Air Travel

This article does not represent any existing technology in Erra. However, the concept of Air Travel has been speculated upon, and is significant enough to warrant an inclusion in the Chronicle due to its cultural impact.

History

Air Travel refers to the concept of non-Magical sustained flight through the skies. While there are many creatures in the world of Erra that are, or were, capable of flight, such as Cruawn and Dragons, the ability to traverse the air unassisted is not possible to mundane species such as Humans. Before The Collapse, Air Travel could typically be attained through the usage of Magic, with levitation and flight spells. While the idea of using contraptions to fly long distances has existed in theory since the year 417, it was often deemed impractical for a number of reasons, chief among them being the existence of Teleportation magic nullifying the usefulness of such machines, and the presence of Dragons or other hostile airborne creatures making the notion simply too dangerous. Those seeking the thrills of flight would simply refer back to the previously established magical means.

With the creation of Arcane Machina, theories regarding Air Travel were occasionally considered, and were rumored to have been in development at the Ivorburn Research Institute.

After The Collapse, however, the ideas have received several more formal revisits. With Dragons seemingly ceasing to exist, the safety concerns of flight amount more towards how secure a theoretical device could be, and with the cessation of magic, teleportation as a means of long distance travel is impossible, giving a hypothetical air travelling machine a core purpose for existing. While attempts in the last century have been made to develop a flying machine, resources have not been accrued that would allow for hopeful inventors to bring their designs to life, or whatever creations did come to fruition have simply failed - Most notably resulting in the tragic death of Elkkur Skyforge.

In Culture

Over time, theories of Air Travel have been formed by entrepeneurs that captured the imagination of the various peoples of Erra. Among the earliest of these was created in the United Oprax Tribes during 419, and attempted to mimic the wings of the Cruawn, allowing the wielder with enough hypothetical force and strength to take flight. Ultimately the device was only useful at gliding over moderate distances from high elevations, though it would become a favoured attraction by thrill seekers known as the Fool Glider.

Personal transportation as an idea has repeatedly appeared in both myth and storytelling mediums (such as books and theatre). The Legend of Ry'Klai, a mythological tale passed down through the United Oprax Tribes has its signature heroic warrior Ry'Klai devise a method of flight similar to that of the Fool Glider that was capable of self propulsion. The theatre production Kilny focuses around a young Elven boy who dreams of being able to fly alongside a Cruawn love interest of his.

The concept of mass transportation, or practical usage of flight, however, has one particularly notable mark in the cutural history of Erra. The Draconis painter known as Drosha Noltis depicts in some of his works, most notably "Beyond our Lands", a ship with vast sails and wings attached to it, setting off through the skies far east of our main continent, journeying to lands unknown on an expedition to encounter fantastical creatures not yet known to us.