Riterra despite its many magical elements does possess quite a bit of modern technology, including automobiles and a highly connected road network for not only the transportation of produced goods and raw material but for the usage of the everyday citizen.
Methods of Transportation
The main four methods are by Road, Rail, Water, and Air.
Roads are dominated by motor vehicles, such as cars and trucks.
Rail travel is typically reserved for moving large amounts of goods between locations quickly via train networks
Water travel by boat is still fairly common and was one of the original methods of transporting goods.
Air travel is accomplished by plane, either via small private crafts or larger commercial ones. Goods and materials may also be transported via these processes.
Powering Locomotion
As with most things on Riterra, these machines are powered via Rubato crystals which are infused with large amounts of rhythm. The engines in these machines use what are called "Harmony Drives" to perform the needed work to make the vehicles in question move. The bigger the vehicle the more rhythm required.
The Harmony Drives can be recharged in as little as five minutes depending on the charging station. Larger commercial stations used for Planes, Trains, and Boats also have a similar rate of recharge, plus or minus a few minutes.
Licensing
In order to operate any form of large machinery such as a car, boat, or plane, a license is required.
There are restrictions on these licenses.
No matter the type of license, there are restrictions carried with them.
- Proof of formal training is required, as well as an exam by the licensing body.
- Resonators may also be licensed; however, their license is bound to their Maestro who also must pass the same training and examination requirements.
- Additionally, the maestro must be present while the resonator is operating the vehicle (even if the resonator is fully licensed)
- Any vehicular crimes committed fall on the maestro of the resonator who is driving at the time
- Licensed resonators are very rare due to this - many maestros simply don't trust their resonators enough to let them drive
- There is also a minimum age requirement involved
- Cars, non-commercial trucks, vans - 15 or older
- Commercial trucks - 20 or older
- Trains - 20 or older
- Boats less than 26 feet - 15 or older
- Boats from 27 feet to 65 feet - 20 or older
- Boats over 65 feet - 25 or older
- Private Aircrafts - 15 or older
- Commercial aircrafts - 25 or older
- Resonators may also be licensed; however, their license is bound to their Maestro who also must pass the same training and examination requirements.
Depending on the continent, the popularity vehicle ownership may vary. Lybertera for instance with its abundant waterways and many island chains has some of the highest rates of boat ownership in the world. While Nabhon and its massive distances between cities and settlements has a highly robust road network linking it all together, leading to a high rate of automobile ownership.
Many younger maestros find themselves wanting a car, boat, or small plane to travel with. While boats are the cheapest of the three options, there are still many that drive from town to town for hunting work. A network of rental businesses keeps the cars in the hands of maestros that need them. There are many companies that will rent cars out to traveling maestros in exchange for a small percentage of their raid earnings (usually about 3-5% per payout with a minimum per month).
One doesn't necessarily need a car to get around however, as there are many options for getting from town to town, whether it be public transport (such as long-distance bussing), carpooling, or even just straight up walking.