Ascendia

## Skydweller Homeworld

### Overview

Ascendia is a harsh and smog-covered planet, the world of the Skydwellers. Its society resembles that of Earth during the 1920s, with stark class divides. The rich live in large cities above the smog, enjoying elaborate parties and festivities, while the poor struggle to survive below, working tirelessly to make Pips. Skydwellers are bird-like beings with powerful psychic abilities, known for being survivalists and cunning politicians. Adventurers who visit Ascendia enjoy the ability to move faster and jump farther due to the lower gravity on the planet.

### Key Locations

* Barren Fields: A desolate and dangerous area where toxic waste is buried and mysterious fights take place. The fights are reminiscent of the Hunger Games, with random garbage and ominous smog-filled fields serving as the backdrop. Those who enter the Barren Fields do so at great risk to themselves.
* Imperialus: The capital city of Ascendia, located above the smog clouds. It is home to the rich and prosperous Skydwellers, who live a life of luxury and ease. They are largely unaware of the hardship and struggle of those who live below in the Smog Shambles.
* Glowing Mountain: A mountain beyond the Empire State and Smog Shambles, hidden behind smog clouds. It is rumored to have a fusion-reactor fueled power plant at the top which constantly emits toxic fumes and radiation. The area around the mountain is known as Plastic Beach, a desolate stretch of coastline populated by mutant creatures afflicted by radiation.
* Smog Shambles: Located beneath the Empire State, the Smog Shambles is home to the impoverished population of Skydwellers. They live in makeshift housing, such as tents and shacks, and spend their lives aspiring to leave the smog and soar above the clouds.

### NPCs

* Daisy: A Skydweller courier who travels the galaxy delivering important parcels. Her current employer is unknown, but she has a reputation for being reliable and efficient.
* Feathers: A Skydweller insurrectionist who plots to overthrow those in power within the Empire State. Feathers is charismatic and persuasive, and has attracted a loyal following among the poor in the Smog Shambles.
* Gray Owl: A highly popular figure, Gray Owl may or may not be a myth. Rumored to operate in the shadows, this Skydweller is said to work tirelessly to better the lives of the less fortunate.

### Relics

* Bomb Collar: A tool used in the Barren Fields to make fighters more obedient to their captors. The collars are designed to explode if the wearer disobeys their captor's commands, making them a potent tool of control.
* The Watcher: A special trophy given to an individual who has won the Ascendian Games. The Games are a brutal contest in which individuals are sponsored by wealthy benefactors to fight for the trophy. Winners of the Games live elaborate lifestyles, but at great cost to their physical and mental health.

### Heritage Quest

In an era of great prosperity, the rich thrive off the poor. Some "benefactors" sponsor certain individuals to fight in the Ascendian Games in an attempt to win the fabled Watcher trophy. However, the Games are a brutal and dangerous contest that often results in serious injury or death. Those who win the Games live elaborate lifestyles, but at a great cost to their physical and mental health. Adventurers who wish to participate in the Games must navigate the treacherous political landscape of Ascendia, and risk their lives in the process.

Ascendian Games