Cloudheart

Cloudheart is one of the few airships in the world to see regular use, and uniquely has enjoyed that status for almost 1,800 years. It is a legendary vehicle among Dwarves and all those who work in artifice or magic, and its crew are always held in high esteem. The ship is notable for being made of alchemized glass as the result of encountering a magical storm.   Cloudheart has seen continuous service since conmpletion, being used for a variety of purposes from cargo transportation to scouting to aerial warfare. It is owned by the Councilclan, while its crew is personally chosen by the Land Chiefs. The captain is chosen by the High Chief; while the Chief chooses a commission that the captain must follow, the captain is free to choose how to carry out their brief, and may send the ship when and where they will to complete their goals.

Construction History

The vessel was built in 630 BC as part of a line of experimental airships. Its construction was headed by master shipwright Deunan Douglas in conjunction with the engineer Gorm Hidehand, taking three months to complete. At its launching ceremony, it was given the provisional name of Alric-13, after its making; Tuathan tradition holds that a ship should not be properly named until after a completed journey.   The ship completed its maiden journey from Danu to the village of Elred, a distance of 12 kilometers, and reached its destination in under two hours, encountering no problems. On successful landing, it was formally christened as Cloudheart and made an overnight stop before returning to its origin the next day. The second trip encountered minor issues due to lingering damage that had not been noticed, but safely landed after four hours and was declared a hardy and worthy vessel.   Of the twenty airships made in its line, Cloudheart was one of 6 that survived both testing flights, and its lack of problems was deemed by many as a sign of good fortune, though others voiced a fear that this merely heralded a greater tragedy to come.   Cloudheart was chosen to undertake the longest airship flight yet attempted, from Danu to H'adurford in Svartalfheim, for which it underwent three weeks of preparation. Five days into its intended three week journey, it encountered a magical storm channeling trasmutative alchemical magic. While the crew rushed to make an emergency landing, the ship was struck by a bolt of magic that transformed its entirety into a glass-like substance, while leaving the crew unchanged.   The ship landed one day behind schedule, with four souls lost. The journey was considered a limited success, while the craft was returned overland to Tuatha'nell and taken into study to examine its magical properties. After six years of research and limited test flights, it was re-classified as safe for use. By this time, it was the only ship of its line remaining.  

Magical Properties

Cloudheart's substance superficially resembles clear glass, both in appearance, texture, and temperature, but is far tougher. The material does not shatter when damaged, instead breaking into loose chunks with soft edges. The process has been compared to the action of a liquid, substantially slowed. Pieces in contact with the main body of the vessel gradually return to their proper shapes over a course of days or weeks, while pieces removed from the ship for prolonged periods slowly sublimate, while the ship regenerates its missing parts.   The material is lighter than wood or metal, the entire vessel weighing only 83% compared to one of identical size and construction. It is also highly resistant to sudden changes in temperature, and completely resistant to electricity. Most significantly, it is unaffected by known forms of raw magic, including magical storms, and shields any person fully enclosed within its hull from their effects.   These properties have given the vessel an unparalleled degree of usefulness, and as such it is the only airship that is widely considered to be safe for occupancy by untrained aeronauts, though it is seldom commissioned for public use.