Airships, Steamships, and Duneship Technology
Historical Equivalent: Steam powered ships, zeppelins, and cars.
The first steamship, built in 1858 was a retrofitted caravel ship using air elementals to keep the sails full when there was no wind to speak of. This was later modified to use steam elementals to push the ships in the water, and mimicked later with earth elementals in the desert sands of Castille. Within the past 10 years, air elementals were used for the first time to lift ships into the air, creating the first airships.
Rarity. Airships are primarily restricted to government and military use, though some small cutters have been made using eletech technology. Steamships are more commonly used among mercantile companies, though the wealthy middle class and nobility have retrofitted sailing boats using air and steam elementals. Duneships are almost universally used to travel in the Singing Sands of Castille, and are owned by pirate and noblility alike.
Bound Elemental. Airships have air elementals bound within their wooden boards, and provide the lift needed to actually fly. Large airships have multiple large elemental capacitors bound into the beams of the ship, while smaller airships may only have a single elemental or many smaller elementals.
Steamships have had multiple methods of binding elementals to the inner workings, from sailing ships that bind air elementals for a constant stream of air to steam elementals that power mighty engines.
Duneships use earth elementals to push them across the sand.
What do they look like?
Different countries have their own types of ships, with the ships matching the cultural background of the country. For example:
- Avlon ships have elvish styles, mimicking simple natural features and sweeping, graceful lines.
- Vodacce ships have halfling styles, with many utilitarian and homey features.
- Montaigne styles are similar to Avalon’s elvish style but are more flamboyant and have more luxuries.
- Eisen ships are dwarven in style, giving them an industrial look.
- Summerland ships are unique in that they are usually repurposed ships from other countries.
- Patlov ships are very similar to Eisen ships and their dwarven, industrial look, but will typically have more inventive and clockwork features.
- Vesten ships are long boats with giant dragon heads, their sails built to look like wings.
- Ruskovich ships come heavily armed and armored, fueled by their orcish heritage. Spikes and teeth are common.
- Castille ships are a mix between Vodacce and Montaigne styles. They keep the homey and utilitarian features, but focus on luxury and traveling in style
How are they operated?
Operating a ship requires a Dexterity (land, sea, or water vehicle) check, DC 15, while fixing one is a much more difficult task at Artisan Tools (Smithing, Carpentry, Shipbuilding, or Tinker tools) DC 20. Most larger ships require multiple people to operate properly.
Where are they found?
Every country in Europa has their own ships and they are commonly seen, though many people have not ridden on one.
Airships are a new technology that has been invented within the past few years. These ships, built to soar the skies, are restricted to government and military use only in most countries, though pirates have raided airports and stolen ships for their use. The knowhow to build these ships is limited, though the technologies that keep them afloat are advancing by the day. Much of their day to day use is in passenger and lightweight luxury goods transfer across countries.
Steamships were the first types of ships to be built with eletech technology. While many of the original ships were limited to governments and nobility, their use in the mercantile industry is unmatched. Many steamships, armed with eletech weaponry have destroyed or outran prospective pirates.
Duneships travel between caravans in the desert wastes of the Singing Sands of Castille. These ships are owned by the pirates and nobility of that area.
