List of places in Skies of Arcadia
This article discusses places in the fictional world of the game Skies of Arcadia.
The world in general is made up of a series of islands and continents floating high in the sky. The actual "land" of the planet seems to be obscured by a thick layer of clouds known to the inhabitants as "Deep Sky", where the pressure is too great for them to tolerate without protection. Much of the world is divided by Sky Rifts, wall-like barriers of wind and clouds reaching from Deep Sky up to all but the highest altitudes. Overall technology is Steampunk-like, varying between the 15th and 19th centuries, with a strong base in magic.
The Moons
The world of Skies of Arcadia has several, which somehow keep geostationary orbits over certain lands of the planet. These Moons are magical in nature, and hold power over the elements:
- Green - Nature
- Red - Fire
- Purple - Ice
- Blue - Wind and Water
- Yellow - Lightning
- Silver - Life and Death
Periodically, rocks from the moons will fall to earth as meteorites. These rocks are known as Moonstones, and hold a portion of the Moon's power. These Moonstones are the cornerstones of the many cultures of the world, and are used to make weapons and armor, as fuel, to utilize Magic, and sometimes even to prepare some foods. Moonstones can be refined into Moon Crystals, which give off Immense power. Only the ancient civilizations the once dominated the world had the skill to refine Moonstones that finely.
There is said to be a seventh Black Moon, which is supposed to hold the powers of reversal or negativity. The only evidence of a Black Moon is a massive Black Moonstone, and an island that floats upside down over the Dark Rift. If the Black Moon exists, it most likely hangs over the center of the Dark Rift.
The world once had six great civilizations, with a high level of technology. The civilizations warred with each other, eventually creating massively destructive mecha known as the Gigas. The Gigas battled, wiping out many lives, until the Rains of Destruction, where the six moons, seemingly disgusted by the actions of the people below, destroyed the ancient civilizations in a massive hail of giant moonstones.
Mid Ocean
Under the light of the Silver Moon, Mid Ocean is mostly blue sky, with small islands floating in the void. It contains many Air Pirate bases, such as Pirate Isle, along with old relics such as Shrine Island.
Soltis
The main island of the Silvite Civilization, Soltis sank into Deep Sky during the Rains of Destruction. The continent is dominated by a massive white structure with an immense tower in the center. Soltis resurfaces as a result of the interference of Ramirez. It was the ancient worlds dominant technological power.
Valua
The Valuan Empire spans the continent under the Yellow Moon and is Arcadias economic and military superpower. Currently under the reign of Empress Teodora I, the continent is known for its capital. It is protected by the supposedly impenetrable Grand Fortress, essentially a massive wall covering the main entrance to the continent. The Grand Fortress is strong enough to withstand any bombardment short of an apocalyptic meterorite storm, and the cannons lining one side of the wall can wipe out a fleet in short order. The entire fortress also serves as a door, rotating open on a regular schedule to allow traders and military forces to enter or leave, and in the more extensive sense also serves as the military research, development and docking compound of Valua. It was said that no prisoner ever escaped from the Grand Fortress, until Vyse and his crewmates managed to do so on two separate occasions. Following the end of the Valuan-Nasr war, the continent emerged as the distant number one military power due to its vast resources of moonstones and dominance in the field of technology making it capable of overwhelming all other nations militaries within short notice. The Valuan navy is known as the Imperial Armada.
The Valuan Government seems to be feudal, and is governed by a monarchy and aristocracy. The various powerful lords make up the council of admirals, five in all excluding the newly appointed Ramirez. They are led by the Supreme Admiral. Each Admiral has a fleet in a place of interest for Valua.
Apparently, the throne of Valua still exercises power over the body as all appointments are granted by Empress Theodora I.
Behind the Grand Fortress is the capital city of Valua, divided in the Upper and Lower City. The city appears much like Victorian era London, and has a huge economic gap between the rich living in decadent luxury in the Upper City, and the poor who live in squalor and hopelessness in the slums of Lower City. Between The Two floats the Imperial Palace, on its own island. It is also home to the infamous Coloseum, where prisoners, those captured in war, and mercenaries would combat to the death for the amusement of the Valuan people.
