Zambowknee Transportation Network
The Zambowknee Transportation Network, colloquially known as The Z, is the most highly utilized public transit system in Eden. Comprised of a fleet of skiff runners optimized for travel over snow and ice, the Z allows for easy, affordable access to even the most remote areas of The Nunyan Wastes—including far-flung Cawlderenell.
Due to the Z’s carefully planned routes, its widely heralded on-time percentage, and its friendly company of yeti drivers, few residents of the Wastes bother with personal vehicles. They know the Z can get them wherever they want, practically whenever they want, and at a price affordable enough for even the poorest citizens of the Wastes.
Physical Description
Zambowknee skiffs are barges on skis. That’s the gist of it.
Each vehicle consists of a long, flat platform on which passengers can stand, a partial physical roof which juts out from the rear of the vessel, and a pair of skids mounted to the bottom of the platform.
The driver, typically a yeti who knows the Wastes backwards and forwards, operates the vehicle from a steering column located near the stern.
Passengers embark and disembark via a set of stairs on the port side.
Power Generation
Each skiff is powered by small piece of River Ice, enough to keep the vessel running for several lifetimes.
Armor and defense
In lieu of a heavier and more opaque physical armor, the upper half of each skiff is protected by a dwarven-designed force field. This keeps the elements out while letting passengers catch near-360 degree views of the passing landscape. The field generator is also powerful enough to fend off attacks from would-be hijackers and bandits. Together with the tremendous speeds a Zambowknee skiff is able to reach if pushed to its limits, this makes travel on The Z as safe as safe can be.
I imagine getting rammed by a forcefield would suck... Nice that people can so easily rely on these to get around!
Too low they build who build beneath the stars - Edward Young
Yes, indeed! Now there's a story idea!