#130 Blue Paradise, The Final Airship

Age: 90 Years

Hidden or Lost?: No

History: Some called Blue Paradise, the world’s largest-ever flying cruise ship, a folly. An expensive luxury aircraft, capable of taking thousands of guests on recreational air trips around the world, able to stay aloft indefinitely thanks to its experimental ‘cloud engine,’ it was nicknamed the ‘Flytanic.’ But when the Acid Age swept across the Earth, killing and corrupting all but small pockets of the planet, the Blue Paradise became humanity’s last hope for survival.

The Acid Age murdered the surface world in a matter of minutes. Occurring while the Blue Paradise was on its maiden voyage, the pilots were suddenly, inexplicably, unable to reach anyone on the surface. In order to calm the panic onboard, they attempted to land but the acid mist began to flow into the craft, and a third of the passengers were killed before they escaped back into the air. The giant airship has been flying ever since.

During the intervening years a society has developed on board as the ship chases the endless horizon. At times they've been able to land in small pockets of land that the haze hasn't corrupted, making contact with surviving populations of humanity. But these periods of quiet never last, and the ship is always forced to once again take to the skies, either due to political strife or the spread of the acid haze.

On the ship the political and religious leader is known as The Pilot, and they are tasked with controlling the craft and its people, backed by the onboard peacekeeping force known as The Wingmen. The Pilot and the passengers aboard Blue Paradise face relentless challenges from class conflict and political maneuvering to mechanical failures and catastrophic weather.

There are also those aboard who would see the entire ship permanently grounded. These ‘Landers’ believe that the Earth’s surface is not as poisoned as their leaders say, that they are captives to a vast conspiracy. Operating out of the hidden service tunnels throughout the ship, the Landers often send undercover gremlin agents to sabotage the Blue Paradise and its people.

Still, the Blue Paradise flies on. But even in the sky, there are dangers still unseen. Known as the Shape-Behind-the-Clouds, many have reported glimpsing a massive form flying just out of view, camouflaged by a storm cloud or the glare of the sun. Whether it’s another ship or a colossal creature, if it's real it may hold the key to ending the Acid Age and finally allowing the Blue Paradise to safely touch down for good.

1. The Grand Cabin

2. Parliament of the Blue

3. Residence Block Zephyr

4. Central Atrium

5. Residence Block Breeze

6. Wingman Academy

7. The Sky Gardens

8. Haze Research Quarantine Zone

9. Cargo Slums

10. Cloud Reservoir

11. Lander’s Hall

12. Engine Temple

13. Wing Prison

14. Secret Parlor of the Builders