The Forge Atlas
A complete catalogue of the twelve floating forge-citadels documented in the Sky Forge Legends archive. Each entry covers architectural heritage, foundry deck configuration, altitude tier, sky harbour capacity, and resident sky-smith lineage notes.
About the Forge Atlas
The Forge Atlas was first assembled in the thirty-seventh year of the Third Storm Season when the Velthar archive commission determined that no single comprehensive reference existed for all known floating citadels. Prior to the Atlas, citadel knowledge was scattered across individual expedition notes, foundry supply ledgers, and the oral traditions of sky-smith apprentices.
The twelve citadels documented here vary enormously in scale, purpose, and architectural character. Some were built as purely industrial foundries, designed to process raw sky-metals drawn from the upper ember belt. Others served as navigational relay points along the ember routes. A few functioned as residential sky-harbours for sky-smith families who spent entire generations without descending to ground level.
Altitude tier classifications range from T1 (lower cloud layer) through T5 (upper storm belt). A citadel's tier determines its foundry output capacity, its weather exposure profile, and the types of relics most likely to be produced or discovered within its walls. See the Relic Index for the full cross-reference between altitude tier and relic material classification.
Altitude Tier Reference Table
The five altitude tiers used throughout the Forge Atlas to classify citadel elevation, foundry output type, and seasonal weather exposure.
| Tier | Altitude Range | Cloud Layer | Primary Output | Weather Exposure | Citadels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | 800–1,200m | Lower Cumulus | Base-metal processing | Moderate rain, seasonal fog | 3 |
| T2 | 1,200–2,500m | Mid Cloud | Sky-silver smelting | High wind, light ice | 3 |
| T3 | 2,500–4,000m | Upper Stratus | Star-metal refinement | Storm seasons, lightning clusters | 2 |
| T4 | 4,000–6,000m | Cirrus Belt | Ember-alloy casting | Severe storms, aurora interference | 3 |
| T5 | Above 6,000m | Storm Belt | Celestial-grade relics | Continuous tempest, extreme cold | 1 |
Featured Forge-Citadel Entries
Detailed profile entries for the four most thoroughly documented citadels in the current edition of the Atlas.
Velthar Observation Platform
Velthar is the most completely documented citadel in the Atlas. Originally constructed during the First Storm Season as a weather-monitoring outpost, it was progressively expanded by the Velthar sky-smith family over four generations into a full foundry complex with observatory facilities. The central tower, known as the Caliper Spire, rises forty-two metres above the main deck and houses the famous bell array used for ember-frequency measurement.
The foundry decks are arranged across three distinct altitude tiers within the citadel structure itself: the Lower Forge Level handles raw sky-silver processing; the Mid Forge Level produces finished navigational instruments; and the Upper Forge Level, accessible only to senior sky-smiths, is dedicated to the creation of celestial-grade relics. The sky harbour on the eastern face can accommodate up to fourteen expedition vessels simultaneously.
The Caldric Basin Foundry
The Caldric Basin Foundry is unique among the twelve documented citadels in that its primary structure is not a tower or platform but a basin — a wide, shallow-sided disc approximately three hundred metres across, suspended by the fictional sky-buoyancy mechanisms described in Caldric family records. The basin design allows for large-scale smelting operations that would be structurally impossible on a traditional platform citadel.
The Caldric family dominated sky-silver trade during the Second Storm Season, using the basin's enormous capacity to process more raw material than all other T2 citadels combined. Relics bearing the Caldric forge-mark are among the most commonly encountered in the relic catalogue, though their quality is considered workmanlike rather than exceptional compared to the output of the higher-tier citadels.
The Solenne High Pinnacle
The Solenne High Pinnacle is the only Tier T5 citadel in the archive, positioned permanently in the upper storm belt above six thousand metres. Access is considered dangerous even by the standards of experienced sky-smith expeditions. The invented atmospheric conditions at this altitude include continuous tempest activity, extreme cold, and the so-called aurora interference that disrupts standard navigational instruments.
Despite — or perhaps because of — its inaccessibility, the Solenne Pinnacle is credited with the production of the rarest and most sought-after relics in the entire catalogue. The Sky-Light alloy, believed to be produced only at Solenne, appears in just three documented relics. The Solenne sky-smith house is described as reclusive and secretive, communicating with other citadels only through encrypted beacon signals on the Northern Ember Lane.
Citadel Type Comparison
The twelve documented citadels fall into three primary architectural categories based on their structural design and intended function.
- Vertical tower structure rising from a central platform
- Upper decks reserved for high-grade foundry work
- Observatory facilities in upper tower sections
- Most suitable for T3–T5 altitude operations
- Includes Velthar and Solenne Pinnacle
- Wide disc or basin structure for high-volume smelting
- Lower altitude operation typical (T1–T2)
- Large sky-harbour capacity for supply vessels
- Output focused on base and sky-silver metals
- Caldric Basin Foundry is the primary example
- Smaller structures positioned along ember routes
- Primary function is navigational relay, not production
- Drifting beacon maintenance and resupply
- Typically T2–T3 altitude range
- Serve as waypoints for expedition vessels
What Each Atlas Entry Covers
Every citadel profile in the Forge Atlas follows a standardised documentation structure to ensure consistent cross-referencing across the archive.
Additional Atlas Entries
Brief notices for the remaining eight documented citadels pending full profile compilation by the editorial board.
The Irenmast Platform
A mid-size T3 tower citadel associated with the Irensmith family. Notable for its dual bell array and the large quantity of star-metal relics attributed to its Third Storm Season period of peak activity.
The Droven Basin
A T1 basin citadel operated collectively by three sky-smith families. Known for producing the highest volume of base-metal forged goods in the lower cloud layer during the Second Storm Season.
The Faerith Relay
A T2 relay platform positioned at the mid-point of the Eastern Ember Lane. Houses a permanent beacon crew of twelve and maintains the only documented ember-frequency log from the Second Storm Season.
The Orveth Pinnacle
A T4 tower citadel noted for its distinctive triple-spire design. The Orveth family is credited with developing the ember-weave navigation technique described in several Ember Routes expedition accounts.
The Mourne Sky-Harbour
A T1 basin citadel functioning primarily as a residential sky-harbour rather than a production foundry. The Mourne harbour accommodated up to eighty expedition vessels and served as a primary resupply hub along the Southern Ember Lane.
The Ardenmere Foundry
A T3 tower citadel whose records were partially destroyed during the Fourth Storm Season. Reconstructed archive notes suggest significant output of inscribed relics, several of which appear in the Relic Index.
Explore Related Archive Sections
Follow the ember routes between citadels or consult the relic index for items attributed to specific forge locations.