Lightning Rail; Possible Expansion - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Lightning Rail; Possible Expansion

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Caliber42
Jan 19, 2010 19:21:16 For sake of argument let's say House Orien were wishing to expand the lightning rail routes, with the exception of the Mournland what region would they likely be interested in breaking into? I'm just looking for some peoples personal opinions and own thoughts as I'm interested in writing an adventure focusing on the railways expansion into hostile regions, something ala the old west.

Ideas?

-Cal
#2
ellorin
Jan 20, 2010 0:34:59 In our previous campaign House Orien tried to expand the lightning rail network to Q'barra(with mixed results). If they are offered an incentive to do so, even Droaam might be approppriate(Graywall, at least).
#3
Sarlax
Jan 20, 2010 2:33:37 Since Orien's calling the shots, the question is, "What makes the most gold?"

I think the Shadow Marches are the best target for Orien. This allows them to become the primary fast route for dragonshard shipments. After that, they should punch a path through the Mror Holds to the Lhazaar Principalities. This would give them a full transcontinental railroad.

Of course, they also need to ask if the lightning rail is even worth the trouble. Everyone seems to expect a Next War, and the Last War was quite terrible for Orien. They might wager that more nations in the system (by extending routes into the new nations) might help protect the lines. They could just as easily reason the opposite, though, thinking that more states means more attackers. Just like on Earth, the rail was big for a century or so, but gave way to highways.

So where does Orien go? I think they have two choices - fast overland travel (perhaps mixed air/earth elemental rapid ground transports, like sailing semi trucks) or expanded teleportation capacity. If they go with the former, they should research fast and well-protected landships to both compete with Lyrandar in both speed and safety (safety in that airships rarely need to worry about banditry). If teleportation, well, that's a trickier game.
#4
ReasonForTreason
Jan 20, 2010 7:20:49 I've thought about something like the expansion of the Orien Network, too and will drop hints here in my current campaign. Orien will go the full way from East to West with the conductor lines. I'll have a line to the shadowmarches, and one through Mror to Lhazaar, crossing the White-Arch-gap by means of levitating conductor stones.
Once this is established, we'll launch another campaign in the likes of Call Of Cthulhu's "Horror on the Orient Express". The PCs travel aboard the Khorvaire Express and stop at different locations once every month, giving them time to get to know the city a bit and either hunt an Emerald Claw cell, or I'll go the full Orient-way, by searching for an ancient artifact.
#5
Gunpowder
Jan 20, 2010 13:56:16 Well before expansion, wouldn't Orien want to repair the bridge between Aundair and Karranth?
#6
yakman
Jan 20, 2010 15:01:54 to be honest, it's not going to be anything sexy (and horrendously expensive) like Lightning Rail to the Shadow Marches, or as politically charged as rebuilding the bridge between Karrnath (Rekkenmark) and Aundair/Thrane (Thaliost).

More likely options are within the 5N, where the populations and markets are larger, and construction is much more economically viable.

Vedykar to Karrlakton or Korth to Karrlakton - Karrlakton, despite being one of the most ancient and important cities in the 5N, lacks a Lightning Rail connection.

Vulyar to Vedykar - Vulyar is the terminus of the Krona Peak line, which is not connected to the Lightning Rails in Karrnath. This is probably the most likely place to build a new line, as the Mror Holds are economically intact, and the 5N are probably quite hungry for dwarven manufactures.

Flamekeep to Lathleer to Fairhaven - there's no rail connection between these two capitals. This is potentially almost as charged as the Rekkenmark-Thaliost connection.

Finally, if you want to have some fun, some interesting options that are somewhat reasonable:

Sterngate to Rhukaan Draal - Darguun doesn't want to be economically marginalized anymore. The Lightning Rail along the Ghaal river to the capital of their new state is demanded by the neo-Dhakaani state, and Haruuc has offered to pay for most of it... needless to say, Breland and Zilargo aren't too happy about this.

Passage to Varna - House Vadalis and the merchants of the Eldeen want to be better connected to the rest of Khorvaire. Aurala has a secret pact with the city elders to re-absorb the city into Aundair. That forest between the two cities is more culturally connected to the Eldeen than Aundair... and who knows what really lurks in that dark, deep, and silent lake?

#7
Sarlax
Jan 20, 2010 15:46:58
Well before expansion, wouldn't Orien want to repair the bridge between Aundair and Karranth?

That bridge spans around 15-20 miles. I doubt they have the money to fix it, if they even built it. For more, see community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758...

It's probably much simpler (and profitable) to expand the rail into presently untouched areas.
#8
fedorapirate
Jan 21, 2010 6:54:50 Dragon 368 had an article on Greywall in Droaam, quoted from that article:
"The Daughters of Sora Kell are interested in establishing trade routes and eventually lightning rails within their realm, and they have subsidized Orien’s operations in Droaam."

