Sky Kingdom

The **Sky Kingdom** is a kingdom in Pyrrhia and home of the SkyWings. It is located on the "wing" and part of the "torso" of the dragon-shaped continent of Pyrrhia, and it stretches across the entire northeast and center, reaching to the outskirts of the Mud Kingdom, the Kingdom of Sand, and the Rainforest Kingdom.

## Description

The Sky Kingdom consists largely of cliffs, mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, and valleys.

The Sky Kingdom is mostly consisted of mountains, with temperate forests and some meadows in the lower areas. There are several lakes and rivers, and the areas to the north are snowy and home to boreal forests. Numerous caves run beneath the kingdom. The Sky Kingdom is located in central and northern Pyrrhia and it contains the Claws of the Clouds Mountains, the SkyWing palace to the far north, Jade Mountain, and the cave where Kestrel, Webs, and Dune raised the dragonets of destiny for six years. The Winding Tail River separates the Sky Kingdom from the Mud Kingdom.

Southwest of the SkyWing palace, there is a valley that is dotted with clumps of small white flowers. There are mountains and rivers, as well as lakes, in the valley. On one side of the lake, there is a wreckage from a rough structure. Long branches stripped of their leaves are scattered across the ground, and vines still tied in knots lay in crushed piles. The whole mess is covered in ripped up flower petals of roses, violets, and daffodils. There is a forest bordering the lake, as well as dirt, shrubs, and streams. The grass waves peacefully, the quiet trees are full of fruit, and it seems as though no dragon talons have ever disturbed it. There is a large, mountainous eye-shaped rock formation overlooking the valley, as well as mountain crags and folded, crooked peaks. There is a stretch of rocky slope leading up to a peak, where several flat ledges and outcroppings overlook the valley. There are several boulders and shrubs.

At the very south of the Sky Kingdom is Jade Mountain, the tallest mountain in Pyrrhia. There is rumored to be a "dragon of Jade Mountain," which is friendly to the Talons of Peace, that was later revealed to be Stonemover, Sunny's NightWing father, and Thorn's former partner in *The Brightest Night*.

The Diamond Spray River begins at the base of Jade Mountain, in which the SkyWing palace rests and flows through the middle of SkyWing territory. The Kingdom of Sand borders it in the southwest, while the Ice Kingdom is northwest. Assuming that the SeaWings rule the entire northern ocean, the Sky Kingdom also borders the Kingdom of the Sea to the northeast.

Numerous scavenger dens have been reported in the Sky Kingdom. The Indestructible City, one of the most well-known scavenger dens, notorious for their fortified walls and tendency to fight back against dragons, is located near a bend in the Winding Tail River and west of the Mud Kingdom.

## Notable Features

### Queen Ruby's palace

Ruby's palace is located in the upper segment of the Sky Kingdom and is described as a huge fortress carved from a mountain.

More tunnels are blasted out every day by SkyWing subjects, with half of the palace inside the mountain, and the other half is open to the sky and heavily defended. The castle is said to be damaged from battle, with collapsed towers and scorch marks from fire attacks. Clay, Tsunami, and Starflight had been taken there in the time of Queen Scarlet and the palace had been described with gold talon prints, gold veins on the walls and floors, and the throne room "as if a giant dragon had stumbled around the room, vomiting gold all over the place." It is noted in *Escaping Peril* that all of the gold has been removed by the order of Queen Ruby. It is also the home of the SkyWing Royal family.

### Gladiator Arena

Dragons captured in battles against the SkyWings were sentenced to fight in gladiator battles to the death in a huge, bowl-shaped arena.

A fight was held almost every day for Queen Scarlet's amusement. The prisoners were kept on tall rock spires with no bars, spread out in a circle around the perimeter of the arena. The dragons were held down by metal clamps, and wires that are wound around their limbs stretch across the arena, connecting all of the prisoners.

Dragons were promised freedom after a set amount of arena victories. This never occurred, due to Scarlet's champion Peril being sent to fight any dragons who surpassed three or four wins. SkyWings, MudWings, and sometimes SandWings watched from stands. Occasionally, the gladiators fought groups of captured scavengers. Some prisoners have even tried to commit suicide (Horizon) rather than continue to fight.

The arena is currently being used as a hospital for war veterans and wounded soldiers.