant in Skye are Tabaxi kin.
Chorugon Keimusho (Chorh-Gom Prison)
Deep inside the mountains, accessible only from the highest and absolute lowest point of the city, lies Chorh-Gom Prison. A small but very foritified prison, guarded heavily by Kujaku
Caverns Deep & Chasms Dark
PART 2
Home of the Wind
Welcome to the Skye Kingdom
This part tells of the city, it's culture, factions and powers at play.
A brief history
Skye Kingdom is not a literal kingdom, for it has no king. Its name came from the creation myths, as this mountain is home to the Wind, it is his kingdom. Some residents will argue that it should be called God's Kingdom, but that would be to monotheistic for most in the city.
There is no exact date on which the city was founded, but the Temple of Holy Wind at the peak holds signs going back at least a thousand years. The Kazenoban'nin were the first to settle on the mountain, inhabiting and building out the temple. When the temple inadvertedly drew more and more attention from travellers and settlers, a village came to be around the temple. This village was protected by the magic of the Peak and the Kazenoban'nin and eventually grew to a town.
When that happened, the Kazenoban'nin and the first settlers decided on the first Council to manage the town. The Council did so succesfully, managing to lure a lot of trade and wealth into the town that slowly became a city. Still, the city could exist in a fine climate because of the magic of the Peak, but The Council thinks itself responsible for the wealth and wellbeing. Over the years, the bond between the Council and the Kazenoban'nin began to fade. One focussing on the magic and the mystique, the other focussing on the wealth and welfare, they grew apart but kept dependend on eachother.
When the town was no longer a town but a fully fledged city, most of it's original inhabitants had already passed away, leaving tales and myths for coming generations. This aspired the Taiyonoban'nin to take it's place as the leading spiritual faction for the commonfolk of the city.
Festival of the Sun
Culture surrounding the creation myths; festivals and holidays, temples and gatherings
Jade opens doors
The Skye Kingdom uses the main currency most cities do, but they also have their own Jade Coins. 1 Jade Coin is worth 5GP, but it's monetary value is far less important then the options Jade can open to a PC. Jade Coins are used to show others in the city that they belong here, acquiring a higher social standing then any mere tourist or adventurer.
Some shops only sell (certain items) for jade, some bribes paid won't work with gold, but would with jade. It is also not uncommon that prices in jade are lower then their gold equivalent. Needless to say, acquiring jade is preferable for anyone wanting to linger in this city.
A Magical and Political Balance
The Skye Kingdom knows three major factions. The original founders of the city, the Kazenoban'nin, are the keepers of the Peak and are in direct contact with the magic this mountain holds. The Hyogi-kai is the city council which was founded to keep order to the growing city and functions mostly as an oligarchy. The Taiyonoban'nin are the major spiritual influence amongst the people and hold most of the temples in the city
Kazenoban’nin - Keepers of the Wind
These are a conclave of Wizards and Druids and the first settlers on this mountain. They maintain the Temple Peak and are very protective of it and what they see as their legacy. They consider themselves the elite, above the other factions and they mostly keep to themselves at the peak. The Kazenoban’nin do have contact with the Council where they act as advice organs for governing the city.
It is rare for citizens to see a Kazenonban’nin out in public. The only exception to this is Kyū Orakuru, the old oracle, which comes to the city square to speak to the citizens regularly.
The Kazenoban’nin are also the ones who instruct, train and oversee the Kensetsu; the construction crew. This essentially means the Kazenoban’nin keep control over the expansion of the city, as little to nothing can be built without their approval.
This faction consists mostly of Druids and Wizards which are dressed in blue-grey gowns and cloaks with a continuous flowing golden pattern over them.
Hyogi-kai - The Council
They are an oligarchy of lawmakers with strong agenda’s that manages the city directly. The Council is self-sufficient in terms that they appoint their own members and are sure to keep the power close to themselves. They are responsible for keeping the peace and structure throughout the city. They do so by employing Kajuka Samurai (Peacock Watchers) that patrol the city and keep guard.
Councilman and woman are recognised by their formal haori in subtle grey and white colors.
Taiyonoban’nin - Keepers of the Sun
These are a faction of monks which controls and makes up for most of the city’s accessibility to spiritual endeavors. As the Kazenonban’nin retreat themselves and keep their mystics much to their own, the Taiyonoban’nin were created to allow citizens to worship and share in the power of the Sun. They hold multiple temples and shrines across all levels of the city.
This faction consists mostly of Monks which are dressed in bright orange and red gowns and cloaks with a continuous flowing golden pattern over them.
PART 3
Proud & Noble Folk
Proud and Noble Folk
This part tells about the citizens and famous inhabitants.
Kyu Orakuru (The old oracle)
The Old Oracle is an seemingly ancient Druid woman hailing from the Kazenoban'nin conclave. She is put forward as the conclave's presence in the daily life of the citizens.
Kajuka Samurai (Peacock Watchers)
The Kajuka are the city watch, also known as Peacock Watchers for their extravagant colourful cloaks and detailed armor. They patrol the city and lend helping hands in any matter of civilian trouble. As their outfits might show; these guards are meant to be seen.
Kaze No Ninja (Shinobi of the wind)
The Shinobi of the Wind are essentially the secret service of the Council. As their name suggest, these shinobi are meant to stay unheard and unseen.
Kensetsu (Construction crew)
The Kensetsu is the highly regarded construction crew in the city. They are selected and trained by the Kazenoban'nin and the crew consists of various brutes for heavy lifting, tacticians for planning, engineers and delegated Druids for help with the magical terraforming that is needed for much of the construction.
Tabaxi merchants
Most of the merchants in the Skye Kingdom are Tabaxi kin. That's why the market square is dubbed The Cat's Market. Tabaxi, being an adventerous folk to begin with, also worship their incarnation of the Sun, so it is no wonder that so many of them choose to linger in the Birthplace of the Sun.