This information is mixed. None of it is uncommon, but the average citizen of Sharn might not know exactly how a Airships Elemental Containment works. If a character is a specialist on Airships, they likely know all of this.
Stats
- Average Eberron Airship moves at 20mph or 180ft per round
Technology
- Bound Lightning or Fire Elemental
- Soarwood Hulls, effectively weightless
Terminology
- Ships operated by Lyrandar
- Branded as “EliAir” by Lyrandar, sometimes also called “EA”
- This has become a generic term of all Airships, even privately owned one
- Docks
- EA’s are docked at a Mooring at travel locations (usual on a tower or other high building)
- Because of their traditional vertically the infrastructure around EA Moorings are referred to as “Air Towers” (even the parts which are flat on the ground)
Generations of Vessels
1st Generation
- Laid down 990YK
- Experimental
- Unstandardised
2nd Generation
- Laid down in 995 YK
- Currently the most common EAs in Khorvair
- Standardised Hulls in 3 classes
- Leviathan Class (largest)
- Whale Class (Mid weight)
- Minnow Class (Smallest) - Still larger than any 1st Generation EA
3rd Generation
- Laid down in 997YK
- Rare
- Modular Hulls made to be easily re-configured to fit multiple roles
- 2 classes
- Monsoon Class (largest)
- Typhoon Class (smallest)
Common Routes
- There is also a non public Air tower in Stromhome and one in Metrol lost to the Mourning.
- Lyrandar also operate an emergency Waystation Air Tower in Devilsleep for airships who get into trouble on the long Journeys between Sharn/Trollenport and Flamekeep/Fairhaven
Calming Stations
- House Lyrandar maintain Calming Stations along all of the major routs which keep Airship elementals in check reducing the danger of air travel along these corridors.
- Calming stations are Soarwood hulls given lift by a Magewrought Levitate spell tethered to Storm Spires (ERLW p281)
- Posting to a Calming Station is used as somewhat of a punishment for troublemakers within Lyrandar. Those who make trouble are often threatened with a posting “To the calming’s” as a warning for their deeds.
Elemental Containment
The Elementals that power the rings are trapped in Khyber Crystals inside the ship and the “Engine” of the EA Draws them out into the Rings for powered flight. An Elemental Airship without an active ring is almost still weightless, but will drift down with the weight of any non Soarwood components or crew. But they are still light enough that a few good mooring ropes will hold them aloft. Its standard Practice in Lyrandar EA’s to keep the Ring powered for the vast majority of the time, but they are still deactivated for maintenance (on the ship or its Crystal) or when no flight is required of an extended period.
Crewing
See Elemental Airship Crewing Rules