Sky Ships

Sky ships were introduced to the Skies in the year 134 AF, with the launch of the first exploration ship to launch from the ports of Skyhome. For a century, Skyhome was the only island capable of constructing and operating sky ships, but in modern days, every major power has access to technology. After the people of Skyhome retook the ruined city of Urgontur, the The Senate realized that within only a few generations their rapidly growing population would quickly exhaust the resources of their island. To solve this problem, many solutions were proposed, but in the end, it was Sky Ships became the only viable way to avoid the island from eating itself to death.
The first sky ship was a A1 Sparrow, a simple model to be sure, but allowed for the weeks long travel necessary to move between islands.
Generally, the element used to power a sky ship generally determines the speed and how quickly its elemental energy is depleted. Fire based ships are the fastest, but require frequent stops to recharge. Water based ships are moderately fast, and only need semi-frequent stops. Air based ships are generally the slowest, but can go long periods of time without recharging.

Utility

Sky ships are used for a number of different functions depending on their model. Some are used for transporting passengers, others are used for moving cargo, others still function as combat ships, while others dabble in all three.

Manufacturing

Different islands have different processes for constructing their ships, and use different materials in their production. Skyhome construct their ships like maritime vehicles, using wood and metal shipped from other islands. The island of Molten Heart primarily uses metal to build their ships, and favor larger, more brutal designs. Paradise constructs their ships using transmutation magic to create them from at once, and favor intricate designs, impossible to replicate with traditional manufacturing.

Inventor(s)

The inventor of sky ships was Robin Freeboot , a professional Skyhome inventor and a armature archaeologist. Through his hobby, he discovered the designs for both traditional marine vehicles as well as rudimentary designs for ancient air ships. Combining these designs with recent breakthroughs in using chunks of Source Crystals to generate power, Freeboot was able to design a simple, yet functional, sky ship.

Access & Availability

In the modern skies, every major power among the skies have their own models of sky ships. The basic concept is consistent across all sky ships, but each power has different design sensibilities, aesthetics, and efficiency.

Complexity

The "heart" of a sky ship is its Elemental Engine . Sky ships require specially designed engines that are more powerful than domestic models. Each ship is designed in a way to harness and distribute the element used to power its propulsion. Fire based ships often feature pipes and exhaust ports that bletch flame, causing then ship to shoot forward at great speeds. Water based ships use hoses and large cannons to maintain altitude. Air based ships simply drift by themselves, and so feature vents that allow them to move at a consistent and steady pace.

Related Vehicles

• A4: Whale