Elysian Fields

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Transportation in Elysia

There are no cars in Elysia, nor buses or trucks or nuclear-powered boats or jet-propelled aeroplanes. These all continue to exist on Earth but they have never been welcome in Elysia or its sister realms. Instead, Elysians cling to more traditional 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? ;)

The Portal Nexus

The fastest and arguably the safest means of travel in Elysia and between the realms is the portal nexus.

Portals are supernatural devices created by the god-like Tanakheimein race to connect the realms and dimensions together. They are translucent vertical discs approximately 3-4 millimetres in depth and four feet in diameter. With a portal situated in every hotspot, users can travel from city to city or even realm to realm in the blink of an eye and there's no where they can't go¹!

Portals are activated by a combination of genetics and intent. It is possible for people to stumble into portals and accidentally activate them (many humans have found Elysia this way, in fact) but 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. xD

Portals can be found in every major city throughout the known realms and they all interconnect in a vast network that makes every realm and major city accessible instantaneously.

It should be noted that some realms and regions cannot be accessed via portal, chief among them being:

• Sanctuaries, many of which are activated by genetics and are closed to everyone except those who belong there;
• the realm of Acantha, the portal to which is guarded closely on both sides so that no Elysian may stumble into the territory of Xanth's rival, Dananka;
• the dragons' realm of Nirim, which has no portal at all and is only accessible by teleportation;
• the Ceracen Islands, which are only accessible by boat or ferry from Espur;
• and Xanth's Temple, the portal to which is opened and closed on Xanth's whim.

All other portals connect to the network and thus each other. :)

^{1 Offer limited by genetics and secrecy.}

Beasts of Burden

Because portals only appear in urban areas and places of special significance, 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.

Anka are popping up more and more along the trade routes where merchants put their lifting capabilities to good use. Less a personal transportation system and more a cargo carrier, these magnificent birds are usually second- or third-generation farm-reared domesticated chicks raised as workhorses. Nevertheless, the drive to farm the anka seems to have actually saved the creature from near extinction and their appearance in local stables is certainly bringing in the tourists!

Nirim has been closed to non-dragons since its inception centuries ago but recently opened its doors to those 'Vari fleeing the Paris sanctuary. Having refused to entertain the idea of creating a new portal for the Dracovari, the dragons have been forced to make other concessions. This has meant the appearance of Bonded pairs lining up to serve as taxis from Elysia to Nirim, a demeaning occupation that has nevertheless proven to be quite profitable.

Pegasi are the rich man's horse and a flight of fancy, rarely used for everyday travel and instead saved for those special occasions where the beautiful animals truly come into their own. They can be temperamental and prefer not to take flight while burdened by a rider but they remain one of the most coveted creatures in the known realms for their sheer beauty and have become a favourite among warriors looking for a ride during ceremonial processions.

Taroch are to Land what pegasi are to the Sky, beautiful animals that once upon a time only the rich could afford. Declining interest among the wealthy has made them more affordable to the middle classes, however, and as a result more of them are appearing on city streets than ever before. They are surprisingly surefooted despite their awkward-looking bulk and quite docile, making them the perfect ride for the less confident Elysian.

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, but as "boring" as they might seem to some Elysians they do have advantages over their more appealing Elysian counterparts: Namely that horses and camels can visit Earth much more easily than any Elysian creature could hope to. ;)

Vehicles

Despite the technological advances in other areas, transportation has not really improved since the 1900s. 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.