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gaeleth:ships:skate

Skate

Size: Colossal (L225ft, W40ft, D23ft).
Propulsion: 5,000 square yards of sail.
Speed: 13 knots
Crew: 300 and 450 marines.
Cargo: 1,500 tonnes.
Hull: 2 feet of solid oak at the water line.
Deck: 1 foot of solid oak.
Mast: 205 feet from the water line.
Weapons: 40 heavy ballistae, 30 light ballistae, 2 catapults and 2 mangonels
Ship Qualities: Oceanic, Frigate.
Flag: Rakore.
Cost and Construction Time: 76,850gp, and 1yr, 8mos, 1wk.

The Skate was designed by Rial Mhenace – manager of Gideon Enterprises in Rakore. The keel was laid in the summer of 1225, and she was launched in the fall of 1226 Avard from the GE shipyards at Thayer’s Rock, west of Teras, Rakore.

The experimental vessel was a proof-of-concept for the super-galleons. Their extensive construction time, immense costs, and large crew prohibit most nations from copying the design – but the concept has proven well worth the effort. The Skate super-galleon has served Rakore as a privateer on the high seas – harassing enemy trade, and once taking on three Kur Maen heavy triremes at once.

While galleys like the Kur Maen triremes usually have significant speed and maneuverability on a galleon, the super-galleon designed allowed for greater speed and maneuverability in a favorable environment – the open ocean with rough seas and high winds. During the encounter with the three Kur Maen triremes, the Skate’s ballistae, bowmen, and mages did significant damage at longer ranges, sinking one trireme outright. An intense maneuvering battle soon followed, in which one of the triremes sank due to choppy seas and too much water coming in through her row holes. The third trireme was taken in close-quarters battle, ship-to-ship and grappled. The greater height of the super-galleon allowed for archers to maintain the high ground during the fight, while overall the numbers were nearly even. The battle was known as Blatton’s Fist, fought as it was off the coast of Blatton Island, south of Teras.

The Crew

The ship's master is a member of Firestorm, that answers to the name Captain Fourth. He and his hand-picked crew have seen their fair share of battles. Most of the crew is cross-trained on the use of the shortbow, adding considerably to the ship's firepower.

Captain Daniel “Fourth” a'Namree: Captain Fourth is an average height man with a whip-cord lean build and fast reflexes. Half Sholin and Half Toomarn, he grew up equally at home in the saddle as on the seas. He ran away at an early age, seeking freedom from the stifling and contradictory tribal laws of his homes. Fourth trained as a sailor, working his way up from crewman to captain in relatively short time. He is fearless with a saber, is a keen navigator, and can sail nearly anything afloat. A tough Sholin man, he is fair with his crew.

First Mate Nathamra: Nathamra is a Sholin woman with a gravelly voice ruined by years of sea-salt and singing. She is also a cleric of Olorin and an accomplished elemental mage, as well as being an amazing sailor. Nathamra often calls her goddess ‘dear’ and talks to Olorin as though she were the very sea around the ship. To everyone else, she is a tough woman that has keel-hauled her fair share of men.

Cleric Cormyr Fistforger of Galgiran: The official healer aboard ship is the cleric of Galgiran called Father Cormyr by the crew. Father Cormyr is a mild-mannered dwarf with the patience of stone, but once worked up he has a temper as fiery as magma. He tends to wear his plate mail at all hours and all times, even aboard ship – and the few times he has gone over the side, has landed on the water with a splat, gotten back up, and gone on to attack the target of his fury.

Bosun Davist Duthir: The toughest man on board the Skate is the Bosun, an ex-paladin of Yatindar. A tall man at 6’2”, the Bosun speaks only when necessary with a voice borne to command legions. A good disciplinarian, a look is sometimes all it takes to get the crew to alter their behavior. When roused to combat, he uses twin longswords to devastating effect.

Marines: The Skate has a good 20 marines on board whose sole task is to repel boarders, take land objectives, and enforce the will of the captain. Battle hardened and well-trained, they are afforded the best of weapons, armor, and equipment – much of it enchanted.

Crew: The crew of the Skate are all combat veterans, as well as master sailors of the high seas. They hail from all walks of life and many races, from tomanths to desert elves, humans to dwarves, elves to a drow’ari that swims in the sea like a fish.

gaeleth/ships/skate.txt · Last modified: 2021/09/28 15:50 (external edit)