Sky World is currently coming out of a Dark Age. Trade is returning and people are starting to re-settle islands abandoned during the previous 500 years. Colonization is done by groups of people, not by individuals usually. Nor is re-settlement done in a consistent manner. Floating islands are often skipped in favor of ones that are easier to re-settle. Ships will travel from one inhabited island to another, but will often pass tens or hundreds of abandoned islands. Characters can easily pay to be dropped off on an island and then picked up by another ship days, weeks or even months later.
Sky World's cultures are drawn from a variety of sources. The overall system follows the John Norman "Gor" model. Earth, or fantasy novel cultures are transplanted, modified and re-named to various sections of Sky World.
Culture is based upon Iceland & Norway during the late Dark Ages. This is roughly the years 900 to 1300 CE. This culture is located at roughly 75 degrees North latitude. Winters are cold and the sun doesn't shine. Summers are very cool, 50 to 60 degrees and the sun shines constantly. Farming is tough and very small scale. This is considered barbarian country.
Culture is based upon Roman Empire circa 200 CE. The Empire is still strong, but has decided to stop expanding and only defend its outlying provinces.
This is one of the great cities of Sky World. It is located at roughly the same latitude as modern day Delaware. Winters are cold but dry with little snow. There is an active Thieves Guild and Assassin's Guild.
This is another of the great cities of Sky World. Lankhmar is further south than Ankh-Morpork, and much further east. It is roughly at the latitude of southern Florida. Winters and summers are hot. Winds are constant trade winds running from northwest to southeast. Lankhmar has an active, powerful Thieves Guild, Assassin's Guild (called Slayer's Brotherhood). Lankhmar is on a large island, also called Lankhmar. A large part of the rest of the island is given over to wheat farms. Other major features are The Great Salt Marsh, and the River Hlal. The island is at the center of an island group called Nehwon. The islands are grouped in roughly a circle around what is referred to the Inner Sea.
Roughly European Middle Ages they way they should have been. One king who has a variety of feudal nobles under him. A very typical fantasy setting. There is significant intrigue between the nobles and the king and the established monotheistic church.
Cape Cod is one of a set of large islands all in the same general area. Other islands include Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Mass Bay (with the large cities of Cambridge & Boston). Winters are cold and snowy, winters hot (80F to 90F) and often humid. Winds blow consistently from southwest to northeast. This setting is used for geography mostly.
The Twelve Cities are a region in the eastern part of the world. The Twelve Cities region covers from rough latitude of 45 degrees north latitude to 10 degrees north latitude, and 10 degrees to 45 degrees longitude. This results in a north to south distance of about 21,000 miles. To the east, the next set of island is 1200 miles. To the north, south and west, it is roughly 1,000 miles to the next set of islands.
The major powers in the region are Ankh-Morpork, Lankhmar, Esthar, Sparta, Corinth, Athens, Rhodes, Marathon, Syracuse, Rome, Naples, Venice and Cartagena. All twelve cities and most of the region used to be the Hellenic Empire. The Twelve Cities control the islands they are on, and usually the islands very close to them. There are also sub-regions that are not controlled by any of the Twelve Cities, but are considered part of the Twelve Cities region.
Other sites of interest are Delphi, Elysium, and Alexandria. Delphi is known for its oracle. Elysium is known for another oracle and Alexandria is known for its library. Alexandria has the largest and most complete collection of texts known to exist.
The Twelve Cities used to be part of the Hellenic Empire before it fell. The capital of the former Empire was destroyed in a magical experiment gone awry. It is not known what the experiment was, but the code name "Tickling the Dragon's Tail" is known.
Ankh-Morpork (city-state)
Ankh-Morpork is one the infamous cities of the world. It is home to the Unseen University, it's own Thieves Guild, Assassins Guild and Seamstresses Guild.
Lankhmar (city-state)
Lankhmar is known for its fogs and smokes. The city is supported by outlying farms, both on the same island and on nearby islands. The Thieves Guild and Slayer's Brotherhood are world famous. Lankhmar was the capital city of the Nehwon region before the Empire fell.
Esthar of the (city-state)
Nehwon is a region of the Twelve Cities at the equivalent of the southern US. The major city-state is Lankhmar. Nehwon covers from ____ latitude to ____ latitude. It ranges from ____ west longitude to _____ west longitude. The major city-state of Lankhmar is at __ degrees latitude and ___ degrees longitude. Aside from Lankhmar, the majority of the surrounding islands belong to individual feudal lords.
The climate is hot and humid year round. The country is known for wheat, tobacco, cotton, and similar. Wine and beer are rare, expensive, and only the imported wine is safe to drink. Rum and distilled drinks are common and safe as normal.
North of ___, but not controlled by it. The region used to be under a single king, but is currently in anarchy since the death of the royal family 15 years ago. There are numerous individuals trying to put things back together, but not many are likely to succeed. The area is ripe for adventurers, especially ones interested in military raiding and criminal protection rackets. The region is a significant source of slaves, especially relatively educated ones.
The Ramtops are west of Ankh-Morpork but are not controlled or part of the Ankh-Morpork sphere of influence.
The Small Kingdoms are north of Esthar of the Spices. The Small Kingdoms are a large number of relatively small islands, each of which is ruled by it's own hereditary king or queen.
The islands are relatively close together, and all of them are very craggy. There is limited flat land for crops or other industry. The region is relatively poor except for producing a steady stream of metal ores. A goodly portion of the population is Dwarf and Troll.
In the Southern Hemisphere of Sky World, and located on the
far side of the globe from the Twelve Cites. Loosely based upon
ancient China or Disc World's Counter-Weight Continent or
Turtledove's Thousand Cities. The islands are large and very
close together. Travel between islands is relatively easy.
The easy travel between islands promotes a central government.
The movement of troops quickly and easily between islands deters
raiders from reaching the interior islands and also quells
potential uprisings quickly. There is an extensive bureaucracy
that runs the government under the direction of the Emperor.
The islands themselves are large and flat. The area is known for
it's alluvial plains that grow wheat, rice and other grains. The
population is extremely dense due to intense cultivation of the
land.
Loosely based upon Africa
To the north of the Twelve Cities lie the Barbarian Northlands. The Northlands are the source of most of the raiders. This region is based upon medieval Viking society and a little bit upon typical fantasy barbarian lands.