#CL is my abbreviation for the title lol

[spikeinthepunch]

Cryptolalia - Tethered transportation

these kinds of blogs about Cryptolalia will eventually go on my website, but i dont have a dedicated hub on my site yet for OC/story stuff yet so.

but yea anyways, i dont want to be hiding all my brainstorming behind patreon (if i ever go into proper production w something like a comic etc then yes) and i thought itd be nice to just throw down all my current exploding ideas.

I have many many things on my mind but for some reason one of the things ive developed most through my last recent years of thinking is transportation infrastructure & vehicles in Cryptolalia. Remember that this story is based on Earth, and is basically like... “ideal changes” and alternate timeline nonsense of what we currently have. The first thing I wanted to make strikingly different in the world was transportation, since the changes that happen in the timeline are old enough that the course of history regarding cars could be totally different. SO lets get into it!

(do note im not super knowledgeable on logic of science and cars and stuff, a lot of this is my own theories and fun for just having a futuristic and alternate Earth setting)

I would love to draw these out at some point too, but I am so not into vehicle design... so idk when that may happen.

But anyways, I have come up with various ideas regarding transportation in this world, mostly out of spite for what we have on Earth in regards to roads and parking lots. The Earth has basically been molded by Elias, using his own knowledge of “ideal” into Earth's progression. Not everything will be perfect, but lots of changes to infrastructure on Earth were made by Elias ages ago based off what his race has done across multiple generations on various planets.

All vehicles are electric. Or “electric” as in using power from the power source that runs the whole planet (its not electricity but you know what I mean ok). They are often referred to as “tethered vehicles” not just due to their energy source, but also due to the fact they are in a sense, literally tied to something. “tethered” means that the vehicle is on a track of some kind that transfers the energy needed to travel, directly into the vehicle itself. Untethered vehicles exist, but need a specific license to be driven, and all vehicles that are off-track are recorded through an online system. While airplanes and boats exist they are few and more often for transporting goods than people, and are not 'tethered'- meaning most individuals wouldn't likely be using them either due to license (which is different due to being air and water vehicles).

There are two classes of vehicles- individual and community. They are self explanatory... Community vehicles are subways and trains, which transport groups of people and are purely focused on that. Subways and trains are the most common and even have tunnels built underground or in the ocean.

Individual vehicles are for one or two people at most. They are intended for all purposes (work, travel, leisure) and run on similar tracks as the subways and trains- but due to their compact sizes, they are capable of traveling faster, on smaller tracks that weave through locations otherwise inaccessible by large community ones. These vehicles are often seen as high class due to their cost, as many wouldn't care to own one if they are simply going to work or through the city- which is why most if not all individual vehicles are untethered as well, meaning most who own one must have a license for it. But tethered ones exist, and are often much more lightweight and cheaper.

Individual vehicles due to their small size, are often motorcycles and four or three wheeled light utility vehicles (LUVs, also known as ATVs)- but private boats and planes exist as well if you're especially wealthy. Being capable of untethered driving means they are most often capable of off-road driving on rougher terrain. Still, drivers are permitted to certain locations and could be greatly fined for driving in areas they are not allowed. They are most often used by those who work nontraditional jobs that require work out in the land, or by upper class working individuals wanting a free road all to themselves. They can and are often rented to those who work jobs out in the wilderness or away from the city, purely for work purposes.

Road safety & laws are similar to ours but differing to suit this alternate world. Tethered and untethered individual vehicles have different licenses, while all classes of vehicles to as well (land, air, sea, and freight specific trains). The licenses for tethered and untethered are separate and must be kept on the person at all times.

Laws are not all universal, and may be different to accommodate for culture or specifics regarding the country's terrain or infrastructure- but one law across the world is that once a citizen's age reaches the maturity equivalent of 70 human years they must be thoroughly tested on their health and retested if they have an individual license. They must retest for an untethered license, and if they are allowed to operate a such a vehicle after passing, they will face harsher penalties for errors and have it revoked for good if they run into issues in the future.

Tethered lines for vehicles to travel on are considered for safety above all, but cut back on the need for parking lots. Yes, while individual vehicles would expect to take up space, they are logged in a system to be tracked even when going off road. Stations exist that these vehicles must be stored at in order for the user's vehicle status to stay consistent (and to not be fined, or have their license revoked) which are located at the same hubs at which trains and subways are- or or for smaller tracks, along sidewalks. Additionally, some work places have their own small storage hubs for storing these vehicles and logging their status.

Undoubtedly, their storage exists and takes up some space, but the system never allowed for cars, trucks, and larger vehicles to exist in the same way, thus cutting down greatly on wasted space. They are built to be compact and small, and due to the cost of them and the requirements, they aren't as common as most would assume. It is very much the norm to take a train or subway overall, especially for travel within the cities themselves. They are incredibly accessible and the world is heavily built around them.

Design & style of vehicles are often sleek, futuristic. This will no doubt be different across the world, some places consistently of old models or styles while others are more up to date. But within the immediate city Cryptolalia is based in, smoothed out futuristic shapes with white-heavy color choices are common. For those more accustomed to off-roading though, vehicles may show more of the 'guts' in order to not struggle with terrain and allow easy access to maintenance. Untethered off road vehicles will also have slots for extra power, which are shaped like discs, that are found at docking stations (or purchased and charged at home). Trains and subways are just as if not more smooth in shape, fitting right into the tunnels they travel through.

That is like, all I can grab from my brain right now. There is likely more im just forgetting but id be glad to answer any questions poking at the details of this!

Overall my intention is to have a world that has gone very.. idealistically futuristic-- but you'll see those bits about being tracked, and some of the strictness with untethered vehicles. Those aren't intended to be purely good things either. This version of Earth is heavily controlled, even if many parts of it include me inserting my “ideal” concepts, like no parking lots and good subways infrastructure.