Elven Network Trade Route

The Veinrail is a goliath subterranean rail network that repurposes the Veinways—a vast network of magical tunnels used by the elves, into a express transit system for Gand's most powerful and influential. The underground highways were once used by the elves for movement between their underground structures that formed the The Elven Plague. Here, they flourished until their untimely death at the hands of the The Elven Plague a condition brought about by their experimental magic. It was agreed by both the Orcs and the Kith that the underground would be permanently sealed in what was called the Meridian Accord, but only a century later rudimentary explorations by the kith discovered vast potential and so, humanity began reconnecting the underworld, believing the plague has subsided.    

Origin of the Veinrail

The undercity remained sealed for over a century until curious kith began to find their way into the city below through crumbling doors and tunnels that breached the surface. They chased elven artifacts of magic potency to make their fortune on the black market or to empower themselves. At this time magic use was severely restricted and the creation of new magical items were forbidden sorcerers desperate to maintain their practice would pay through the nose to use existing artefacts, and scholars were hungry to learn more about how the magic worked. It was under the reign of Queen Mauricia Detta Rainier of the The Royal Court the chambers were officially opened. This was due to an event young noble girl fell into the tunnels from the surface due to a structural collapse. A rescue mission was launched with the man power of several locals, who spent three days wondering in darkness but were ultimtely able to retrieve her, returning to the surface with no evidence of having caught the plague. With this realisation the first expeditions into the city below began, and a new plan was formed to convert the tunnels into a large the large transportation line to traverse Gand. This was called the Veinrail Project: And was an ambitious initiative to repurpose the Elven Veinways into a high-speed train network. The goal: connect the continent through the ancient undercity paths, reducing travel time and consolidating economic and political power. With this the Meridian Accord informally came to an end.     Humans much like the elves before them cultivated a new revolution not or arcane magic but of industry. Under the rule of King Halric, new power sources were developed geothermal, and kinetic manipulation aided by the new Brotherhood of Tarn technology, power crystals. Leading to a large boom in development, trade and industry.  

Impact of the Veinrail

The Veinrail has had a ripple-effect on how many in Gand lived their lives if if they didn't neccisariy witness the direct results; food became easier to transport around leading to less food waste and more available cuisines without the restrictions of regional growing. It became easier to feed the growing city of Centawen as well as to transport building materials shearing off slabs of rock, political actions also became quicker as prominent figures were belt travel around unchanged faster, this is. Large part of the Brotherhood of Tarn's rise to power as they were able to quickly mobilise areas of Gand.   Since the projects inception it's esimated that only around fifteen to twenty percent of the tunnels have been unearthed, aided by teams of kith construction crews and technological engineers, who created veinrail infrastructure; forging iron and steeel rails that cut through tunnels, humming with runic energy- cables hang from the ceiling reinforced with msteel and intended to guide trains along the route. As construction expands the kith have constructed work camps and outposts bridged together with industrial scaffolding that clings to once-sacred plazas and through crumbling town squares. Kith engineers have set up modular camps—metal walkways, fluorescent lights, automated sentries. The old stone clashes harshly with chrome as they new residents hunker down to work and live temporarily in the darkness. To cut through the maze of structure they use blast tools and boring drill not all workers are careful and some carve out swaths of areas long considered to be sacred to leave as scars. That which is not unearthed is though of with reverence an fear, what could exist below, monsters? The plague? Something even beyond understanding?    

Precarious balance

Despite the lack of life the city is very much not dead as magic still pulses in the air crackling with potential. Those who work the tunnels report strange happenings below, vault doors pulse with arcane energy and whispers can be herd in the veinways near sealed entrances. Some say the statues feel warm to the touch others hear music. There are several reports of time moving slower a threat to the rails progress. More sensational rumors tell stories of workers going insane and whole trains and outposts vanishing in the night.    

