The River Thames - East London, The Tilbury Turn.
The wind was blustery rocking the large flat barge, the vessels steam engine pumping vapour from its stack as Etheric Energy was disgorged into its fuel well, the engines whining as they pushed the boat forwards towards the Tilbury turn.
Secured on the barges wide wooden deck were two Gifford aerostats or airships, the Hollows entrance being at water level aircraft would fly straight over and out towards Dartford thus missing their destination.
The Tilsbury Hollow was one of the first Hollow Worlds to be discovered back in 1837, shortly after Lyonesse and the other Lost Isles had risen from the waters around the British Isles.
Steam launches who had cut too close to the North shore at the Thames Tilbury turning had suddenly disappeared.
Fortunately they were able to sail back out of the Hollow and Etheria had been discovered, quickly seized by the Government despite the boatmen's finders claim.
Impatient steamers and launches blew their horns in the queue behind, they'd have to wait as the prow of a cargo ship emerged from the wall of vapor that swirled over the rivers surface, once clear the first of the inbound vessels a well to do yacht started into the spray and disappeared.
Francesca Serren held onto her bonnet squinting as the rivers spray came up over the railing, sprinkling the Giffords passengers.
Despite the continued honking of horns behind them a further ten minutes passed to allow the yacht to have got clear on the other side before the barge chugged forwards, its flat wedge like bow disappearing into the wall of spray, as the barge continued in she shuddered feeling the ice cold embrace of the Hollow as they passed through, due to her connection she always got the shivers.
A clear bright sky greeted them on the other side as the Hollow World of Etheria greeted them, even more fantastical than the city they had left behind especially the floating buildings and islands above this new borough of London, in reality a small city in its own right complete with its own governing Council and troublesome aristocrats.
As the barge headed up the River Tamesis, Etheria's river Thames, towards the city the first Gifford was released from its moorings, its hull coated in a water repellent Enlightened Science formulation ensuring it hadn't collected any unwanted water ballast, the small passenger aerostat floated gently from the deck into the sky.
The barge slowed they'd be mooring shortly stopping at the docks South of the city before returning to London, before turning towards the nearby wharf, the second Gifford was released, Serren smiled as it ascended rocking slightly, although she noted a stocky man who was already looking a little green around the gills and they weren't more than thirty feet in the air.
Of Most Intrepid Pursuits and Endevours
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arcanus
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arcanus
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Of Most Intrepid Pursuits and Endevours
The City of Kingsbury - Etheria Hollow World - 1879.
Magnos arched an eyebrow and covered her nose as the latest bout of retching started from the stocky man who it was safe to say had made an unwise choice in taking the Gifford to traverse the Etherian Capital on this mild but blustery Sunday morning.
As the non-rigid aerostat made its way from South towards the West of Kingsbury, she looked across the small metropolis, as they jostled and bumped, their course following Mother Tamesis she saw the pall of dirty brown smog that hung over the central docks and South shore factories, from the East across The City and to the West End artificial clouds of steam hovered just above the chimney-tops.
Steam created by thousands of Brassman Etheric boilers, engines and devices, it was little wonder that those of even modest means paid for sky travel by Gifford either public or their own private craft.
She watched as dozens of little ramshackle blimps and stately aerofoils criss-crossed the City skies, under the watchful eye of Constabulary ornithopters.
Above the city and its low flying traffic floated the other marvel of the age, thousands of feet up hovered the floating Island formerly known as Mallet Island, now called The Tower, the offices of The Lords Council of The Realm, a floating chamber and fortress of the Galvanic Engineers and Council Lords.
At a slighter higher altitude to the east floated a smaller island, St. Davids Palace the ariel Estate of the Etheria's Royal Family, Prince Arthur, Queen Victoria's third son.
Encircling The Tower floated a number of artificially ascended buildings and vessels suspended through the application of True elemental Air and Earth combined with Blue Ether Forces to defeat Newtons laws.
The Governments Great Opening of 1845 had explosively expanded the Hollow World, one of its most immediate actions were the increased ascendance of ariel Isles such as Mallet and St. Davids, to higher altitudes.
To this day, out in Etheria’s lands rural pioneers were carving out new villages and prospects in its wilder Countryside.
Francesca shuddered and closed her eyes, beyond her natural senses an innate sixth sense felt the immense Telluric eddy's and flow of power emanating from the earth lines below and ancient floating mountains above, as they passed below them, she shivered pins and needles creeping across her neck and back.
