Cloud Scrappers
Arcane Powered Airships
Utility
Currently, this type of vessel is fairly limited in use, though is often used a show of dominance over other countries. Or a flagrant display of wealth, these vessels currently have three categories they fall under.
- Travel to and from countries that do not share a Wayfare Portal Nexus in their cities. IE: Enemy nations. These Vessels are typically owned and operated by politically protected companies that are under contracts signed by all airspaces owned by the countries they are traveling over. Typically also are painted extremely bright colors and in a specific style demarking them to the same effect an Ambassador would receive.
- Military use, though the weakened armoring and the usage of anti aircraft weaponry and Sorceries tend to keep these slow moving behemoths in a scouting role or in specific instances: airborne attack in remote areas.
- The third use is that of enthusiasts. While privately owned vessels are rare, these also tend to be much smaller craft as well as much more capable vessels. The owner would typically have the funds to constantly update their vessel with emerging technologies and new rune structures. Their engine layouts are also built for maneuverability as well as having a much smaller Envelope shaped to reduce drag. These vessels are required to fly the flags of each country they are in, as well as be painted with it's country of origin/ loyalty.
Social Impact
While these ships are flashy, have their case by case usefulness, and a completely novel form of travel, they have very little impact beyond Powerful Casters, and the ultra wealthy. As much of the travel and commuter usage is dominated by the Wayfare Nexus Gates, as well as the steam powered wagons and carts for more local travel, long distance travel has already been caught cornered in the eyes of society. Now as for these two groups mention, outside of military applications they are seen both as a sign of prestige as well as a significant risk.
As for those Enthusiasts that are capable of operating and maintaining these skybound beasts, they offer an extremely unique perspective of the world. Many appreciate the truly freeing vista to see the world from such height, to be able to see the curve of the planet on the horizon, to be able to see just how small humanity is in the grand scheme of it all. The breath taking sight seen at the peak of a mountain offered anywhere the vessel can fly, there is a certain sense of calm that fills the mind when the weightlessness is felt as it slides through the clouds.
Though to anyone that possesses a Talent in the upper reaches of capability, meaning those with a Domain of any kind, or any Sound or Air related Greater Talents find these ships extremely unnerving. As the type of engine used aboard these vessels draw heat from ambient sources of magic, powerful casters interfere with the engines capabilities to a large degree. Should a Caster be aboard these vessels without Masking their power, these engines run far too hot and can burn the ship down midflight. Or should the engine be capable of handling the additional energy, the vessel becomes impossible to control as the mechanical components in the steering and flight regulation would never have been built to withstand such forces.
As such, the stories of these Cloud Scrappers being impossible to control and dangerous to ride in have stemmed from this unfortunate side effect. Additionally, Casters of any type, typically will refuse to ride in them out of this same worry. Image damaging for sure, though this is quietly turning toward public favor as more people have the opportunity to ride in them and see the world from a god's eye view.
Parent Technologies
Access & Availability
As with many of the truly arcane engines, the models that utilize the Synchronic Engines tend to be on the pricy and difficult to obtain variety. Additionally these so called "sky-clubs" are usually used by three types of entities, as they are not cost effective to warrant general use by the public.
Complexity
Synchronic Engines need to be thoroughly understood, more of these airships use the Zybtine style of this technology due to it's high power level as well as it's extremely lightweight design. Though an understanding of thermodynamics and atmospheric sciences are needed as well.
Might want to describe how they look like :P
Lol, I plan on doing some artwork for them