Krozeprov

The land holds a hollow shell where life lives on the inner face looking up at the far side.

Steam drives mills, ships and a few railways as fuel is the constant worry for the economy.

from Song of the Iron Storm, by Myobryok

Imported machines run on a cycle working for 30 days and failing for as many more days. Fuel is the constant worry for the economy.

Time

Day and night each last half the year at the poles while the busy lands are near the middle.

The price for this hostage situation is the gate itself.

from Sermon on the Exile, by Pryevyen

This world's gate opens on Dimensional Station sector 4. Soldiers control access to the gate during the closed months.

Cost

Passage costs ten credits a head and a thousand a hull while cargo goes free.

Opening

Once a year the gate opens without toll or question to balance the debt.

The regent in Vlibryad holds the land while soldiers hire out from Byevlir to pay debts. The rightful ruler lives off-world and watches the gate through a screen of smoke.

Debt

A ruling family's heir is held hostage off-world while a regent rules in the meantime.

A merchant selling smokeless fuel to the wrong faction pays a thousand credits for every barrel. The regent forbids speaking the heir's name inside Vlibryad under penalty of immediate removal.

Storm Edge

Anyone caught near the storm's edge without a soldier's pass loses their credits and faces exile.

1. 
   01

   Myakrosl

   Snake-bodied emerald-scaled eel folk

   Alignment

   Lawful guardians who keep order without question.

   Economy

   They guard the gate for credits and live in silence near Vobrokrad.

   Governance

   The regent rules them from afar with strict orders.

   People

   Myakrosl coils rustle softly as emerald scaled bodies move through high winter cloud layers above the land.

   Looks

   Emerald scales cover snake-bodied forms marked by two arms and a snake tail, under thick wool coats, with a heavy metal lockbox in hand.

2. 
   02

   Dvyegryar

   Fungal mass with red-capped spore clouds and no eyes

   Alignment

   Neutral traders sell fuel without caring for buyers.

   Economy

   They harvest glowing fungi from the cloud floor to make cheap steam fuel.

   Governance

   Elders choose trade routes by wind direction alone.

   People

   Their mycelial roots taste of iron and earth when chewed by hungry predators who stalk the land.

   Looks

   They stand as fungal masses with red caps and spore clouds, wearing white cloaks while carrying metal tongs to harvest glowing fungi for steam fuel.

3. 
   03

   Sharin

   Shadowy black-furred bipeds

   Alignment

   Selfish hunters stalk migrating herds to feed on their young.

   Economy

   They raid migrating herds for meat to sell as delicacies in Vlibryad markets.

   Governance

   No single leader rules them; packs form around strong cats.

   People

   Their eyes glow faintly as they track prey through the thickening storm clouds that fill the sky above them now.

   Looks

   They are bipedal felines with shadowy black fur and glowing eyes; they wear tight leather jackets and carry curved hunting knives.

4. 
   04

   Vlyobri

   Colour-shifting squid folk

   Alignment

   Benevolent scholars who catalog visitors without asking for payment.

   Economy

   They trade strange bioluminescent ink to mark maps of the endless cloud world.

   Governance

   A collective mind guides them along the inner face.

   People

   Vlyobri shift skin colours to mimic the storm above before diving into deep fog banks where silence holds.

   Looks

   They are squid-like with colour-shifting skin and a beak; they wear thick waterproof cloaks and carry heavy glass ink pots.