The Great Conduit

The Great Conduit is a cross-continent transport system, operated by the Galeriders.

## Description

Though strictly speaking the Great Conduit is the structure upon the Galerider Rail travels, the two terms are often used interchangeably when considering the transporting network by Albrich Galebreaker and his guild, the Galebreakers. Suspended above an arcanely-charged track augmented by means of repulsive magic from the School of Graviturgy, rows of phosphoflux plates hold carriages and carts above one of the twin rails that line the entirety of the Great Conduit.

Initial ignition is achieved by firing a bolus of permuted Iviniuum onto the track in front of the Navigation Suite, resulting in a vacuum-like gravitation towards the expended arcane fuel. Further acceleration requires subsequent firings, as well as travel through harsh environments such as an oncoming wind front or sloped ascensions. Elsewise, due to the largely frictionless nature of travel, Galerider Rails are capable of sustaining momentum with exceptional efficiency. To further increase this, the Great Conduit remains largely level throughout its route, as per the original design, in which the track was constructed nearly one hundred foot up, and so weaves across valleys, rivers and hills like a vast stone bridge. In order to decelerate, large metal panels are extended from the sides of the carriage by means of clockwork mechanisms, thus increasing the air resistance to forward movement and gradually bringing the Galerider to a controlled stop.

## Travel Suites

* Navigation Suite - Positioned at the front of the carriages that make up a typical Galerider, the Navigation Suite houses the pilot's helm, along with the other controls for charting courses at intersections, communicating with upcoming stations and a basin enchanted with an aura capable of detecting nearby Galeriders through use of divination magic similar to the process of *Scrying*. With a large domed glass forward-facing window, the Navigation Suite offers excellent visibility to the Conduit stretching ahead.
* Staff Suite - Featuring immediately behind the Navigation Suite and at the very back of the Galerider, the Staff Suite serves a number of roles. Included within is a small restroom for Galerider crew, sleeping chambers for overnight journeys, as well as storage facilities for personal belongings.
* Copper Suite - Entry-level passenger carriages, most Galeriders feature at least a pair of Copper Suites. Offering the lowest level of comfort, most Copper Suites are outfitted simply, with wooden benches bolted into the planks underfoot to reduce risk of them tipping or becoming dislodged during banking manoeuvres. For overnight journeys, barrack-esque bunk beds are instead fitted for customers of the Copper Suites.
* Silver Suite - Considered by many that frequent the Galerider more regularly to be the true entry-level option, Silver Suite carriages offer more plush surroundings by provision of padded stalls and the addition of further fixtures such as larger windows, tables and *everbright lanterns*.
* Gold Suite - Further comfort still comes in the form of a Gold Suite, in which private booths or entire carriages can be hired by a single party for the duration of their journey and feature dining and bedding areas for longer journeys. Usually positioned furthest from the Navigation Suite for sake of reducing the noise levels caused by the consumption of Iviniuum by the Navigation Suite, Gold Suites are the height of luxury for most individuals.
* Specialist Suites -A few of the most wealthy, influential or well-connected frequenters of the Galerider have taken it upon themselves to commission custom suites to fit their own purposes. Whether outfitted to emulate the decor of their abode, or modified to act as a mobile laboratory, the appearance of a Specialist Suite, most commonly marked with a platinum cog on their doorways, heralds the inclusion of an individual of particular note on an upcoming journey.
* Haulage Suites - Most Galeriders feature at least three or four haulage suites, capable of being configured to transport nearly anything from unprocessed ores to rare spices to livestock. To deter would-be railraiders, Haulage Suites are conventionally reinforced with additional iron plating within their construction.