Swift Blade
Swift Blades were originally designed by Half-Elf engineers that wanted to combine the sturdiness and ease of construction of human ships with the grace, elegance, and maneuverability of Elven ships. For the most part, they look like any well built human sailing ship. Their two main defining qualities are the large piercing ram, and the side sails. Swift Blades have a large, metal ram that almost looks like a giant scimitar jutting from the front of the boat. Their normally open topped fore decks are covered with sculpted Walls of Force to help redirect debris over the ship in an all out forward ram. In place of a mast for the sails, Swift Blades have six articulated wings (three to aside) with the sails rigged into the wings similar to how the Elven Navy ships operate. The main controls for these sails are below decks. They can be set to many different optimal positions to catch the flow of the Phlogiston, or air in different ways. This makes Swift Blade extremely maneuverable for a ship of its tonnage. When ramming, the sails can fold back flat onto the hull to minimize potential damage (unlike masts which would shier off if they struck the right thing.) Originally the Swift Blade was designed to counter the many Drow raids and the expected Drow war. When the Drow were banished to their home sphere, there was a time of expected peace in the Known Realm. Many Swift Blades were turned into luxury liners. Their sailing maneuverability and smooth ride are legendary. The Force wall at the front provides an excellent and safe viewing area even for those who may fear falling over board. The many crew quarters needed for a war vessel were changed from bunk rooms that held as many as nine crew per room to passenger suites for one or two people. The metal ram is a welcome deterrent for the increasing number of undead raiders as well. There are even rumors of some captains who have had their rams sharpened and use it to cut the rigging lines of other vessels. Since the ship was originally designed for war, there have been an increasing number of privateers who have purchased luxury Swift Blades, only to upgrade them into war ships once more. A raiding pirate will never know if they are attacking a ship filled with rich passengers, or weapons and privateers ready to take them in for the gold.

Bear’s Claw
Bear’s Claw is a specially upgraded Swift Blade owned by Captain Theodor Bearcharger. As his name suggests, the captain is quite content to fly his ship directly into larger threats. This may sound suicidal if you were not aware of the ships clandestine upgrades. Space on the cargo deck has been sacrificed to put two forward facing cannons in the hold and four rear facing cannons. Each area is behind secret doors, though it is fairly obvious that the cargo area has been reduced. The captain states that he had the structure for the Ram reinforced. The two forward armaments are Medium Cannons hidden behind water proof sealing doors in the front of the ship. They are well secured behind multiple doors for safety sake. The entry to the weapons room is a secret door. Aside from normal cannon shot, Captain Bearcharger keeps a wide variety of specialized rounds such as explosive, flaming, smoke, even some magical shots for the cannons. (Including a rumored one shot one kill cannon shot that he keeps locked in a special box in his quarters.) The aft of the ship has another room with a secret door that houses the four rear facing light cannons. For the most part these are used as a deterrent when they are being chased. In addition to their normal cannon balls, they can be loaded with grape shot and fired all at once as a large jettison, shredding the sails and sailors of any pursuing ship. Although the two medium ballistae (standard Swift Blade armament) on the aft deck are functional, they are mostly for show or as a deceitful distraction as the Captain relies heavily on his cannons for attacking purposes. Bearcharger has chosen to keep the rest of the ship close to the converted luxury standards, offering very pleasant accommodations to his faithful crew.

Medium Balista
Range: 4 hex (2,000 yds)
Damage: 3d6 hit points
1d3 hull points
Crew: 2
Rate of Fire: 1/3


Medium Cannons
Range: 3 hex (1,500 yards)
Damage: 2d8 hit points
1d8 hull points
Crew: 3
Rate of Fire: 1/3


Light Cannons
Range: 2 hex (1,000 yards)
Damage: 2d6 hit points
1d6 hull points
Crew: 2 (can be manned by 1)
Rate of Fire: 1/2
Note: All four cannons can be loaded with Shot and fired as a Heavy Jettison for 4d6 hitpoints at a range of 1 hex (500 yards.)