Major lines

Although construction is still underway there are fully completed veinrail lines, with long stretches of track that branch across the country and connects major stops, beggining with the capital city of Centawen and ending at Wintrow.
The major line is called the Meridian Spine and is used the most frequently, this is the largest rail capable of running multiple trains at once, branching off from this and running parallel to the major underground strucures. The Meridian Spine runs as an almost straight line and is the most efficient for getting between the major cities. The tunne is the safest, most well lit and has the most checkpoints. This is used to move valuable exports and resources across the country. Those who ride this line do so as people of power, they are wealthy merchants and guild members, trained military, and guests of King Arvid. The Hollow Belt is comprised in of rings that branch from the Meridian Spine, They circle around the collapsed Even capital and are still in the process of construction. these lines are thinner and are used by the less wealthy they mostly run produce in between major settlements but have been known run the odd passenger transport. Then there are the Ash Veins not a lot is known about it as it breaches the edge of the tunnels undiscovered, the ash vein runs over top of a large vault containing eleven mass graves, these are only officially accessed by Null engines with magic suppressing capabilities they often enter in manned of with skeleton crews and collect data, there has been one documented instance in which an unmanned train returned with eleven magical theory scrawled on its walls, these lines are at a moderate to high risk of magical abnormalities an are largely classified as red-zones. Lastly is the only unofficial line, the Dustways are an abandoned tunnel line which was co-opted by ordinary people who began tapping into the tunnels and taking over construction these are branching and Criss-cross with the hollow belt and ash vein, they are used in lucrative transport and are known to be favoured by smugglers and less reputable types such as the Barrel Scrapers. One of the most used Dusty's, connects with the hollow belt nd runs directly under The Keep, for a brief moment the track opens int a large cavern and daylight filtered right through the Keeps Tower shines down.   The Veinrail architects see the undercity as a tool, not a tomb. They ignore warnings and disrupt systems they don’t understand as they gouge the stone. Their technology may suppress some magical effects—but it also stirs ancient wards nd traps every mile of tunnel cleared opens forgotten magic sealed away for a reason. The deeper they go, the stranger things get. Machines malfunction in certain zones. Some workers report déjà vu. Those exposed to the tunnels too long experience a magical resonance, similar to magic sickness, it causes hallucinations- memories belonging to others, they lose time, can become irritable or melancholy. Those who work on the rail find everyday is a calculation not only o protect themselves physically from the grinding of dangerous machines but to protect their minds as well. In order to keep themselves safe the workers have sorted the veinways into zones.  

Zones Classifications

Emerald- Fully mapped, structurally stable and largely risk free of collapse- These zones are fully build and have functioning lines. These are no reported anomalies. This includes the Meridian Spine. Amber- Structuraly sound and mostly mapped, the major lines are noted and construction is mostly finished. The chance of encountering magic beasts or magical abnormalities are low but not impossible. Many traders use this line. Contains the Hollow Belt. Red Zones- largely unexplored and structurally unsound, these are areas being scouted for development and viability as a line. But currently remain high-risk, the chances of being attacked is moderate as is the chances of running into environmental hazards there is a higher risk of running into magic anomalies This line is primarily reserved for engineers and requires special clearance, most smuggler tunnels link to some manner of red zone. Black Zones- sealed sections undiscovered and untouched, stability, threats and anolomalies all unknown. The only thing Entering this zone is unmnned null class trains.  

Outposts and Types

There are a number of outposts along the rails; some are military checkpoints which stop trains for scrutinising its passengers and contents, some are trade points where registered traders can load up their goods for sale to be distributed, and some outposts are more covert in Nature for those who may not be sanctioned by the crown to ride the line. At present, very few can access the trains legally; These mostly extend to noblemen and women, who are guests of the king as well as political figures, miliatary personell, paladins and scribes of the Brotherhood of Tarn, important members of the Church of Tarn. This importantly also extends to the engineers and construction crews who construct the tunnels.The policing of this is fiercely strict at military checkpoint but as a result there has been a rise in Bootleg Trains; unsanctioned vehicles which transport people or Contraband Items for a lucrative fee. There are also arcane containment outposts which are often ties to military checkpoints, these are dedicated to the safe handling and containment of potentially dangerous relics.  

Track types

With in th tunnels there are different tracks designed to run for different trains and for different terrains, there are two types; mag-lev and obsidian. Mag-lev is for safer, wider and straight-line regions. Here, the trains use magnetic levitation powered by a mix of kinetic turbines and power crystal engines. These tracks are the most stable and fast but are not able to slow or switch readily, this is used for the Meridian Spine and runs Spine-trains and Spectra Runners. These tracks secon is obsidian tracks which are used in much of the hollow belt and the ashveins, they ae mostly used in unstable areas due to high magical interfearenceregions, thy are made from re-enforced steel on obsidian sleepers with hybrid shock absorption systems. And are able to support Crystal engines, these tracks mostly run Spectra runners and Null Engines.  

Train Types

There are three types of trains that run on the network Spine trains, Spectra runners and Null Engines. The Spine Trains are long-distance haulers with both a modular cargo and passenger split, the passenger quarters are comfortable roomy and fully enclosed. The trains always have a navigator but in theory could be auto-navigating. They have rune-stabilized control cores, kinetic turbines and a crystalline engine. They have shield plating and are known to be sturdy. Spectra runners are smaller and lighter, they have two sets of wheels and are able to hop between both kinds of tracks, they need smaller crews to run but have a far reduced carrying capacity. Spectra Runners are popular for bootleg trains because the materials for repair are accessible d they are easy to mod. They don't have shied plating but are equips with light runes capable of detecting obstacles up ahead, They are primarily used for produce, messengers and research teams. The final is Null engines although hey don't exist in any official data base, Null trains are designed to be ran in dangerous red and black zones and are self-piloting they can be run utonomously or with a skeleton crew. They primarily are used to gather data and eplosives to map the tunnels below, that are quick and turn easily but have little defensive ability. They are equipped with magic-suppressing inscense which is burned in a small furnace at the front of the train and billows an amber smoke.