Origin
The Ithosian Longfarer is a ship constructed by the Ithosia Seafarer's Boats and Fishery Company, which has only been in use for the last six years. During that time three of these ships have been constructed, the first having sunk on its maiden journey south.
The company, before the Longfarer came into use had been a part of more traditional fishing scheme in and amongst the shallower stretches of the
Vilanto Sea. Over several decades of operation the company was well-respected and wealthy, with contracts as far west as Casarei. But about a decade ago, the people of the southern coast began to develop a taste for
Deep Sea Vilanto Torwin, a large muscular fish with a light smokey taste, after a school of them were caught in a strong current and pulled into shallower water. Shortly afterwards it was discovered that this fish was a deep-sea dweller far to the south in barely charted waters. Regardless of the dangerous and unpredictable area, a race to stake out territory began between fishing companies began. With each trying to build and launch ships worthy of the trek in order to capitalize on the growing taste for the Torwin.
The Ithosia Seafarer's Boats and Fishery Company watched their competition stumble and fail repeatedly, and decided upon a different approach. They outsourced the problem to a foreign engineer. A lesser-known mage and native-born Aldegian whose name has remained private in order to protect them, with an expertise in Ether-related technologies. With accolades including having worked briefly on the engine design and construction of the
Crown Train of the Empress prior. For reasons unknown, he left
Aldelgis in order to work on the shipping companies problem, exiling himself from him homeland in the process. His involvement, much like the design of the Longfarer, is not public knowledge. Though many have their theories as to his identity as sightings of older Aldegian mages in Ithosia are a rare sight.
Over the next four years, this mage would work with the company's shipwrights, finalizing the design and eventually building the first prototype. Unbeknownst to his native land, and anyone outside of the higher levels of the shipping company, he had stolen several large chunks of Ether Crystal.
A powerful energy-filled crystal that can act as a magical battery for technologies far more advanced than any other in modern-day Fyria. An act that would be labelled as reason and result in execution, and could likely lead to an international incident. As Aldelgis does not take kindly to those that steal Ether Crystals and their secrets.
In Aldegis, Ether Crystals fuel mighty armaments called Vanguard Armour. Large wearable suits of armour, controlled from within by specially trained pilots.
Vanguard Armour can tear through their enemies with ease and protect their pilots within heavy armour. The energy of the crystal allows for the armours to move, despite weighing hundreds of pounds. And allows for the armour's pilot to wield enormous weaponry.
The company would launch the first of these Longfarers in secret, in order to test its capabilities, but unfortunately, the Ether Crystal inside was cracked leading to a catastrophic malfunction during the voyage south. Because there was no mage on the boat to help repair or contain the leaking energy, the Ether Crystal split open during the rocky voyage and blew a large hole in the ship. It would sink to the depths of the deep waters it had just reached, with everyone on board sadly losing their lives. The prototype Longfarer has yet to be recovered.
Regardless of this setback, the company pushed forward with a second attempt. The new ship would have a few design changes, a new more secure housing for the onboard Ether Crystal, and a now mandatory mage assigned to monitor the engine and the crystal on board. With each of these Longfarer Mage receiving personal training from the Longfarer's Aldegian designer.
The launch of the second Longfarer went much more smoothly, sailing to the southern sea in record time, and bringing back a large bounty of Torwin. Since then, one additional ship has been built, and one more is currently under construction. Due to the success of the Longfarers, the Ithosia Seafarer's Boats and Fishery Company has easily surpassed its competition and is now the top provider of Torwin on the southern coast and one of the most successful commercial fishing companies in all of Fyria.
Construction
Ithosian Longfarers take quite a long time to build due to their size and complexity, especially when compared to other modern fishing vessels of the southern coast. In the past six years, only three have been built, and only two currently sail the waters successfully, the first having sunk during its maiden voyage.
The ship's hull is primarily built of specially treated wood, using a lacquer produced from sap only procured in central Ithosia, which helps protect it from the salt of the ocean. Steel anchoring beams are used to hold the ship together and give needed rigidity. Since the Ithosia Seafarer's Boats and Fishery Company spared no expense in the design and construction of these ships, they also had the unknown Aldegian mage develop and cast a variety of protection spells on each ship. Which is recast each time the ship is scheduled to set sail again.
The most important piece in the boat is the engine, one that was secretly designed and constructed. It uses a palm-sized chunk of Ether Crystal to power a uniquely designed engineer unseen in ship use until now. These crystals hold immense magical energy though and can power each ship for an entire voyage and more before having to be recharged by the company's resident mage architect upon the Longfarer's return.
Locomotion until now has either been done via sails or via the occasional mage-assisted ship, which can typically only be done occasionally or on shorter trips. Many other companies are struggling to find their own innovations since the Longfarer's launch.
Typical Fishing Voyage
For an average sea-faring ship, the trip to the deep sea territory where the Torwin gather is a two-week-long affair, a months-long or more overall depending on the success found upon arrival and the return home.
But, for the Ithosian Longfarers, the trip out to these waters takes a week or less depending on the weather. And thanks to the ship's superior fishing equipment, designed alongside the ship itself. And the knowledge and experience of its crew, successful in catching Torwin, and filling the ship's large hull, is typically quick and efficient. The ship uses several large harpoon guys, with each harpoon being enchanted with electrified energy. This is used to stun and trap the often dangerous Torwin at a distance before reeling them in, killing them, and storing their carcasses in the ship's hull.
The two running Longfarers often take bets on how fast they can finish a trip and have even taken successful bets against other ships where they have lapped them. Travelling to the deep water territory, catching enough Torwin to fill their hull, and returning home, passing by the struggling ship still on its way south along the way.
Despite the company's enormous success, some have begun to criticize them for overfishing practices. Citing that the enormous amounts of fish being brought back will quickly lead to the extinction of the Torwin and that they must slow down before this becomes a reality.
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