The Mountain Town maintains one of the strictest airspace regulations in the region. Unlike other settlements where airships may fly freely overhead, the skies above the town are tightly controlled due to a permanent cloud formation surrounding the Town Hall.
The Town Hall Cloud
A dense, permanent cloud formation exists directly above the Town Hall.
Characteristics include:
- Permanently suspended over the Town Hall.
- Distinct from normal weather clouds.
- Occupies the central airspace of the town.
- Visible from nearly every district.
- Considered a defining landmark of Mountain Town.
- The cloud’s lower edge sits high enough to avoid affecting daily life on the ground but low enough to influence all air traffic.
The cloud serves as both a visual symbol of the town and a protected section of its airspace.
Protected Airspace
The airspace directly above the Town Hall cloud is designated as a strict no-fly zone.
Rules include:
- No airship may fly above the Town Hall cloud.
- Flying directly over the cloud is prohibited.
- Unauthorized overflight is considered a serious violation of town law.
- All civilian and commercial airships must follow designated approach and departure routes.
Pilots are trained in these regulations before receiving permission to operate within Mountain Town’s airspace.
Arrival Procedure
Approaching Mountain Town follows a standardized flight procedure.
1. Mountain Crossing
Airships travel at their normal cruising altitude while crossing the outer mountain ranges.
2. Entering Town Territory
The official town territory begins after crossing the large mountain cliffs surrounding the settlement.
Once an airship passes these natural boundaries and reaches the airspace above the frozen lake:
- The pilot is required to begin descent immediately.
- Cruising altitude is no longer permitted.
- The airship must continue descending until reaching the approved low-altitude flight corridor.
Remaining at high altitude after entering town territory is prohibited.
3. Low-Altitude Approach
From the frozen lake onward:
- Airships remain below the protected airspace.
- They follow designated routes into the air station.
- Flight speed is reduced.
- Pilots maintain visual navigation around the mountain.
This creates a calm, controlled approach into the town.
Departure Procedure
Departures follow the reverse sequence.
1. Leaving the Air Station
Airships depart at low altitude.
2. Passing the Town
The aircraft remains at this lower altitude while flying alongside and away from the Mountain Town.
Pilots are not permitted to begin climbing immediately after takeoff.
3. Leaving Town Territory
Only after:
- clearing the settlement,
- passing beyond the frozen lake,
- and moving safely away from the surrounding mountain,
may the pilot begin increasing altitude.
4. Returning to Cruising Height
After exiting the protected airspace:
- the airship climbs back to its normal cruising altitude,
- crosses the outer mountain cliffs,
- and resumes normal regional flight.
Purpose of the Rule
Purpose of the Airspace Restriction
Officially, the low-altitude flight rule exists to maintain safe and organized air traffic within the narrow mountain valley. Every licensed pilot is taught that the regulation protects aircraft from dangerous terrain and prevents congestion over the town.
However, this explanation is only part of the truth.
The Forbidden Summit
The true reason for the restriction is the summit of the mountain.
The uppermost region of the mountain is designated as a Strict No Access Zone. It is forbidden to every resident of Mountain Town, regardless of profession, status, or authority.
Rules include:
- No civilian may travel to the summit.
- No airship may fly over or above the summit.
- No expeditions are officially authorized.
- The summit does not appear on public maps.
- Discussions about accessing it are strongly discouraged.
The protected airspace ensures that no aircraft can accidentally see or reach the mountain’s peak.
Knowledge of the Summit
Almost no one knows what actually exists at the top of the mountain.
Among the entire population:
- Most residents know only that the summit is forbidden.
- Very few people possess any genuine knowledge about it.
- The Mayor is one of the few known individuals who understands what lies there.
Despite this knowledge, even the Mayor does not visit the summit.
Whatever exists there is considered significant enough that knowing about it does not grant permission to approach it.
Historical Reputation
The summit has been surrounded by mystery for generations.
Historical records contain numerous accounts of people attempting to reach the peak.
Common patterns include:
- Many never returned.
- Some disappeared without explanation.
- A very small number reportedly survived the journey.
- Those who returned rarely spoke about what they experienced.
Over time, these incidents transformed the summit from a geographical location into one of the greatest mysteries in the region.
Legends and Folklore
Because almost no verified information exists, generations of residents have created their own explanations.
The summit has become the subject of countless local legends.
It is common for older humans and elderly penguins to tell these stories to children during community gatherings, winter evenings, or family time.
These stories are treated as fairy tales rather than established history, and every storyteller has a different version.
Common beliefs include:
- A gigantic monster lives at the summit and protects the mountain.
- A god watches over the town from above.
- An ancient machine capable of destroying the entire world is hidden there.
- The Mayor secretly owns a private estate or palace at the summit.
- Lost explorers still wander the mountain, unable to return.
- Strange lights appear there during certain nights.
- The summit is where the mountain itself is alive.
- Time flows differently above the clouds.
- Invisible guardians prevent anyone from reaching the peak.
None of these stories have ever been confirmed.
Cultural Significance
The forbidden summit has become part of Mountain Town’s cultural identity.
Children grow up hearing different stories depending on who tells them.
Adults often remember the tales fondly, even if they no longer believe them.
No single legend is considered the “correct” one. Instead, the mystery itself is preserved across generations through storytelling.
As a result, the summit occupies a unique place in the town’s culture—it is simultaneously feared, respected, imagined, and endlessly speculated about.
Effect on Daily Life
The existence of the forbidden summit influences everyday life in subtle ways.
- Pilots never question why they must descend before reaching the town.
- Residents instinctively avoid looking for ways to reach the summit.
- The cloud above the Town Hall and the restricted airspace reinforce the idea that some places are simply not meant to be approached.
- The mystery has persisted for so long that respecting the rule has become second nature.
For most citizens, the summit is not merely a forbidden location—it is a mystery accepted as part of life, something that has always existed and may never be fully understood.