Under the Nine Suns

Skydrivers are devices that allow cloud cruisers to fly. They appear as a cluster of glass rods with a web of wires running between them.

Skydrivers are placed along the bottom of a ship's hull, usually in rows running
along the right and left sides. Most cloud cruisers are built with an excess of skydrivers to ensure safety even if some should fail. Skydrivers are delicate and are usually protected by perforated brass domes. Skydrivers spark and crackle when in use, causing lightning like effects to play across the surfaces of the outer brass shielding.

Skydrivers are a combined technology, using both helice-forging and alcaotech. As such they require both power from an onboard alch boiler and regular maintenence by a professional helice-forger.

Discovered about ninety years ago, skydrivers quickly replaced older gas bag technology used on cloud cruisers of the time. They are considered to be one of the most important discoveries of the last hundred years and have greatly increased the speed and reliability of air travel.