Starships
The basic technology that allows for space travel was first developed by the Quendari many thousands of years ago. Nearly every piece of magical technology produced today has it origins with this early spacefaring race. It was this technology that allowed the Quendari to forge an empire that stretched across the stars. That empire fell long ago, though much of its legacy remains. Some of these inventions are replicated today, in the mercane shipyards found throughout known space. Others are impossible to understand but still form the backbone of modern space travel. The greatest of these is the Quendari Gates, magical portals that allow for instantaneous movement between solar systems.
Runic Drive
At the heart of every starship is the runic drive, a wondrous item that borders on artifact status and the key device that makes space travel possible. While appearances might differ, most runic drives are simple four-sided plinths made from stone or wood. They generally stand two or three feet high and are covered with with intricate glowing runes. Embedded within the hull of vehicle, thin lines of mithral marked with tiny symbols radiate away from the runic drive. These mystic pathways channel the energy of the drive to other parts of the ship and help power important systems.
Pilots manipulate the runic drive to fly the starship, though all of that control is mental. While anyone can learn to use a drive, potential pilots must bind with the item first. Most runic drives can bind with more than one pilot simultaneously; however, the exact number of bonded pilots is entirely dependent on the size and style of the device. Once bonded, a pilot may enter a meditative state called the Union. In this condition the pilot is one with the ship. It becomes an extension of his body and he can move the vessel through the power of thought.
Runic drives gain their power through the absorption of ambient magical energy. The devices store this energy in a central liquid core of mercury and a metal known as celestanite contained within a variant resilient sphere spell. The energy stored here is directed to four key systems that make the dream of space flight possible.
Atmospheric Shell
Before entering the void of space a runic drive can create an invisible sphere that envelopes an entire starship. While physical objects and certain types of energy can move through it, the atmospheric shell prevents gases from escaping its boundary. It also forms a protection against specific forms of radiation commonly found in space. However, the shell does not rejuvenate the trapped air, meaning an occupied ship without a reliable means of producing air quickly becomes uninhabitable.
Atmospheric shells originate from four points on a ship, usually marked by specific runes or other objects designed to project the effect. Most shells extend outward 40 feet from the surface of a ship.
Gravity Decks
A ship's runic drive can generate gravity by directing magical energy through specially prepared deck plating. These five foot square plates can be placed anywhere on a ship, but only one side of the device is capable of producing gravity. The gravitational field produced by a gravity deck extends outward to the limits of the ship's atmospheric shell. While most gravity decks generate gravity equal to the baseline found on most worlds, they may be created to provide either a greater or lesser pull.
Propulsion Plates
A series of complex symbols etched into specially prepared metal plates and positioned at key locations around the starship provide it with the ability to move. When active, the propulsion plates warp the fabric of space at two points. For example, when flying forward the space at the front of the ship is constricted while the space at the back of the ship is expanded. This allows the ship to ride a “wave” in the direction the pilot wishes to travel. The exact speed is dependent on the pilot's will, making it possible to travel the large distance between planets in a span of hours. While historical documents claim the Quendari were able to equip incredibly massive ships with propulsion plates that allowed for fast travel between star systems, no modern starships are up to the task.
Warming Nodes
By heating the air trapped within the atmospheric shell, warming nodes help protect against the deadly cold of space. Constructed from clay and a core of crushed ruby, warming nodes are placed at four points around the ship, usually near the points that generate the atmospheric shell. While in the meditative state known as the Union pilots may manipulate this temperature with a thought. Once set, this temperature will remain the same until altered again by a pilot.
Air Circulation
Space is a near vacuum. While the atmospheric shell generated by the runic drive traps breathable air it does not freshen this air. A starship without some way to produce breathable air is a death trap for its crew. While some captains are willing to take their chances and refresh their shells by sailing into the upper atmospheres of certain planets, most prefer to recycle the air with a ship based solution. Over the centuries two methods have remained the most popular and are still used on modern starships.
Alchemical Lung
Known as an alieocoptrix, the alchemical lung is a living creature born and grown by the alchemists of the Alavian Brotherhood and sold by the mercane in hundreds of star systems. This amazing work of biological engineering comes in different sizes depending on the scale of the starship it must serve, though all appear to be little more than a large glass jar filled with undulating flesh. Alchemical lungs survive on the exhalations of other creatures, transmuting it with fresh and breathable air. The aliecoptrix must also be fed on a regular basis; it subsists on a slurry of meat, saltpeter, and mercury. While the Alavian Brotherhood state the alieocoptrix are unintelligent, there are those who believe otherwise and claim that the alchemists utilize morally reprehensible techniques in the production of the alchemical lung. The organization is highly secretive about the process, however, which makes it difficult to prove these accusations.
Ship Gardens
Seen as an elegant solution for two problems, the ship garden is the method of choice for many crews. While a garden can provide sufficient air for a starship and serves a dual role as a source of food, there are problems with this approach. Gardens require suitable soil, food and water, and constant tending by an expert with the magical skills needed to keep the garden alive. They also occupy far more room than an alchemical lung. These constraints often mean a garden is impractical for most starships. In nearly every way, alchemical lungs are cheaper and easier to maintain.
Alternate Starships
The information above details the standard starship most characters will encounter in Sailing the Starlit Sea. However, there are other forms of starships exploring the known universe. These vessels include the impressive generation ships of the Quendari that seed star systems with new interstellar gates, living starships with a mind and will all their own, and single pilot ships useful for combat in the void. While these alternate starships will receiving varying amounts of detail in Sailing the Starlit Sea, all of them will provide creative elements that stand outside the norm for space travel.
Through the power of magic, a mighty age of space travel has emerged. Explore far-flung planets, encounter alien cultures, and uncover terrible secrets that have been forgotten under the crush of centuries. A universe of adventure awaits those who dare to sail amongst the stars.
Sailing the Starlit Sea
The ultimate frontier is now open!
Through the power of magic, a mighty age of space travel has emerged. Explore far-flung planets, encounter alien cultures, and uncover terrible secrets that have been forgotten under the crush of centuries. A universe of adventure awaits those who dare to sail amongst the stars.
Sailing the Starlit Sea includes:
- Details on outer space and the hazards one must face in those cold, airless depths.
- Rules and guidelines for magic-driven starships and other modes of interstellar travel.
- A sample solar system with five planets and a host of smaller celestial bodies that can be easily dropped into any space fantasy campaign.
- New creatures that originate from alien stars and planets.
No comments:
Post a Comment