Horseless Carriage

Horseless Carriage

The horseless carriage (also referred to as a steam-powered horseless carriage) was a steam-powered wheeled vehicle used for ground transportation. By the time of the events depicted in For Steam and Country, horseless carriages had been common in the capital for a couple of years, representing a notable advancement in overland travel technology. The invention of the horseless carriage had a lasting effect on urban infrastructure; the city gates of Rislandia City had been made stationary since its invention in order to allow for the flow of traffic.

Description

A horseless carriage was described as "a four-seater with a steam stack protruding from the middle, wheels with white painted spokes." The vehicle featured four seats arranged with a driver's seat at the front and rear passenger seats behind, separated from the driver's area by a metal divider. The interior was finished in leather with gold trim, and a center console was present between the seating areas. The vehicle also had a side door.

The wheels were connected by a long strip of metal bolted to gears, some of which protruded outward from the vehicle's body. The steamstack hissed and emitted steam during operation. The engine produced cranking noises of gears when running and was described as having a whirring engine sound. The vehicle was started with a key and included a steering wheel and a lever used to increase speed. The steamstack was noted to be capable of burning those who came into contact with it. Horseless carriages were also capable of producing a loud honk.

At least one variant featured a hardtop body, described as "a black hunk of metal with big tires and a huge steamstack protruding from the center of it." This enclosed model had a hardtop with the steamstack protruding through the middle and was described as claustrophobic compared to open models. It also featured a windshield, which was vulnerable to damage; one such windshield was shattered during a bandit attack in The Iron Wedding. Luggage or belongings could be transported in an enclosed cart attached to the rear of the vehicle. Horseless carriages were powered by aether fuel, which produced exhaust that blasted from the smokestack. The motor could be turned off by the driver upon arrival at a destination.

At least one horseless carriage was observed with a large light attached to its back. As noted in The Steam Knight: "The light had been attached to the back of a large horseless carriage with a steam stack protruding upward."

Horseless carriages were considered quite expensive. A bearded Wyranth soldier remarked, "This is quite the expensive vehicle," upon observing one. Lieutenant Colwell referenced the vehicle in a hypothetical expression, stating, "I wish I had a horseless carriage and a pile of gold to fill the back trunk," further underscoring the vehicle's association with considerable value. The ride quality was notably rough; the vehicle bumped enough that passengers would not feel ground tremors while riding in it. James Gentry noted that the ride was much bumpier than an airship and was not as much fun. Zaira von Monocle compared riding in one to "a hay ride" relative to flying aboard The Liliana, stating that "Mr. du Gearsmith's horseless carriage seemed like a hay ride in comparison."

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The steam carriage variant used by delegations featured ample space inside, though it felt cramped after hours of travel. In such vehicles, passengers such as Queen Reina I sat facing the rear, and a servant opened the door from outside. The engine of this variant was described as clacking along hard ground: "the sound of the steam carriage's engine clacked along the hard ground."

Military Variants

By the time of The Fight for Rislandia, horseless carriages had been adapted for military use. A Grand Rislandian Army patrol was observed in the streets of Rislandia City with "a horseless carriage bringing up the rear. The carriage had a mounted gun with a long string of ammunition." This militarized variant represented a significant evolution in the vehicle's role beyond personal and logistical transport.

The steam-powered rotary gun vehicle employed by the Wyranth was compared to a standard horseless carriage in its operation, suggesting that the horseless carriage served as a recognizable baseline for understanding similar wheeled, steam-driven conveyances.

In The Steam Knight, horseless carriages were operated by Wyranth military soldiers outside Dr. Metzengerstein's farm. One such Wyranth horseless carriage was struck by the energy beam from the Metzengerstein Energy Device; the beam shattered the front of the vehicle "as if the metal vehicle were made from glass," after which it flipped in the air and crashed below.

Mr. du Gearsmith's Horseless Carriage

The most prominently featured horseless carriage in For Steam and Country was owned by Matthias du Gearsmith and was sometimes referred to as Mr. du Gearsmith's horseless carriage. By the time it appeared in the narrative, it was described as not in the best shape.

Talyen von Cravat borrowed the vehicle from Mr. du Gearsmith following The Liliana's crash north of Rislandia City, stating, "I borrowed Mr. du Gearsmith's horseless carriage to make some quick arrangements." Captain von Cravat subsequently used the carriage to travel to meet with Zaira von Monocle, as noted in her log. The vehicle was also used by Captain von Cravat's party—including James Gentry, Cid, and Frances—to travel overland toward Wyranth Castle.

Separately, a couple of horseless carriages were observed unloading crewmen and supplies at an airship landing pad, indicating that the vehicles saw broader logistical use beyond personal transport.

