Runecycles
Runecycles were Nisekite vehicles that were uncommon but widespread throughout the city of Nekrosaka. They functioned as hovercycles, and enabled riders to quickly traverse the city.
Invention #
With rampant poverty, crowded streets, narrow alleyways, and lack of vegetation being staples of Nekrosakan life, horse-drawn vehicles were an exceptionally rare thing to find. The logistics required to maintain even a single horse in the dangerous prison-city were unrealistic. However, Nekrosaka was a busy city, and people were eager to get to places quickly. Thus, the runecycle was invented.
Usage #
Transportation #
Runecycles were tailor-made to be the ideal vehicle for traversing Nekrosaka. They were compact enough to be stored without taking up valuable space, and their frontal profile was narrow, allowing them to easily squeeze through Nekrosaka's tight alleyways and maneuver through busy crowds in what few large city squares there were.
Commercial runecycles were still an expensive thing to acquire, and typically only citizens who needed to travel long distances would invest in one.
Races #
It wasn't long after the runecycle's invention when the many criminal organizations populating Nekrosaka's depths started to use them as a form of entertainment. Large leagues of runecycle racers began to spring up, and runecycle stonemodders began to develop additional gadgets and improvements to make them more fit for high-speed, perilous racing. The more competitive runecycle races, which were not far off from Bloodsports, saw runecycles equipped with weapons and other equipment that focused on eliminating the competition rather than simply finishing first.
Kenha Operations #
The Kenha often used runecycles to help them get around Nekrosaka, aiding them in hit-and-run attacks as well as quickly spreading information to allied operatives.
Construction & Maintenance #
Building a Runecycle #
Runecycles were built from large pieces of Nisekite by specialized stonemodders who were experts in creating the runic hovercycles.
![[Stonemodding#Runecycle Stonemodders]]
Runecycles came in a variety of designs, completely dependent on the creator. Commercial runecycles for the everyday Nekrosakan were simplistic, rugged, and resembled floating bricks in most cases. Slightly wealthier Nekrosakans may have gotten their runecycles decorated with small decorative embellishments, or carved into sleeker, more organic designs. Owning a nice looking runecycle was a dangerous call--thieves would have their attention quickly drawn to the vehicle.
Runecycles used by Kenha, criminals, or runecycle racers were much hardier and elaborate. They were often reinforced with metal armour, upgraded with weapons and/or defensive gadgets, and generally carved into much more aerodynamic designs.
A prolific runecycle racer poses on her custom-built runecycle. Not only is it designed to minimize air resistance, but it has been boosted with state-of-the art Destrian technology--obtained through illegitimate channels, of course.
Refueling/"Feeding" #
Runecycles were relatively easy to maintain. While they would inevitably require repairs, the parts of the vehicle made of Nisekite flesh could self-heal over time.
Fueling a runecycle was also easy. Being made of living stone, runecycles required sustenance just like any lithonatomical component. However, runecycles were extraordinarily energy efficient, and "feeding" one was much more economic than feeding a horse. Typically, runecycles were fed with unwanted food waste, like meat trimmings, rotten vegetables, et cetera. The actual feeding process was equally as easy--simply grind up the feeding material in a little bit of water to produce a nutrient rich (yet often disgusting) slurry. The slurry could be fed to the nisekite by simply pouring it onto exposed nisekite flesh. Many runecycles were built with feed tubes (not unlike the filler of a gas-powered vehicle) that this slurry could be poured into. Runecycles could be recognized as in need of feeding by its performance--a runecycle would move slower the "hungrier" it was.
Reception #
Bornu Watch #
The Bornu had a tenuous acceptance of Runecycles in Nekrosaka, much like their views on lithonatomical augmentation. While it caused many problems in terms of enabling the outmaneuvering of Bornu Nakai, the value that the vehicles brought to the city's overall functioning wasn't able to be ignored. Thus, the Bornu have accepted runecycles for everyday use while cracking down on runecycle races.
Spread Across Legere #
Runecycles very rarely made their way out of Nekrosaka, just like Nisekite-based technology in general. The tight Bornu customs in Lah Ding meant that nisekite, let alone an entire runecycle, were virtually impossible to smuggle out to the rest of Legere. That being said, there were a few sparse occasions where a runecycle was successfully exported to Hohm.