Clockwork Apsia Arabica

The clockwork Apsia Arabica is a large brass clockwork mount built by artificers in the city of Mecca. They are used for transport and for military purposes, though only two exist, at least officially. The transport version has space inside it to carry gear & trade goods, the military one carries weapons, armour, military gear and survival packs. Both can only travel limited distances, and the the user generally avoids taking them over the sea, mainly if they were to crash into it, there would be little way to retrieve them.
These are used as a form of aerial reconnaissance for the Abbasid forces in the region, and also to transport goods & troops over the Empty Quarter while avoiding the trek through the Empty Quarter or around it. It also allows them to avoid running into the Lost City of Iram, Jinn, and sand storms.
It seems that the local Abbasid representatives got he designs from a group of Gnome artificers a number of years ago, after the latter came through a rift in an obsidian lined cave in the Empty Quarter. They had plans for such contraptions, and were put to work building these, as well as maintaining them. The local governor has kept the Gnomes safe, and knows that these machines are handy for helping to protect Mecca itself from possible aerial assaults.
They have proven useful for hunting down Rocs that stray to close to Abbasid controlled regions too, stopping these gigantic birds damaging buildings, as well as abducting citizens & livestock too.

Power Generation

The clockwork apsia arabica runs by the use of oil drained from deposits in the Peninsula that is heated to force the clockwork parts to start up. It is heated until it is forced to go through a small number of chambers attached to the cogs causing these to turn. The more oil, the more pressure, and the more quicker it can fly.

Propulsion

The gears, cogs and wings are attached in a way that forces the movement of the wings up & down. Now, it can glide when up high enough but has to get airborne first. To do this, it has to have it's wings beating fast enough, and forced forward at the same time to create thrust. A secret set of spells has been worked into the system to help make the whole thing lighter, and stronger than it would normally have been otherwise. Without it the pressure would tear it apart. When enough energy is built up it starts to fly up at an angle, with other spells activating to create lift.

Weapons & Armament

The transport version has one heavy crossbow & 20 bolts designed to fit anywhere on the casing. This allows for full 360 degree firing of it from a seated position.
The military version has two of these and 40 bolts allowing for double the amount of firepower.

Armor and defense

There is magical spells known only to artificers in Mecca that helps to hold the devices together, and thick brass plates cover many of the facets of it. Unknown to many, the wing membranes, joints, and thinner areas, are stiffened desert worm chitin layers built up to make them light enough but strong enough to protect these regions.

Communication Tools & Systems

The crew and passengers usually use hand signals to denote actions, and they will use specifically shaped & coloured cloth strips of different designs to signal with other groups. These are kept top secret to prevent any enemy working out what the users are going to do. It also helps if either are captured or stolen, then the Abbasid owners in this region can spot trouble from afar.

"Seen one of those in action. Those artificial moths. Completely ingenious contraptions, and built by off-worlders. Some species called Gnomes. They made them to fit our size, and they constantly tinker at the moths to!. 
Only two exist, so it doesn't take up too much time for the artificers. They, from what I hear, are busy trying to work out other inventions to go hand-n-hand with them. What these are, is only speculation at this point. I do know they are looking to build more of these clockwork moths, and a couple of bigger ones too. And the internal workings are to be improved. I've seen some of the tests.
I think they regularly fly over the Empty Quarter, and are looking to use them there too. Something about aerial spying there to make sure Iram is never found. Would be a good idea. Close enough to see, but far enough away to avoid any catastrophe."
Sheik Ali al-Akbar.

Manufacturer

Artificers Guild of Mecca

Creation Date

785 AD

Price

100,000 GPs

Rarity

Legendary

Length

30 feet

Height

17.5 feet

Weight

4.7 tonnes

Speed

30 miles per hour

Complement / Crew

2 Crew (one pilot, one soldier)

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

7.5 tonnes or 10 passengers with personal gear