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Transportation

Since pollutive technologies don't work outside of Earth, there are no cars, nor buses or trucks or nuclear-powered boats or jet-propelled aeroplanes or even trains anywhere in Elysia or her sister realms. These all continue to exist on Earth itself, but they have never been welcome elsewhere. Instead, Elysians cling to more traditional (and the more fantastic) means of getting around; but then, who needs a car or a plane when you can walk into a portal and cover the same distances in a heartbeat, or ride a pegasus to work?

1.  The Portal Nexus

Portals are devices created by the gods to connect their realms and dimensions together, and are the fastest and (arguably) the safest means of travel between the realms. They are translucent vertical discs approximately 3-4 millimetres in depth and four feet in diameter, with the capacity to immediately and automatically grow in size to accomodate larger users (such as dragons or merchant caravans).

1.1  How do portals work?

Portals are activated by a combination of genetics and intent, so all you have to do is touch one with a destination in mind and you'll be sucked through to the other side. This is, of course, assuming the portal recognises you as having the correct permissions (for instance, a Nymph could not travel to Zanarya via portal because she does not have the correct genetic make-up).

Due to their nature, it is possible for portals to be accidentally activated, and indeed this is how many humans have found Elysia in the first place. However, to use them properly, the portal user must think clearly of their destination. If someone enters a portal while distracted, they will not arrive at their intended destination, instead appearing at a place closest to what distracted them. In this way, it's actually possible to trick portals into helping you track someone down by delivering you to the city closest to them, but it can also lead you into unexpected danger.

1.2  Where are the portals?

Almost every region in Elysia has its own portal (see the map), so users can travel across and between the realms in the blink of an eye. However, Zanarya has only one, located at the Naharar's Temple, and Earth's many portals (which are hidden in scattered cities) are being systematically deactivated to prevent 'accidents'. Nirim has no portal at all.

Portals interconnect into a vast network so that all other portals are directly available (so you don't have to go to New Alexandria in order to travel to the Fae Forest). Even those portals that are genetically locked are still connected to this nexus; they just don't open for anyone who doesn't have the 'key'.

Notes

• There is a hidden portal to Acantha deep in Chandric Forest, but this is a closely guarded (both literally and metaphorically) secret, as is knowledge of Acantha's existence.
• The portal to Xanth's Temple is opened and closed on Xanth's whim so that none may enter without her express invitation and permission.

2.  Beasts of Burden

Because portals only appear in certain areas, Elysians obviously have other means of getting from A to B. Besides walking (and flying for those with wings), beasts of burden are the most common means of travel.

Mounts do not merely carry riders, however. Some are better suited as draught animals, pulling carts and carriages, and yet others are used as a means of powering larger transportation vehicles (such as river barges travelling upstream).

• Dragons
  Nirim has been closed to non-dragons since its creation in 100 XT, but recently opened its doors to those Dracovari fleeing the Parisian sanctuary on Earth. Having refused to entertain the idea of creating a new portal for the immigrants, the dragons have been forced to make other concessions. This has resulted in the appearance of Bonded pairs lining up to serve as taxis to and from Elysia, a demeaning occupation that has nevertheless proven to be quite profitable.

Other rides include animals like the horse and camel, and even oxen in farming regions like the Nubian Delta. These animals are very similar to their Terran ancestors despite the centuries apart, so they can travel to Earth that much more easily.

3.  Vehicles

Transportation in the realms has not really improved since the 9900s (XT). Instead of cars, we see horse-drawn carts and carriages; instead of powered boats, we see sailed ships and rowboats. Trade routes along rivers find use for flat-bedded barges and, in the mountains especially, hot air balloons are a favourite alternative.

3.1  Landcraft

Carts & Carriages

Pulled by various mounts (see above), carts and carriages are seen most often on town streets carrying passengers and cargo, though they can be spotted on regional roads as well. Carriages are rarer than carts as most Elysians are accustomed to walking the short distances across town, and most likely belong to the rich. Carts, on the other hand, are fairly common and usually seen ferrying goods to and from markets.

3.2  Watercraft

Sailing Ships

On the high seas, and even along the coastline, sailing ships are common with the likes of caravels, flutes and galleons ferrying cargo and passengers to and from Espur or Marport. Brigantines (usually run by pirates) are also more common than Elysians would like.

In some areas, particularly along the more popular shipping lanes, the frequency of pirate attacks necessitates some kind of defence. As cannons and the like don't work in Elysia, a captain might hire an elementalist to keep attackers at bay (though of course the pirates may do just the same as a means of attacking, which can lead to some spectacular sea battles).

Fishing Vessels

The type of vessel used depends on the type of water travelled. On the oceans of Elysia, fishing boats are usually sailed (though still small enough to be operated by only two or three men since the fishing industry is typically a family affair), while river fishing (like that on the River Cora near Alexshire) usually warrants only dories, coracles or pirogues (see Wikipedia for more information).

Rivercraft

Towpaths travel the length of most of the rivers in Elysia that are used to transport goods, these being used by the larger of the draught animals like the dashiri (see mounts) to tow flat-bottomed barges up-stream which can then be allowed to simply drift back down river. There are also any number of rowed boats on the water carrying cargo. Neither of these is particularly suited for ferrying passengers, but that's not to say they won't.

4.  Roads

There are very few actual roads in Elysia, with most being dirt tracks beaten down by travellers. Even the more travelled roads are rarely paved, and then only close to a town or city wealthy enough to afford the material.

There are no roads west of the Dusky Mountains, and the major roads of the east follow the rivers Cora and Espira so they can also be used as towpaths.

There is some argument to be had over which is the most dangerous, either following the main roads or staying clear of them. For merchants, who need the more stable tracks as they've been beaten down by travellers so their carts and beasts don't suffer needless damage, the choice is a simple one, but the popularity of the river roads naturally brings the threat of bandits. Off the main roads, however, one may still encounter such thieves, and monster threats are much more common in the wilds as well.