Clockwork
steampunk/fantasy backed in science



Species:

Gryphons - genetically engineered protectors, warriors of the sky, sometimes gifted with magic

Hertasi - genetically engineered workers, small and catlike with hand-paws; can travel on twos or on fours

Humans
   Kestra'Chern - strong empaths who vary from doctors to prostitutes to entertainers

Messenger Birds

Mechs - clockwork creations

Screws - mechanically enhanced, living creatures of any race

Fish - with a capital F, the flying sea beasts which rise out of the barren ocean to munch on islanders



Jobs:

Government groups
   Nameless - works on genetic engineering projects for bred workers
   Nameless - keeps island afloat and moving
   Nameless - runs day to day business and politics

Blackfaces - the men who work in the boiler rooms inside the island, keeping constant fusion happening to keep the islands afloat. Include many individuals gifted in magic, who work to keep the molecules moving and maintain fusion

Pirates - operating flying ships; kept at bay by the gryphons

Pilots - operate the zeppelins that travel from island to island

Mechanics

Wingleaders and Wingseconds - in charge of training and organizing gryphon wings. Don't have to be gryphons

Tumblers - the people who periodically leave for the ground or underwater cities; must travel in gas masks and heavy leather armor

Gardening, Maid work, Trash collection, Sewage, all dirty jobs taken care of by mechs




Mist - bouts of acidic rain, in a heavy, gaseous form, which can be kept out of harm's way by wings of gryphons gifted in magic. Any gryphons showing signs of magical talent are taught the wind charms and taught to fly the accompanying patterns from an early age.



- Ground is intoxicated under a constant fog of acidic rain from centuries of industrial abuse. People forced to the air, to live above cloud level. Only the oceans retain life.
- Island kept afloat by a series of large propellers built into the bottom of the island, and powered by perpetual fusion.
- No, this is not the only floating city
- Underwater cities?



'Magic' in this world comes together by the right combination of eyesight, intelligent interpretation, and a tenacity for architecture. Magic is not some floofy thing you conjure from air, but the ability - with mechanically or genetically enhanced eyesight - to see on a molecular level, followed by the ability to rearrange molecules to fit your purpose. It takes many long years of study - in many cases, lifetimes - to be able to perform more than the simplest magics.