Airships come in many designs, though among the most common are the refitted spelljammers. These have the benefit of being tried and true, familiar designs, and shipyards had been tooled to turn these out prior to the Godswar and most shipyards never bothered to refit for other designs after travel to and from Aramar across the planes became difficult.Less common are the propellor driven craft, which are noisier and slower but more graceful and often larger. These are fairly new designs, taken from memories of the late Emperor and his identification of such things from his youth. Still magical transportation, though they often have the look of some ancient technology.
Finally there comes the more minor vehicles. Brooms, carpets, discs and the like carry a few people at most. More often one rider is all it can support.
Into this mix throw also all the various individuals able to fly through their own power or through some device like a Cloak Of Flying.
And as one is winging their way through the skies to get to one's destination, one has to look at the horizon and ponder that eternal question.
"Why do I always end up sitting next to someone who's never heard of personal hygiene products?"
Musings on modern civilization, Rihal Mistwander.
A squad of goblins came down the stairs.
Ranma met them.
He had been a little surprised initially on how damn tough these critters were. Their skins were actually fairly thick - like callous or something, and their bones were thick too. They tended to get back up unless you hit them really really hard.
Ranma couldn't have hit many people back home this hard. Ryoga being a notable exception. In some ways they reminded him of Tatewaki Kuno, getting back up when someone more sensible would stay down.
Ranma wasn't above using his staff to give his strikes a little extra oomph.
The goblins had some vulnerable areas where their natural armor didn't quite cover. Throats and joints, abdomen had soft and hard spots, but their most sensitive area was their ears.
Ranma spent what seemed to be fifteen minutes beating back the group until they decided to go after easier pickings.
"Earning pay you are at last," said a sarcastic voice.
"Hey, they're tougher than they look," pointed out Ranma.
"True it is. Pirates must be good at violence or dead they would be," agreed the herb vendor.
"Hmmmm," agreed Ranma in turn, checking out the weapons they'd dropped. Most of them were well cared for, tools of the trade and all, but essentially crap. "Junk."
"Yes. Fortunate. Magic weapons more trouble they would give you."
"Magic usually is trouble," agreed Ranma.
"Depends on use and who doing using," mused the merchant.
The deck lurched and the ship seemed to list slightly.
"Lifeboat," said the merchant. "This way."
"We're pretty damn high up," pointed out Ranma.
"Enchantment to fall very slowly," explained the furiously waddling humanoid mouse. "Ah, just in time."
Ranma watched his employer shoulder his way into the crowd on the large barge-like ship. "Ain't no room on that thing."
"Release you from service," said the merchant. "Unforseeable circumstance. Take different boat if you find one."
"Huh? HEY!" Ranma exclaimed as the lifeboat cut ties and drifted away. The deck shook again and began listing more heavily. "Oh, damn."
Ranma ran as fast as he could along the deck, looking for another of the little pods that could swell up to become a full sized leaf-barge. Nothing. One that was already too far out even for him to jump. THERE!
Ranma leapt out, noting this one didn't seem to have many people on it. Then he realized that there was someone else:
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(Posted Fri, 09 Apr 2004 08:28)
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