Role in For Steam and Country

In For Steam and Country, the horseless carriage served as the primary means of overland travel for Captain von Cravat's party after The Liliana crashed north of Rislandia City. The vehicle facilitated the group's continued mission, carrying James Gentry, Cid, and Frances on the road toward their destination. The carriage's rough ride and its contrast with airship travel were recurring points of observation among the characters, underscoring the relative comfort and speed of airship technology compared to ground vehicles of the era.

Role in The Blood of Giants

In The Blood of Giants, horseless carriages were observed operating in Rislandia City, where they drove through the streets alongside people on horseback. As the text noted, "A few horseless carriages drove through the streets," indicating that the vehicles had become a recognizable feature of urban life in the capital. The horseless carriage was also referenced as a practical mode of transport suitable for courier missions, with one character noting that "the latter can be handled by horseless carriage" when discussing alternatives to The Liliana for courier runs.

Role in The Fight for Rislandia

In The Fight for Rislandia, horseless carriages appeared in both civilian and military contexts within Rislandia City. A Grand Rislandian Army patrol was seen moving through the city streets with a gun-mounted horseless carriage at the rear.

Talyen von Cravat was ordered to commandeer a horseless carriage in order to reach a designated retreat point. The vehicle commandeered for this purpose was located by the knights and was a standard four-seater with a steam stack protruding from the middle and wheels with white painted spokes. Ethan von Lantern took the driver's seat, while Cid sat behind him; another knight occupied the second rear seat, and the front passenger seat was left open for Zaira von Monocle. Cid instructed Ethan to remain in the driver's seat so that the group could move quickly when needed. The vehicle made a loud honk and operated with a whirring engine during use.

Role in The Iron Wedding

In The Iron Wedding, horseless carriages featured prominently in both Rislandian and Wyranth contexts. Multiple distinct vehicles appeared throughout the narrative.

A horseless carriage was used to transport Zaira von Monocle, Baron Theodore von Monocle, and Talyen von Cravat to an airship reconstruction site, driven by a messenger. Zaira described departing from it upon returning to Rislandia City: "As I departed the horseless carriage and said my goodbyes."

The Wyranth Ambassadorial Delegation provided a horseless carriage to transport Zaira from Rislandia City south into Wyranth territory. This vehicle was driven by a Wyranth driver. One of the Wyranth servants gathered Zaira's belongings, "placing them in the back of an enclosed cart attached to a horseless carriage." Queen Reina I walked Zaira to the vehicle for her departure. This carriage featured a hardtop body with the steamstack protruding through the middle and was described as claustrophobic compared to open models. Its windshield was shattered during a bandit attack en route. The vehicle's driver, Ando, was killed during the attack, after which Melker took over driving.

Upon Zaira's arrival in Wyranth territory, Ivan, the Iron Emperor provided a horseless carriage for a city tour, with Ivan and Zaira riding together. Ivan also provided a horseless carriage for Zaira's return journey from Loveridge to Rislandia City, which was driven by a Wyranth driver and carried Zaira through the streets of Rislandia City toward the palace.

A horseless carriage was also used to transport Marina du Willet away from the palace back toward Rislandia. Additionally, General Gregor advised Ivan and his bride to take a horseless carriage and return to the capital. The vehicle was also mentioned as a potential means of escape from Carnait Cove.

Horseless carriages were present with the Rislandian military contingent beyond the infantrymen, with their smokestacks blasting exhaust into the air.

Role in The Steam Knight

In The Steam Knight, horseless carriages continued to be a familiar presence in Rislandia City. Their whirring was audible in the background during outdoor activities, including training, and could be heard in the distance at night: "Horseless carriages whirred in the background, echoing through the city streets" and "the whir of horseless carriages in the distance" were both noted as ambient features of the capital.

The horseless carriage also served as a practical means of travel beyond the city. James Gentry and Ethan von Lantern hitched a ride on one out of the capital before dawn on their way to Plainsroad Village.

The vehicle was mentioned as a topic of idle conversation between King Malaky XVI and Ambassador Sheila McRose. A soldier in a horseless carriage also stopped Dr. von Breech on the road to turn him back from Rislandia City.

Wyranth soldiers operated a horseless carriage outside Dr. Metzengerstein's farm. This vehicle was notable for having a large light attached to its back: "The light had been attached to the back of a large horseless carriage with a steam stack protruding upward." This Wyranth horseless carriage was subsequently struck by the energy beam of the Metzengerstein Energy Device, which shattered its front "as if the metal vehicle were made from glass"; the vehicle then flipped in the air and crashed below.

In A History of Rislandia

According to A History of Rislandia, the horseless carriage is noted in the context of Talyen von Cravat using one to travel to meet Zaira von Monocle. The sourcebook does not expand on the vehicle's design, history of invention, cost, or military applications beyond this passing reference, offering no additional technical or historical detail beyond what is established in the novels.