Flying Free

The only true airship known to exist as of 250 AC. Built by the Airship Pioneers in 212 AC, it has been carefully maintained ever since. Due to its miraculous helm (built by Wayland Smith and housing a fey spirit obtained from Queen Morrigan of the Winter Court, it acts as a living being rather than a simple vessel. Piloted by Sorath vo'Gal, it wanders the world and even beyond.

Description

Built on the hull of a Byssian deep-water ship, modified with ball turrets for Wyrmhold-designed thunder cannons (firing ball lightning) and given flight by wind-elemental essence worked into the keel-plate, the Flying Free is 65 feet long and has a cargo capacity of around 50 tons, although it rarely carries bulk cargo.

It has no masts, and the above-deck superstructure is replaced by a single oval bridge where the living helm is installed.

Capabilities

The ship has defenses: 4 lightning cannons (2 on each side) in ball turrets, as well as a force arc projector at the prow (capable of sending a lance of hardened air forward a half-mile). It can move in 3 dimensions and hover, traveling as fast as 50 mph for short bursts. At high altitudes, it projects an atmospheric bubble around itself, allowing the crew to breath freely.

Thankfully, the ship only responds to Sorath's direction and refuses to be used for aggressive war. Its only recorded battle was against the dragon Xol'cerd over the Nocthian Caldera in 212 AC. It participated in the Adventurer’s Guild efforts to stop the Crystal Spire War, but that involved no shots fired.