T.W. “Esperanza” class Ley Line Caravel / Ocean vessel:

Caravels were small and quite maneuverable vessels used during the Fifteenth Century and used extensively by the Portuguese for voyages of exploration. Two of the most famous of the vessels were the Niña and Pinta, two vessels used by Christopher Columbus on his first voyage to the Indies in 1492. A number of replica Caravels were produced over the years before the coming of the Rifts. They were built from a large number of different plans and designs with almost no two alike.

Both a few of these caravels survived the coming of the Rifts along with a number of books, models, and other information about the design. As a result, the techno-wizards who decided to built these vessels had plenty of different sources to draw inspiration from. While there are a wide variety of different designs, the Esperanza is a fairly typical design. These ships are quite small compared to most other Ley Line vessels being even smaller than schooners.

Some techno-wizards take little care in the design of Ley Line vessels and are indifferent craftsmen. Those who built the “Esperanza” are extremely skilled and take incredible care in building these vessels. Solidly built, these vessels are surprisingly seaworthy for such small ships. Believed to operate in South America, the techno-wizards who built the “Esperanza” try to emulate traditional building techniques whenever possible. Each is quite a bit different and can be considered works of art even though functional vessels.

It is often hard to find enough natural wood to build these vessels. As a result, some of the wood is often made by Earth Elemental Masters, also known as Warlock. Natural or made by elemental magic, the wood is further enchanted thought the spell of “Iron Wood.” This enables the wood to take damage comparable to advanced composites and alloys. In addition, it make the work virtually immune to the ravages of marine organism, something that has been the bane of wooden ships since they were first built.

These ships are three masted with the ability to change from lateen to square rigged rapidly. While using wind, the “Esperanza” can reach speed of up to around seven knots. Ley Line travel is much faster with a top speed of one hundred miles per hour. Still, they are slower than many of the larger vessels. They can fly up to one thousand feet high and are launched using the spell of “Telekinesis” and land through the spell of “Levitation.” Otherwise, range is virtually unlimited on ley lines.

In weaponry, these vessels are comparatively lightly armed and the “Esperanza” is not designed to engage in heavy combat. Instead of mounting a battery of cannons or carronades, theses vessels mount four light telekinetic machine guns. Disguised to look like old fashion small “Falconets” swivel cannons complete with designs of birds of prey, these mounts are on the main deck with two on each side. They have fire control systems to enable them to engage incoming missiles attacks and other small flying targets. These weapon mounts must be recharged each month although have otherwise effectively unlimited payload. In addition to the four weapon mounts, the crew usually carry small arms such as T.W. Firebolt Pistols and Firebolt Rifles.

A number of different techno-wizard enchantments are built into these vessels. Most important is probably an “Armor of Ithan” force field. Able to be activated up to three times per day, this enables the vessel to withstand much greater damage than the hull alone could. While it does not require power from the ship’s magic energy battery, the ship does carry one to power other enchantments. These include “Invisibility Superior” and “Impervious to Energy.” The battery is designed to store magical energies when the vessel is on ley lines and ley line nexus. Can also be recharged by spell casters in the crew. The battery can be used to power spell casting by the crew. As with most larger vessels, the “Esperanza” is fitted with “See the Invisible” enchanted optics.

As far as crew, the ship has a crew of twenty-four. One of these is usually a techno-wizard although not in all cases. The captain of these ships is quite often the techno-wizard. Often, a number of the crew are spell casters of various types. There is a tiny cabin aft for the captain and a couple of other officers. Otherwise, the crew usually sleeps on hammocks. No troops are usually embarked, such roles usually performed the ship’s crew when required. It has been said that recreation only goes so far. As a result, enchanted sanitary and water facilities are part of the enchantments on the vessel making it more comfortable than the any origin caravel would have been.

Model Type: “Esperanza” Ocean & Sky Ship

Vehicle Type: Ocean & Sky Sail Caravel

Crew: 24 with usually at least one techno-wizard. Common as well is at least one air warlock and a couple of other spell casters but not absolutely needed.

Troops: None Standard.

M.D.C. by Location:

	“Falconet” Light Telekinetic Machine Guns (4, main deck):	60 each
	[1] Foremast (Forward Mast):	120
	[1] Mainmast (Middle Mast):	140
	[1] Mizzenmast (Rear Mast):	120
	[1] Sails (3 - One each mast):	100 each
	Rudder:	110
	[2] Main Body:	600
	[3] Magical “Armor of Ithan” Force Field (Three Times per Day):	300

Notes:

[1] Destruction of a mast reduces ocean and ley line speed by ½ 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. The ship does have the Techno-Wizard addition of impervious to energy. Specifics are listed in Weapon systems.

[3] As per the spell “Armor of Ithan” - Magic, fire, lightning, and cold all inflict one-half damage. Each activation lasts for 30 minutes.

Speed:

Ocean Surface: 7 knots or higher depending on the wind (approximately 8.05 miles per hour or 12.96 km per hour)

Ley Lines: 100 mph (160.9 kph). Requires the Telekinesis Spell (cost 8 P.P.E.) or 10 I.S.P. to initiative take off and Telekinesis Spell (cost 8 P.P.E.), Levitate Spell (cost 5 P.P.E.) or 10 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 (61 meters) without landing.

Range: Effectively Unlimited. The ship carries three months worth of supplies on board.

Statistical Data:

Length: 51 feet 3 inches (15.62 meters)

Beam: 15 feet 11 inches (4.85 meters).

Draft: 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters).

Displacement: 55 tons

Cargo: 10 tons (9.07 metric tons) of nonessential equipment and supplies. Most of the ships spaces are take up by extra ammo, armor, weapons, sails, and other equipment.

Power System: Magic and sails.

Market Cost: 30 million credits, there is a long waiting period and the cost to get one will often involve many extra costs as well.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

Four (4) “Falconet” Light Telekinetic Machine Guns: Mounted along the sides of the main deck are four telekinetic machine-guns. While not period pieces, they are disguised to look like weapons of the time and are designed to look like small “Falconet” type swivel weapons complete with designs of birds of prey. Mounts have been enchanted by a series of spells so the cannons act as a more powerful version of the TK Machine gun. This increases the weapons damage and instead of being reloaded, the machine guns must be recharged by the spell Telekinesis and 50 P.P.E. once per month. The cannon does full damage to targets that are impervious to energy. Additional optics and fire control have been added to enable the system to track and target aircraft and missiles

Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,220 meters).

Mega Damage: 6D6 each

Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).

Payload: Unlimited, although the spells (50 P.P.E. each mount) on each must be renewed every month whether the cannon have been used or not .
Techno-Wizard Modifications: The Caravel has the following techno-wizard modifications built into the ship. These require P.P.E. or I.S.P. from the ships crew or P.P.E. battery.

Special Features:

Special Systems:

Magical “See the Invisible” Optics: The ships has several special optical systems with see the invisible on them. Same as spell and used at will. 2,000 feet (610 meters) range. Can see forces, objects, and creatures which can turn invisible, or are invisible. Can also see vaporous beings and astral bodies.

P.P.E. Battery: The ship has a special P.P.E. battery, unlike similar systems in Phase World, it does not generate magical energy but stores magical energy. The system will store up to 200 P.P.E. and can be stored by crew members and absorbs P.P.E. from Ley Lines and Nexus Points. It will absorb P.P.E. at the rate of 10 per hour on ley lines and 20 per hour on nexus points.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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