T.W. Ley Line Viking Longships / Ocean vessel:

Vikings were sailors from Scandianian waters who sailed over much of the world including Northern Europe, Russia, the Mediterranean, and even made their way to North America. Vikings were feared for their raids just about everywhere. The sight of one of their vessels stuck terror into all that saw them. These single masted vessels were extremely seaworthy and were made in a clinker method. They could be propelled by their single square sail or could be rowed. Due to their low draft, these vessels could sail in extremely shallow waters. Some designs, such as the Knaar were constructed for merchant trade while others, such as the Longship and Drakkar were built for war and raiding.

Many techno-wizards seem to be attracted to one style or another. Some are attracted to the designs of the old Norse designs including the Viking Longship. These ships are not as heavily armed as Ley Line Frigate and Corvettes but are still extremely effective vessels, both on Ley Lines and in the ocean. While as long as Corvettes and Frigates, they are both less wide and shallower than the more traditional vessels. They are built in two basic designs, the smaller "Longships" and the larger "Drakkar."Few designs have ever been done for these Viking vessels and most techno-wizards build the ships as much by instinct as anything else. The prow of the vessel often is the figurehead of a dragon and the sails often have intricate designs on them. Still many of the ships are extremely beautiful and any ancient Viking would have been glad to sail on one.

While some techno-wizards use short cuts when building their vessels, others stay as close to the ancient arts as possible and build the vessel in much the same manner as those ancient vessels. The same clinker method is used and the wood is enchanted by the spell of iron wood. These ships are extremely seaworthy even in the tumultuous oceans of Rifts Earth. Of course some builders are less careful and their vessels are far from seaworthy although the better techno-wizards tend to shun them. In some cases, the Longships are used as cargo vessels and in other cases they are used as warships. It appears that far more than their fair share have found their way into less reputable hands including those who can be described as "Vikings" themselves. Suddenly, a techno-wizard longship might appear and hundreds of raiders begin stripping a town or village.

The smaller "Longships" are around one hundred feet in length and twenty feet in with although the design can vary slightly. Normal crew is a couple of dozen but the ship can carry up to two hundred when used in combat. Top speed is around ten knots on the water and around one hundred and fifty miles per hour on Ley Lines. The larger "Drakkar" is around a hundred and sixty feet in length and around twenty-five feet in width. Like the longship, the Drakkar can vary slightly in size. It has a similar crew of several dozen but can carry up to three hundred men when needed. The larger vessels have the same top speed on Ley Lines as the Longships but are limited to around eight knots on the water. Of course both can be rowed as well although rowers increase the size of the crew. The smaller vessels have around forty-eight rowers while the larger vessels have around seventy-two. These rowers can be part of the troop compliment and often are. There are stories of these vessels being landed in a small body of water and rowed to a small village away from Ley Lines where they thought they were safe.

The vessels are simpler designs than the frigates and as a result are less expensive than the heavier warships. There is no cabin as in most larger vessels and the crew is exposed to the environment. As a result, these ships are not fitted with magical life support in most cases. As a result, crew comforts are not high on the features of these vessels. The spell of Ironwood makes the ships extremely tough and virtually immune to the ravages of time. The ships are enchanted with the normal techno-wizard enchantments which allow other ley line vessels to fly along ley lines. As well, the ships are enchanted to be able to produce a protective force field against attack. There are stories that some can produce a flame aura instead of a force field although this has not been confirmed. It appears that a vessel cannot combine both a flame aura and a standard "Armor of Ithan" force field. Other enchantments include “See the Invisible” optics and protective enchantments such as “Impervious to Energy.” Because surprise is often used, these ships are also enchanted with “Invisibility Superior.”

These ships are relatively lightly armed with the Longship only carrying a pair of heavy flame cannons and the Drakkar carrying an extra mount. These should be contrasted with the frigates and other vessels which carry heavy broadsides of weapons. These mounts are mostly meant to fight smaller and less heavily armed vessels. Getting into the gun sights of one of the larger Ley Line vessels, especially something like New Ironsides, can be extremely lethal. Boarding is the favorite method of most of the crews of these vessels and the ship crews often avoid direct confrontation with true Ley Line warships. The troops may be in Mystic Power armor although normally limited to around one third of the troops embarked. Often, the remainder use Ley Line boards.

