The Hopeful Return
One of the most respected institutions in Kalin, the Hopeful Return has a well known and regarded history. Part organization and part airship, the Hopeful Return is both the term for the massive Air-Dreadnought and the people who work on it (who are also known as the Children of Cosmalis).
The Hopeful Return is best known as the aircraft of the Blessed Dead, the heroes at the end of the Second Age who averted The Return and saved existence as it is known. After the Blessed Dead vanished from existence, the Hopeful Return remained, as it remains to this day.
While the Hopeful Return's history is long and complex, in the common day it is mostly known as an active goodwill organization and neutral ground. Every nation, to some degree, respects the Hopeful Return as a "true neutral" party to the continent, and are happy to receive its aid.
Sometimes the Hopeful Return acts as a neutral ground for diplomatic talks, sometimes it acts as an independent military force versus pirates, sometimes it helps transport massive amounts of grain to regions suffering famine. The main consistent point is that the crew of the Hopeful Return work for the betterment of all, not the betterment of themselves or one nation.
The ship itself is one of the two remaining "Air-Dreadnoughts" of the late Second Age, the other being the headquarters of the Ordicus Technomantis, called the "Pursuit of Knowledge." As an air-dreadnought the Hopeful Return has space for thousands of crew, passengers, and more. It has its own workshops, small hydroponic farms, barracks, and other self sufficiency improvements. It is also armed with four massive ground facing artillery guns capable of flattening cities, dozens of air-to-air cannons for defeating air-attackers, and is even equipped with six smaller airships for scouting and transport.
For almost the entirety of the Third Age thus far the Hopeful Return has flown the skies, bringing hope to wherever it flies, to whoever needs it.
Structure
As it has its origins as a military airship, the organization is broadly the same, though it has evolved over the centuries.
At the top of the hierarchy is the Captain, who acts both as the literal captain of the ship, and the de facto leader of the Children of Cosmalis. Despite the Captain being in command, it is usually accepted that the Captain will defer to specialists and their higher ranking crew for advice, and if they don't bylaws allow for the removal of the captain, though said bylaws have never been needed.
Under the captain is the First Mate, who acts as the Captains Second in Command and often handles various logistical and organizational tasks the captain cannot handle. By long standing tradition dating back to the Second Age, the First Mate is usually also the Captain of the Schola Custodi Ordo stationed on the ship.
Under the First Mate are the various department leaders. The Chief Engineer, the Chief Mage, The Chief Navigator, the Head Chef, the Garrison Commander, and so on. Each one has more or less autonomous control over their department of the Hopeful Return, provided they act in good faith.
Culture
The Hopeful Return tends to attract those with a drive to do good, or at least a drive for meaning in life. While some may be tempted to attach their name to such a glorious reputation and hope for rewards, they would find few. The Children of Cosmalis are usually paid little compared to comparative positions across the continent, and tend to look down on people obviously using their position for political gain.
In general, the Hopeful Return fosters a family community of those dedicated to peace and prosperity across the continent.
Public Agenda
To aid the people of Kalin, to promote peace and prosperity wherever possible, to protect the people of Kalin from the creatures of The Return and the dark.
Assets
The largest asset of the Hopeful Return is the Hopeful Return itself, the massive air-dreadnought. Bristling with guns and technomantic technology, the air-dreadnought is nearly unassailable from the air. This is bolstered by loyal crew, which includes the Air Marines of the Children, who are well trained and equipped.
All of this is possible due to the generosity of the Nations of Kalin. While the Hopeful Return is somewhat self-sufficient, it still needs more resources, such as crew, metals, and other things that its workshops and small farm can't provide. The Nations of Kalin all contribute whatever they can, from crew, to raw resources, to straight money to help the Return, as do those who the Hopeful Return aids (if they are able). Even hundreds of years later, no one can forget the Hopeful Return and the role it played in saving all of Kalin and beyond, and to this day the respectable members and conduct of the Air-Dreadnought are lauded across the continent.
History
Originally built as only an engine of war, the Hopeful Return was one of three massive air-dreadnoughts built by the last Grand Magus of Virnos during the end of the Second Age. The air-dreadnoughts nearly bankrupted the state. Of the three, one was destroyed during the Annexation of Virnos, one became the Pursuit of Knowledge under the control of the Ordicus Technomantis, and one was captured by the Atresan Empire under Tutiro Cam and brought north for study.
Decades later, during the early stages of The Return, the Hopeful Return was "gifted" to the Blessed Dead to aid in their quest to save the world. It traveled the breadth of the continent in that time, saving many and transporting the heroes of the age all the way to the final battle at the Fall of the Return.
After the end of the Return, the Hopeful Return continued to fly under its Captain Panikos Cosmalis and First Mate Nishi Asami. Even when The Blessed Dead vanished, their dedicated crew continued to fly and hunt the remaining pockets of Dark Drow and other servants of The Return. Eventually the crew would become known as the Children of Cosmalis after Panikos passed away of old age decades later.
Since then the ship has played pivotal role, hunting the creatures of the Return while they still roamed the continent openly, and then acting as both a large aid organization, and support organization. It has held diplomatic talks between nations, fought off hordes of pirates in the east, and much more besides, in the generations hence.
Hope For A Better Tomorrow. Work To Make Tomorrow A Reality.
Founding Date
0 3A
Type
Activist, Charity
Alternative Names
Vessel of the Blessed Dead, Ship of the Children of Cosmalis, The Bringer of Hope, The Enlightened Centrists
Demonym
Child of Cosmalis, or Returner
Leader
Comments