Sky-Kelp

Algae aerialis / “Aether-Weed” / “The Drifting Harvest”

“Follow the kelp, you’ll find safe currents. Follow safe currents, you’ll survive. Sky-kelp means life.”
—Harvester wisdom

Quick Reference

Sky-Kelp - The Drifting Harvest

Description

Sky-kelp is one of the most remarkable plants of the Aetherium—long strands of blue-green vegetation that drift through open air on Aether-currents, forming vast aerial “forests” in predictable zones. Unlike any pre-Shattering plant, sky-kelp doesn’t grow in soil or water but floats freely through the void, absorbing nutrients directly from the Aether itself.

Individual strands can reach 20 meters in length, with a translucent, slimy texture similar to seaweed. They drift passively along Aether-currents, following the invisible rivers of flow that connect islands. Where currents are strong and stable, sky-kelp accumulates in dense patches—hundreds or thousands of strands creating floating forests that can be seen from kilometers away.

Sky-kelp serves multiple essential functions: it’s edible (nutritious if unpleasant), it provides raw materials (rope, fabric, paper), and it indicates safe Aether-currents (pilots follow kelp to find stable routes). Aerial fishermen harvest it using nets and hooks, processing it into food and materials. Aether-fish feed on it, making kelp forests prime fishing grounds. And everyone who travels the Aether learns to read kelp patterns—they’re maps written in vegetation.

The plant is entirely a post-Shattering adaptation. No pre-Shattering equivalent existed. Somehow, in the decades after reality broke, this organism evolved (or emerged, or was created—no one knows) to thrive in conditions that shouldn’t support life. Alchemists study it obsessively, trying to understand its Aether-based metabolism, hoping to unlock secrets of surviving in the void.

Physical Characteristics

Structure

Strands: - Length: 5-20 meters (average 10m) - Width: 2-5cm (ribbon-like) - Thickness: 3-5mm - Translucent blue-green - Slimy coating (protective)

Texture: - Slippery, tough - Flexible (bends without breaking) - Slightly elastic - Feels like wet seaweed - Coating: Slimy, hard to grip

Coloration: - Healthy: Blue-green, translucent - Stressed: Yellow-green - Dying: Brown - Corrupted: Black (toxic, avoid)

Internal Structure: - Hollow tubes (gas-filled for buoyancy) - Fibrous walls (provide strength) - Nutrient channels (visible as darker lines) - No roots, leaves, or traditional plant structures

Buoyancy: - Naturally buoyant (gas-filled) - Floats in Aether - Drifts with currents - Cannot sink (unless weighted)

Ecology and Behavior

Growth and Reproduction

Growth: - Elongates continuously - 10-30cm per month - Branches occasionally (forms Y-shapes) - Maximum length: ~20m (then breaks)

Reproduction: - Spores (released seasonally) - Drift on currents - Germinate in open Aether - Success rate: Unknown (but high enough)

Lifespan: - Individual strand: 2-5 years - Colony: Indefinite (continuous regeneration) - Ancient patches: Centuries old (continuously renewing)

Nutrient Acquisition

Aether-Absorption (Primary): - Absorbs nutrients directly from Aether - Mechanism: Unknown (subject of study) - Filters microscopic particles - Highly efficient

Photosynthesis (Secondary): - Uses constellation light - Less efficient than Aether-absorption - Supplementary energy source

Water: - Absorbs moisture from Aether - Internal water storage - Can survive dry periods

Distribution Patterns

Current-Following: - Drifts with Aether-currents - Accumulates in stable current zones - Creates predictable forests - Pilots use this for navigation

Seasonal Variation: - Denser in spring (new growth) - Thinner in winter (slower growth) - Storm-scattered (regrows) - Annual patterns predictable

Geographic Concentration: - Bright Reaches: Abundant - Murk: Rare (Rot-contamination) - Howling Expanse: Moderate (storms scatter) - Periphery: Sparse

Uses and Value

As Food

Preparation: - Raw: Edible but unpleasant (slimy, very salty) - Dried: Chewy strips (like jerky) - Soup: Boiled with other ingredients - Fried: Crisps nicely (popular) - Pickled: Preserves well

Taste: - Salty (very) - Fishy (ocean-like despite no ocean) - Slightly bitter - Acquired taste (most people tolerate rather than enjoy)

