Vaulker Trolly

Dawn of the Trolly

It all started in the dwarven mines. Hauling rock and ore grew easier when the first carts were invented, which led to the mining floors being more level and smoother for the wheels. These carts proved so important to mining that their designs were shared with all the clans of both the Vaulker and Ruendan, despite the two kinds of dwarves always being in contention.
The dwarves eventually discovered that a cart could carry more if its wheels and axles were made of iron. Stone ramps were soon made for the carts to be moved through the many levels of their mines. Chains attached to winches made moving these carts along the slopes instead of the traditional baskets and hoists that hauled far smaller amounts.
This then led to the Ruendan being the first to invent rail for the wheels to ride on. They could move faster and haul much larger loads. The art of rail-making was shared with the Vaulker as it was so significant, and the balance was now even between the two dwarf kinds, returning them to their bitter rivalries.
Over time, the cart designs changed. The Ruendan added braces to the sides of their carts. WIth their ability to grow larger, this allowed them to move the heavier carts with ease. The

by TheHenryFord.org

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Vaulker, though, lacked this ability but made up for it by their use of the surface. Donkeys, it was discovered, were not afraid of going underground. Hitched to a cart in teams of four, they became a staple of Vaulker mining, a tradition the Ruendan scoffed at as a need only for weak shrimps.

Both kinds soon set rails throughout their cities and modified some carts into trollies. The Ruendan kept their tradition of side braces for the trollies and the Vaulker kept to their teams of donkeys.

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by Humpty22

The Surface Phenomenon

The biggest difference between a surface trolly and an under-trolly is that a braking system was added. This brake can be locked into any position from light to full stop thus removing the need for winches and chains along every incline in their mountain territories. Trollies became bigger than their mine cart origin with seating for passengers but were still far lighter by weight as people weigh much less than ore, easier work for the teams of donkeys.
Merchants and visitors to the Vaulker cities were impressed by the trollies and marveled at the intensive roadwork the dwarves did to build the rails into their roads without interfering with other vehicles. But, it was the gnomes who were fascinated. It would even be fair to say they became obsessed with the trollies and the rails. Again and again, they journeyed to a dwarven city just to study roadwork, trollies, and the Vaulker breed of donkey.
Within a year, the first rails were laid in a gnome city with other cities in various stages of completing their city rail lines. Now the Amon Islands, the domain of the gnomes, has become a hotbed of outlandishy designed trollies with competitions held every year to see who can build the most wonderous one. There are even rumors of the gnomes finding ways to link the trollies like links on a chain, though this is impractical for donkeys to pull.
There are even whispers of them trying to design a magical-mechanical apparatus to pull these connected trollies. The whispers in the gnome lands speak excitedly on predictions, and bets are already being made, on just which family will succeed.