Magnos arched an eyebrow and covered her nose as the latest bout of retching started from the stocky man who it was safe to say had made an unwise choice in taking the Gifford to traverse the Etherian Capital on this mild but blustery Sunday morning.
As the non-rigid aerostat made its way from South towards the West of Kingsbury, she looked across the small metropolis, as they jostled and bumped, their course following Mother Tamesis she saw the pall of dirty brown smog that hung over the central docks and South shore factories, from the East across The City and to the West End artificial clouds of steam hovered just above the chimney-tops.
Steam created by thousands of Brassman Etheric boilers, engines and devices, it was little wonder that those of even modest means paid for sky travel by Gifford either public or their own private craft.
She watched as dozens of little ramshackle blimps and stately aerofoils criss-crossed the City skies, under the watchful eye of Constabulary ornithopters.
Above the city and its low flying traffic floated the other marvel of the age, thousands of feet up hovered the floating Island formerly known as Mallet Island, now called The Tower, the offices of The Lords Council of The Realm, a floating chamber and fortress of the Galvanic Engineers and Council Lords.
At a slighter higher altitude to the east floated a smaller island, St. Davids Palace the ariel Estate of the Etheria's Royal Family, Prince Arthur, Queen Victoria's third son.
Encircling The Tower floated a number of artificially ascended buildings and vessels suspended through the application of True elemental Air and Earth combined with Blue Ether Forces to defeat Newtons laws.
The Governments Great Opening of 1845 had explosively expanded the Hollow World, one of its most immediate actions were the increased ascendance of ariel Isles such as Mallet and St. Davids, to higher altitudes.
To this day, out in Etheria’s lands rural pioneers were carving out new villages and prospects in its wilder Countryside.
Francesca shuddered and closed her eyes, beyond her natural senses an innate sixth sense felt the immense Telluric eddy's and flow of power emanating from the earth lines below and ancient floating mountains above, as they passed below them, she shivered pins and needles creeping across her neck and back.
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Of Most Intrepid Pursuits and Endevours
The Old Smoke - Kingsbury - Etheria
A stronger gust buffetted the Gifford, the swaying illiciting a defeated moan from the airsick man.
Francisca permitted herself a mischievous smile, unkind she thought but funny never the less, due to her mixed lineage she looked down upon a very different London Town, the vast majority fo the passengers lacked her fey sight and therefore the Chimeric aspect of the city was forever hidden to them, forbidden the majesty of the glamour, unless they partook of substances or procured expensive Goblin Glasses.
She had no such limitations her veins had potent blood both Exalted and fey, the latter allowed her to see a second city of fantastic buildings, creatures and machines overlaid on top of its buildings and monuments, she could see the hidden Freeholds of the Fae-Borne and majestic fairytale constructions, nestled amongst or even on top of the shining brass, steel and stone ones built by the Enlightened Engineers.
She chuckled as haphazard Knocker flying machines raced between the realms technological aircraft, great winged beasts carried their fey passengers whilst creatures such as a giant Cheshire Cat guarded significant buildings, it was undeniable that the Fae had a strong attachment to Etheria much to the Guild and Galvanic Orders protests.
Bard Avenue always drew her attention, as one of the Old Smokes more fashionable places of entertainment and creativity it had considerable glamour, great Chimeric flags billowing hundreds of feet into the air advertising the shows and music halls, undoubtably stuffy grump Fae-Borne would rankle at the ostintaceous display but it was effective, it reminded her of the newly refurbished Magedeline on Material Earth, gutted by fire it had been rebuild and was now trying to overshadowthe older theatres such as the Apollo or The Lyric on Shafesbury Avenue.
It was a curious coincidence that a current fashion was Shaftesbury Snuff, which granted the partaker the ability to see Chimera but only upon the stretch of Bard or Shaftesbury Avenue's.
'Good morning, a penny for them' came a familar and welcome voice in her head
'Morning father' she mentally responded
'How is Etheria on this rainy morning?'
'Very pleasant, clear skies, crisp and clear albiet a little blustery, I take it wet and windy on Earth?'
'Yes, a very typical November morning in London'
'I must have just missed it' she mentally quipped
'Lucky you'
Magnos turned away from an inquisitive lady who she noted had spotted her talking to herself, it was such a silly habit for someone who had been able to speak telepathically since she was old enough to walk, which despite her youthful looks was quite a few decades ago.
As the Gifford floated towards the Smokes West they chatted, catching up before the inevitable turning to pressing matters.
