Aerships

Aerships are sailing vessels capable of flight, the vast majority of which are associated with the floating city of Aviacrest.

## Description

First created by the Astedians shortly after the start of the Ascension, the requisite knowledge for the creation of aerships was lost for centuries until the unveiling of the city of Aviacrest to common knowledge in 101WD after the magic that once allowed it to drift freely through the skies started to falter, fixing it within the skies above the primary intersection of the Great Conduit known as the Waymaker's Confluence. The only true remaining Astedian settlement, the Aethnarch of Aviacrest has declined repeatedly to share the process of aership production, with all vessels piloted by Aviacrest natives and protected against tampering by means of destructive wards that detonate the internal mechanisms that generate stable and steady flight.

As a result, while a few individuals outside of Aviacrest claim to own aerships, most in truth simply hold access to them on an extended lease, with piloting crew and maintenance staff provided by the Magisters of Aviacrest.

The aerships maintained by the residents of Aviacrest are highly ornate constructions, most commonly featuring crystalline wings similar to that of a dragonfly mounted around a central capsule of glass and metal that houses the helm, observation and navigation chambers, as well as other outfittings befitting of the Class.

In order to facilitate ease of aership usage, the Aethnarch petitioned and subsequently financed the construction of an aerodrome in each of the major settlements of Ahlus, each capable of docking half a dozen Cloudskimmers, or a single Greatwyrm casting a vast shadow from above.

Despite the efforts of Aviacrest to restrict the widespread usage of aerships, from time to time other factions and groups are known to acquire one, most commonly having uncovered and jury rigged a wreckage from the days of the Astedian Empire. These aerships, often originally outfitted for war, are typically slower, less manoeuvrable and more unstable than the elegance of Aviacrest's own designs. Aerships are particularly coveted by smugglers, given their ability to bypass conventional limitations of the land, whether naturally forming or artificially raised, and so they are guarded jealously against threats of potential discovery, theft or destruction.

Beyond the Material Plane, other races far more exotic are also known to use vessels akin to the aerships of Ahlus, though varying widely in appearance, function and abilities. Rarer still than even the relics of the Astedian Ascension, few folks ever encounter such a vessel, fewer still have understanding sufficient to operate them or even overcome their defences where they lay dormant and unused.

## Classes

### Cloudskimmer

The most common aership in use by the residents of Aviacrest, Cloudskimmers come in four subvarieties, depending on their particular outfitting. Most Cloudskimmers are configured for a small number of passengers or cargo, featuring some minor comforts but elsewise basic in their design. The so-called Cloudskimmer Deluxe seeks to rectify this, stripping out some of the space dedicated for propulsion for additional amenities at the cost of flight speed. The third type of Cloudskimmers are the Cloudskimmer Heralds, more commonly known simply as Couriers, for they are frequently used to convey messages owing to their excellent manoeuvrability and alacrity for trips over short distances, whereas the fourth variety, the Wyverns, are more heavily-armoured and fitted with ranged weaponry mechanical and magical alike.

### Gloomstalker

Elite vessels operated by the Aethnarch exclusively, there are only two  Gloomstalker Class aerships in known existence. Officially, they are stated to be for use by the Stewards and Magistrates of the city when acting on official business outside of the city, but rumours aplenty suggest that Gloomstalker aerships are in truth used for covert operations, with further claims alleging that their outer plating is enchanted to facilitate casting of *Greater Invisibility* over the entirety of the vessel.

### Greatwyrm

Greatwyrm Class aerships are the juggernauts of the skies, with Cloudskimmers akin to Greatwyrm as a wyrmling to their namesake. Used predominantly for hauling large payloads at a ponderous pace across the continent, a  pair of Greatwyrm Class aerships are operated by the navy of Aviacrest, acting as mobile command centres, as well as troop carriers and docking stations for Cloudskimmer Wyverns.