Chapter 3.1: The Aetherians — The Nomadic Giants of the Sky

Chapter 3.1: The Aetherians – The Nomadic Giants of the Sky

The Aetherians were once the rulers of the heavens, a people of towering intellect and celestial wisdom. Unlike their brute-like giant kin, the Aetherians were not creatures of raw strength, but of mind, magic, and philosophy. They sought knowledge over conquest, preferring to shape the world through thought, invention, and ethereal mastery rather than brute force.

Physiology & Appearance

The Aetherians stood taller than elves but were more refined in their build than the traditional giants. Their forms were long-limbed and graceful, their features sharp yet otherworldly. Their skin shimmered faintly with the radiance of the stars, often ranging in hues of pale silver, soft violet, or deep blue. Some bore glowing runes upon their skin, ancient sigils of lost celestial power, remnants of their dominion over the skies.

Unlike their more primal kin, the Aetherians had luminous, pupil-less eyes that pulsed with an inner light, reflecting the arcane energies they once commanded. Their hair flowed like silk woven from clouds, often seen in hues of silver, white, or pale gold, and moved lightly as if caught in an eternal breeze.

They were naturally attuned to aetheric energy, the raw, celestial force that pulsed through the sky and stars. Though larger than elves and men, they moved with an unnatural grace, their presence evoking a sense of both wisdom and sorrow—remnants of a civilization that once reached for the stars but fell to ruin.

Culture & Way of Life

Before the fall of Skyhold, the Aetherians were a people of towering spires and floating citadels. They harnessed the power of the winds and stars, shaping their cities upon the drifting clouds, untouched by the wars of the land below.

Unlike the more territorial and aggressive Giant Wards, the Aetherians were scholars, artisans, and seers. They believed that knowledge was the greatest power, and their greatest scholars, known as the Celestial Keepers, studied the mysteries of existence, time, and the fabric of reality itself.

Their society was once divided into great celestial houses, each dedicated to a different aspect of the heavens:

House Vaelith – The StormforgedMasters of celestial magic and skyborne warfare.Once wielded the Heart of Aether, the most powerful source of raw aetheric energy ever known.Led by Vaelith the Stormforged, who sought to conquer the Giant Wards but was ultimately undone.House Zephiron – The Keepers of HarmonyPhilosophers and protectors of balance, believing the Aetherians were meant to guide rather than rule.Led by High Lord Zephiron, who sought peace but was forced into exile after Skyhold's fall.Their remnants wander Eldoria, searching for a way to restore their lost homeland.House Astralis – The Starborn ScholarsSeekers of forgotten lore, studying the alignment of stars and the flow of time.Believed the Aetherians were once destined to ascend beyond mortal existence.Their knowledge still lingers in ancient ruins scattered across Eldoria.House Caltheris – The Skyforged ArtisansBuilders of floating cities, creators of legendary artifacts, and masters of aetheric engineering.Crafted the legendary Skybridges, massive arcane pathways that once connected their cities in the heavens.Their forges were lost after the fall of Skyhold, though some say their knowledge still lingers in hidden sanctuaries.

The Fall & The Aftermath

When Skyhold fell, the Aetherians were cast from their place of power, their floating cities shattered, their dominion over the heavens lost. Many perished in the catastrophe, their once-thriving civilization reduced to scattered survivors wandering the lands of Eldoria.

Though their power was broken, the Aetherians did not fade entirely. Some still wander the lands, seeking a way to reclaim their lost empire, while others have blended into mortal societies, passing down remnants of their celestial wisdom to the races of elves, men, and dwarves.

Now, they are but echoes of what they once were—nomadic sages, wandering mystics, and fallen lords, carrying the weight of a lost empire on their shoulders. Some still dream of rising again, of one day rebuilding Skyhold and taking back the heavens that were stolen from them.

And in the ruins of their fallen cities, their ancient magic still lingers, waiting for the day when the stars will align once more, and the Aetherians will reclaim their rightful place among the heavens.