Veilborne Ship

Amric Dol'Gering, captain of the Gallant stood upon the bridge, his eyes narrowed at the map table.
"How far is the Ley?" he asked, pointing at the straight line on the map.
Zaml Haig, his navigator sighed. He drummed his ruler with one hand and tapped his compass with the other. "Fifteen leagues if its one, captain," he said, "But since its not one it might as well be a thousand. Those Umbar-cursed pirates will be on us before we reach it."
"If they're actually on us," Guthry An'Semon said, sounding hopeful. "It's possible they've not spotted us and are just following a patrol pattern."
"Like as not they're sharpening their silverware," Zaml said, spitting into a can he had handy. Amric grunted his agreement. He grabbed the speaking horn and said, "Nest, bridge. I want another ranging on the enemy ship."
"Aye, captain," the young watchman on the crow's nest replied, his voice tinny through the speaking pipes. "Range is one dash two six seven. Getting closer."
"It still doesn't--" Guthry tried but the captain spoke over him.
"Captain of the watch," Amric boomed, "sound general quarters and wake the bell-ringers, and pray the Son they won't be ringing our dirge!"
"Aye sir!"
Amric grabbed the horn again. "Engineering, bridge. Full power to the engines. And wake that umbar-burned slack-hand of a mage and get him to earning his pay. We need speed, man!"
"Aye sir," came the reply, but Amric was already on to the next thing.
Still holding his speaking horn he called, "Nest, bridge. Loft a warning flare, red."
A flash of fear held the watchman's voice, but Amric's crew was well trained down to the mice. "Aye sir," the watchman said, voice strong and even to make his captain proud. "Lofting the red flare."
By the time the emergency flare had been launched and filled the sky with a momentary crimson light, Amric could hear the hum of the engines below him drawing power from the Veil. The paddle wheels sped up, driving the Gallant closer to the Ley and safety, or so Amric hoped.
For generations the Kindred have plied the seas on the power of the winds or their own backs. Often a captain might keep on hire a mage who can increase the winds at need or keep up the strength of his oarsmen.
But after Silaster Koldun invented his Veil-powered engine, ships have no longer been held back by the whim of wind or the strength of men. A Veilborne Ship is a ship that is borne along by paddle wheels which are powered by a Veil-powered engine.

Power Generation

Veilborne ship engines tend to one of two kinds. The first and most common kind uses a modified Sterling Engine to turn the paddles, whereby the plates are cooled and heated either directly or indirectly by magic. In addition, the engine will have an interface whereby a mage can draw power from the Veil and then apply it to the engine for greater power and speed. The second kind of engine is newer and more powerful but requires fuel. This engine resembles a steam locomotive engine but wherein the boiler is an open space wherein fuel of various kinds is placed The engine then saps the potential energy out of the fuel used, powering the engine. This engine will also often produce waste of some kind from the fuel that has been used. It also will have an interface.

Propulsion

Most large Veilborne ships are propelled by paddle wheels driven by the engine, though screw-driven ships are being experimented with and are used widely in smaller boats.

Weapons & Armament

This depends widely on the purposes of the ship. Veilborne warships will be outfitted with warbells and marine blazoneers and the like. Merchant ships might have fewer and older weapons as they aren't expected to fight in battle, just hold off pirates until the local navy arrives.

Armor and defense

As above, many Veilborne warship makers are experimenting with both external armor (called barding after mount armor) as well as enhancing the internal structure against bombardments.

Communication Tools & Systems

Internal communications are often managed with the speaking pipes, a magically aided network of pipes whereby crew in the various stations can communicate. External communications are by flags, magical means, flare signals and coming soon, radio.

Sensors

Only what the crew have, for the most part, besides magical means.

Hangars & docked vessels

Most Veilborne ships will have secondary emergency boats of some kind, battened to the sides or stowed, etc.

Rarity

Veilborne ships are a common commodity now and few ships remain that only use traditional means of power. That being said, most Veilborne ships still have and use sails to aid the engine when it works and take over when it fails.

Speed

This varies wildly based upon engine power, load, etc. but a good ship with a light load and a mage directly feeding it could reach twenty knots, but only for short stints at a time. An average speed is closer to eight, though.