Magical Modes of Transportation

Within the magical world, there are several ways that one can get around. Each Witch or Wizard has their preferred mode of choice, and some that are simply no longer used. Listed below are the modes of transportation that are available in the magical world.

Fireside Roving

Fireside Roving, or the Floo System as some wizards call it, is considered one of the more unpleasant ways of transportation. When it was first discovered, it was the primary mode of transportation for several years, as it's reliability was unmatched. However, issues soon were discovered with it. If the location you were headed to did not have a fireplace, then the transport wouldn't work. It also had the tendency to leave soot all over the transportee since fire was the method of transport. It also left the transportee highly disorientated after the journey approximately 80% of the time. Due to these grievances, this method was largely abandoned by the majority of the magical world.

However, the British Magical Parliament still uses it as their official mode of transport to the present day despite the thousands of grievances it gets on a monthly basis.

Broomsticks

Broomsticks have always been a popular mode of transport for wizards ever since the first broomstick was crafted in 113 BC. Its appeals have always been highly sought after as a quick and efficient way to move around the world. Unlike the original broomsticks, modern broomsticks can be crafted out of any wood, polished, stained, customized with foot rests and seats, have unique bristles, and can even have a loyalty spell cast upon them to prevent theft. All metal broomsticks have been tested, and shown to work, although they are slower, less maneuverable, and weigh ten times as much as their wooden counterparts, causing that idea to be dashed.

A key component in the sport of Verona, broomsticks are often looked at as a sport vehicle and a private leisure mode of transportation. There are not many places to store a broomstick when out and about in shops, and in major Non-Magical cities using a broomstick is forbidden due to the secrecy laws. For those reasons, they aren't a main mode of transportation for many wizards and witches.

Apparition

Apparition to this day is still the most popular form of transport due to it's quick nature, and fairly simple casting. Given that it is a nonverbal spell, only wizards with a certain level of training can accomplish apparition. The audible "pop" that is heard from apparition is caused by the body being forced into existence at a different location than when it had left. As a result, it is not a stealthy way to travel, although certain wizards and witches have shown that soundless apparition is possible. One of the major drawbacks of apparition is that the person that is undergoing that form of travel must either 1) have been to the location previously in order to travel, or 2) have a mental layout of what the area is that they are traveling to. Apparition doesn't allow blind location setting.

As great as apparition is for wizards and witches, it does have a two major drawbacks. There is a strict distance limit, for no wizard can travel across the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans, and if the apparition is done under extreme stress or duress, then the wizard or witch will incur catastrophic harm to their body including, but not limited to: deep muscle lacerations, permanent neurologic damage, limb amputation, and in some cases complete dismemberment.

Shadow Travel

One of the most unique forms of transport is Shadow Travel. In ancient times, shadow travel was accomplished by the greatest masters of Ancient Magic and was a favorite means by dark witches and wizards. Since shadows exist anywhere, there is no limit to where in the world you could travel to via this means, unlike apparition. As long as the person knows the layout of the area, and there is a shadow present, then this mode of transport will work. Right at the beginning of the Hyperkasen Cataclysm, Shadow Travel had been rarely used, and with the destruction of Ancient Magic practitioners, there was no one left that could teach the form to younger generations of wizards and witches. As a result, this mode of transportation was forever lost.

Although wizards can no longer use Shadow Travel themselves, certain animals can use Shadow Travel to traverse the world. Among the known animals that can use Shadow Travel are owls, cats, and panthers. However, wizards and witches that are those animals in Spiritus Animalis form are still unable to use Shadow Travel.

Rainbow travel

First discovered by ancient Greek wizards, traveling via rainbows is a highly complex and specialized way of travel, and is extremely unreliable since you need a rainbow to exit the other end. Many wizards have entered a rainbow for travel, and never exited anywhere in the world leading to them forever being declared as missing. It is unknown where those that are missing go when they are lost in the rainbow, but the most common agreement is that they are just assimilated into the light and are disintegrated into thin air. The knowledge on how to perform Rainbow travel has been locked away in wizarding government archives for the magical populace's own safety, however it has been speculated that leprechauns only exclusively use rainbow travel having a space in the light where they can live.

Pegasi

Using magical creatures for transportation is as old as magic itself nearly. The most common animal that is used for transportation are Pegasi. Although Pegasi were exclusive to Greece, around 98 AD Pegasi were relocated all around the globe by a Roman wizard, allowing them to get a rather excellent foothold in the United States. As a result, they became a preferred choice of transport for magical creature zoologists and behaviorists. Since the average wizard will not have access to a Pegasi, or even have the available space to house a Pegasi, this is a mode of transport for only a highly select population within the magical world.

Smokey Flight

A form of Ancient Magic, Smokey Flight is a form of transportation that is done for more of a visceral effect. Speeds that are reached through Smokey Flight are faster than the fastest broomstick, and the only limitation it has on distance is the energy that the wizard or witch has to keep up the flight. There are only two colorations to this, based on intent: black for malice, and white for purity. Since it is a form of Ancient Magic, only Pureblood wizards and witches are able to accomplish this form of transport, as it is impossible for Halfbloods and Nonbloods to achieve it.

Smokey Flight is the most unique form of transportation, and viewed as the elite way to travel among Purebloods due to not everyone being able to use it. It is one of the very few widely known ancient magic items aside from the Forbidden Curses.