Sadi (sAH-Dee)

A ship for desert and ground but beware of water lest you go down

General Description

"I spent many a year on a sadi. The quarters are cramped. There is no escape from the racket of the engine. And the stale air will pickle your lungs. But it is a far better fate to be in a sadi than stranded on the surface." -- Retired Explorer Rand Belmont

The size of these crafts can vary, but they are typically built to be light and compact. Speed is of the essence on the surface to avoid storms and smaller sizes can fit through more tunnels in the underground tunnel network. They body is like a boat, but the upper deck can be closed in for underground transport. There are skis that can be swapped out for treads depending on terrain. More advanced Sadi can switch between skis and treads automatically, but older craft require manual switching. In the surface mode, sails are extended to use the wind for propulsion and to harvest water from the atmosphere. In the underground mode, there is a drill bit that can be used to drill through short distances of rock, but cannot tunnel long distances or through hard rock beds. This is mostly used in emergencies to bunker underground if caught out in a sand storm on the surface. For the most part, the Sadi use the tunnels created by the Tunbe to get around underground. The hull is painted with a material that protects the hull from degradation. Captains will often decorate their hulls by adding colors to the sealant paint and create crew colors.

Terrain Capabilities

"I'd trust a sadi to get me just about anywhere except across a puddle." --common saying in Deefin Gate

The Sadi can move around most terrain. It is built specifically for the dunes of the desert surface and the Tunbe tunnels underground. However, it can traverse most dry terrain on the surface using its treads meant for the tunnels. It'll just be slower and won't be able to handle incredibly uneven terrain well. The Sadi cannot handle water terrain. If the water is very shallow, a couple inches maybe, it'll probably be fine. But anything deeper and it won't work. It has no way to steer in water and most water is underground so there is no wind for the sails. The hull is not waterproof and will start to develop leaks quickly with prolonged submersion.

Crew Needs

"There is no tighter binding of fate than between crewmates of a sadi out on a voyage."--Numabian saying

A crew is needed for optimal use, though a Sadi can be driven by a single person if the need is dire. A sadi crew consists of a navigator, an engineer, and a driver. It's also good to have a survivalist and several cargo hands. The navigator keeps track of the tunnel network and the sadi's bearings. The engineer maintains the engine and related machinery to avoid breakdown. This is particularly important if the sadi is on a surface mission because the sand can cause more breakdowns. The driver drives the sadi and works closely with the navigator. The survivalist helps in case of animal attacks or being stranded. They can also act as crew cook. The cargo hands assist the engineer or survivalist as needs arise as well as manage any cargo the sadi might be carrying.

Propulsion Capabilities

"Blasted Piromese of course designed a power source reliant on the sun. Confounded idiots!"--Disgruntled sadi engineer overheard at a charging station

Sadi run on batteries. These batteries are manufactured by the Piromese who guard the secret of their blueprints fiercely. However, once its been built, it can be recharged through solar panels. Because the surface is so dangerous, most fill up their batteries at charging stations. These stations have permanent staffers who maintain the panels and port so the crew does not have to come to the surface to charge. However, if a Sadi were to run out of battery charge before reaching a station, they could set up a surface panel and get a temporary charge to get them to a station. This is helpful for long distance voyages. The sadi are not fast based on this propulsion system, but they are the most reliable methods of transport in the Borderlands and desert.

Crew

• Caylen Digby