Void-Kin

“The New Generation” / “Children of the Aether” / “Star-Eyed”

“Void-Kin don’t remember the old world. They don’t mourn solid ground. They were born in the Aether. This is their world. Maybe that’s the future.”
—Elder Mira Thornwell

Quick Reference

The Void-Kin - Children of the Aether

Overview

The Void-Kin are the first generation born entirely in the Aetherium—children who’ve never known solid ground, who’ve never seen the world before it shattered, who were born into floating islands and luminous void as if that were normal. They are humanity’s future, for better or worse, and they’re fundamentally different from their parents in ways that are both promising and concerning.

The term “Void-Kin” emerged around 134 S. when the first post-Shattering children reached adulthood and people realized they weren’t quite like their parents. They had unusual eyes—silver flecks, strange colors, pupils that reflected starlight differently. Some claimed they could sense Aether-Currents without instruments. Others showed exceptional spatial awareness, as if three-dimensional thinking came naturally. They were adapted to the Aetherium in ways their parents weren’t.

Now, 153 years later, Void-Kin make up roughly 10% of the population and that percentage is growing. The oldest are in their 50s, the youngest are infants, and all of them share one thing: they have no memory of the world before. They don’t mourn solid ground. They don’t long for the old ways. The Aetherium is their world, and they’re adapted to it in ways that both give hope and cause unease among the older generations.

Physical Characteristics

The Eyes

Distinctive Feature: - Silver flecks (most common) - Unusual colors (violet, amber, pale blue) - Pupils: Reflect starlight differently - Seem to see more (or differently)

Not Universal: - ~60% of Void-Kin have unusual eyes - 40% look normal - But all are considered Void-Kin (born post-Shattering)

Theories: - Adaptation to Aether - Genetic mutation - Constellation influence - Natural variation

Other Traits

Ethnicity: Mixed (parents from various peoples)

Build: Variable (inherited from parents)

Height: Average (no distinctive pattern)

Aging: Unknown (oldest only 50s, too early to tell)

Health: Generally good (some claim better than elders)

Abilities and Differences

Aether-Sense (Claimed)

The Ability: - Some Void-Kin claim to “feel” Aether-Currents - Instinctive navigation - Know when storms coming - Sense corruption (sometimes)

Prevalence: ~20% of Void-Kin report this

Verification: Difficult (subjective experience)

Skepticism: Many doubt it’s real

Evidence: Some Void-Kin pilots are exceptionally skilled

Spatial Awareness

Observed: - Better at three-dimensional thinking - Excellent pilots, climbers - Navigate complex environments easily - Rarely fall (instinctive edge-awareness)

Explanation: - Born in 3D environment (adapted) - Trained from birth (practice) - Or actual difference (unknown)

Psychological Differences

No Nostalgia: - Don’t mourn pre-Shattering world - Aether is normal to them - Floating islands are home - This is reality (not broken reality)

Future-Focused: - Less bound by tradition - Question old ways - Innovate more readily - “Why do we do it this way?”

Adaptability: - Comfortable with change - Less afraid of unknown - More willing to experiment - Risk-takers

Cultural Identity

Generational Tension

Elders’ View: - Void-Kin are different (concerning) - Don’t respect tradition (frustrating) - Don’t understand what was lost (sad) - Might be humanity’s future (hopeful)

Void-Kin View: - Elders are stuck in past (frustrating) - Traditions are outdated (sometimes) - “We didn’t break the world—you did” - We’re fixing it our way

The Gap: - Communication difficult - Values clash - Mutual incomprehension - But also mutual need

Void-Kin Culture (Emerging)

No Unified Culture: - Too diverse (mixed ancestry) - Too young (still forming) - Too scattered (everywhere)

Shared Experiences: - Born in Aether (universal) - Seen as different (universal) - Navigating two worlds (Void-Kin and parents’ culture) - Creating new identity

Trends: - Less religious (question faith) - More innovative (less tradition-bound) - More risk-taking (less fear) - More hopeful (future is theirs)

In Different Settlements

Skyport Eos

Population: ~800 Void-Kin

Integration: Good (diverse, accepting)

Roles: All professions

Tension: Minimal

Ironhold

Population: ~1,500 Void-Kin

Integration: Difficult (traditional, hierarchical)

Roles: Military (if they fit), labor

Tension: Moderate (questioning authority)

Outland Clans

Population: ~500 Void-Kin

Integration: Excellent (adaptability valued)

Roles: Hunters, guides, pilots

Tension: Minimal (clans accept difference)

Storm-Sailor Clans

Population: ~200 Void-Kin

Integration: Perfect (born on ships, like them)

Roles: Pilots, navigators

Tension: None (they’re ideal Storm-Sailors)

The Future

Optimistic View

Void-Kin Are Hope: - Adapted to Aetherium - Not burdened by past - Innovative, creative - Humanity’s next chapter

Evidence: - Exceptional pilots - Innovative thinkers - Less afraid - Growing population

Pessimistic View

Void-Kin Are Concerning: - Too different - Don’t respect tradition - Unknown potential - Might not be fully human

Evidence: - Unusual eyes (mutation?) - Claimed abilities (real or imagined?) - Cultural disconnect - Unknown aging/health

Realistic View

Void-Kin Are Both: - Different (definitely) - Adapted (probably) - Future (inevitably) - Unknown (honestly)

Time Will Tell: - Oldest only 50s - Full lifespan unknown - Long-term effects unclear - Must wait and see

Related Topics

• Veil-Born - Some Void-Kin have Veil-Born ancestry
• Storm-Sailors - Many Void-Kin
• Storm-Captain Kiera Windcaller - Void-Kin leader
• The Shattering - Before their time
• Aether-Currents - What they sense

In-World Documents

Void-Kin Perspective

You ask what it’s like being Void-Kin.

It’s being told about a world you never saw. Solid ground. Oceans. Horizons.

It’s not mourning what you never had.

It’s looking at floating islands and thinking “This is normal. This is home.”

It’s having eyes that are different and not knowing why.

It’s feeling currents in the Aether and being told that’s impossible.

It’s being the future while living in the present.

It’s being told “You’re different” and thinking “No, you are.”

That’s what it’s like.

Elder’s Concern

The Void-Kin worry me.

Not because they’re bad. They’re not. They’re just… different.

They don’t understand what we lost. They can’t. They weren’t there.

They don’t mourn the old world. To them, this is just the world.

Is that good? Bad? I don’t know.

But they’re the future. Whether we like it or not.

And maybe that’s okay. Maybe they’ll do better than we did.

Maybe they won’t break their world.

“Void-Kin are humanity’s next chapter—the first generation born entirely in the shattered world, adapted to floating islands and luminous void as if that were normal. They’re different from their parents in ways both subtle and profound. They don’t mourn what was lost because they never had it. They don’t fear the Aether because they were born in it. They’re the future, and the future is always different from the past. Whether that’s hope or concern depends on perspective. But either way, they’re here. They’re growing. And eventually, they’ll be all that’s left. The question is: What will they make of this world we’re leaving them?”
—From Peoples of the Aetherium by Historian Elias Stormchaser