Umm well now, this turned into a thing!
This will be a bit of a read, Ye have been forewarned!
(As always I apologies for my spelling and grammatical errors, I am learning disabled and I try the best I can!)
First of all a picture of my own devising! MWHAHAHA!
1. Does anyone live on the island on the sea creature's back? If not did someone live there and what is left of their time there?
2. Does anyone live on the island in the air? If not did someone live there and what is left?
Two tribes each live on the island -both used to be one people before they became cursed and took on radically different forms from each other.
On the sea creature's back we have the mere-kin, Fishfolk that seem to be more from a horror tale rather than a functioning tribe of people.
They are for the most part human in shape although they have great hunched backs and pale green-blue skin with webbed hands and fingers their faces although similar to humans have thick fish lips and sharp razor teeth and thick black eyes, at the back of their cheeks are thick fins that hide and protect their gills, they are surprisingly well spoken but wear tribal clothing made from leather of certain fish (such as shark or whale). The older these creatures become the more fishlike they seem to change, some even looking to be mostly shark.
For the most part they are quiet approachable as long as you do not approach one of their clutches un-beckoned.
They are to blame for the horror stories from small fishing villages for years, although in a fantastical world such as ours, who can be sure - or too careful.
Upon the Air-mote island is a clan of birdlike Crow-kin.
They are lanky and almost seem ridged in their movements whilst on land, with thick black feathers and crow like features from the thick ever staring eyes to the black beaks.
They dress a little more like common folk wearing woven garments, admittedly harvested from the giant spiders they keep in the winding caverns of the island-however all there garments leave there sharp talon feet and wings free, allowing for freedom of movement and flight.
They are somewhat cold to outsiders and speak with broken, harsh, Squawking voices but they are willing to open up trade to any who can reach them, however they have a very structured society and will take drastic views on any slight of their honor/looks/home/etc they become especially violent when the island turns...more on that later.
3. What creature is carrying the island in the ocean on its back?
A great shark the size of the largest whale -it spends roughly a decade simply floating the surface occasionally eating large sea vessels and on occasion brushing up to the land mass to itch itself -this has been the cause to several large earthquakes.
After it's time basking in the sun the great beast will suddenly and without much warning dive into the dark depths below to hunt and feed, the waters at this time are turbulent and any but the folk who live upon the island can easily be pulled away and left in the black abyss far below the waters surface...if they're lucky.
After that it will return to a nesting ground where it will slumber for 5 years before returning to the surface the merefolk have built a small city into the very rock of the nesting ground.
A great many years have passed since any other of the great beasts have been seen, this has caused some of the merefolk to worry that it has become the last of it's kind.
4. How did the island first get created on the creature's back?
According to record of the local magistrate:Long ago there was a tribe of nomads who settled in the area the air-mote supplying fresh drinking water from high above and surprisingly enough fish too when they began to attempt to gather food in the area (this is due to its connection to a lake quiet far away via the elemental chaos).
The nomads found they could get up onto the island via a channeled wind blowing up to the island above and began to explore, they found that a good many of them had no head for the heights and so remained on the land below in future excursions, they found that if had plentiful fruit in its many trees and fertile land whilst the land below was mostly rock and dirt but the caverns within had great spiders within making for dangerous delving -however there webbing was silk like and seemed to sparkle a little from the natural minerals the creatures had absorbed from their home.
Over time two villages grew out of the one clan and as with all things time makes even the sharpest memory fade and they eventually forgot that they had once been one people, those above began to look down on their land walker cousins (literally and figuratively) and only dealt with them through trade.
Eventually they began to follow the worship of different gods and followed different ideologies, those above became even more disconnected from the 'walking wide lands' and those in the village grew to be uncomfortable from 'Those above' in all there finery and from what they perceived comfort and luxury.
Of course the very different lifestyles of the people began to clash as those above tried to push there beliefs onto the people on land, eventually turning into hostilities when the people of the Sky Island began to forge tools of war in order to "Put the lesser in their proper place" with the intent of subjugating the villagers below.
For the land Villagers part -they began to craft caravans and intended to abandon their village home and leave there cousins to fend for themselves and return to their wandering ways there people had held dear so long ago - They were not swift enough as those above came in the dark of night and the moment a blade cut deep into one of their kin an ancient bane on their people activated, for none could harm the blood of their kin -or so it is said, and both parties began to mutate into the creatures we see today, It is suspected they angered one if not both of the gods they worshiped and so the shark and the chain were summoned linking them eternally but also separating them forevermore.
