Trains
Trains in Riiga are a form of transport, common in Central and East but uncommon in the West. They are not powered by steam or electricty or anything of the like, but are giant carts pulled by great beasts known as orcanors.
There are three main types of trains. The first type are usually referred to as house trains. A house train is much larger than the second type, and the bigger ones may be pulled by two orcanor. They have a small home built onto the top, and that's what differentiates them from the second type. The second type are called trade trains and are usually a flat cart with palisade walls around it and usually a shelter. The third type are called battle trains, but they are only used in North Nidonn. All trains have four large wheels braced with metal -- usually steel -- and are fixed to the orcanor's saddle through a combination of rope and chains. There is usually a seat with a small canopy fixed to the front of the train for a rider to sit. Some orcanor saddles have a place for the rider to sit instead. The average orcanor can pull a train about as fast as a horse can trot.
All trains are required to carry coloured flags, and the flag must be flown at all times to show what the train is being used for. A blue flag indicates that the train is a person's residence and is private property. A green flag indicates that the train is currently on a trade route. Such carts often pick up hitchhikers. A red flag indicates that the train is under military use and is either on patrol or transporting troops. A white flag indicates that the train is being used for something else, or that it is idle and not being used at all.
Above: A typical trade train.
House trains
Most house trains have a walkway around the structure where people can walk around between the house and the railing. The back of the cart usually has the largest walkway area, and space for storage crates or barrels to be kept if need be. The door is often on the left side. The house itself is usually three rooms on the bottom and two at the top, often with a balcony at the front end. A ladder connects the two stories, and there is usually another ladder leading from the balcony to the walkway. The windows are often high, small, and horizontal, to minimise the chance of anyone outside seeing in.
Trade Trains
As stated, trade trains are usually flat, with walls of wood and a ramp on the left side to carry up any goods that are to be transported. At the back left or righter corner there is often a small shelter, with or without all four walls, where people can sleep if it happens to rain. Most trade trains pick up people wanting to get to the next town, and since trade trains often hire guards for protection, it's one of the safest ways to travel.
Battle Trains
Battle trains can look like either previous types, or even appear as a combination, with a smaller house at either end or side of the cart's base platform. They are used primarily by the people of Laurondirin, as orcanors are native to that region and the soldiers of that province favour heavy armour in battle, so a powerful transport unit is ideal. Because orcanors are so heavily armoured and hard to distract or bother, battle trains were considered to be the most feared weapon at Laurondirin's disposal. The average train could carry and supply at least a dozen soldiers a fair distance, and often it would have a small tower in the middle from which archers could fire arrows.
