Bridges

Bridges in The Baitburn Islands are instrumental to the functionality of commerce and living. The 6 Islands of the Sovereign City of Baitburn are connected by large bridges - these 6 main bridges are managed by the City, but the city Enforcers, a semi-private entity, are responsible for maintaining and protecting the bridges and the people on them.

Bridges can be categorised in two ways: standers and floaters. Standers are bridges that remain "stood" in place by use of pillars, suspension, magic, or other such means of security. The 6 main bridges are all standers, as well as most bridges linking to and between private islands. floaters are bridges that are simply tied to the shore or cliffs of one island, kept above the water by floatation. Floaters are often made simply of rope and wood, though some employ the use of metal chains, extremely porous rocks, and other such materials that float. Floaters usually are only suitable to foot traffic, often being quite thin and allowing for either single-file traffic, or two one-way systems side by side. Floater bridges have a minimal or no toll, while all stander bridges have tolls.

## Classification

All bridges are classified from A-F, with A being the highest and F being the lowest. This classification is done by safety mostly, but also to determine whether some things are able to travel on the bridges, such as horses with carts, or Large creatures. The classification also determines the general toll for a bridge, though this can change case by case.

* A - Stander bridge. Horses, elephants, carts, large creatures all permitted.
* B - Stander bridge. Horses, carts, large creatures all permitted.
* C - Stander bridge. Medium or smaller Sapients only. Houses and shops may exist on a C class bridge or below.
* D - Floater bridge. Medium or smaller Sapients only. Two-way system in place. Usually metal and rock construction
* E - Floater bridge. Medium or smaller Sapients only. One-way system in place. Usually wood.
* F - Floater bridge. No regulation, but generally all creatures allowed. Usually decrepit or abandoned. **Free.**

Classification is decided by the transport services department of the City government. All bridges must be classified, or they are illegal. Most standers are class B or C, while most floaters are class E.

## Main Bridges

The main 6 bridges are named as follows:

* Fountain Bridge (often called Rusty) - Jonobi to Lavan. Category C.
* The Three-Connect (called The Swingway) - Connecting Two Sisters to Jonobi and Saint Mivar. Category B.
* Mivar's Bridge - Saint Mivar to Lavan. Category B.
* Golden Bridge - Bruneh to Lavan. Category A.
* Magnolia Bridge - Bruneh to Little Shoe. Category A.
* Silver Bridge - Little Shoe to Lavan. Category B.

## Safety of Floater Bridges

Floaters' existence has been criticised by many of the population due to their supposed lack of safety due to several reasons: lack of maintenance and regulation, rotted wood, tidal patterns, lack of protection, bad construction, and The Fathomless. Most floater bridges are privately controlled and owned, meaning that those who use the bridges do so at their own risk. There is no mandated regulation of the bridges for the private owners, and government avoids maintenance because, in the words of the head of the transport services department, [X]:

*"the City does not want to encourage the use of floater bridges unless in the case of emergency. If we were to maintain them as if they were standers, then we would send a message to the public that they should never aspire to cross the more majestic standers, which would cause economic stagnation due to lack of work ethic. Floaters are a deterrent, and should be funded as such."*

Due to changing tidal patterns, often those travelling on bridges will arrive at their location unable to reach the mainland, having found that the other end of the bridge is only accessible by High Tide. Extended time on the water leads to an increased chance of Fathomless attacks, as well as causing instability on the bridge due to congestion - especially on single-file bridges.

Floaters kill hundreds of people per year, with the main cause being Fathomless attacks.