Glantri's sky navy
by Michael Berrythe evolution of Glantri's sky navy was interresting.. but incomplete. Had one hole to fill...
FELMONT 23, AC 1015: Montgolfière?
Location: Les Hiboux, Glantri. OW
Description: Prince Jaggar and several experts on skyships arrive in Les Hiboux to watch a Jean-Louis Montgolfière float through the air in a basket under a large balloon. While searching for a method on making better skyships, they had heard rumors about this flying magical item from students at the Great School of Magic who came from the area.
After a while, the group gets tired of waiting for Jean-Louis to land, so they all fly up to meet him in his balloon. Jaggar asks him what type of magic he used to create this object, and is shocked to learn that absolutely no magic is involved. In fact, Jean-Louis isn’t even a mage. He states that hot air is lighter than cold air, and by heating the air inside the balloon, it will rise up and float away with the wind. This is apparently something an ancestor of his discovered back on Laterre (the d’Ambreville’ home world). All that is needed is fuel for the fire, and a good wind.
Jaggar and the skyship enchanters teleport back to Glantri City and immediately begin experimenting with the concept.
FYRMONT 5, AC 1015: The Glantrian Air Fleet Launches.
Location: Glantri City, Glantri. OW
Description: Jaggar launches 20 new skyships to help defend against the Ethengarians. Many are amazed at how quickly he accomplished the incredible feat.
The onlookers watch as several sea vessels (large sailing ships) attached to three or four giant balloons instead of masts float up into the air.
What This Means: The idea of a hot air balloon was ingenious. Jaggar simply had three or four such balloons attached to each ship, so that they would be able to lift the weight. Instead of enchanting the entire hull with Fly spells (a lengthy and costly process), they merely used a couple of Conjure Elemental to entrap fire and air elementals in the command of the ship’s captain. The fire elementals heat the air within the balloons, while the air elementals create the wind to blow the ship in the right direction. Such simple spells and minor magical items allow them to create skyships almost instantaneously.
Of course, a simple Dispel Magic will destroy the control over the elementals and bring down the ship, but Jaggar doubts the Ethengarians (or any enemy without good information) would think of such a tactic. Still, the ships have fuel for a normal fire in case of such an emergency. It won’t be hot enough to keep the ship in the air, but it should give it a landing in which the crew can survive.
That of course is not what a supposed military genius should think… thus.. after thinking it over and not assuming your enemies are idiots and won’t think to use a basic magic against your ships…
jumping ahead in the Mystaran Almanac.. these are not ballon motive are they..
AMBYRMONT 15, AC 1017: More Skyships over Aengmor. Location: Canolbarth Forest, Colony of Aengmor, Shadow Elves' Territories. OW
Description: Already alarmed by the amount of aerial activity above Aengmor the past weeks, the shadow elves are shocked to sight a small squad of skyships again. Flying too fast to be identified, much less intercepted, the four or five skyships fly towards the dark flying fortress, and unexpectedly, bombard its moorings with fireballs, meteor showers, and other magical tirades.
obviously there was a step in the evolution missed which got filled in the Glantria Almanac...
NUWMONT 27, AC 1017: I’ve got me a Silver Machine and I’m feelin’ Mean
Location: Fort Nordling, Nordling Free Province, Principalities of Glantri. OW
Description: After 10 months of numerous testing numerous prototypes the engineers of the Versorgungsabteilung complete final test flights and declare ready for construction the de Ruyter class of Glantrian skyship. Heavily armed with most powerful of spell effect batteries the ship is uniquely powered with a dimension door enchantment that gives the ship an effective speed of 24.5 mph which far outpaces any contemporary skyships in the world.
What This Means: The crème of Glantrian military engineering have outdone themselves and constructed a powerful ground attack warship but one easily and cheaply constructed as only 2 permanent spell effects are required. In addition to having arguably the most powerful army on eastern Brun, it will soon have its most effective and powerful aerial force.