Introduction to the Capital of the Empire
Esian, most well-known for being the heart of the Siathan Court, the centre of governance and, to some, a maze of bureaucracy. For those who have never visited, this would be an apt description of what Esian is, but those who
have been know that there is far more to the capital than the web of corporations and government agencies that many know it for.
One could live their entire life in Esian and still not have enough time to explore all the sights that it has to offer, from the well known attractions such as the
Estate of the Empress,
Far Point,
The Imperial Botanic Gardens, and the
Empire's Legacy Museum, to the local but still popular destinations like
Harvest,
Conventia Gaming Studio, or whichever
Corporate Tower happens to the the most popular this day, or even the exclusive or obscure places such as
The Chalice and
The Shooting Range.
Day-By-Day Itineraries
Not everyone has the time to plan out their own adventures, especially with the myriad of things to do in Esian, the choices can be quite overwhelming! Should your time be short, or you merely wish to avoid making the tough decisions of what to see and do, these pre-made itineraries will take the hassle out of your stay in Esian and ensure you get the best experience possible. Each one is designed to take up a whole day, but you should feel free to change them up how you wish to get the best experience for you.
Social Life
Morning - The Waystop
Having served as a place for travellers and visitors to rest and get to know each other since the formation of the empire, The Waystop continues this tradition today, and is the perfect place to get to know other people that are new to Esian, or those happy to share their knowledge of the city. Plus, they have a fantastic selection of food and drinks, perfect for the morning traveller.
Afternoon - Conventia Gaming Studio
While games are not for everyone, the simulation rigs of Conventia are quite a unique experience, and the party games on offer allow you to bring your own friends, or make brand new ones there. Conventia is always busy, so you will have no trouble finding people to play with regardless of if you come alone or with a group!
Night - Harvest
Quieter than what most consider for a club, Harvest is a wonderful place to wind down for the night while still being in a fantastically social atmosphere. Many come just to enjoy rain without the risk of getting too wet, while others come for the carefully maintained plants, and many more come just to have a nice place to hang out, talk and meet old and new friends.
Love To Learn
Morning - Empire's Legacy Museum
The Empire's Legacy Museum can take up quite a large amount of time, depending on how fast you proceed through the history. Keep an eye out for the shortcuts between periods if you are interested in certain High Empresses or just certain parts of history, and remember to get something to eat beforehand as you may lose track of time quite easily!
Afternoon - Imperial Botanic Gardens
The Imperial Botanic Gardens operate two different methods of visiting the grounds, with some up-close experiences coming at a cost and requiring you to book in advance. The overhead tram is the ideal choice for those who may have spent a little too much time in the Empire's Legacy Museum, as it runs at a set pace and ensures you will be in and out in your set timeframe! If you wish to stay longer however, the exploratory tunnels offer as long of a stay as you like.
Night - History of Esian Tour
Esian is a place of rich history, and the best way to experience as much as possible in as little a timeframe as possible is a History of Esian Tour. A tour guide will take you between many of the historical locations, give you an in-depth history of the location and ensure you get to the next one on time without missing a beat. These tours are cheap and always popular, so you'll have no shortage of chances to go on one!
Sights Of Esian
Morning - Kryian's Retreat
While not truly within Esian, it's a short journey out to the final resting place of Kryian, giving you a chance to see the most unique place on all of Khalnar as well as experience some of the history of the founder of the Siathan Court. Make sure you plan your departure time in advance though, as the gaps between services can be quite large depending on weather!
Afternoon - Corporate Tower
The choice of tower doesn't matter too much, but try to aim for the tallest you can, and get a ride all the way to the top, giving you a breathtaking view of Esian from above! If you're lucky (or did your research ahead of time) there may be additional services you can take advantage of while you take in the incredible sights of the city.
Night - Far Point
Offering the chance to look out at both the
Empress's Gaze and Esian itself, Far Point makes for a fantastic end to a day of exploring the city. Connected to the transit system directly, Far Point is an amazing place to relax after a busy day, offering drinks and food with an incredible view.
When To Travel
There really is no bad time to travel to Esian, the unique layout of the city and the public transit means that you only need to step into the outside world if you want to. However, if the Estate of the Empress is on your to-visit list, then with some luck, you may be able to time your visit during a period where the High Empress isn't present, allowing you to book in a tour of your choice. Events are sporadic and sometimes unpredictable, but there is always something going on, regardless of when you choose to visit.
The Essentials
Travelling to and staying in Esian can seem daunting at first, simply because of how busy it is at all times, putting off the more casual traveller from some of the most exciting sights that the Empire has to offer. Hopefully, by the end of this chapter, the thought of visiting Esian and staying for any amount of time won't be quite as daunting!
Arriving
As the capital of the Siathan Court, Esian is both easy to travel to, yet also difficult for those who aren't prepared for how busy it can be and the costs associated with such. For the cost-conscious traveller who are visiting from outside of Khalnar, yet wish to avoid the public transit options, it may be beneficial to arrive in another city and then travel to Esian from there if time is not as big of a concern. As always, double check the travel options and even consult with an agent if you need!
By Train
Esian, and Khalnar as a whole, is connected by a large network of rail lines that connect the cities to each other, ensuring that transit between each city is easy, if somewhat time-consuming due to the distances involved. Both private and public services run along these lines.
The public options are free and operate on a booking system, requiring you to book in advance, and potentially go on a wait list, and run to Esian from neighbouring cities several times a day. It is worth noting that while the transit itself is free, food and drinks need to be bought on-board if not brought with. Luggage space can also be at a premium, as there is no dedicated luggage storage.
Private choices tend to offer upgrades such as more room, included food and drink, luggage storage and more, as well as more convenient timing of travel services. Naturally the downside is the price involved, which can vary based on the upgrades compared to the public options offered and the timing of the services.
Trains arrive at the
Esian Terminus, a short distance from the spaceport and linked to the larger city metro network, making it convenient to connect onto any service to get to your final destination.
By Public or Private Starship
Much like trains, starships come in both public and private options, with effectively identical differences between the two options as well. The vast majority of starships will arrive at the
Esian Orbital Platform and will transfer passengers to a shuttle to the surface, rather than arriving in Esian directly, due to the price and logistics involved with landing and keeping a larger ship at the spaceport. The logistics of such aren't something you need to worry about, as the transfer of any luggage you may have, as well as which starship to board, will be handled for you!
By Your Own Starship
Unlike most cities, the
Esian Spaceport has a fiercely competitive process for landing permissions, as well as longer term storage of starships. While it is entirely possible to get landing permissions at the time of your arrival, you will have much more luck booking it in advance, especially since you will likely require some form of storage for your starship. A further explanation of how the Esian Spaceport works, as well as tips for arriving on board your own starship can be found on Esian Spaceport page later on!
Getting Around
Esian can be an intimidating city to get around for those who are unaware as to the layout of the city's transit system and how each part intersects, but it ends up being a rather intuitive system once you've gotten used to it.
The transit system is split into two distinct layers, the inter-block one and the intra-block one. Both are completely free and operate constantly, with very little wait time between services.
The inter-block ones are found on level 4 of the major towers in each city block, serving as the main method of transit between the major towers of Esian.
The intra-block trains operate between all the smaller towers within a city block, departing from level 3 of the major towers, operating in at least two directions, potentially more depending on the size, shape and complexity of the block they operate in.