Model Type:	"Longship"	Standard T.W. Viking Ocean & Sky Ship
	"Drakkar"	Heavy T.W. Viking Ocean & Sky Ship

Vehicle Type: Ocean & Sky Sail Line Ship

Crew:	"Longship"	28 / 48 Rowers (Normally at least one techno-wizard and one air warlock)
	"Drakkar"	36 / 72 Rowers (Normally at least one techno-wizard and one air warlock)
Troops:	"Longship"	172 (Can include rowers)
	"Drakkar"	264 (Can include rowers)

Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

	"Longship"	"Drakkar"
	58	88	Mystic Power Armors

M.D.C. By Location:

"Longship"

"Drakkar"

Flame Cannons Mounts (2 or 3, main deck):	80 each (2 mounts)	80 each (3 mounts)
[1] Main Mast:	200	300
Sail:	150	225
Oars (48 to 72):	20 each (48 total)	20 each (72 total)
Rudder:	150	200
[2] Main Body:	800	1,200
[3] Armor of Ithan Force Field (3 x Day):	400	400
[3] Fire Aura (3 x Day):	200	200

Notes:
[1] Destruction of the mast prevents movement in the ocean except by rowing ocean and cannot move on a ley line although will still float.
[2] Destroying the main body causes the ship to lose structural integrity, causing the boat 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] Vessel cannot have both a Fire Aura and an Armor of Ithan. The builder chooses one or the other when the ship is built. Each "Armor of Ithan" activation lasts for 30 minutes.

Speed:
Ocean Surface: Longship: On sail, ten knots (11.5 mph /18.5 kph) or higher depending on the wind. When rowed, around six knots (6.9 mph / 11.1 kph). Only seaworthy vessels of the vessel can operated on the water.
Drakkar: On sail, eight knots (9.2 mph / 14.8 kph) or higher depending on the wind. When rowed, around six knots (6.9 mph / 11.1 kph). Only seaworthy vessels of the vessel can operated on the water.
Ley Lines: Both: 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.
Maximum Effective Range: Both: Effectively Unlimited. The boat can carry up to two months worth of supplies on board. Rowers will fatigue at normal rate when being rowed.

Statistical Data:
Length: Longship: 100 feet (30.5 meters) Drakkar: 160 feet (48.8 meters)
Beam: Longship: 20 feet (6.1 meters) Drakkar: 25 feet (7.6 meters)
Draft: Longship: 4 feet (1.2 meters) Drakkar: 5 feet (1.5 meters)
Displacement: Longship: 60 tons Drakkar: 100 tons
Cargo: Longship: Twenty tons if not carrying passengers or rowers. Drakkar: Thirty tons if not carrying passengers or rowers.
Power System: Magic and sails (or oars).
Market Cost: Longship: 12 million credits (Flame aura increases cost by 2 million credits) Drakkar: 16 million credits (Flame aura increases cost by 2 million credits)

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

Two (2) or Three (3) Heavy Flame Cannons: Mounted on the deck of the vessels in swivel mounts. Each weapon is a converted heavy plasma weapon. Longships normally carry two cannons while a Drakkar normally mounts three. The flame cannons have a slightly better range and have an unlimited payload compared to hand held flame cannons. The weapon pulls its energy from a tiny Rifts into the Elemental plane of fire. Additional optics and fire control have been added to enable the system to track and target aircraft and missiles
Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914 meters).
Mega Damage: 1D6x10 per flame cannon
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
Magical “Fire Aura”: Some version of the Longship frigate can produce an aura of fire up to three times per day and is carried onboard instead of the “Armor of Ithan” forcefield. The crew can see clearly through the fire aura and is not effected. While this field is active, the ship is clearly on fire and cannot be concealed using the spells of Chameleon or Invisibility. The field is too close to the ship for ramming attacks although some pilots have tried. It is effective against creatures who try to grab the ship and attackers who try and board the ship. Missiles can be fired by the crew. See spell description for more details.
Maximum Effective Range: 0.5 feet (0.15 meters) around vessel
Mega Damage & Effects: 6D6 M.D.C. to any targets attempting to grab ship or board and has a 50% chance of catching combustible materials on fire. Fire Aura also gives a 200 M.D.C. Force field which damage must be subtracted from first.
Payload: Three Times per day.
Techno-Wizard Modifications: The Longship 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 300 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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