Aurris Drive

At the center of the Aurris Sea-City is a massive room which holds clock-work steam-engines, powering massive paddle wheels that combine with the enormous amount of sails to give the Aurris propulsion and navigation.

This room is guarded 3 shifts, 24 hours a day by some of the most dedicated and skilled guards. The room is Third Ring security and may only be accessed by the navigation staff, the technicians, First Council and Methos himself. The engine is maintained by a staff of twelve technicians with 3 to 4 on duty at any given time checking gauges, ports, vibrations and reporting any deviations to their supervisor, a First Council member or Methos himself.

Aurris Drive Ruse 1 by Graylion on MidJourneyAI

Truth behind the Truth

The truth is this, Methos devised a very complex red herring and throws absorbent amounts of labor, efforts and resources at the upkeep of this "engine" maintaining the ruse that this is the most important physical object on the Sea-City. This alone would not allow the Aurris to reach the speeds it maintains and for the duration. Most believe it is supplemented by magic directly from Methos, which is partially true.

True Secrets

The actual Aurris Drive is the secret hidden artifact that gives the Aurris Sea-City propulsion and binds the ships together as one.

The artifact known as the Aurris Drive is part magic and part science. If anyone was actually aware of it they would maybe be shocked that the third and final component is Chaostech, which is both feared and outlawed for obvious reasons.

The Aurris Drive represents over a hundred years of research, exploration and work by Osril Methos Aurris to craft this artifact. He launched the Aurris Sea-City in 400 IA when the drive was ready.

The Aurris Drive is anchored to the center of the city yet exists in an extra-dimensional space beyond our own.

Defenses

The biggest defense is that Methos has told no one of the existence of the actual drive, so most would not know to even look for it. The massive ruse engine which is heavily guarded acting as an excellent decoy because people know where it is as well as the large amount of security, staff and resources dedicated to it.

The Drive and the anchor connection radiates no magic or visible sign of anything out of the ordinary. While the entire Aurris Sea-City radiates a multitude of magic auras and weaves by design. Some of that is protections against the elements and weather.

Terrible Secrets

The terrible secret is Chaotech always exacts a price and just using it in combination with magic and science allows it to leak its twisted power into the world. Over the years a handful of crew or community develop effects from exposure to the Chaotech which are usually taken as madness or affliction. Methos pays very close attention to these cases making sure to know all the names involved and meet the family in person. He always provides for the family above and beyond, fearing this is his faught, while some portion of his brain that he keeps silent knows he killed them.

Methos has bound together components of the drive from science, magic and Chaostech while at the same time keeping them apart and shielded. In this manner he only lets them interact in a very specific sequence, a very specific duration and a very specific amount. Should he ever dismiss this shielding the reaction of the three would be so violent it would destroy the Aurris completely and anything nearby. Taken his oath in pride and fear he has vowed to never allow the Aurris to fall into anothers hands.

Item type

Unique Artifact

Creation Date

400 IA

Current Location

Aurris Sea-City

Current Holder

Osril Methos Aurris