...However other accounts say they were never human to begin with and the shark was just snoozing for a few hundred years and had the coast simply form over it.
And of course some simply say...A wizard did it.
5. What happens when the island submerges? Does the island in the air get pulled into the ocean?
When the beast submerges (something the local Merefolk call "The great Torrent" and the Crow-kin call "The Turning".) The Air-mote is pulled into the ocean but not before it is twisted harshly on the chain onto its side and then upside down and driven into the ocean - forcing the Crow-kin to take flight with only a sack full of valuables in hand.
The elemental energy that keeps the island afloat is also twisted forcing spouts of fire and super heated vapor to blast from the many caverns as they seal up protecting the creatures within, it also drives the Crow-kin into a feral rage against any who are not their own.
6. How did the island in the air get created?
The island has always been there as far as any records show, but has only been populated for around 500 years with what the locals will tell you gladly is the first floating trade city of there great kingdom -however no record exists of any kingdom that would support the claim, the curse that now affects its people has been standing for around 300 of those years.
7. How are the two islands connected, and is it possible for people to easily travel between the two?
A great chain now links the two island, once when the island and the town which floats were linked by a simple air current that lifted man and cart to the island and a gentle breeze down at the other side allowing for trade and communication, it is unknown how such a grand -yet now worn and rusted chain came to be attached.
Some claim it is part of the curse inflicted upon the two people, whilst others say it was a deliberate move by one people or the other as an act of ether war or bonding.
In truth the chain replaced the airflows when the greater Dire-shark rose and took the island as part of their punishment, it's said the creatures cry of pain caused the land around it to splinter and become scorched with molten magma to this day.
The chain is easy enough to walk along however near the top the sharp gusts can occasionally become difficult, if the players are fleeing the island these gusts turn into a heavy torrent shaking the chain, this is also true if the Great Dire-Shark is diving.
8. Could it be the final resting place of a certain people group, or a graveyard, or both?
The island in the sky was once part of a final battle in the Elemental Chaos between a group of heroes and an Elemental Efreet who intended to pull great chunks of the churning chaos into the natural world in order to apply direct control over the world of man.
The Heroes were able to partially succeed disrupting the creatures ritual and only pulling the floating island it was on into the natural world, the resulting magical force and heat stripped the surrounding area of vegetation and farmable land.
The Efreet furious at the set back attacked the heroes with all his might...but found not only had the ritual greatly drained him but his connection to the chaos was weak in the mortal realm and so he was slain and his remains were taken deep into the caverns to be hidden forever...
The heroes also laid to rest two of their own nearby and all three may have items of some power with there remains.
The heroes however in there exhaustion did not notice the rather large clutch of spiders eggs within a nearby cavern, nor did they seal the Efreet's corrupting influence that seemed to seep into the very stone over the years...
9. And to tie it back to the Epilogue episode what were the final moments of an adventurer while on one of these islands? Could certainly have multiple responses.
The whole island shakes, buildings that have stood for an age begin to fall apart and the very world seems to vibrate and change hue into a murky green, The Great Dire Shark thrashes and lets out a low grinding whine that brings all to their knees mere-folk and Crow-kin alike as they hold their ears from the great pain of the moan of the beast.
It shook again, harder this time and you all get the distinct feeling the Shark has had more than enough of this constant fighting on its back, It bucks hard and you feel the hard ground beneath you give-just a little.
The Crow-kin about you all take notice of this and begin to flap their wings trying to leave the crumbling landmass for their home in the sky some make it a good distance before it begins.
With the amulet destroyed the corrupting magic begins to literally seep out as thick stands of black from the creatures about you.
It starting with the fleeing Crow-kin as feathers begin to simply drop from there forms, wings turning into lanky arms as they fall to the ground with a sickening thud, others moan as they hit the floor the feathers and beaks falling free from pale human faces. Those who did not flee cry out in agony and curl up on the ground as it shakes and the Shark bucks once more -Another violent moan from the chain- and you can hear it now from the closer ones, bones cracking and reshaping, muscle groaning and twisting rough vocals becoming less course and more human.
Then the Mere-folk begin to change, they buckle over or press themselves to walls, those who have undergone a more serious transformation slouch to the ground and pull back in an attempt to stand and you hear leathery skin pop and rip as human heads and torsos appear from shark-like heads that flop to the floor.
