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Technology of Premier Esprit
From massive soulevers to tiny dévoiler cubes, Premier Esprit is filled with technological wonders. The majority of systems and engines run on étincelle (electrical) energy, but the barriers are created using much more powerful Solenoid energy. It is the duty of savants, scientists, and ingénieurs to develop new technology or revive it from ancient records.
The Hub:
Solenoid and Siphon
The Solenoid and siphon are the heart of every settlement. And that not just flowery talk. Energy is pulled from the cylindrical silver Solenoid to the barrel-shaped siphon and distributed out to the barrier. Often referred to as the hub collectively, people do whatever it takes to keep these machines running. There is no price on the feeling of security.
Multiple Solenoids
Towns can increase the size of their barriers by using multiple Solenoids and siphons. Grouping them together makes the spherical barrier larger overall. Positioning them at different locations can elongate barrier space in a specific direction.
Decorative Hubs
While siphons are generally the same shape, they can be made out of different materials and even decorated. Many towns take pride in making their hubs a beautiful space, both to increase the appeal of the town overall and to show their deep love and respect for the device keeping them safe from Phases.
Fallen Solendoids
Solenoids have lifespans, the length of which varies greatly. Some last nearly one hundred years, and some last little more than a decade, especially if the energy pull from the siphon isn't regulated. Best practice is to replace a Solenoid as soon as the barrier shows signs of decreasing . . . if a Résonateur is willing to pay the service. If not, the Solenoid ruptures from within as soon as its energy is depleted. Towns are often attacked by Phases immediately after.
Traveling in Luxury
Soulever journeys can take several days. Because of this, most soulevers come equipped with essentials such as bedrooms, kitchens, and washrooms. Commandant soulevers are built to impress and come with sky deck access to take in views, a full mess hall for the crew, luxury bedrooms with private washrooms, personalized decor, and the Commandant's master bedchamber . . . if one receives an invitation.
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Soulever Operation
Soulevers are operated by aérien opérateurs, and size makes a difference. A smaller vessel, like the Scarabée, only needs one aérien opérateur. Large commandant-class vessels like the Fulgurant and Glaciale and the Suzerain's Écrasant require a chief aérien opérateur and several sub-opérateurs who keep an eye on the soulevers function from consoles and viewers in the opérateur deck.
Soulevers
Travel between barriers is perilous but more than possible, thanks to innovation. First conceptualized by Huŏ Jīn ingénieurs, these airships have become the dominant and preferred method of travel. Soulevers range from small cargo vessels to the Suzerain's grand floating palace, the Écrasant. Most operate using étincelle pulled by siphons from a reservoir, but the Écrasant uses Solenoid energy from ten onboard Solenoids.
Automatrams and Voietrams
For millennia, horses were the primary means of land travel. But as the towns in barriers grew, the land became less fertile, resources dried up, and food supply became an issue, horses found a new purpose. So the brilliant ingénieurs of the Paramount invented a new means of travel. Automatrams and voietrams both use recycler engines that continually cycles étincelle they generate while moving. All automatrams have wheels for ground travel, but new models are able to ascend into the sky for short durations. Convenience . . . if you can afford it.
Automatrams Through the Years
Automatram models vary greatly in size, style, and comfort. The earliest models were basically carriages without horses operated with a series of levers. Newer models are sleeker, quieter, and more luxurious. In more rural areas, owning an automatram is considered a sign of great wealth.
Voietrams
Unlike automatrams, voietrams are only found in large cities. They are opérateur-less, traveling along light paths set in grooves along the road. The Paramount has dedicated voietrams that travel in a circle around the towers.
Dévoilers
Or box keys, as some like to call them, are cube-shaped keys for unlocking doors and hatches. Dévoilers are frequenly used on soulevers and in Paramount buildings to keep nosy citizens out of places they don't belong. Some even say you can find a hidden room or two with the right dévoiler, but those are just rumors.
Reliers
The primary communication device for Premier Esprit. The majority of reliers are small, easily portable devices with an antenna, microphone, and speaker. These are used for basic message transference between towns or among groups. Larger reliers the size of tables are used for long-range transmission, and the building-sized relier hubs are used for multiple communication streams and data transfers.
Vigiles
An archiviste's greatest asset, vigiles are small metallic sheets that can be used to enter and retrieve data from the Paramount library, access security records, and document anything and everything. Vigiles are closely regulated, and only archivistes who have successfully graduated from their apprenticeships are permitted to use them.
Vigiles, Reliers, and Dévoilers
Not every piece of technology is the size of a wagon. Some devices are specific to the Paramount's needs, while others are available in every town. The Paramount Sommet is extremely selective about which technological advances make their way out of the Pylône de la Science. The general population need not be led to ruin by machines beyond their comprehension.