We will stand on the deck
of a skyship, watching as
it nears the massive towers
of Metamor City…
Divide by Zero
… it’s a hunk of metal and plastic the size of an office building, and it’s just… hanging up there in the sky, like a god’s party balloon. Ships aren’t supposed to do that. –
“We have to admit though: if you want to throw a party in Metamor City, doing it on a skyship gives you one hell of a view.”
- Daniel, then Danni Sharabi, Double Trouble
Technical Specifications
A cross between a zeppelin and an ocean vessel, a skyship is a large metal vehicle that uses Feather Weight enchantments and technomagical antigravity generators to float in midair. These vehicles are usually propelled by turbojet engines, though for delicate maneuvers they use much larger versions of the drive turbines used in skimmers and swoops.
Because of their Feather Weight enchantments, skyships require relatively little fuel to propel what would otherwise be an enormous amount of weight. A single skyliner, with a dozen turbojet engines, can carry as much as an oceangoing cruise ship while traveling at speeds of up to 1000 km/hr. This makes them ideal for transporting large amounts of cargo, especially cargo that has to arrive quickly. Most skyships also have a passenger deck, where a few hundred paying customers can sit back and enjoy a roomy, relaxing flight to their destination. The ships stop at docking platforms that are elevated above the surrounding metropolis; here they sit, floating in midair on their antigrav cushions, as passengers exit through extended docking arms similar in appearance to the jetways at a mundane airport. The ships rarely actually come to rest anywhere, landing only when the engines and antigrav generators need to be serviced.
On the whole, skyships are a more cost-effective way of transporting people and cargo than traditional airplanes (which never became very popular in MK2K as a means of civilian transportation). When maximum economy and carrying capacity are desired, though, the best route is still the trustworthy ocean freighter.
Skyports
Matthias Tower, Metamor City
Known Skyships
- Skyship Valemar (Double Trouble)
