Aetherius Transit Authority

The Aetherius Transit Authority (ATA) holds a near-absolute monopoly over Yrdde's vital sky-ways. They are the gatekeepers of commerce, the architects of connection, and the enforcers of order in the realm between the continents.
The ATA's influence extends far beyond the construction and operation of airships. They control the intricate network of sky-lanes that crisscross Yrdde, set tariffs and trade regulations, oversee the training of pilots, and exert considerable influence over the once-independent Skywright's Guild, effectively transforming skilled artisans into instruments of their corporate agenda.
Their power, sanctioned by the Emperor himself, fuels the Empire's economy, facilitating the flow of goods, resources, and information across vast distances. But this control also breeds resentment, sparks whispers of corruption and exploitation, and makes the ATA a prime target for those who seek to challenge the Empire's dominance or simply carve out their own space within the boundless skies.

Leadership

The Aetherius Transit Authority is led not by a single CEO, but by a council composed of representatives from the Empire’s most influential noble houses, high-ranking military officials, and respected staff from College of Imperial Arcana.

The High Navigator

This position, appointed by the Emperor, serves as the council’s head, responsible for setting the ATA's overall strategy, negotiating contracts with other corporations and factions, and ensuring the smooth operation of the skyways.

The Master Skywright

Drawn from the ranks of the Skywright's Guild, this individual oversees airship design, production, and the implementation of new technologies. Their position, while ostensibly representing the interests of the Guild, is often seen as a puppet of the ATA, a compromise that has generated resentment among the Guild’s more independent members.

The Aetherial Regulator

This individual, often a powerful mage from the College of Imperial Arcana, is responsible for monitoring the Aetherial Flow, ensuring the stability of sky-lanes, managing the placement and maintenance of Yrddestone beacons, and assessing the risks posed by magical storms and other anomalies that could disrupt air travel, or potentially give access to areas usually closed by the Empire's inability to counter these threats.

Function

Sky-Lane Management

They maintain and control the network of sky-lanes, setting designated routes, establishing checkpoints, and enforcing strict regulations regarding airship size, speed, and cargo manifests. They collect tolls, impose tariffs, and conduct inspections, their authority backed by the threat of Imperial intervention.

Airship Production

Through their control over the Skywright's Guild, the ATA dictates airship design and production quotas, ensuring that the Empire's needs are met. They prioritize the construction of military vessels, transport ships for carrying yrddestones and other valuable resources, and luxurious airships for the Empire’s elite, often leaving civilian production lagging behind or relying on salvaged and refurbished vessels.

Pilot Training

The ATA oversees pilot training academies, instilling not only technical skills but also unwavering loyalty to the Empire. Graduates are often indebted to the ATA, forced to serve for years on their ships or within their bureaucracy to repay the costs of their education.

Aetherial Research

While ostensibly concerned with the safety and efficiency of air travel, the ATA also conducts research into harnessing the Aetherial Flow for propulsion, developing new navigation technologies, and exploring the potential of creating weather-control devices – projects that could give them even greater control over the sky-sea and further solidify their position within the Empire.

The Aetherius Transit Authority, darlings… they’re the ones who control the skies, the gatekeepers of Yrdde’s airways, the puppet masters of those magnificent airships that dance amongst the clouds. They'll get you where you need to go, for a price, of course.
They own the docks, the sky-lanes, even those poor, overworked Skywrights who build their majestic vessels – their control as absolute as the Emperor’s grip on his throne, but far more tedious and unyielding if you forget to file the right paperwork in triplicate before the deadline.
And those regulations, darling! You need a permit to sneeze within a hundred feet of a docking platform, a license to even think about modifying your engine, and enough stamps and signatures to wallpaper the Imperial Palace. They claim it’s for safety, efficiency, blah, blah, blah… but it’s all about control, honey.
And don’t even get me started on those sky-lane tolls. They’re highway robbery, but instead of masked bandits, you’ve got portly officials in starched uniforms.
I’ve had my run-ins with the ATA, a few too many for comfort. Let’s just say a certain journalist with a nose for a good story (and a habit of bending the rules) isn’t exactly their favorite passenger. But a corporation that controls the skies? That’s a story worth chasing. So I’ll keep flying, keep digging, keep whispering those inconvenient truths until they’re forced to acknowledge that the winds of change can never be contained." - E Dawnstrider