Trains are vehicles that carry passengers and goods along fixed tracks. Thalena planned a magical rail network for Thalassai after seeing how much faster Earth's modern trains had become. She intended it to improve trade between Chronasis, Thalmyris and Irrathis.
Thalena drew up blueprints using windweaver technology as a basis and recruited Thalvian and other Thalassai researchers to develop them. The dangers of traveling through the void made the rail project useful as an alternative. Cassian agreed to assign suitable mages from the legions once the ongoing repairs were complete.
Trains are vehicles that carry passengers and goods along fixed tracks. Thalena planned a magical rail network for Thalassai after seeing how much faster Earth's modern trains had become. Its prototype combines rail travel with windweaver technology.
Development
Thalena drew up designs and recruited Thalvian and other Thalassai researchers. Jareth, Cyrena and Thalvian produced a small windweaver that ran on tracks at the Nexus Research Center. A full train would take longer to build. Thalena instructed Jareth and Cyrena to teach the legions how to construct the tracks, while Thalvian planned to organize work in Soltheris and help rebuild Dravemir beside the route.
The first plans linked Chronasis, Thalmyris and Irrathis for trade. Thalena intended to extend the route across the ocean into Teryndal and onward to Kaldaryn City, perhaps reaching Axanaxa or Ishtanûr, with stops in major cities along the way.
Astryx sought agreements from the other nations. Garrik accepted Kaldaryn's participation while keeping its mages available for the front line. Rail transport offered another way to supply his forces as well as connect the nations.
Trains are vehicles that carry passengers and goods along fixed tracks. Thalena adapted the idea from Earth for Thalassai, combining rail travel with magical propulsion. Her first service links Thalassai and Irrathis, with tracks being extended farther across Valrindor.
Construction and operation
The Thalassai train uses aether artifacts to fall forward, together with essence engines that provide propulsion. Opposite magnetism contributes to its floating appearance and nearly soundless ride, though open windows let in considerable noise. Straight tracks and safety mechanisms keep the fast moving train on its route. Earth and fire mages shape the rails and their high metal guards, and the route includes tunnels.
The train has an angular metal body painted violet, white and purple, with curves inspired by windweavers. Its long, spacious carts have skylights, essence lights and sliding doors. Panoramic windows help passengers without magic see the scenery despite its speed.
Development and service
Thalena drew up designs after seeing how much faster Earth's modern trains had become. She recruited Thalvian and other Thalassai researchers, using windweaver technology as a basis. Jareth, Cyrena and Thalvian produced a small windweaver that ran on tracks at the Nexus Research Center. Thalena instructed Jareth and Cyrena to teach the legions how to build the tracks, while Thalvian went to organize work in Soltheris. Astryx sought agreements from other nations, including Kaldaryn, and Astrid oversaw the planned route toward Kaldaryn City.
The first full train was tested from Chronasis through Thalmyris and Velundra to Irrathis. Jareth announced two daily journeys. The Irrathis tracks still needed joining to the Zeydrith line; Soltheris later finished the final rail toward Thundermarch, preparing that route to open. Thalena intended the network to continue across Valrindor, stopping in its major cities.
Other rail systems
Solvarria relies largely on trains for internal travel, reserving airships mainly for elites and diplomats. Archibald sent engineers to Ulzathir to prepare a link between the two nations.
In imperial Maraveth, trains race through the streets and cross between levels on aerodynamic tracks.
Trains are vehicles that carry passengers and goods along fixed tracks. Thalena adapted the idea from Earth for Thalassai, combining rail travel with magical propulsion. Her service connects Thalassai and Xalmyrra, while a network across Valrindor is still under construction.
Construction and operation
The Thalassai train uses aether artifacts to fall forward, together with essence engines that provide propulsion. Opposite magnetism contributes to its floating appearance and nearly soundless ride, though open windows let in considerable noise. Straight tracks and safety mechanisms keep the fast moving train on its route. Earth mages carve paths and fire mages heat the metal rails; high metal guards line the track, including its tunnels.
The train has an angular metal body painted violet, white and purple, with curves inspired by windweavers. Its long, spacious carts have skylights, essence lights and sliding doors. Panoramic windows help passengers without magic see the scenery despite its speed. A section is reserved for diplomats and officials.
Development and service
Thalassai and Xalmyrra
Thalena drew up designs after seeing how much faster Earth's modern trains had become. She recruited Thalvian and other Thalassai researchers, using windweaver technology as a basis. Jareth, Cyrena and Thalvian produced a small windweaver that ran on tracks at the Nexus Research Center. Thalena instructed Jareth and Cyrena to teach the legions how to build the tracks, while Thalvian went to organize work in Soltheris. Astryx sought agreements from other nations, including Kaldaryn, and Astrid oversaw work near Kaldaryn City.
The first full train was tested from Chronasis through Thalmyris and Velundra to Irrathis. Jareth announced two daily journeys. The Irrathis tracks still needed joining to the Zeydrith line; Soltheris later finished the final rail toward Thundermarch. Regular travel now passes through Dravemir and Zeydrith and reaches Stormbrook through a mountain tunnel.
The route also carries messages and officials between nations. After hearing reports of train problems near Linzhou, Aldar investigated the route and found enemies posing as rail guards who had been intercepting messages. He cleared them from the tracks.
Expansion across Valrindor
Thalena arranged an extension toward Ishtanûr, while Thalvian proposed smaller Xalmyrran lines supported by four nations. A train was already approaching Melandor as delegates gathered for the founding of the Valrindor Council. The larger world network was nearing completion, with all nations agreeing to send earth and fire mages to build its tracks. Stations were to share key stops with skyship platforms so travelers and goods could reach more distant areas.
Thalassai shared the train schematics, but few engineers understood the essence engines well enough to build them. Production remained limited until more engineers could be trained. An undersea route between Ulzathir and Thalassai was also proposed.
Other rail systems
Solvarria relies largely on trains for internal travel, reserving airships mainly for elites and diplomats. Archibald sent engineers to Ulzathir to prepare a link between the two nations.
In imperial Maraveth, local trains cross the city on tracks running through its many levels. Corporations operate local systems, while the government runs an international network across Valrindor and nearby islands. Trains and ships carry large volumes of goods more efficiently than warpships.