Teleportation Circles
In the var:time-previousera, when magic was powerful and readily used, it was commonly used for transportation. When the Era ended, many of the most powerful magics were lost and items began to degrade. Very few of these technologies could be maintained.
The Teleportation Circles were among those few.
Utility
In order for the Circle to trigger, at least one person must be within the circle. Most circles are large enough for four to five adults to travel together.
Despite the attempts of some of the larger Merchant Guilds, a practical method of transporting goods between Circles has not been found. Between the small size and high cost, it is more effective to transport goods using traditional means.
In rare cases, the Circles may allow messengers to travel quickly. This is normally reserved for cases of important governmental correspondence, or the whims of the very rich.
Manufacturing
The ability to create new Teleportation Circles has been lost to the ages. But, in the old days, even an average mage could create one.
A simple Circle would allow the mage to transport himself to another Circle. A slightly more complex version would teleport the mage to any location they were familiar with. The most advanced version, which not all mages had the skill to cast, would allow them for teleportation to any location using a series of coordinates.
It was possible to create a Circle which was temporary, used up in that first transportation and leaving little sign of its existence. However, the runes could also be carved into stone or dirt and infused with magic. The enduring runes, combined with the magic of the earth would allow these Circles to be used again and again. The most powerful of these enduring Circles are the only ones that remain today.
There are circles remaining within many of the largest cities. A powerful mage, now, can use one circle to teleport to another. This allows the rich and powerful to move quickly between set locations. However, the cost and limited availability means that this is not an option for the general population.
The circles are maintained by powerful organizations who employ skilled mages to ensure that these ancient technologies are not lost.
These are also able transport people between the circles. They also complete multiple forms of technical maintenance to ensure that the carved runes are preserved and the magical connection to the Earth is sustained.
Many of the Circles in existence now were carved into the floors of important buildings, or important buildings have been built up around their location. Many national capitals have a Circle within one of their main buildings, for examples. Many of the largest churches also house a Circle which can be used for both clergy business and as a way to raise funds for the Church.
Occasionally, when old ruins are discovered, a new Teleportation Circle is discovered. In these cases, a team of Mages need to go over the Circle to ensure that it is still intact. If it is, they can ensure that it is still connected to the magic of the area and bring it back online.
Comments