The placement of conductor stone lines dictates where
a lightning rail train can travel, but the pilot still must
make operational decisions as the coach moves from
one city to the next. The pilot controls the vessel's speed
based on conditions around the train. When conductor
stone lines split, as they do at various hubs along the
way, the pilot selects the intended route and directs the
elemental down the correct line
The crew of a train includes handful of chief stew
ards overseeing a number of lesser stewards who are
charged with seeing to the needs of passengers and
keeping cargo secured.LIGHTNING RAIL STATIONS
Lightning rail stations, where passengers and cargo can
be disembarked or loaded, are located in or just outside
villages, towns, and cities along the conductor stone
paths. There are no stations in the expanses between
these settlements, and House Orien rules prohibit light
ning rail pilots from stopping anywhere but at a station.
Stations throughout Khorvaire have a similar look
and feel, to ensure that each one lives up to the high
expectations of House Orien's patrons. White and gold
everbright lanterns continually illuminate each station.
When a train pulls into the station, loading ramps are
moved into position beside each cargo cart, and stairs
by each passenger cart. The cargo is unloaded from one
side of the train and the passengers from the other.
Individual stations do have distinct touches that reflect
local features. For example, the station in Gatherhold, in
the Talenta Plains, is decorated with traditional halfling
motifs and offers specialized stables for travelers leav
ing their dinosaurs behind. On a larger scale, the station
at Passage, which is the seat of power for House Orien,
is a multistoried structure designed as a monument to
the majesty and storied history of the house.MYSTERIOUS PASSENGERS
Lightning rails and airships are good places to encoun
ter a broad sample of Khorvaire's diverse population.
You can use the Mysterious Passengers table (page
241) to bring curious characters in contact with an
adventuring party on any kind of journey. Each of these
characters might spark an entire new adventure, or
might be little more than a momentary diversion. Deter
mine details about these travelers are, and the stories
behind them, as you see fit.GOLD DRAGON INNS
Travelers and explorers making their way across Khor
vaire, especially in out-of-the-way areas, often find them
selves in need of a safe place to spend the night. Thanks
to the efforts of House Ghallanda, there's no better
place to take a rest than at one of the hundreds of Gold
Dragon Inns that the house operates.