Sandsnekke

The premier method of transportation on Orden, the Sandsnekke is a must have if one plans of traversing the desert. With the ability to travel swiftly across the countryside on Orden's Heavy Rail system and then disengage and blaze its own path, the Sandsnekke is somewhat of a cross between a Truck and a Locomotive.
Its mobility and speed are only part of the reason they're so ubiquitous. The other half is the versatility. Everything on the machine can be swapped out, depending on the needs of the user and of the job, and what can't be swapped out can be attached to it as a system of cars. The only limitation is the power output of the engine.
Sandsnekkes are sorted by size category and engine class.
Cockatrice Sandsnekkes are the smallest, and are most often used personally and for small jobs. Gorgons are mid-sized, and are used for mass transit and goods. Medusas are the largest and most powerful on the market, used for heavy industry.
There are two types of fuel that can be burned by a Sandsnekke, Hellstone and Caskega Caskega. Haze class engines burn Hellstone, and due to its abundance, are the most commonly found and least expensive. Mirage class on the other hand are powered by Caskega, and are typically more expensive. Fata Morgana, or FM class engines are the rarest. They're powered by Caskega, but have a core of exceptionally pure, true Caskega which contains the spirit of an Cultivim which is capable of following orders.

Power Generation

The engine of the sandsnekke is designed to be efficient, pushing all power not used for propulsion or core systems to its components.

Propulsion

Haze Class: Sootbelcher Hellstone Furnace. Mirage Class: Elemental Energy Converter. FM Class: Cultivim Energy Throne
Though Haze Class engines are the most reliable on the market, save perhaps for the extremely rare FM engines, their efficiency is far lower than that of Mirage or FM. Because of this, they're typically slower and require the addition of a Hellstone car, so as not to run out of fuel mid journey.

Weapons & Armament

/*In days of old, most Sandsnekkes were unarmed, with only law enforcement and military models having dedicated weaponry. This has changed drastically since civilization began to crumble. It would be considered suicidal to travel into the wastes without some form of protection.*/

Armor and defense

Base Sandsnekke plating is made from a tough alloy which can resist even the worst sandstorms. Engines are designed to be element resistant, though concentrated attacks can easily overload a stock engine. Aftermarket plating and engine insulation can be installed to improve resilience, though the weight often reduces fuel efficiency.

Communication Tools & Systems

All Sandsnekkes are equipped with an SOS system which has a broadcasting range of 100 miles.

/*This is rarely used any more, however, due to the abundance of scavengers and raiders in the wastes.*/

In addition, most are equipped with a shortwave radio with a range of about half a mile.

/* In addition to these, various aftermarket systems have been developed including an sonar for use in the The Siltwash, long range communications, and energy regeneration.*/

Sensors

Windows are as far as many Sandsnekkes go in terms of stock sensors. If there's a mechanical problem, it's up to the crew to find out.

Additional & auxiliary systems

The wheels on which Sandsnekkes travel are specialized to be able to run both on and off the regional railways.

/*In addition, Siltstrider plates and pontoons can be attached to traverse the Siltwash.*/

Haulin' Strength

Sandsnekkes are designed to pull cars and are designed with modular torque to most efficiently tow any cargo within its weight range. A system, called "Haulin' Strength" has since been developed to make modification of a Sandsnekke easier. Each Sandsnekke has a Haulin' Strength capacity, and each component or car has a number of HS points it requires. If the Sandsnekke goes over its HS limit, it will be in danger of damaging its mechanisms or engine.

Affixin' Bolts

Sandsnekkes are built with a number of hard points to which certain modifications can be installed. These are denoted by a series of large bolts, called "Affixin' Bolts". A sandsnekke cannot safely be equipped with more modifications that require Affixin' bolts than it has.

Shock Blocks

Any excess power created by the engine is routed toward its components through a system of cables. These cables terminate in a silvery copper cube, a plug which is universal to all components designed for Sandsnekkes. These 'shock blocks' serve a dual purpose of energy transfer and an easy measure of how much power can be generated by the Sandsnekke's engine, as a vehicle won't have more Shock Blocks than it can generate for.

Nickname

Dunecutter, Motolisk, Sandsnake, Moda

Price

20,000 - 100,000 GP

Rarity

Common

Length

20-40 ft. Though specialized models can go up to 100 ft. in length

Height

18-25 ft.

Weight

50-300 tons

Speed

Haze class engines can push as high as 80 mph on rail, with a top speed of 60 off.

Complement / Crew

Though it's optimal to have a crew of at least 3, basic transportation can be handled by a single, skillful, lucky operator.

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

Depending on the class, Motolisks can carry freight of up to 100 tons or about five hundred passengers.