The Valuan civilization suffered horribly during the Second Rains of Destruction, which devastated the capital, toppled the Grand Fortress, and destroyed the Palace, [...] Empress Theodora I (and Admiral Alfonso).
After the defeat of Galcian and Ramirez, the dark clouds cleared and the Empire re-emerged under Emperor Enrique I.
Nasr
Dominated by sandy deserts underneath the fiery Red Moon, Arabian-styled Nasr can only be accessed by the South and North Dannel Straits. The South Dannel Strait is heavily patrolled by the Nasrean Navy, while the North Dannel Strait is blocked off by an immense Sky Rift. Nasr is Arcadias second largest economy and military power, according to Galcian the only nation with a Navy capable of challenging that of Valua's, albeit distantly behind that of the Empires. The capital of Nasrad is protected by a large wall equipped with massive cannons from all sides. However army officials had complained that the wall and few outdated cannons would no longer be sufficient in withstanding an attack from Valua and serve no effective purpose in present.
Nasrad is a major port city, with many international trading ships seen entering and leaving its airfield at all times. The city itself centers around commerce, with traders, bankers and small business flourishing across the streets of Nasrad. The Nasrean Palace serves as the backdrop to the luxorious city, home of the Throne and protected by gaurds and smaller lines of walls.
Its capital is the jewel oasis of Nasrad, it has a port city named Maramba, and the city of Esperanza is technically under Valuan control, though the Empire has ignored the city for decades.
Sailors Island
A small Island occupying a portion of the mid Ocean, Sailors Island had been experiencing an economic boom due to increased trade between Valua and Nasr which flows through the ports of Island. They seem to share cultural characteristics with the Nasreans.
Dangral Island
Dangral Island was an uninhabited island near the coastline of Sailors Island. Galcian, the Supereme Commander of the Valuan Armada had taken the initiative without the knowledge of either Empress Theodora nor the Valuan Admirals to build a military and research base on the Island. Such a massive project would have been denied by the queen due to its enormous cost. A large elevator is the central piece of the compound with the purpose of military research and extraction of Fina's ship. The elevator and entire structure was specially developed and built, able to withstand the extreme pressures of deep sea.
Ixa'taka
A grass and rainforest-filled continent under the Green Moon, the Mesoamerica-style tribal civilization of Ixa'taka had no contact with the rest of Arcadia until its discovery by the Valuans. It is a poor and undeveloped continent that has been exploited by Valuan miners extracting its moonstones. Ixa'Takan people are mostly warriors and heavily rely on nature. The first way to get to this forest-infested place was by South Ocean. Ixa'Taka holds the Green Moon Crystal, and is therefore responsible with the Green Gigas', Grendel's, power.
South Ocean
An area full of massive whirlwinds, South Ocean was considered a death trap until the Little Jack successfully navigated it.
North Ocean
North Ocean became The Primary trade route between Valua and Ixa'taka. Gordo's Bistro was later set up there.
The Dark Rift
A massive storm, more dreaded than South Ocean that reaches its tendrils all over the planet. The Dark Rift is associated with supernatural phenomena similar to the Bermuda Triangle, and far worse. The rift has several pockets of calmness, where animals gather, and most ships eventually end up after crashing. It was first navigated by the Delphinus. An area full of Moonstones, including a giant Black Moonstone, was found to be at the center of the Dark Rift. Also, to go along with this, a Black Looper could be found in the Dark Rift, giving twenty Magic Experince Points to whomever defeated it.
Yafutoma
A world drawing similarities to both China and Japan. Yafutoma sits under the Blue Moon, which controls Wind and Water elements. Due to the use of Blue Moonstones as fuel, their shand can fly much higher than ships made in Valua or Mid-Ocean. However, their ships are also weaker and can be hit by torpedoes. It later becomes known that they too, alongside Valua and Nasr have a considerable Navy capable of withstanding a Valuan attempt of Invasion with the help of the Delphinusips
Lands of Ice
The name given by the new world to the lands basking under the light of the purple moon, this place is totally covered in ice and is bitterly cold. Deep beneath the surface lies the ancient capital of the old world purple civilisation, Glacia. An Aurora can be seen high in the skies over the land.