Caelum

Caelum
Spirit	Shasae
Native Sophants	Caelites
Significance	The realm of air and atmosphere • home to the winds and birthplace of life in Adaris

Caelum is the realm of Shasae, the Primordial Spirit of Atmosphere, encompassing the vast expanse of sky above much of Adaris. It is a realm without solid ground, composed entirely of air, clouds, and wind currents that move in complex, ever-shifting patterns.

Caelum is the source of all winds in Adaris, shaping the weather and carrying the breath of life across the world. It is inhabited by beings formed of mist and air, including the sentient cloud-like Caelites, the drifting and elusive Sky Drifters, and powerful storm-born entities. The realm is defined by its intangible geography, with settlements formed from dense cloud masses and invisible air currents serving as natural pathways.

Though in constant motion, Caelum is considered one of the fundamental realms of Adaris, tied to the natural cycles of the world. It is viewed as a place of both harmony and unpredictability, where winds carry whispers of the past, and tempests serve as reminders of Shasae’s enduring presence.

History

Caelum’s history is shaped by the creation of the atmosphere, the formation of its inhabitants, and the great storms that have influenced its balance.

• The emergence of Shasae – According to myth, Shasae came into being when Daathir, the Primordial Spirit of Earth, recognized the need for an atmosphere to sustain life. Shasae emerged from the Primordial Void, creating the first winds and filling the world with air.

• The First Breath – The First Breath marks the moment when Shasae exhaled for the first time, setting the winds of Adaris in motion. This act is believed to have given life to the Caelites and Sky Drifters, forming the foundation of Caelum’s ever-moving nature.

• The Great Tempest – A legendary storm that once threatened to destabilize Caelum. The Great Tempest raged for days, with winds strong enough to tear apart cloud formations and lightning that illuminated the skies for hours at a time. Some accounts claim it was caused by an imbalance in Shasae’s domain, while others suggest it was a natural cycle of renewal.

• The Sky Serpent’s Path – A tale recounting a colossal Sky Drifter that wandered through Caelum for centuries. Its immense size allowed it to act as a bridge between distant cloud cities, providing a pathway across the sky. Though considered a legend, some claim to have seen remnants of its form lingering in the highest reaches of the realm.

Geography

Caelum exists as a vast, atmospheric realm, composed of air currents, drifting cloud formations, and volatile wind patterns. The realm is in constant motion, yet its defining features remain distinct, shaped by the unseen forces of the sky.

Notable Regions

• The Aetherveil – A dense, stratified region of the upper sky where the air is thin, and the light bends into shifting auroras. The Aetherveil is known for its prismatic mists, which refract color unpredictably, making it difficult to navigate.

• The Skyflow Expanse – A vast region dominated by high-velocity wind currents. These air streams act as natural highways, guiding travelers and shaping the movement of Caelum’s inhabitants. Some currents are steady and reliable, while others shift unpredictably, creating turbulence that can strand even experienced navigators.

• The Umbral Drift – A shadowed section of Caelum where dense cloud masses obscure the light, creating a perpetual twilight. This region is often silent, with only the occasional distant rumble of unseen tempests. Some believe the Umbral Drift serves as a boundary between Caelum and realms unknown.

• The Tempest Hollows – A region marked by unstable weather patterns, where rolling stormfronts generate powerful windshear and constant flashes of heat lightning. The Tempest Hollows are thought to be a focal point of Shasae’s influence, where the balance of air and energy is at its most volatile.

• The Breathless Gulf – A rare atmospheric anomaly where the winds fall silent, leaving an expanse of still, motionless air. Travel through the Breathless Gulf is considered dangerous, as those who enter must rely on external forces to escape. Some claim that sound itself behaves differently here, carrying whispers from distant places.

• The Cirrus Tangle – A labyrinth of thick, interwoven cloud formations, where visibility is limited, and navigation becomes a test of patience. The Cirrus Tangle is known for its slow-moving air pockets, where the wind moves in spirals rather than straight paths.

