Transport and Communication

Prior to the Electric Realisation, communication was historically through physical delivery and word of mouth. In recent history, the advent of pneumatic systems and light semaphore towers created continent-wide communication systems with impressive speed for the modern era. As it was, electricity and all its applications were prohibited so although the electric telegraph was developed furtively and illegally, it didn't reach the peaks it deserved in the East. Western countries such as Nebelon began to use the electrical relay excessively and then it spiralled outwards. As the benefits for global trade and personal communication became numbingly obvious, public outcry rocketed about how stupid the whole ban was, leading to Coscello's reputation crashing.

Semaphore is the use of mechanical means to send messages across long distances, such as the Fires of Gondor and Discworld's Clacks Towers. Apparently, they were in heavy use in the 17th and 18th century before being eclipsed by electric telegraphy in the 1830s. As electricity was prohibited, the semaphore towers were upgraded and mechanised, using complex arrays of coloured lights and shutters. The system is used unanimously across the East. Semaphore lines would have men on rota, situated every 5-20 miles along major routes and train lines. They gradually transfer into post as areas get more urbanised. The major example is probably the towers lined along Lararey's jungle highways and also along the Verver Express line.

Early versions of airplanes are slowly being developed or at least theorised. The field of aerodynamics is making headway and philosophers are on their way to calculating the conditions required for heavier-than-air flight. In the meantime though, certain airships employ gliders as part of their entourage (maybe, if it fits into the atmosphere). Moreover, some of these gliders have wing designs inspired by hawkmoths. I'm not entirely convinced of the ability for airships to act as gulls - too bloated and slow to be of much use. Perhaps through use of wings and more propellors, they might act as a half-plane, half-blimp. Airships are uncommon, true, and only are seen often in busy cities, but most people are acquainted with their existence, and are likely enough to have seen them soar from the ground. They, like boats, can either be sailed or steam-powered and come equipped with lifesaving parachutes. They are also used in warfare due to their helpful ability to store large quantities of munitions and explosives, and providing drop troops and supplies for ground combat, though the ships themselves are easy shots. Fortunately, they are unexplosive due to the use of aldamum gas in their buoyancy. In fact, transport mogul Whoch has set up a levitating airship dock above the stormy waters of the Rainy Ocean which has long been a setback for intercontinental air freight (essentially just a low steampunk version of Airhaven from the Mortal Engines quartet). Officially called the Whoch Freight Trust Transthalassic Aerial Skydock, it is more commonly referred to as Morombo after the first airship to dock there. In total, the dock is only about 3 years old. As well as primarily serving as a rest/refuelling station for Whoch vehicles, several bays are available for private enterprises. Furthermore, due to it being in international territory, it has evolved extensive gambling, drinking and whoring establishments, as well as bunkhouses for resting crewmembers. Whoch don't really care as long as long as they get their cream off the top, and the shady dealings fit in quite nicely with their tax haven. Technically, it is held by several large aldamum sacs and stabilised by a seafloor tether, and only roughly an acre in area.

Due to the anachronistic complexity of artificery and the desire to quickly travel short distances, the bicycle was developed earlier on. The Penny Farthing was skipped entirely because I don't want to look like a hack, and because it was very inconvenient for confined spaces. The younger generations really like it and it has become very popular in flat dense cities. Its use in Acrefell is limited because the tier system makes it highly impractical to move between tiers by bicycle. It also has links to gender equality and dress, but I've yet to fully explore this.