Floating Islands
Floating islands are mysterious landmasses suspended in the skies. These colossal rock formations defy gravity through different means depending on the setting, including unique rock properties, unusual gravitational forces, or magic. The prevalence of these islands in a setting can range from a single location, to a hazardous field or biome, to being the dominant feature of an entire world.
Fictional floating islands may support floating cities and are often connected by bridges, vines, or aerial transportation routes used by vehicles like airships. Waterfalls are common features, and the islands themselves may contain rivers, lakes, or even mountains. Beneath these behemoth rocks may be ground, or there may be nothing.
| Synonyms: hovering stones, sky islands, floating rocks |
| Example Mythonyms: the Hardclouds, the Floating Isles |
Designing Fictional Floating Islands
Overview
Floating islands can range from small, rocky outcrops that barely pierce the clouds to vast, continent-sized landmasses dwarfing everything below. The environment can be as diverse as the islands themselves, with lush, tropical paradises contrasting with barren wastelands or islands perpetually cloaked in snow and ice or mist and fog. Vines and waterfalls are common elements to include.
Due to their altitude, floating islands may have unique weather patterns, such as strong winds or unpredictable storms. The people, flora, and fauna that thrive on these islands can be just as diverse, having adapted to the specific environment. Depending on the setting, inhabitants may use a variety of methods to travel between floating islands, from airships and hot air balloons to bridges connecting them.
When designing floating rock fields first consider what forces keep them afloat. Are there any tides which shift their location, or do they alter their position in vertical space? Can these flying rocks be piloted using sails, engines, or other means?
What event could stop a rock from floating?
Effects of Altitude
As altitude increases, air thins and the temperature drops. Designers may wish to consider how these changes will impact their floating islands, especially those inhabited or those that change altitude. At higher altitudes, any water on the island will freeze and the air will become unbreathable unless shelter or breathing gear is acquired. Any fictional flora or fauna that inhabit these places will have needed to adapt to these conditions.