Caelum lacks a fixed surface, and all travel within the realm depends on understanding its shifting atmospheric layers. The inhabitants of Caelum, particularly the Caelites, have developed methods of navigating these regions by sensing subtle changes in air pressure, temperature, and current.

Climate

Caelum’s climate is defined by continuous atmospheric movement, fluctuating air pressures, and localized weather phenomena. The realm lacks fixed seasons, instead experiencing cyclical shifts in wind intensity, temperature gradients, and cloud density.

Climate Zones

• The Upper Expanse – The highest reaches of Caelum, where the air is thin and the temperature remains frigid. Winds here are weak, and pockets of near-vacuum conditions create voids where sound barely carries. Light refracts unpredictably, creating prismatic distortions and auroral waves that ripple across the sky.

• The Mid-Current Belt – The most stable region of Caelum, where temperate wind streams regulate airflow. This zone is home to consistent breezes, moderate cloud formations, and occasional drifting mist. The Mid-Current Belt serves as the primary navigational route for Caelum’s inhabitants and is considered the safest area for travel.

• The Lowswirl Depths – A dense atmospheric layer where heavy cloud masses churn in slow, spiraling currents. This region is prone to rolling fog banks, sudden shifts in wind direction, and intermittent downbursts of condensed mist. The Lowswirl Depths often experience silent electrical discharges, illuminating the clouds from within.

• The Tempest Basin – A highly unstable region where rapid shifts in air pressure generate near-constant storm activity. Intense downdrafts and updrafts create vortex formations, and the presence of charged particles results in near-continuous lightning storms. The Tempest Basin is considered one of the most unpredictable areas of Caelum, where even the Caelites tread carefully.

• The Stagnant Hollow – A rare anomaly within Caelum where wind activity ceases entirely. The air here is heavy and unmoving, with an eerie silence that disrupts natural airflow. This zone is avoided by most travelers, as prolonged exposure to its stillness can cause disorientation and fatigue.

Caelum’s climate is in a constant state of flux, with wind patterns acting as the primary force shaping its environment. While some areas maintain stable conditions, others shift unpredictably, influenced by the greater atmospheric currents of Adaris.

Flora and fauna

The flora and fauna of Caelum are adapted to an existence without solid ground, thriving within air currents, cloud formations, and atmospheric pressure shifts. Many of these lifeforms are **ephemeral, shifting with the winds**, while others are semi-solid, composed of condensed mist and energy.

• Sky Drifters – Solitary creatures that float or glide through the skies for decades at a time. These beings are varied in form, some resembling earthbound animals, while others are more abstract, like floating ribbons of light or clusters of glowing orbs. Sky Drifters are mysterious and elusive, often appearing and disappearing without warning.

• Fael Blooms– A rare atmospheric plant that forms from dense mist. Fael Blooms do not root but drift on slow-moving currents, their translucent petals pulsing faintly as they absorb energy from the surrounding air.

• Waelks– Agile, gliding creatures that navigate the Skyflow Expanse by riding air currents. Their elongated forms shift with the wind, allowing them to maneuver effortlessly between pressure pockets.

• Cirrus Lattice – A complex, web-like structure formed from interwoven strands of condensed vapor. This semi-living entity expands and contracts with changing humidity, creating massive, floating cloud formations that serve as shelter for smaller aerial creatures.

• Maelonex – Massive, storm-born entities composed of thunderclouds and volatile energy. Rare and formidable, Maelonex manifest within the Tempest Basin and are believed to be self-sustaining storms given form. Their presence is often accompanied by lightning surges and violent wind shifts.

The ecosystem of Caelum is fluid and ever-changing, with its inhabitants relying on the currents and temperature shifts to sustain their existence. Many forms of life in the realm appear transient, existing only as long as conditions remain favorable before dissipating into the winds.

Native Sophants

• Caelites: Sentient beings composed of clouds and air, the Caelites are the primary inhabitants of Caelum. They have a ghostly, translucent appearance and can shift their forms at will. The Caelites are deeply connected to the winds and are able to manipulate the air around them. They live in floating cloud cities and have a communal culture, valuing harmony and balance above all else.