Erg Sled Driver
Erg Sled drivers are individuals hired to pilot Erg Sleds across the Desert Galeric, and act as caretaker for the animal teams responsible for pulling the sled (most often Basilhounds). As sands and desertification increasingly dominated the landscape of Galeria from the first century ME onward, Erg Sleds became the most popular non-rail method of travel, and the most common among those with less economic means.
Erg Sleds remained highly prolific through the first four centuries of the modern era, as the Rail Baronies were still establishing rain networks, infrastructure, and usage rules, and they had yet to completely dominate commercial travel throughout the Valley. However, by 518 the Grussefeller Pacts established uniform rail scheduling and contracting opportunities across the region, and Erg sled travel declined remarkably. Erg Sleds (and the myriad types of animal teams that pull them), erg sled drivers and commensurate travel services can still be found in most of the major polities through Galeria, but they're mostly scene as novelty entertainment and no longer practical for cross-desert travel.
Erg Sleds remained highly prolific through the first four centuries of the modern era, as the Rail Baronies were still establishing rain networks, infrastructure, and usage rules, and they had yet to completely dominate commercial travel throughout the Valley. However, by 518 the Grussefeller Pacts established uniform rail scheduling and contracting opportunities across the region, and Erg sled travel declined remarkably. Erg Sleds (and the myriad types of animal teams that pull them), erg sled drivers and commensurate travel services can still be found in most of the major polities through Galeria, but they're mostly scene as novelty entertainment and no longer practical for cross-desert travel.
Perception
Purpose
Originally Erg Sled drivers ferried individuals or groups across specific lengths of the desert for a fee, or would be hired by explorers, prospectors to venture into lesser known, more dangerous areas of the desert for greater recompense.
However, erg sleds have obselesced in the past few centuries as rail networks are further expanded, even to impractical or unnecessary degrees. The Great Unspoken Railsetting Race of 538-543 ME generated only an additional 30% of usable track to and from populated destinations, but the debts incurred from the building of the massive network required all Rail Baronies to jointly lower railfare price nearly overnight. The resulting public consumption of cheap rail travel completely upended the remaining Erg sled industry; by the 7th century nearly all Erg Sled use for wide travel had ceased. By the late 600s, the increasing presence of ambush predators throughout the desert was the nail in the coffin for the possibility of erg sled resurgence, as the cost of basilhound teams had already spiked - losing them (and likely yourself) to a pack of ergosuchus wasnt worth it. for the past century and a half, Erg Sleds have been seen as an old world curiousity and form of novelty entertainment. In the Free City of Salameer, Erg sled drivers take tourists on loops of the surrounding desert while remaining very close to civilized zones to minimize danger to their basilhound teams, their passengers or their sleds.
However, erg sleds have obselesced in the past few centuries as rail networks are further expanded, even to impractical or unnecessary degrees. The Great Unspoken Railsetting Race of 538-543 ME generated only an additional 30% of usable track to and from populated destinations, but the debts incurred from the building of the massive network required all Rail Baronies to jointly lower railfare price nearly overnight. The resulting public consumption of cheap rail travel completely upended the remaining Erg sled industry; by the 7th century nearly all Erg Sled use for wide travel had ceased. By the late 600s, the increasing presence of ambush predators throughout the desert was the nail in the coffin for the possibility of erg sled resurgence, as the cost of basilhound teams had already spiked - losing them (and likely yourself) to a pack of ergosuchus wasnt worth it. for the past century and a half, Erg Sleds have been seen as an old world curiousity and form of novelty entertainment. In the Free City of Salameer, Erg sled drivers take tourists on loops of the surrounding desert while remaining very close to civilized zones to minimize danger to their basilhound teams, their passengers or their sleds.
Alternative Names
dune dashers, or simply dashers
Type
Transportation
Demand
Novelty
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