Cloudbreach

Cloudbreach

Cloudbreach is a small town under the nation of Lumaire, located on the western side of the continent of Sørligste. The town has a deep history, primarily visible through its ruins. And yet, many specifics of how the ruins got there, who built them, and why the founders are no longer here have yet to be discovered. The founder of the town, ulTimothy, has developed some theories, but all is far from certain.

The ruins that give Cloudbreach its name are located atop a high mountain. The ruins are fixed into the ceiling of a gap between the mountain peak and its base. Though it may appear as an intentional architectural choice, geological evidence indicates that the ceiling into which the ruins were built used to be the peak of the mountain, indicated that the ruins were inverted at some point in history. Obviously, this is not a common occurrence, leading scholars to deem it an act of the gods. The ruins, regardless of this inversion, still stand in relatively good condition, a testament to the masons of the society that built the original settlement. The ruins are constructed almost entirely of granite and are safe to explore.

Modern settlement is still under construction, and necessary resources come primarily from the ancient works of the original settlers, namely their high-altitude farms, mines, and aqueducts.

## History

The timeline of the original settlement of Cloudbreach is highly contested, though one primary theory has emerged. The ruins that the city is known for were not the first structures on the mountain and its surrounding areas; petrified stripped wood discovered under the topsoil hint at the area's earliest settling being up to 15000-20000 years ago. This wood also indicates that the original structures were destroyed, either through pillaging or deliberate destruction. The latter is the favored theory, as the granite structures tended to be built over the wooden foundations, suggesting that the destruction was purely an architectural decision. That being said, there is convincing evidence that the area was pillaged, due to the presence of petrified wood that appears to be burnt-- a rather reckless way to deconstruct standing buildings.

Evidence suggests that the settlement now known as Cloudbreach sustained itself until approximately 7500 years ago. This suggests that the city remained active for a while just after the inversion. Shortly after, however, the city was abandoned, only rediscovered and recolonized recently.

The lack of preserved writings by the former settlers makes it very difficult to make hard facts of the area. There has only been one text from the native settlers discovered, believed to be a mining log. It was discovered deep in the city's mine, somewhat near a lava pool, protected from the elements in a dry, yet cool area. This has given some insights into the language, though the act of translating is still in progress.

The area was discovered merely 2 years ago by a Lunasmaire named ulTimothy, who has taken the charge of documenting the ruins and their history. The settlement currently sustains itself on the infrastructure of the ruins as well as imported goods and funds from the capital, Lumaire. The city is currently accepting residencies from scholars of ancient societies and architecture, as well as builders, miners, and farmers who can build up the new colony.

## Geography and Resources

The settlement of Cloudbreach is established inside a mountain, with recent settling at its foot in the surrounding savannah. It is located on an inland sea, with plans to construct canals to allow for easier access to the town.

The grassland is relatively infertile, while the mountain contains many minerals known to benefit the growth of crops. This has led to the reclaiming of the original farming technique of the original settlers.

The mountain and surrounding land is mineral-rich, with many settlers seeking out the town for fortune, with no interest in the history.

The main exports of the town is its absinthe, with the original inhabitant's technique deliberately recreated for authenticity and potency, and granite and other fine stones.