by Axomir

Every child knows that Yliakum is divided into eight levels. Some residents are perfectly happy to reside on the same level their entire lives. Others, either out of a sense of adventure, curiosity or mercantilism, will seek travel to other levels. A privileged few will fly down using a winged animal such as a pterosaur. A number of underprivileged yet determined people will take an incredibly long and slightly dangerous path made of stone planks jutting straight out of the sloped walls. For the rest of the populace, there are the winches. There are a handful of winches going from the Dome to the second level (the Barn or the Upper Field, depending on who you ask,) but this book will focus on the winch in Hydlaa. After all, it’s the one I’m most familiar with, being the Captain of the Movers there and all.

If you’re wondering who the Movers are, we’re the ones responsible for the mechanical operation of the winches. Being such a large mechanism, the Hydlaa winch needs all the help it can get, so we have several workers and engineers at our disposal, as well as magical support. I will spare you the exact details of the mechanical or magical operations. What I can tell you is that it’s a complex system of chains, pulleys, weights and gears inside a building with exquisite architecture (seeing it is worth the trouble of trying to gain access to the winch area all by itself) with some magical beams for stability. All you really need to know is that it’s a very safe and easy way to get you to a destination on an adjacent level.

Speaking of destinations, the Hydlaa winch takes you down to the relatively large town of Nalvys on the second level. Nalvys is a merchant town with orchards in the surrounding areas, and is known for its fresh produce. Its main exports to Hydlaa are timber and produce. In addition, the Upper Field contains a mint which, though not in Nalvys, transports some of its coins to that city so they can be received by the Hydlaa treasury. Hydlaa’s main exports to Nalvys are ores and finished metal products (such as weapons and farming implements.) Naturally, independent merchants carrying all sorts of goods also travel between Hydlaa and Nalvys.

Because of such heavy mercantile activity, the winch area has to be well-protected. Access to the winch area is limited to respected members of Hydlaan society and representatives of merchant syndicates. One can gain such respect by helping out the upper echelons of society. Getting in good with the government (such as a Vigesimi) or with the military (such as the guards at the Eagle) by doing them favours is a quick way to rise societally and get that access, if you can’t find a merchant syndicate to name you their representative. It ensures that nobody untrustworthy or suspicious enters the area and tries to start trouble. The guards are present just in case someone manages to get unauthorized access or uses other means to cause chaos in the winch area (such as commandeering a pterosaur.) Some residents of Hydlaa set up business in the winch area because of its strong protection - people like quality furniture carpenters or surgeons run their practices around here.

In short, if you want to move up in society or down a level, the Hydlaa winch is the place to be.