The Dwarven tribes were once spread throughout Tyria, but as the plains were settled by humanity and Orcs and Giants came to the grasslands, the Dwarves retreated into the mountains. They made their homes in their mountains, creating powerful fortresses surrounded by terrace farms on the heights, and dug mines deep below. For most of their history, Dwarves had to travel overland, often through hostile territory, to visit and trade with other Dwarfholds.
They experimented with ways to travel safely, until they discovered powered flight, and their helicopter convoys became a common sight between the mountains of Tyria. In order to facilitate this travel, large ships held aloft by lighter than air balloons were built to serve as way-stations for helicopter convoys. These were the first Sky-Ports, which offered fuel, supplies, and safety to any Dwarves who visited.
When the Orcs conquered the mountain Dwarfholds, some Dwarves were already living and working in these early Sky-Ports. The inhabitants of these Sky-Ports were workers, traders, and engineers with little arms or equipment. Without soldiers or weapons, the Dwarves living in the Sky-Ports decided to take in what refugees they could find before fleeing from the Orc armies.
These Dwarves discovered new resources that could be sifted from the clouds, which allowed them to remain aloft indefinitely. The sky-fairing Dwarves began to trade with others in order to get the metal, canvas, and wood they needed to maintain their ships and build new ones. Slowly, as they amassed more wealth, Sky-Ports continued to grow, until they formed self sustaining settlements called Sky-Cities. Though it took generations to become self-sustaining, the Sky-City Dwarves still remembered their conquered kin. They began to develop weapons to fight the Orcs and sought out allies to help them.
The Sky-City Dwarves were still preparing their army when the Rift tore through Tyria. They retreated to the skies, only to discover that the Rift had damaged a number of the old Dwarfholds, and gave their kin the chance to rise up against the Orcs. They sent envoys, eager to reunite with their kin, but to their surprise, the Sky-City Dwarves were greeted with bitterness and hostility, as the other Dwarves felt that they had been abandoned. Now the Sky-City Dwarves have returned to the skies, leaving their estranged kinsfolk to rebuild the old holds, while they went back to their new way of life in the clouds.
How will you follow the ever-shifting winds to prosperity?
History
Mountain Folk
The Dwarves were once spread throughout Tyria, but as the plains were settled by humanity and Orcs and Giants came to the grasslands, the Dwarves retreated into forts in the mountains. These mountains became their home as they developed terrace farms on the heights and dug mines deep below.
New Heights
For most of their history, Dwarves had to travel overland, often through hostile territory, to visit other Dwarfholds. Some Dwarves began to experiment with ways to travel safely. Some Dwarves began to use gliders to travel between Dwarfholds. These Dwarves also began to experiment with powered flight.
Sky Pioneers
The early days of the skyways were a time of adventure. With the lowlands being increasingly populated by dangerous other species, and hoping to develop their holds in the North, the Dwarves invested a lot into the development of flying machines. Daring dwarves became pilots, constantly finding longer and faster routes, while brilliant engineers kept improving the speed, tonnage and reliability of the airships. Hidden resupply stations were built along the routes and became waypoints where airships could drop off goods to sell to local species. People of the skyways had a prestigious status in Dwarven society, and shared a growing, unique culture.
Flight of the Dwarves
When the Orcs struck, the skyway’s structure was sophisticated enough for the airships to achieve a degree of autonomy. A few pilots tried to fight back, but their ships were not optimised for combat. In the end, most of the airships escaped, trying to take as many Dwarves with them as they could. These Dwarves were engineers, traders and workers, not soldiers and so they did not try to liberate the Dwarfholds with the Dwarf armies. When the rest of the Dwarves were defeated, they took what refugees they could and fled.
Discovery
For a time, they struggled to survive until they found a way to collect Aether, a magical substance that allowed for permanent stationary flight. Then the first Sky-City was built from a few airships rigged together around an Aether engine. This was the true birth of Sky-City Dwarves as a civilisation. They were able to travel and access places that others couldn’t, and they became proficient traders.
Traders
The Sky-fairing Dwarves began to trade with others in order to get the metal, canvas and wood they needed to maintain their ships and build new ones. Slowly, as they amassed more wealth, Sky-Ports continued to grow until they formed self sustaining settlements called Sky-Cities.
Preparation
Though it took generations to become self-sustaining, the Sky-City Dwarves still remembered their kin living under Orc rule. They began to develop weapons to fight the Orcs and sought out allies to help them.
The Return of Havoc
The Sky-City Dwarves were still preparing their army when Havoc broke loose. The Sky-City Dwarves retreated to the skies, only to see Havoc gather their forces to attack the Orcs.
Reunion
Havoc’s attack allowed their kin to free themselves and the Sky-City Dwarves moved to help them. To their surprise, they were greeted with bitterness and hostility as the other Dwarves felt that they had been abandoned by their Sky-City cousins. The Sky-City Dwarves left scorned as most Dwarves returned to the holds that the Sky-Dwarves had left behind.
Society
The Sky-City Dwarves are a society formed by refugees of the Orc invasion of the Southern Mountain Holds. They were the people of the Skyways, pilots, engineers and workers that operated the flying routes connecting the Southern and Northern mountain holds. When the Orc attacked, a lot of them took their airships and flew away with the people and supplies they could carry. They found ways to perfect flight technology enough to sustain Sky Cities, agglomerates of airships that never touch the ground, powered by a rare magical fuel. While they did try to rescue their former brethren, a rift has formed. The other Dwarves resent them for what they perceive as cowardice, and the Skyways have never been reopened. The Sky-City Dwarves remain a people without a country.
Sky-Cities
Sky-City Dwarves rarely allow non-Dwarves to visit their homes, as they prefer to avoid unwanted attention. The Sky-Cities are quite a sight, with some made of airships cobbled together, covered with pipes and cordage, various suspended cabins and observation towers swinging around.
The smallest are the size of a modest castle. The biggest ones are sprawling cities. This is the only place where most Sky-City Dwarves feel truly safe, where they hold parties and sleep in cosy little cabins. Scouting airships are constantly patrolling a wide perimeter around, ready to deflect any venturing outsider.
Social Structure
The Sky-City Dwarves are forced to expend a lot of resources to collect Aether and maintain their flying homes and fleets. Consequently, these Dwarves are always striving. Airship crews are like a family unit, the cornerstone of their society. They are constantly either delivering merchandise, bringing in goods or prospecting for new leads and opportunities. Pilots and Engineers are two of the most prestigious professions in the Sky Cities. Engineers are responsible for keeping the cities afloat and maintaining the ships. They have ranks, and the most powerful engineers form a kind of loose City council. They have the authority to commandeer anything they deem necessary to protect their city. Ship Engineers are also important, and most airships also try to have a couple of apprentice positions filled. An airship without an Engineer is in trouble. Pilots are explorers, akin to ship captains. They are the ones interfacing with the outside world and often act as diplomats and commercial negotiators as well.
Diplomacy
Many other Dwarves claim that the Sky-City Dwarves abandoned their people in a time of dire need. Over the generations, the tale grew in the telling, and now many Dwarves believe that the Sky-City Dwarves left thousands to die, flying off at the first sign of trouble. Of course, the Sky-Cities remember a different story, where they risked their lives to save as many as possible. Any mention of this causes heated debate among Dwarves. This ostracism is not helped by the fact that Sky-City Dwarves did thrive when their brethren suffered, and that they are accustomed to relative luxury.
