T.W. "Blackflame" class Ley Line Frigate / Ocean vessel:
Throughout History, there have been many famous pirates. Some of these include Blackbeard, "Black Bart" Bartholomew Roberts, and William Kidd. These famous names pirated the Caribbean during the famous age of piracy. These were often lawless times. Eventually, the organization of powerful military forces put down the threat of large scale piracy but there was even piracy during the Twenty-First century. With the coming of the Rifts and the resulting devastation, the world returned to virtually lawlessness. Pirates once more appeared on the world's stage. At the same time, a new kind of pirate was born. This was the air pirate. Some operated from planes while others operated from Ley Line ships.
Some Ley line ships are converted pre-rifts sailing vessels which were taken over by pirates. Other pirates manage to acquire Ley Line schooners, corvettes, and frigates though various means. Still, some pirates want have wanted more than that and have had special built "Pirate" type Ley Line vessels. Often these ships are design to look fearsome even malevolent. One of the better known vessels of this type is the "Blackflame" and many scholars believe that the ship's appearance is inspired by ships known as the "Demon Black Ships." Unlike many other Ley Line Vessel classes, these ships are not based directly on an specific vessel design. The ships fly black sails and appear to be constructed from not wood but demon bone.. Where these ships actually come from with speculation running from Atlantis, to a secret pirate base somewhere in the South Atlantic Ocean, to even Hell itself. While extremely dangerous, these ships normally avoid engaging larger Ley Line vessels especially the "New Ironside" class frigate which is based on the USS Constitution. There are stories about a single ship of the Blackflame class, renamed the Phoenix, which was captured from pirates and is used to fight pirates.
While some do speculate that the ships are truly constructed from the bones of demon, the simple truth is that it would be impossible to get enough demon bone to build one of these ships and the value of the bone would drive the value of the ship to beyond the ability for any pirate to afford. It is far more likely that the ships are constructed from some sort of enchanted wood or something else relatively affordable. Still, the ships are completely immune to fire, even the ship's sails. Otherwise, the ships are about as tough as some of the smaller Ley Line Frigates such as the Pandora class. Like many of the better ley line vessels, these ships are extremely sea worthy and are well constructed. As a result, they can be found pirating the seas as well as along Ley Lines.
Like most Ley Line vessels, the main weaponry of the ship are telekinetic cannons. The ship is armed with four longer ranged 12 Pounder Long Guns and sixteen shorter ranged but more powerful 32 pounder carronades. With ten cannons on each side, the main battery can be devastating at short range. As well, two of the 12 pounder long guns can fire directly forward and two can fire directly to the rear. All of the 32 pounder carronade battery is mounted on a single deck. The ship is also armed with four heavy flame cannons mounted on the deck. These are useful against fast moving targets such as aircraft and missiles.
The most spectacular ability of the ship is to create a flame aura around the ship. The flame aura gives protection against missiles and other weapons although is more limited than the "Armor of Ithan" force field which protects many other ship classes. As well, the field can potentially ignite other objects if they are flammable. This fire aura does not effect people on the ship itself including those who are on deck or in the rigging. This fire shield can be activated up to three times per day. As most other Ley Line vessels, the Blackflame has a variety of other enchantments including the ability to become invisible. This can be extremely useful when trying to take another ship by surprise.
Like most Ley Line ships, these ships have large crews. Crew live in tight quarters although more comfortable than sailing ships of old were. The officers of the pirate ship, including normally the techno-wizard, have more comfortable quarters with the captain having the most comfortable quarters. The ship has magical life support and sanitary facilities. As might be expected, the ships carry a large number of marines with many using power armor. These are often used in the capture of other vessels. Mystic Power Armors are common although other armors can be used as well. Up to around fifty troops can be embarked onboard. The only relatively common class which embarks around the same compliment is the "New Ironsides"
Model Type: "Blackflame" Ocean & Sky Ship
Vehicle Type: Ocean & Sky Sail Frigate (Light)
Crew: 130 with at least two techno-wizard, two air warlocks,
and two other spell casting types recommended but not absolutely needed.
Troops: 50 (Normal of 20 pilots for Mystic Power Armors, 30
soldiers in body armor)
Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:
| 50 | Mystic Power Armors (Possible) |
M.D.C. by location:
| 12 pounder Long Guns (4, 2 each side on swivel mounts): | 100 each | |
| 32 pounder Carronades (16, 8 on each side) | 150 each | |
| Flame Cannons Mounts (4, main deck): | 80 each | |
| [1] Foremast (Forward Mast): | 200 | |
| [1] Mainmast (Middle Mast): | 250 | |
| [1] Mizzenmast (Rear Mast): | 200 | |
| Sails (15) | 60 each | |
| Rudder: | 300 | |
| [2] Main Body: | 2,000 | |
| Fire Aura (3 times per day): | 200 |
Notes:
[1] Destruction of a mast reduces ocean and ley line speed by 1/3 for
each mast lost.
[2] Destroying the main body causes the ship to lose structural integrity,
causing the ship to sink if in the water. There are enough life preservers
and inflatable life boats (one of the few items of technology added) to
accommodate everyone on the ship. Note: the ship (including the
sails) has a permanent enchantment which makes it impervious to fire and
heat (including magical fire and plasma.) As well, the ship has the Techno-Wizard
addition of impervious to energy. Specifics are listed in Weapon systems.
Speed:
Ocean Surface: 12 knots or higher depending on the wind (approximately
13.81 miles per hour or 22.2 km per hour)
Ley Lines: 150 mph (240 kph). Requires the Telekinesis Spell
(double cost at 16 P.P.E.) or 20 I.S.P. to initiative take off and Telekinesis
Spell (double cost at 16 P.P.E.), Levitate Spell (double cost at 10 P.P.E.)
or 20 I.S.P. to land the ship. Otherwise, the ship will float away slowly
(2 mph) at about 100 feet (30.5 meters) off the ground. The ship can only
travel through the air along ley lines and can switch directions at ley
line nexus points.
Height: While Flying, maximum of 1000 feet (305 meters)
and minimum of 200 feet without landing
Maximum Effective Range: Effectively Unlimited. The ship carries two months worth
of supplies on board.
Statistical Data:
Length: 115 feet 9 inches (35.3 meters)
Beam: 34 feet 3 inches (10.4 meters)
Draft: 15 feet (4.6 meters)
Displacement: 540 tons
Cargo: 20 tons of nonessential equipment and supplies. Most
of the ships spaces are take up by extra ammo, armor, troops, weapons,
sails, and other equipment.
Power System: Magic and sails.
Market Cost: 250 or more million credits, the source of these
vessels is unknown and the ships are extremely difficult to acquire.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
Special Systems:
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By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Copyright © 2006, Kitsune. All rights reserved.
