World Building

Tarshu is a unique town of 1,100 people built
on several large floating rocks that straddle
the gap between two sides of a canyon.
People have constructed buildings and farms
(complete with relocated topsoil) on these
rocks, linking them to each other by bridges
and planks. The townsfolk raise flying beetles
called krem, which can carry small riders. The
locals are very proud of their town and are
somewhat condescending toward people who
live on "the mainland."

Tarshu Overview: The rocks Tarshu is built on
predate the Ninth World and are fixed in place
by ancient technology—they do not shift, rise,
or sink regardless of the force applied to them.
The upper surfaces of the rocks are flat, as if
they were sheared off by an enormous blade.
The undersides are studded with large white
crystals that faintly hum with energy.

The smallest gaps between the floating
rocks and the edges of the canyon are about
30 feet (9 m) across. The townsfolk can easily
defend their homes from ground-based threats
by collapsing or withdrawing the bridges and
planks that connect them to the mainland.
Each of these connectors is designed so they
can be demolished in just a round or two by
cutting a few key connections.

Other than the krem, there are few large
animals in Tarshu, and most people walk or
travel in human-pulled carts. A krem can carry
only about 100 pounds (45 kg) while flying, so
most krem jockeys are children or very small
adults. Krem racing is a popular sport, and a
talented jockey can make a comfortable living
racing once a month. Krem are never given
or sold to outsiders—surplus eggs are even
destroyed to make sure of this.

Tarshu gets its water from a large pipe that
diverts water from a nearby stream across the
main bridge to the floating islands. All homes
and businesses are required to store at least
one barrel’s worth of water in case the town is
besieged and the pipe-bridge is dismantled.
Skylord Bellen: This former krem jockey is
short, with elaborately braided hair and a habit
of wearing all red. He was undefeated in his
last two years of racing, but he had to retire
when he grew too heavy to ride. Incredibly
popular in his former job, he’s less successful
in his current role and has been calling in a lot
of favors to get things done. He misses flying
and would feel indebted to anyone who gives
him the means to do it again.

TARSHU HEARSAY
Population Limits: Tarshu can house and
feed only about 200 more people than it
does now—any more than this and they’ll
have to expand to the mainland. To make
more room, the skylord is considering
carving out holes in the sides of the islands
and moving the krem aeries there, building
upward (either for human homes or making
platforms for the krem), or creating large
balconies along the edges of the islands for
more homes.

Untamed Bugs: Tarshu’s krem are
domesticated, but larger, aggressive
varieties nest in various parts of the canyon.
The bigger ones should be strong enough
to carry larger riders, but attempts to tame
them or breed them with the smaller krem
have been unsuccessful so far.

THE WEIRD OF TARSHU
Crystal Traps: The crystals underneath the
floating islands usually carry an electrical
charge strong enough to knock an adult
human unconscious for several minutes.
When the charge is absent, some of the
crystalline surfaces shift out of phase,
allowing creatures to pass through them
into a hollow space inside (and presumably
extending into the island’s interior as well).
So far, no creature has been able to escape
the crystal or communicate what lies
beyond.

Baby Krem: A krem egg in an aerie hatched,
but instead of containing a fat beetle larva, it
enclosed a human infant. The creature looks
normal but never makes noise and—like a
krem grub—eats only soft or rotting fruit.
Krems can remain in their larval stage for
several years, so there is much speculation
about how fast this infant will grow or what
it will grow into.