Skyland Trading Company

In order to protect their Lumite trade from pirate clans, such as The 21 and the Norvund Marauders, The Skyland Trading Company has invested in the largest, most advanced fleet in the skies above Lyra.

The Dwarves were first to achieve flight on Lyra, but as an underground civilization they had little interest in spending time above ground, much less high above it. And so, their flying technology was only used, to devastating effect, on the battlefield. The first Mainland nation to master airship technology and use it for travel and exploration, was Arcadia. With their early airship invention and the military support of their Phoenix-mounted soldiers, Arcadia quickly became the most dominant force on the high skies.

Arcadian airship technology made possible by the discovery of the immense lift created by Lumos Gas, a byproduct of burning crude Lumite.

Thanks to Tompoko spies, the Kyran and Sulari eventually had their own airships using Lumos Gas to explore, and settle, the Skylands. They were followed by the majority of the Mainland nations, including Bastille, Draconia, and Norvlund. Each of these cultures brought their own unique culture to these airships, making the skies above Lyra as diverse as the people below.

Whether powered by steam-engine propellers or sailing the windlight currents of the Auroras, the one thing these varied airships have in common is their use of Lumos. Other forms of airship travel have been discovered. Burning the blubber of Skywhales, whose pods fly around the Skylands, creates a gas that is a reasonable substitute for Lumos. In addition, Skywhales’ incredibly strong, yet incredibly light, skeletons have proven an effective material to build ships with. Regardless of these attributes, the difficulty and danger of sky-whaling serves as a deterrent from widespread use.

Wood from the Windwood Tree, when adequately charged by Lumite crystals, is capable of Lumous-like floatation without the use of a gas-filled balloon. Unfortunately, in addition to being very rare and expensive, a Windwood board loses its charge when broken, and is extremely costly to repair… if the owner manages to survive the crash that follows such a loss of charge. 

So, while these other options are used, the consistent, efficient, and plentiful (thanks to Skyland Lumite mines) Lumite has become the dominant airship fuel on Lyra. For the Skyland Trading Company which, with the military backing of Alliance Peacekeepers, holds a monopoly on all Lumite transport, this has proven immensely profitable. It is with this unmatched wealth that the STC was able to surpass Arcadia, and create the largest, most advanced fleet in the skies above Lyra.