The Dreams of a Kirin: A Between Clouds Campaign

About the adventure

On the world of Empyrea, the anthropocene is over. Humankind's domination of the world ended with the arrival of Kiros, a god from beyond the stars. Kiros came not to dominate in turn, but to save. It found a world ravaged by reckless resource exploitation, factional bloodshed, and unfettered pollution. To save the life of the world, Kiros transformed it utterly. The superbloom created trees that towered like mountains, fields of grass in the skies, and even floating trees, far above the polluted landscape. The fish, too, were freed of the toxic oceans, now able to fly freely through the air and regrow their populations. Greatest of all, however, were the Kirin: mammals selected by Kiros to be turned into demigods. The Kirin hold genetic information, cataloguing the species of Empyrea, and altering them to best fit survival. For these miracles, for saving the world, humanity killed Kiros. They struck down the alien god to reclaim their dominion. Before it died, Kiros performed one last miracle. It filled the landscape with a great fog that twisted all life within it into a weapon against humanity. Perhaps it was revenge, perhaps it was the only way to save the world from the human species... but regardless of motive the results were the same. Everything beneath the tops of mountains became alien, mysterious, and utterly inimical to human life. But, that was long ago. Now, humanity lives between clouds. In ancient skyscrapers, on mountaintop islands, and in cradles held aloft by beating Kirin hearts. Kirins are hunted for their unique properties. Humans may no longer dominate the world, but in the skies they still form nations, wage wars, and exploit nature as far as they can. This is the Empyrea you know, the world you live in. You live in Welkin Tower, but it isn't home. Nowhere really is for you. Societies and factions converge on the allegedly free port of Welkin. Artificers plumb the depths for lost secrets, risking contact with the Below, agents of the Crown trade with wealthy Magnates. Fell Hunter whaling ships and unaligned pirate vessels restock in the ports, while their sailors plunder the local entertainment. Even Sylvans sometimes make the pilgrimage in search of supplies or help, though they can seldom afford it. Through it all, the Welkins claim to be free inheritors of the tower. Whatever faction you hail from, you don't fit in with any of them. You're alone. Isolated. Unaware even at this moment that there are others who feel like you do, strange and alien in your own land. Then the dreams start. You have dreams of flying through the air, of living in the wild places, of being free! Sleep becomes your escape from a world you don't belong in. And barely have the dreams started when one of them becomes a nightmare. When harpoons and hooks assail you and drag you from the sky... And the next day, a ship arrives with a Kirin, caught and bound as a hunting trophy, but still alive. The same Kirin you were in your dreams.