A hand-drawn steam train on old parchment

Steam Power

A group of Venturers recently uncovered a letter discussing the loss of steam technology, from Lady Agatha Whitmore to an unknown person of science in the early years of the Dark.


My Dearest Colleague,

I extend my warm greetings to you and hope this letter finds you well amidst the ever-enigmatic circumstances that have engulfed our world. It is with a heavy heart that I share with you further revelations about the ramifications of the celestial vanishing, a topic that continues to captivate and confound the scientific community.

Alas, our realm’s predicament has deepened, as it appears that the encroaching shadow of the Dark has devoured not only our luminous luminaries but also the very knowledge that once fueled our mechanical marvels. Many of those skilled in the construction and operation of steam engines—those ingenious minds who wielded the secrets of that great industrial power—have been Lost to the Dark.

As such, steam power, which was once poised to revolutionize the means by which our society operated, is now all but unknown. The limited knowledge that remains clings to the minds of a precious few, who must bear the weight of maintaining our vestiges of technological advancement. Before the enigmatic veil of the Dark descended, we were poised on the brink of a revolution in industry. Now, our grand visions of steamboats gliding serenely across waterways, railways and combustion-powered road carriages seamlessly connecting distant locales, and great boilers fueling our factories have been eclipsed by the veil of darkness that shrouds our world.

The remnants of our once-bustling world now echo with the ghosts of progress, a poignant reminder of both our innovation and our vulnerability. I find myself yearning to rekindle the fires of knowledge, to resurrect the mechanisms that once empowered us to harness steam’s potent potential. It is a challenge that, though formidable, we must undertake, for within the folds of this darkness lies not only an enduring enigma but also the promise of enlightenment that will guide us out of this abyss.

With a steadfast resolve to restore the light of knowledge and innovation, I remain
Yours in the Pursuit of Revival,

Lady Agatha Whitmore
Fellow of the Royal Society
7th February 1840


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