Transportation in Iryna
Residents of Iryna have access to a variety of transportation options that allow them to navigate the city, on land and by sea. With the exception of the subway trains, all forms of transportation are privately-operated, with a vehicle's owner typically charging a fee for passengers. In addition to fulfilling practical needs, all kinds of vehicles are frequently used for recreation and sport.
Land Vehicles
Despite the limited amount of land in relation to the surrounding ocean, the Corvidan Archipelago has nevertheless developed multiple devices capable of transporting people quickly across long distances. However, not all land vehicles are suitable to the Irynian way of life, and have been adapted to Irynian needs through magitech engineering.
- Carriages: Four-wheeled passenger vehicles are very rare in the Archipelago, given that horses, oxen, and other large draft animals are not present on any island. Small carts pulled by goats and dogs are common in agrarian communities, but typically do not carry passengers. Most roads are not designed to accomodate multi-passenger vehicles, and they are explicitly banned on Irynian streets. Large amounts of cargo are generally transported by sea, even when the distance by sea is much greater than by land.
- Rickshaws: The most common vehicle used to transport both people and cargo is the rickshaw, which is both maneuverable and versatile. Rickshaws are typically pulled by a rickshaw operator or, in Iryna, powered by a magitech motor. Manual rickshaws have only two wheels, one on each side of the passenger chair, while motorized rickshaws have an additional third wheel for stability. Rickshaws are also used by disabled persons as mobility aids, typically individualized to their user's specific needs. Rickshaws are also used in the sport of jousting.
- Motorics: The "motoric" is an Irynian variation on the traditional motorized rickshaw. Its two wheels are placed one in front of the other, rather than side-by-side, and its seat is narrower. Motorics can reach higher speeds and take tighter corners than standard rickshaws, which many believe makes them more dangerous, both to the driver and passers-by. Motoric ownership is restricted to those whose professions require rapid travel, such as couriers and first responders. Specially-marked emergency lanes help prevent collisions with speeding motoric drivers.
- Subway Trains: These autonomous magitech vehicles travel rapidly along a mythril rail that conducts arcane power to the train engine, circling continuously in a loop. A row of seats on the exterior walls of each train car are reserved for those who cannot stand, with most passengers holding onto ceiling-mounted grips. Trains stop at every stop, with doors opening and closing automatically. Trains have a manual override in the event that a transportation official must divert or stop them. Irynian trains are a direct descendant of the elevator, with the primary difference being the direction in which the vehicle moves. The subway system has become an indispensable means of transportation for Irynians, allowing unprecedented ease of access to education, employment, and public services across the entire city. Other islands have attempted to implement similar systems without nearly the same degree of success.
Watercraft
Sailing and shipbuilding have been an integral aspect of Corvidan life since prehistory. In modern times, most watercraft are powered by magitech engines, but historically, boats were propelled using oars, sails, and/or spellcasting. Small boats have outboard engines that are more prone to breaking but easier to repair, while large ships contain inboard engines with complex mechanisms that require specialized maintenance. Despite the variety of designs, watercraft are generally organized into four categories:
- Rafthouses: The most basic boat design is a simple platform of wood attached to a pair of narrow canoes, creating a floating base on which a house can be built. These are generally single-room cabins with thatched roofs and very little furniture, which is lashed or bolted down to prevent it shifting with the movement of the boat. Raft-houses can also be lashed together for added stability, creating makeshift settlements such as Iryna's raft city. Although living on a raft-house can be uncomfortable or even dangerous, they are extremely cheap and numerous.
- Ferry-boats: Another common boat type is simply called the "ferry-boat", even when not being used as a ferry. More accurately described as a sailing yacht, ferries can transport up to several dozen people along the coast, but lack the sturdiness for long ocean voyages. They typically have a single hull, one or two masts, and occasionally an upper deck. In addition to ferrying, they are used for fishing, recreation, and commerce. Smaller varieties of ferry-boat are accessible to those with even a modest income.
- Catamarans: These larger-scale sailing ships travel between islands, transporting goods or passengers. They typically have several decks, require large crews, and can remain at sea for several months at a time. Catamarans are constructed with two hulls, echoing the raft-houses which were their pregenitors, and which help to navigate rough seas. Even those entirely powered by magitech often retain sails for aesthetic reasons. Catamarans are only owned by very rich individuals or by large companies.
- Greenhouse Galleys: These are the largest ships in the Corvidan Archipelago - massive floating greenhouses which produce much of its population's crops and livestock. The galleys support many tiered decks with large glass windows for agricultural use, as well as standard decks for storage and crew quarters. These ships only dock during emergencies or for maintenance; typically, smaller craft transport goods to and from the ships, which anchor near the harbor for easy access. Working on a galley is prestigious but demanding.