Overview
Essence engines are mechanical power sources that use stored essence or essence cores to run vehicles, constructs, and fixed machinery. The technology begins as an Arcanis breakthrough in Malverand, enabling the empire's first skyships. Later societies adapt essence engines for transport, constructs, and city machinery.
Applications
Essence engines are usually built into vehicles, vessels, and fixed machinery. Skyship engines drone, roar, whir, and glow, and some ships feed their engines with essence cores. Benedict sends engines modified for aquatic use for Isandriel's vessel. Road carts near Morindel and construct carts in Maraveth use essence engines.
Jareth's windweaver carries a large reserve of essence distributed through the ship's cores, hull, and engine, with finely tuned power that makes the ride exceptionally smooth. Thalassai trains use aether artifacts, essence engines, propulsion equipment, and opposite magnetism for fast, nearly soundless rail travel.
Engineering and Control
Engineers pair essence engines with essence cores, aether artifacts, hull-integrated essence storage, propulsion equipment, magnetic lift, weapons, and skilled pilots or engineers. Benedict and the patriarchs keep the methods for forging essence engines restricted within the Order. Blackcrag holds engine-forging knowledge that much of Valrindor lacks.
Faulty or sabotaged engines can lose power as their cores dim. Resonance attacks can also disrupt them, as Orin's resonance wave weakens enemy skyship engines during the defense of Erenmyr.
History
Malverand develops essence engines alongside essence cores, essence towers, skyships, weapons, and shield generators. Prototypes are stored beneath Maraveth, and Malverand uses the engines in imperial transport and military machines.
The Order continues using essence engines for skyships, specialized vehicles, and large vessels. Blackcrag maintains and advances Malverand-derived engine technology, Thalassai combines aether artifacts with essence engines in windweavers and trains, and Kaldaryn advances skyship engineering through Astrid's designs.