With the invention of the VoidEngine, reality in Gaean became transformed. Suddenly, mortals were capable of farther reaching travel. This permitted them to live farther from their loved ones, for example, while retaining relatively simple contact; as a result, more and smaller settlements began to form. Beyond this, the world became larger, as travel became a pleasurable exercise rather than a dangerous chore.

— Tavit Kitelo, "The Effect of the Void Engine on Gaean's Evolution and Culture."

 

Overview

Among the many wonders brought to Empirica Sin by the mysterious Aedvectis is the concept of a train. According to Theodora Bertrem, the Aedvect who worked with Gaean engineers and void dancers in their initial creation, trains are common in the Otherworld as a primary means of transportation. Perhaps, then, it is unsurprising that the vehicles became so popular in Empirican territories, as well!

Of course, as is typical of concepts adapted to and recreated within Empirica Sin... things do not work quite the same way those from Otherworld might be accustomed to...

History and Development

The significance of the development of Empirica Sin's first mass transit vehicle cannot be overstated. This is particularly the case in Gaean, where the majority of residents lack either innate enhanced transport (e.g. the wings of the Aurali) or natural affinities toward areas that enable transport (e.g. Magic). For most of Empirica Sin's lifetime, this was a serious limiting factor in the ability of mortals to travel or to see places outside their immediate area.

It was the arrival of Aedvect Theodora Bertrem that began to change this, though it still took some time to put together the resources necessary to realize her vision.

  Conceptualizing the Future!

Theodora brought the idea of the train with her from her home in the Otherworld, where she apparently worked as an engineer working on railway infrastructure. Initially, she approached the council of Atria with her suggestions for a mass transportation vehicle powered by -- therein lies the issue, as Empirica Sin was not particularly prone to making use of electrical energy (which continues to be true to this day).

She pivoted, then, to fuel-based locomotives, but Atrian officials were reluctant to fund a project that would burn through fuel at such a rapid pace. This brought her to he final plan: the use of Void Energy as fuel.

This, however, would be easier said than done. While void is in essentially unlimited supply in every area of Empirica Sin, there were precious few Mortals with the ability to use it at all - much less at the level one would need to create essentially a train-sized magical item.

She would therefore spend the next several years traveling Gaean, searching for Void Dancers capable of making her ideas become a reality.

  Allies In Innovation

Ultimately, Bertrem was able to secure the assistance of two Void-Dancers (Hidde and Bryse), as well as a Fire and an Earth elementalist (Miaka and Avnen)... and a team of engineers she had recruited primarily from Atria and Trasea. It would take approximately one year to bring together the plans, the magic, and the physical body of the vehicle in Bertrem's sketches.

The body was formed though the mingled power of the elementalists - the first meticulously sculpted primarily as a single piece grown from nothing, and then attached to the pieces where movement was necessary.

The railing and moving parts were designed and built by her engineering team - and Bertrem herself, who was not one to let others get their hands dirty without her.

And finally, the vehicle and its rails were laced with enchantments by Hidde and Bryse.

One year after the work had begun, the first void-fueled locomotive became fully operative.

 

Widespread Utilization

Variants of the Void Engine would soon be seen across Empirica Sin - often modified for the needs of the region, and the aesthetic tastes of the population. Their popularity was inevitable in Gaean, where mortals were suddenly able to travel great distances with significantly reduced expenditure of energy and resources. What was slightly more surprising was their popularity in Incaendium and Astrum.

However, ultimately, however, they would remain most common in Gaean, where they have long since become the primary means of cross-territorial or otherwise long-range travel.

In Astrum, where the ability to fly is more common than not, VoidEngines are largely seen as a novel experience - a convenient way to sightsee, or a convenient location for events.

Though not as common in Incaendium as in Gaean, they are nonetheless fairly popular among the Demons. Incaendian variants are often faster than their Gaean counterparts due to the higher overall ability of the Sura void-dancers.