Aetheria is no longer a continent, but an archipelago of floating isles arranged in three visible tiers:
- The Upper Reaches — Small isles high above, where the air is thin and the winds are violent. Mountains, isolated monasteries, ancient star observatories. Mystery lives here.
- The Middle Reaches — Where most people live. Temperate, varied, rich with trade. Some eighty percent of the isles known to ordinary folk lie in this middle band.
- The Veiled Waters — Low, dense with mist, far from civilisation. Here are forgotten isles, uncharted zones, and the outermost reach of the Verdant.
Island Clusters
Isles group naturally into clusters — communities of islands that share atmospheric currents and cultural identity. The clusters most travelled today include:
| Cluster | Tier | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Home Cluster (our start) | Middle | Five or six temperate isles, trade-connected |
| The Copper Ring | Middle | A trade hub of twelve or more isles |
| Ironvale | Upper | Mountain forests, dwarves, forges |
| The Grey Archipelago | Veiled | Old pre-Unmaking ruins |
| The Bloom | Veiled | Isles overtaken by the Verdant |
Each cluster has its own character, its own politics, and its own dangers. A Skyfarer who knows one cluster well is often a stranger in the next.