Maison Aetherthorne Ascensions – Public Archives
Legacy Series: Founders of the Ascension
(Approved for General Circulation Among Ascended Citizens and Academy Students)
Maître Inventeur Étienne Thorne (Master Inventor Etienne Thorne, 1840–1899) stands eternal as the architectural genius who lifted humanity toward the heavens. Born in the industrious heart of the Aetherian Empire's Franco-British provinces, Étienne rose from humble atelier apprenticeship to become the Empire's foremost engineer, blending French elegance of design with British precision of machinery.
A man of boundless ambition and paternal warmth, Étienne viewed the Lowlands' growing veils of industry as a challenge rather than a curse. "Why toil beneath shadows," he famously declared in salon lectures, "when we might dwell among the light?" His singular dream: to grant the worthy respite in floating havens, where clean skies and boundless inspiration awaited.
Étienne's ateliers produced marvels that redefined progress:
Magneto-Steam Levitation Engines: The cornerstone breakthrough—vast coal-powered arrays of brass magnets and steam pistons capable of stabilizing and elevating entire landmasses. These engines birthed the original Sky Islands, transforming plateaus into ethereal retreats.
Aetheric Blimp Propulsion: Graceful airships with reinforced brass hulls and whisper-quiet steam propellers, enabling seamless travel between islands and Lowland ports. His designs remain the standard for Maison fleet elegance.
Brass Landmass Stabilizers: Intricate gear networks embedded in island foundations, countering winds and ensuring perpetual balance. Often adorned with winged motifs, symbolizing ascension.
Phantom Conveyor Prototypes: Early automated lift systems for resource ascension—belts and elevators rising from clouds, foreshadowing today's seamless supply graces.
Gear-Heart Automatons: Early domestic helpers—clockwork servants for elite households, precursors to refined companionship technologies.
Étienne's empire, initially known as the Celestial Ateliers, attracted patrons from across the Empire and its colonies. He fathered one child—his brilliant daughter Valéria—whom he mentored personally in the ateliers. Upon his passing near the century's close, he bequeathed her the full legacy: islands, inventions, and a vision of progress unbound.
Today, Étienne's spirit endures in every hissing blimp and turning gear. His portrait graces Céleste Prime's grand halls—a stern yet kind patriarch, goggles perched atop flowing hair, reminding us that true invention begins with daring to rise.
Honor to the Founder. Ascension Eternal.
(Embossed with the Original Winged Gear Emblem)