'Did your inquiries find any sign of their activities' he asked
'None so far, but the challenge with Etheria is there are so many secret societies and machinations its very easy for a real enemy to operate undiscovered, makes London look positively quiet in comparison'
'Well thats what you get for allowing somewhat eccentric mage and enlightened engineers to run a Hollow World and then invite fae-Borne to take up residence'
'Err excuse me, as a member of both magical and the fey blooded thats a little offensive' Francesca pouted, drawing further suspicious looks "And they didn't exactly invite the Fae, they invited themselves, if I recall there was very nearly war over the matter!"
Her father mentally chuckled "Yes that is true, still they couldn't all stay in St James Park now could they"
'No there is that, perhaps that's why the Government quietly conceded defeat, on a serious note I am going to have to enlist local help, there's too many wheels within wheels to be sure'
'I was afraid you'd say that, it risks exposure'
'I don't see any other way' she replied
'Master Hook can't help?'
'He cannot be burdened further he has his hands very full'
'Very well, I know you will but take the utmost care' his voice warm and concerned
'I will don't worry!'
A stronger gust buffetted the Gifford, the swaying illiciting a defeated moan from the airsick man.
Francisca permitted herself a mischievous smile, unkind she thought but funny never the less, due to her mixed lineage she looked down upon a very different London Town, the vast majority fo the passengers lacked her fey sight and therefore the Chimeric aspect of the city was forever hidden to them, forbidden the majesty of the glamour, unless they partook of substances or procured expensive Goblin Glasses.
She had no such limitations her veins had potent blood both Exalted and fey, the latter allowed her to see a second city of fantastic buildings, creatures and machines overlaid on top of its buildings and monuments, she could see the hidden Freeholds of the Fae-Borne and majestic fairytale constructions, nestled amongst or even on top of the shining brass, steel and stone ones built by the Enlightened Engineers.
She chuckled as haphazard Knocker flying machines raced between the realms technological aircraft, great winged beasts carried their fey passengers whilst creatures such as a giant Cheshire Cat guarded significant buildings, it was undeniable that the Fae had a strong attachment to Etheria much to the Guild and Galvanic Orders protests.
Bard Avenue always drew her attention, as one of the Old Smokes more fashionable places of entertainment and creativity it had considerable glamour, great Chimeric flags billowing hundreds of feet into the air advertising the shows and music halls, undoubtably stuffy grump Fae-Borne would rankle at the ostintaceous display but it was effective, it reminded her of the newly refurbished Magedeline on Material Earth, gutted by fire it had been rebuild and was now trying to overshadowthe older theatres such as the Apollo or The Lyric on Shafesbury Avenue.
It was a curious coincidence that a current fashion was Shaftesbury Snuff, which granted the partaker the ability to see Chimera but only upon the stretch of Bard or Shaftesbury Avenue's.
'Good morning, a penny for them' came a familar and welcome voice in her head
'Morning father' she mentally responded
'How is Etheria on this rainy morning?'
'Very pleasant, clear skies, crisp and clear albiet a little blustery, I take it wet and windy on Earth?'
'Yes, a very typical November morning in London'
'I must have just missed it' she mentally quipped
'Lucky you'
Magnos turned away from an inquisitive lady who she noted had spotted her talking to herself, it was such a silly habit for someone who had been able to speak telepathically since she was old enough to walk, which despite her youthful looks was quite a few decades ago.
As the Gifford floated towards the Smokes West they chatted, catching up before the inevitable turning to pressing matters.
'Did your inquiries find any sign of their activities' he asked
'None so far, but the challenge with Etheria is there are so many secret societies and machinations its very easy for a real enemy to operate undiscovered, makes London look positively quiet in comparison'
'Well thats what you get for allowing somewhat eccentric mage and enlightened engineers to run a Hollow World and then invite fae-Borne to take up residence'
'Err excuse me, as a member of both magical and the fey blooded thats a little offensive' Francesca pouted, drawing further suspicious looks "And they didn't exactly invite the Fae, they invited themselves, if I recall there was very nearly war over the matter!"
Her father mentally chuckled "Yes that is true, still they couldn't all stay in St James Park now could they"
'No there is that, perhaps that's why the Government quietly conceded defeat, on a serious note I am going to have to enlist local help, there's too many wheels within wheels to be sure'
'I was afraid you'd say that, it risks exposure'
'I don't see any other way' she replied
'Master Hook can't help?'
'He cannot be burdened further he has his hands very full'
'Very well, I know you will but take the utmost care' his voice warm and concerned
'I will don't worry!'