Airboat

An **airboat** (or **floater**) is a flying vehicle invented by the alchemist Oolim Phon who served Phal Thurid, the Sark of Thurdis. Phal Thurid intended to launch a fleet of airboats to conquer Lemuria, but when Thongor broke out of jail in Thurdis he stole the airboat (the only prototype in existence at the time) and used it to flee the city. Thongor and the wizard Sharajsha later used the airboat on their quest for the Star Sword in their battle against the Dragon Kings. After the Dragon Kings were defeated, Thongor retained ownership of the airboat.

## Description

The airboat measures twenty feet in length and has a narrow deck with a low metal rail, and a small enclosed cabin where the controls are located. The hull is constructed of a weightless blue-white metal called urlium that provides the craft with aerial buoyancy. The anti-gravitational property of the urlium hull keeps the airboat floating in the air when not being operated. The cabin contains bunks for sleeping and is lit by an oil lamp sealed in a glass ball. The ship's chest contains emergency supplies such as food, water, and healing salves.

There are metal rings fastened to the interior walls of the cabin where passengers can be secured in the event of a violent storm to prevent them from being thrown about (presumably the rings could also be used to secure prisoners).

The control panel includes a pilot's chair where the pilot may sit for ease of operation and for observation through the front windows.

## Operation

The airboat is driven by spring-powered rotors. One set at the rear propels it forward, and another just beneath the prow pushes backward. Other rotors in the center of the deck and beneath the keel force the craft up or down as desired. These engines are operated from the cabin by four levers that are labeled with the directions which they govern. The higher the levers are pushed, the stronger the rotors drive the craft. The controls may be locked in place by the pilot.

A dial near the controls indicates the remaining amount of rotor power available in the great coiled springs that run beneath the deck. The airboat is capable of at least several hours of flight before the springs must be cranked up again. Otherwise the craft will simply drift on the air currents due to the weightlessness of the urlium hull until power is restored. For this reason, and to prevent it from floating away, the airboat is usually tethered to a mooring mast or some other object on the ground with a hooked sky anchor when not being operated. The springs are cranked by turning a wheel reached through a trapdoor in the deck.

### Water travel

The rotors of the airboat are also capable of propelling it along the surface of a body of water like a traditional boat when necessary. However, this is performed with less speed and efficiency than aerial travel since the rotors were not designed for use in heavy water. Thongor resorted to this method of transportation when his airboat was rendered temporarily incapable of flight after it was struck by lightning during a storm.

## Armaments

Clamped to the inside wall of the cabin is a Lemurian war bow. Before his death, Phal Thurid had planned to launch a fleet of airboats manned by crews of archers trained in the use of these powerful weapons. Thongor wielded the bow against a winged grakk over the jungles of Chush, but lost the weapon during the battle when it fell to the earth far below.

## Modifications

After the airboat stolen by Thongor was damaged in his battle against the grakk, Sharajsha helped him retrieve the wreckage from the jungle and repaired the craft. The wizard made improvements on the original design so that the coiled springs "drove ceaselessly", greatly increasing the amount of time required before they must be cranked again.

He also installed a compass (a spinning "magnetic pendulum" of lodestone) so the pilot would never lose direction. When the repairs were completed, the airboat was given the name *Nemedis* to honor the memory of that great kingdom of men.

## Vulnerabilities

The anti-gravitational property of the urlium hull is temporarily nullified by the direct application of strong electrical force, such as a lightning strike. Being struck in this manner will cause the airboat to slowly descend to the earth and render it incapable of flight. This effect lasts for two days.

The onboard directional compass is also at risk of becoming demagnetized and inoperable under similar electrical conditions including violent lightning storms.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Lin Carter, *Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lin Carter, *Thongor and the Dragon City* (Chap. 1)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lin Carter, *Thongor and the Dragon City* (Chap. 2)
4. ↑ Lin Carter, *Thongor and the Dragon City* (Chap. 10)