Airships

Held aloft by great sacks of float systems, Airships are a significant development in the Kingdom's lands. Originally developed in a distant continent across the distant ocean over a hundred years ago they now slowly becoming a common sight within the Republic's airspace.

The Kingdom and therefore the Republic has been slow to embrace the use of Airships, which have long been considered frivolous and ill-fitting to traditional doctrine, and thus are left with precious few among their sky fleets. This is in stark contrast with the Xernian Empire whose Grand Fleet is almost as much of a trademark of their military presence as their fanatical tactics.

There are broadly three classes of Airships based on their method of propulsion: SkySails, Conventional (Steam-Propeller) Airships, and the still novel Force-Jet airships. No class is considered intrinsically superior as Airships of different classes are typically used to serve different tasks.

## History

The earliest tales of Airships can be found in the songs of the Barrak Turnfall, who's travels proportionally took him to eastern lands. In his play, The Merchant of Canné, the titular merchant is said to have in his possession a jewel worth more than a fleet of Flying ships. Whether this story truly refers to modern conceptions of Airships is still hotly debated among archaeology circles. Some claim the "Flying Ships" mentioned are merely metaphorical, referring instead to the immense value a ship would fetch should it be capable of flight, an unfortunately common imagery in eastern cultures. Turnfall himself never again referenced flying ships in any of his later works. Archaeological findings in the lawless south have unearthed depictions of airships resembling seashells and are held with great reverence during ceremonies and sacrifices.

The first verifiable record of Airship usage was during the founding of the kingdom, where the founding King himself rode upon an Airship gifted to him by the island kingdom of Mallatas. The ship itself fits descriptions of a modern SkySail vessel, with golden glossimer wings.

Since then Airships have slowly become more common. During the great famine, a vast civilian fleet was used to ferry grains from the western Kingdom to the starving east coast. Many ships were driven to the point of destruction in this lifesaving run, credited with ending the famine, but at the cost of much of the Kingdom's best Sky-Sailors.

Today, Airships are still a common sight. Often preferred over traditional ships for long distance transportation for their smoother and safer trips. Most people would have seen or heard of an Airship in their lifetimes, and tall tails of Sky-pirates are a favorite bedtime story for children everywhere.

## Mechanics

Airships are large craft which require multiple crew members in order to operate effectively. In general the following officer roles are required (primary skill requirement are indicated):

1. **Sky Captain (Insight/Persuasion)**: Like a sea captain, the Sky Captains commands and oversees the operation of an airship.
2. **Navigator (History/Perception):** Skilled navigators are required to keep the ship on course. Ships without navigators are often lost amongst the clouds.
3. **Engineer(Arcana/Slight of Hand):** A ship's engineer is responsible for keeping the ship afloat and and conducting maintenance and repair which other crew members cannot.
4. **Sky Priest(Religon/Performance):** These holy men and women conduct ceremonies to appease the winds and storms. Sky sailors are a superstitious bunch and often refuse to float on a ship without a Sky Priest.

Other common roles often found on Airships include.

1. Deckhands: General laborers that form the largest segment of any Airship's population
2. Sailmakers: Float systems and sails require constant tending to by these nimble specialists.
3. Gunners: Operators of Cannon and Ballista

An air combat unit may be attached to and Airship either as carrier craft or as escorts. Carrier craft are typically much larger although smaller skyhooks can be used to support mechanical fliers. Air squadrons are led by Wing Captains and larger formations by a Wing Commodore. A dedicated boarding force may also be associated with an Airship, most commonly seen with Xernian military units.

**Common Air Unit**

1. Griffon Knights: Griffon riders who serve as the backbone of every air force.
2. Dragonflies: Fast, fragile golems that are tethered to nearby controllers with limited range. Available in a variety of models
3. Wizards: Wizards with specialized flying equipment allows them more endurance than simple fly spells. Capable of dealing immense damage any adversary.

**Rare Air Units**

1. Pegasus Knights: Graceful, forces for good. There are precious few such riders in any kingdom's sables and are typically reserved for leaders.
2. Dragons: Huge, wise and not typically embarked due to their immense size. The reputation precedes them.
3. Roc Riders: Huge and intimidating these large birds are dominating in the sky. They may also serve as the mounts of giants, prior to the giants disappearance.

### Sky Sails

Sky sails are slow, silent, and require no fuel to operate. They are at the mercy of the winds, their flight paths along slipstreams are crowded with traffic. Larger Sky Sails act as cargo vessels and host large crews in order to maintain their airworthiness.

Life aboard a Sky Sail is often romanticized as free and adventurous. They require no fuel and are thus the prime choice for long journeys and explorers. An engineer with some magical training can replenish gas supplies midair using alchemical processes or rainwater electrolysis. Onboard greenhouses may even support semi-permanent lifestyles in the air.

The absolute largest Airships are all Sky Sails, there being no engines powerful enough to move them or fuel efficient enough to allow for travel.

Notable Sky Sail vessels include:

1. **The Aurora**: The flagship of the kingdom's sky force. The very ship gifted to the founding emperor. Mostly ceremonial in the modern era.
2. **The Lost City of Ulma**: Flying city of high elves, population 10000, somewhere above in the eastern sea.
3. **The Red Roc:** Ship of the great explorer Mechinac. First to cross to eastern lands and return.

With hundreds of years of service history, most ships have been modified to be relatively unique. They say no two Sky Sails are the same, in shape or in soul.

### Conventional Vessels

Conventional refers to their non-magical, propeller engine propulsion. These ships hold connotations of power and strength. Fueled with flammable material, their range is largely dictated by their size and fuel source.

Conventional Airships are versatile and durable, traits which lend well to military use. Their stability in flight allows for luxury cruise vessels for the rich and residences for experimentation. Conventional Airships are unfortunately rather noisy, the drone of their propellers can be heard from miles away.

Notable Conventional vessels include:

1. **The Grey Cloud:** Largest battleship of the Xernian Fleet. Encased in ceramic armor this vessel and her sister vessel The Red Sea are the heaviest conventional airships ever created and likely the most well armed.
2. **The Thermine:** Luxury cruiser of the Mono-star Skyways. With 14 soundproof staterooms, this vessel serves bastion's wealthy in trips around the world. Always a source of intrigue and drama.

The most advanced conventional vessels have internal Float Systems. These are particularly advantageous in war as it minimized the risk of igniting flotation gasses.