Painful groaning can be heard all around you along with screams and sobbing and then another violent shake...the beast wants you gone, and now, your close to shore now you can see the large beach ahead of one of the coasts a tall ruined tower nearby and a thick forest past that -the Great Dire Shark was headed directly too it.
The chain groaned again and this time gave, it flicked wildly slashing at the tail of the great beast causing another ear shattering cry the tinting of the world caused by the amulets destruction fades away into blue skies as you see the sky island spin wildly as if thrown with great force as it crashes into the ocean, thick bubbles follow it down as you see figures franticly work out how to swim below, some humans simply float on the surface sobbing.
Another hard shake and the taller buildings begin to crumble, the pavement below cracks and splinters and before you have a chance to do anything else the Great Dire Shark leaps into the air and with one last effort bucks hard, a sickening sound fills the air as long ago healed over stone separates from meaty flesh - the thick smell of fish blood in the air now as thick drops of red water slam into the now free-flying stonework of the town, the beach is headed towards you all incredibly quickly and you suddenly get the feeling you know what an arrow feels like as you hit the beach hard...
Everything is black for a time, there is no pain nor sound... -You guys can take it from here
Maybe the town makes it in...somewhat...one piece and can be fixed, the Crow-kin would be slightly distraught at all the changes many may try to flee into the forest, the mere-folk would slowly find their feet again and be surprised at how quickly they can move out of water, the rest is for anyone who uses this to take.
You could also have this take place on the sky island and maybe it doesn't go splashing into the ocean to be lost forever but floats just off the edge of that old tower - I bet with some effort they could build a bridge too it to get down again.
Or maybe you leave the amulet the hell alone and try to make a peace between the two people, maybe buy a spider from the Crow-kin and make your way home as you bring it home on a leash?
Who knows! The world is vast and wonderful and your all quiet imaginative!
10. Free for all. Anything and everything you might want to add! -You could take most of the back story for this and make it pure here-say or you could take it as cannon or even what the locals will tell you about their personal histories.
But as with all things the narrator is usually untrustworthy and ether doesn't know everything or skims over things.
In truth the town was built right over an Underdark cavern that was flooded by the ocean that had many a massive creatures, the Great Dire-shark was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The chain had been created by a powerful wizards of the Crow-kin to make sure that no foul sorceries of the 'lesser ones' blew away their home in the coming attack.
It was a little TOO effective as it also impaled the back of the Shark who was itching itself upon the cavern roof and took the town with it when it exploded out of the land with all the force it could muster.
Other giant creatures have since made their escape.
-The mere-folk and Crow-kin's transformation came from the slain Efreet's enchanted amulet, now cracked and leaking its foul magic into the island and down the chain it warped the people to more closely match their surrounding element.
Destroying said amulet would very rapidly -and PAINFULLY- revert the transformation.
-I really liked the idea of monstrous 'Shadow over Innsmouth' frog/fish men been really nice guys and just misunderstood and the elegant, nicely dressed crow guys been the monsters in all this, really the mere-folk didn't do anything in all this but you can be sure the Crow-kin paint a very different picture of the events that transpired almost certainly blaming them for the 'curse' and almost certainly constantly badgering the mere-folk from the skies when they can.
-The Crow-kin call themselves Krawsen and their home island The Grand Nest.
They call the mere-kin The slow ones, Them, The Lesser, and The bleached ones (and those are just the nice names.)
They call the Great Dire Shark 'The abomination'.
-The mere-folk call themselves Glook and there island home is named Calm-water
They call the Crow-kin simply Black-wings.
They call the Great Dire Shark Tide-Maw.
-Both people sell interesting (if standard) wares to the players.
The mere-folk can sell a giant sea shell as hard as steel and the size of a decent sized shield or a buckler but will simply count as a shield, or perhaps your interested in this giant shark tooth that came from the Great Dire Shark itself which is heavily serrated, but counts as a Greatsword +1.
The Crow-kin can also offer some nicely made 'skins' for items perhaps this 50ft silk rope made out of the finest spider-silk, it sparkles blue in the sunlight. -it's just 50ft silk rope.
Or maybe Sir would like this rather lovely black feather dream-catcher made with feathers donated from our wisest elders -simply hang it over a branch or by the window before you sleep, it will ward away even the darkest dreams -this would count as a trinket and for flavour all that Players dreams will replace people of all other races with Crow-kin unless there a foe then there mere-folk.
Of course your free to give them more magical items too as rewards or buyable items.
