Zephys' Transport Platforms

For anyone who is unable to fly, be it by racial lack of capabilities or impairement, the city of Zephys, thousands of feet above the ground at all times, might seem like an unreachable dream land. Whether the city holds up to ones expectations is one thing, but the assumption that it is unreachable should quickly be dispelled. Indeed, visitors of all backgrounds, politicians and various officials, cargo and adventurers all make their way to and from the city daily, even without wings, or even a flying mount.

The Lifts

Multiple lifts are always in function to get visitors accross the gap between the city and the ground, and each have their own type of passengers. The actual flying method of the platforms varies from one to the next, the official ones, also the only ones not to land at the Landing pad, but generally at the smaller Military pad accross the city, directly in the administrative part of the city, are also the only ones that are exclusively propelled by the same flight crystals as the city itself. The others can be carried by any combination of the crystals, magic chanelled by wizards employed by the city, or flying creatures such as tamed gryphons and hippogryphs. Sometimes, in case of extra loads or other practical issue with providing flight for the platforms, these methods will be supplemented by a group of Aarakocras, but this is a rather rare issue.
All platforms have some basic similarities but also different qualities. They are all equipped with the necessary hooks and rope to hook them to beasts or Aarakocras for flight, even the ones supported by magic crystals, the safety is there, plus these anchors also serve as a way to attach the platforms to the landing pads. Additionally, though some landbound travellers have expressed doubts about the security of the sole chest-high guard-rail around the platforms, there has never been any issue with the method of travel despite the thousands of voyages.
Both the civilian and the official platforms have some amenities to make the travel easier, as it's a process that can sometimes still take up to half an hour, in between getting everyone checked in, waiting for a docking area and everyone getting out. Seats are provided, as well as a storage area for your baggages. The VIP lift and the administrative ones have seats arranged more similarly to a small reception room than the rows in the other civilian platforms, and supplement them with a small bar area. Sometimes, those renting the VIP platform or particularly important people using the administrative ones will also even be offered a performance during their flight.
Cargo lifts, on the other hand, offer little similitudes to the other ones. Larger, less polished, they also do not offer any seats for those maintaining and working on them. Instead, they offer a taller guard-rail and multiple hooks and ropes to keep the cargo itself safe.

Number of active platforms

Civilian transport: 3, 1 VIP
Official transport: 2, as needed only
Cargo transport: 5