Nutrition: - High in minerals (especially salt, iodine) - Moderate protein - Low calories - Vitamin content: Adequate - Prevents deficiency diseases

Preservation: - Dries well (lasts months) - Salt content preserves it - Essential for long voyages - Lightweight (good for travel)

As Material

Rope (Primary use): - Process strands into fiber - Strong, flexible rope - Water-resistant - Better than Aether-vine rope - Standard material for rigging

Fabric: - Weave processed fibers - Water-resistant cloth - Rough texture - Used for sails, tarps, work clothes - Durable

Paper: - Pulp strands - Makes rough paper - Used for everyday documents - Cheaper than pre-Shattering paper - Common

Fertilizer: - Compost for farming - Rich in minerals - Improves soil - Farmers buy it

As Navigation Aid

Current Indicator: - Kelp follows stable currents - Pilots follow kelp - Indicates safe routes - Essential navigation tool

Weather Predictor: - Changes color before storms - Yellow-green = storm coming (12-24 hours) - Brown = major storm (evacuate) - Reliable warning system

Fishing Grounds: - Aether-fish feed on kelp - Kelp forests = good fishing - Harvesters know this - Dual resource

Harvesting Industry

Aerial Fishermen

Method: - Nets (scoop up strands) - Hooks (snag and pull in) - Careful (don’t damage too much) - Process aboard ship

Season: - Year-round (spring best) - Avoid storm season - Follow kelp migrations - Predictable patterns

Processing: - Sort (healthy vs. damaged) - Clean (remove debris) - Dry or preserve - Sell or use

Income: - Modest (10-20 coins per kg) - Reliable (always demand) - Sustainable (if done right) - Supports small communities

Market

Buyers: - Food markets (dried kelp) - Rope makers (fiber) - Farmers (fertilizer) - Paper mills (pulp)

Prices: - Fresh: 10 coins per kg - Dried: 15 coins per kg - Processed fiber: 25 coins per kg - Paper-grade: 20 coins per kg

Volume: High (common resource)

Threats and Challenges

Over-Harvesting

Problem: - Some zones depleted - Kelp forests thinning - Regeneration slow - Long-term sustainability concern

Response: - Some communities limit harvesting - Rotation systems - Protected zones - Education

Rot Contamination

Problem: - Corrupted kelp turns black - Toxic (don’t eat, don’t use) - Spreads corruption - Must be avoided

Identification: - Color: Black (obvious) - Smell: Rot-tainted (copper, decay) - Texture: Slimy, wrong - Test if uncertain

Frequency: Rare (5% in Murk edges, <1% elsewhere)

Storm Destruction

Problem: - Major storms scatter kelp forests - Disrupts navigation - Reduces harvest - Regrows eventually

Adaptation: - Harvesters follow migrations - Learn new patterns - Kelp recovers (resilient) - Temporary disruption only

Related Topics

• Aether-Currents - Where kelp grows
• Aether-Fish - Feed on kelp
• Aerial Fishing - Harvesting method
• The Floating Market - Major buyer

In-World Documents

Harvester’s Guide

SKY-KELP HARVESTING

Finding: - Look for blue-green clouds in Aether - Follow stable currents - Avoid black kelp (corrupted)

Harvesting: - Use nets or hooks - Take 20-30% maximum - Leave rest for regrowth - Process quickly (spoils)

Processing: - Clean thoroughly - Dry or preserve - Sort by quality - Sell or use

Remember: Over-harvest today, starve tomorrow.

Recipe (Common)

FRIED SKY-KELP

Ingredients: - Sky-kelp (dried) - Oil - Salt (optional—kelp is salty)

Instructions: 1. Soak dried kelp (softens) 2. Cut into strips 3. Fry until crispy 4. Eat hot

Tastes like salty, fishy chips.
Better than it sounds.
Staple food for pilots.

“Sky-kelp is the Aetherium’s seaweed—drifting through air instead of water, providing food and materials for those who know how to harvest it. It’s common, reliable, and essential. Not glamorous, not exciting, but absolutely necessary. Follow the kelp and you’ll find safe currents, good fishing, and food when you need it. That’s more valuable than any treasure.”
—Aerial Fisherman’s wisdom