Movement 1

Beginning the Journey

The first movement is all about introducing the listener to the world of Sonokoda. The beauty, but also the dangers of the planet. It begins with very dense chords played by the brass section. This is the essence of Sonokoda. It reflects the dense atmosphere – the warm, orange light seeping through thick fog and steam. We hear the tension in the planet and the conflict that has been going on for decades.
Soon after that, we are introduced to many important themes and motifs – One of the more important ones being the “Spirit” motif. This part-rhythmic, part-melodic idea, often played by the Woodblocks, is ever-present. It is often hidden away in the background but takes center stage many times. It is in a way the heartbeat of the planet.

In the first large orchestral section, we are also introduced to the theme of the main character of the story: “Sonami”. She is a link between the physical environment of Sonokoda and the spirit dimension. She feels the pain that the planet, the animals, and the spirits are feeling. Her goal is to save the planet from its destruction and is gathering a small group of adventurers who share her goal and join her in this grand endeavor.

We are also introduced to one of the big threats on the planet, which is actually one of the animals inhabiting the planet. They are giant snake-like flying beasts with scaled bodies, massive wings and six eyes. They share a theme with the concept of might and power, which is played by the Contrabassoon about two minutes into the first movement when our group of adventurers encounter them on their first journey. They realize that the aggression in these scary beasts is a result of their environment being attacked by machines that destroy the natural habitats of many beings on the planet.

Movement 2

The Flying City

Nothing compares to the largest Flying machine that roams the skies of Sonokoda – an entire city built on top of a monumental balloon-like hull containing a gas used to carry the superstructure. An airship big enough to carry a whole city is not easily maneuvered – In fact, it had to be built while it was already in the air. It requires constant maintenance, deliveries, and defense from the convoy that follows it around its ever-changing flight path.
This gigantic machine is home to a corrupt government, mostly unaware of the consequences of the destruction they are leaving behind. The machines they need to sustain their luxurious lives and to uphold their sense of security are draining the energies of the lands below them.

After the opening into the second movement, you can hear the spirit motif within the airship. It is twisted and reshaped – artificial. The energy of the planet, of the spirits, has been taken into the airship and transformed to generate the heat needed to produce steam for powering the city and the airship itself.

Our group of adventurers, who have set out to confront the government about the destruction, arrives at the flying city. They are traveling in their small airship, which is microscopic compared to this colossal machine. They are granted entry into the capitol which is protected by a massive cupola made of glass that encloses beautiful gardens, fields, and forests. They enter the grand castle at the center of the cupola and wander through its tall and dark corridors. They arrive at a capacious hall – Dark walls and ceilings reflecting the silver light that shines through the massive window at the end of the hall. In the middle, the council of four, garbed in perfect white robes that hide their faces, stand to receive the adventurers. They emit a powerful god-like aura. It becomes clear very quickly that their stance cannot be changed, and conflict arises. Our group of adventurers flee from the flying city, and they sail into the sunset, horrified by what they have encountered.

Movement 3

Living Planet

A new morning dawns. Our adventurers are sailing through dense morning fog and are reflecting on their encounters thus far. As the first beams of sunlight break through the clouds and the curtain of fog begins to lift, they find themselves hovering above untouched, living, and thriving landscapes. Massive trees standing as tall as they are flying, birds and other airborne animals filling the skies, and the forests below rich with deep greenery.
About one minute into the movement, they spot a large herd of gigantic animals moving through flatter and more open parts of the landscape. These feathered yet grounded creatures display their power as they trudge through the terrain, leaving a cloud of dust in their wake. The smaller animals are thriving, the countless trees humming with life.

Our group of adventurers descend further into the forest and carefully maneuver their airship around the massive tree trunks. In the distance, they see what appears to be a larger clearing of the forest, but when they get closer, the smell of oil fills their lungs.

As they leave the shade of the trees, the horrific sight of a destroyed landscape is revealed to them. The ground is torn up like a gashing wound, bleeding with oil from destroyed machinery. A mining expedition set out to find more resource-rich lands has hit its mark in the last untouched places on the planet. Though delayed for now following retaliation by the creatures of the forest, it is clear that they will return for more.
Our group of adventurers search through the broken machinery and discover plans that point to an incredibly resource-rich region – The spirit forest.

The spirits thus far have not interfered with the actions of the people and their destruction of the lands, since they believe that all life on the planet should take its natural course – even if that course leads it to its total annihilation. But as the destruction has reached levels that endanger future lives, our group of adventurers believes that there might be a chance to convince the Spirits to take action.
And so, the question at the end of the third movement is: Can they seek out and convince the spirits — the planet itself, to join their efforts?

Movement 4

The Spirit Forest / Conclusion

Along their lengthy journey to reach the spirit forest, they see many sights and complete many smaller quests, but keep on pushing to reach their destination.
Finally, after a long while and with their now somewhat battered airship, they arrive at the outskirts of the spirit forest. A deep green, gloomy, and foggy swamp forest with trees reaching even taller, yet denser than the ones they have encountered thus far.
As they descend into deeper layers of the forest, the trees force them further down until their vessel drags through the muddy water. Reluctantly, they leave behind the airship that has carried them through so many adventures and continue wading through the waist-deep water.

Though the atmosphere thickens as they reach further into the forest, they soon notice many small bits of light surrounding them. The spirits have been watching them on their journey and are now leading them into the center of the forest, where the dimensions split apart.

They step through a gate made of trees and find themselves at the heart of the planet. A single ancient tree growing from a small islet poking out of the water
They are greeted by the mightiest entity of all – the spirit of the planet itself. Sonami and the spirit reach out and meet, and in this grand and powerful moment – an exchange without words, a decision is made.

The spirits agree to help.

Our group of adventurers and the allies they have found along their journey are now waiting in the dark and anxiously awaiting the arrival of their opponents and their machines. Just before sunrise, the massive flying city and its convoy break through the clouds, heading directly toward them. With both sides garnering immense power and might, a massive clash breaks out. The skies saturate with flying machines as flocks of gigantic airborne animals attack the convoy, and even on ground level the fights break out.
Sonami too is flying through the skies, carried by a six-eyed beast. Together they pierce through the clouds and sweep across the golden landscape, attempting to destroy the city’s defenses. . .