But Droaam is still a dangerous place, there is no Code of Galifar nor the Treaty of Thronehold, it's very much a frontier. I'd say it'd be a good place to start.
#9
Madfox11
Feb 05, 2010 10:10:43
Isn't there a quote in the books somewhere specifically stating that Breland and Zilargo are taking a serious look into financing a direct line between Sharn and Korrenberg? It would save considerable time in the travel between Wroat and Zilargo. The only downside is that somewhat bad reputation of that forest in that area and the considerable investment.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Caliber42 Jan 19, 2010 19:21:16	For sake of argument let's say House Orien were wishing to expand the lightning rail routes, with the exception of the Mournland what region would they likely be interested in breaking into? I'm just looking for some peoples personal opinions and own thoughts as I'm interested in writing an adventure focusing on the railways expansion into hostile regions, something ala the old west. Ideas? -Cal
#2 ellorin Jan 20, 2010 0:34:59	In our previous campaign House Orien tried to expand the lightning rail network to Q'barra(with mixed results). If they are offered an incentive to do so, even Droaam might be approppriate(Graywall, at least).
#3 Sarlax Jan 20, 2010 2:33:37	Since Orien's calling the shots, the question is, "What makes the most gold?" I think the Shadow Marches are the best target for Orien. This allows them to become the primary fast route for dragonshard shipments. After that, they should punch a path through the Mror Holds to the Lhazaar Principalities. This would give them a full transcontinental railroad. Of course, they also need to ask if the lightning rail is even worth the trouble. Everyone seems to expect a Next War, and the Last War was quite terrible for Orien. They might wager that more nations in the system (by extending routes into the new nations) might help protect the lines. They could just as easily reason the opposite, though, thinking that more states means more attackers. Just like on Earth, the rail was big for a century or so, but gave way to highways. So where does Orien go? I think they have two choices - fast overland travel (perhaps mixed air/earth elemental rapid ground transports, like sailing semi trucks) or expanded teleportation capacity. If they go with the former, they should research fast and well-protected landships to both compete with Lyrandar in both speed and safety (safety in that airships rarely need to worry about banditry). If teleportation, well, that's a trickier game.
#4 ReasonForTreason Jan 20, 2010 7:20:49	I've thought about something like the expansion of the Orien Network, too and will drop hints here in my current campaign. Orien will go the full way from East to West with the conductor lines. I'll have a line to the shadowmarches, and one through Mror to Lhazaar, crossing the White-Arch-gap by means of levitating conductor stones. Once this is established, we'll launch another campaign in the likes of Call Of Cthulhu's "Horror on the Orient Express". The PCs travel aboard the Khorvaire Express and stop at different locations once every month, giving them time to get to know the city a bit and either hunt an Emerald Claw cell, or I'll go the full Orient-way, by searching for an ancient artifact.
#5 Gunpowder Jan 20, 2010 13:56:16	Well before expansion, wouldn't Orien want to repair the bridge between Aundair and Karranth?
#6 yakman Jan 20, 2010 15:01:54	to be honest, it's not going to be anything sexy (and horrendously expensive) like Lightning Rail to the Shadow Marches, or as politically charged as rebuilding the bridge between Karrnath (Rekkenmark) and Aundair/Thrane (Thaliost). More likely options are within the 5N, where the populations and markets are larger, and construction is much more economically viable. Vedykar to Karrlakton or Korth to Karrlakton - Karrlakton, despite being one of the most ancient and important cities in the 5N, lacks a Lightning Rail connection. Vulyar to Vedykar - Vulyar is the terminus of the Krona Peak line, which is not connected to the Lightning Rails in Karrnath. This is probably the most likely place to build a new line, as the Mror Holds are economically intact, and the 5N are probably quite hungry for dwarven manufactures. Flamekeep to Lathleer to Fairhaven - there's no rail connection between these two capitals. This is potentially almost as charged as the Rekkenmark-Thaliost connection. Finally, if you want to have some fun, some interesting options that are somewhat reasonable: Sterngate to Rhukaan Draal - Darguun doesn't want to be economically marginalized anymore. The Lightning Rail along the Ghaal river to the capital of their new state is demanded by the neo-Dhakaani state, and Haruuc has offered to pay for most of it... needless to say, Breland and Zilargo aren't too happy about this. Passage to Varna - House Vadalis and the merchants of the Eldeen want to be better connected to the rest of Khorvaire. Aurala has a secret pact with the city elders to re-absorb the city into Aundair. That forest between the two cities is more culturally connected to the Eldeen than Aundair... and who knows what really lurks in that dark, deep, and silent lake?
#7 Sarlax Jan 20, 2010 15:46:58	Well before expansion, wouldn't Orien want to repair the bridge between Aundair and Karranth? That bridge spans around 15-20 miles. I doubt they have the money to fix it, if they even built it. For more, see community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758... It's probably much simpler (and profitable) to expand the rail into presently untouched areas.
#8 fedorapirate Jan 21, 2010 6:54:50	Dragon 368 had an article on Greywall in Droaam, quoted from that article: "The Daughters of Sora Kell are interested in establishing trade routes and eventually lightning rails within their realm, and they have subsidized Orien’s operations in Droaam." But Droaam is still a dangerous place, there is no Code of Galifar nor the Treaty of Thronehold, it's very much a frontier. I'd say it'd be a good place to start.
#9 Madfox11 Feb 05, 2010 10:10:43	Isn't there a quote in the books somewhere specifically stating that Breland and Zilargo are taking a serious look into financing a direct line between Sharn and Korrenberg? It would save considerable time in the travel between Wroat and Zilargo. The only downside is that somewhat bad reputation of that forest in that area and the considerable investment.