Aerium Vault

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ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

Disclaimer: All art and lore are handcrafted. No generative AI was used in the process.

The idea of the aeriumcraft is older than the year 0. There are even reports of aeriumcrafts in the Antigo, the 1500-year-old holy book of the Edanist Creed. 

Unfortunately, much knowledge about the building of aeriumcrafts was lost around the Age of Resettlement 0-200 Ynorian Time (hereinafter YT). Let us together make the journey through time to see how Aerium Travel was rediscovered. (Image below: Aeriumcraft formation during Aristocracy war 815 YT)

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Without Fegaerium there would be no aeriumtravel. This buoyant material is harvested predominantly from the four flying mountain ranges: The Ataci (Freya, biggest exporter), The Irilion (Reonur), the Shifting Hills (Norus, Castodia) and the Songea Mountains (Valano). 

Straying flying mountains were used as early as the Age of Honor (200s to 400s YT) to create flying fortifications. Some flying temples were also still afloat from the ancient ages and so humanity studied this rare material, learned how to build it into stones (aerium masonry) and build floating constructions with it (aeriumworks). (Below: Overview chart "Fegaerium")

But when the Immortal Kingdom was attacked by the Vondo Empire in the early Age of Imperials (400s-700s), the use of floating platforms and the occasional air paddle pushed aeriumcraft had to be reconsidered. Vondo brought many Vawkriders with them that dominated the sky, leading to the famous "Agaiatar Flash" (a raid on the Immortal Kingdoms capital, the holy city of "Agaiatar"). 

Trying to develop a coherent response, the Immortal Kingdom used the recently developed "propeller" to build the first aeriumcrafts, which were fast enough to go up against most winds. (Below: The flying city of Sanctor. Part of the Immortal Kingdom, it helped the seven kings and their people understand how to think about aeriumcrafts.)

Thus, the aeriumcraft became a part of the official air forces of many mighty empires. And soon they dotted the sky not just on military but also trade missions.

ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE

Many credit the invention of the propeller as the main event that led to the "Age of Aristocrats" (700-900). Aerium travel soon became ubiquitous. Aeriumports were constructed all over the world.

Because Fegaerium lifts an aeriumcraft to a certain height and has to be vented if the ship wants to sink down again, many trade partners began to agree on height standards that are used until this day all across the Atlas:

The use of higher levels usually diminishes as getting higher aeriumcrafts requires exponential amounts of Fegaerium, strongly incentivizing finding the lowest possible route from point A to B, which leads to complex topological maps. (Image below: The propeller is invented in Freya)

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Initially, shipbuilders the world over struggled to understand aerodynamics. Thus, ships built in the early to late 700s often featured odd propeller systems. Ships like the "Ariohulk Lineship", which became a major part of the Castodian Aeriumnavy, used wind channels to pull in air to their propellers, leading to top speeds of 45 km/h - barely enough to go against most winds.

As a result, aeriumships were more frequently used for slower maneuvers in warfare, and rarely did generals risk depending on the wind to execute quick maneuvers in pincer movements and envelopments.

The Ariohulk Lineship

The Ariohulk was one of the most heavily armoured open-deck Battleliners of the early Age of Aristocrats. However, whilst 28 ships went into service relatively shortly before the Aristocracy War, they were already outdated, outgunned, and outmaneuvered by the time the war began, which soon put them into the role of heavily armed troop transporters rather than the original battle liner role it was intended for. They were eventually sold at low prices to realms across the Atlas with few still in service today. (Below: Simple Ariohulk wooden model on turntable)

During the Age of Aristocrats, the knowledge about aerodynamics vastly improved, with ships eventually reaching top speeds of 100 km/h (and eventually 121 km/h during "New Age" (900s-1000s)) in still winds.

Whilst shipyards sprang up all across the Atlas, one of the most significant was Catera Shipyards in Catera, Harlon Eru. Known for their fast, commercial (as opposed to military) designs, they were mainly responsible for pushing aeriumtrade to unprecedented profitability, reshaping macro economies and the fortunes of nations.

The Cloud Dove Mk II

One ship from the Cloud Dove Line became famous recently when it transported "Cassius Valeo", a soldier from the Agaiatar Clique who died on board. The ship was acquired by Myrelin and later sold to Graysky. It is now frequenting through "The Dukedoms" and was on the journey from "Athinea Agretora" to "Agaiatar" when Cassius flew with it. 

SECRET KNOWLEDGE

ODS Incepero

"The Dynasty" does not boast the biggest aeriumfleet on the Atlas despite being one of the largest nations. This is mostly due to the frequent tropical storms coming down from the north into the Acapelego. Whilst ship transport takes precedent, aeriumcrafts are still in use - in particular in the lower Tarroc and Greenshield provinces. (Below: Schematic sketch of the Incepero)

AERIUMPORTS have evolved over time but there is very little information on them currently available. So you will be the first to know that in this frame of "Journey to Agaiatar" you are seeing the "Agaiatar Airport" with its multiple levels and its escalator. 

Escalators have been implemented relatively recently. Designed to prevent aeriumcrafts from venting Fegaerium every time they descend, they use a system of pulleys to lower the craft by one level, remove a part of Fegaerium on that level, and then lower it further. Whilst this process can take some time, the savings in Feagerium usually make up for it. 

The Agaiatar Airport - built in the late Age of Aristocrats - is one of the first to use the technique. You can see the housing and strings on the left next to the big tower on top of the main structure. 

THANK YOU

We hope you have enjoyed this insight scoop into how Aeriumcrafts came to be and how they work today. Of course, there is much more to talk about, and we will make sure to collect more details about aeriumtravel.

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