Shadow of the Sea Lord - Pregen #4 - Qart Eyesore

Image Source: http://www.deviantart.com/art/GOBLIN-MECHANIC-93728011

Qart Eyesore
Level: 3 / Magician / Artificer

Description

Qart is clever for a goblin. Clever especially with items of technology. With a small amount of magical talent as well, it was no surprise that he was able to get himself employed by an Inquisitor. What could have been a lifelong career of hunting demons was cut short when an experimental device freed a bound demon. The Inquisitor took a rather dim view of this failure on Qart's fault and the goblin had to flee to avoid becoming the next heretic hunted down by his former master.

In short order Qart found himself in Freeport, where the somewhat looser laws would ensure that any past misdeeds on the continent would probably not catch up with him. It has been a dozen years since all of that and Qart has managed to eke out a decent living building specialty items and repairing machinery in the port city.

His history aside Qart manages to stay gracious toward his clientele, which, combined with his expertise, keeps him in coin. Unfortunately that civilized veneer hides a stingy and self-centered outlook that comes from the hardships of his past. Deep down Qart is still haunted by his past mistake, and the one hole in the armor of his self interest are potential demonic incursions.

Race: Goblin

Age: 44 yrs
Sex: Male

Strength: 7

• Health: 13
• Healing Rate: 3 

Agility: 13

• Defense: 13

Intellect: 13

• Perception: 14

Willpower: 10

• Insanity: 0

Corruption: 0
Size: 1/2 (short and round)
Appearance: Short and fat with a wide, leering grin.
Odd Habit: You punctuate your sentences by spitting.
Speed: 10
Power: 2 (Rank 0: 3 per day, Rank 1: 2 per day, Rank 2: 1 per day)

Languages: Common, Elvish; you can read all languages that you speak
Backgrounds: Inquisitor's Henchman, Engineering (academic), Navigation (academic), Law (academic)

Interesting Thing: the true name of a very minor devil

Race & Class Abilities

• Shadowsight You see in areas obscured by shadows as if they were lit.
• Sneaky You gain 1 Boon when trying to hide or move silently.
• Immune Damage from disease; the charmed and diseased conditions.
• Iron Vulnerability You are Impaired while touching iron.
• Cantrip: Whenever you discover a tradition you learn an additional rank 0 spell from that tradition.
• Spell Recovery: Use an action to heal equal to your recovery rate and regain on expended casting of a spell. Usable once per rest.
• Artificer's Bag: You have a bag of spare parts worth 12 gc for the purpose of creating artificer items. See SotDL page 61 for full details. 

Spell Knowledge

• Sense Magic (rank 0, SotDL pg 55)
• Technomancy (Intellect)
• Rank 0
• Jury Rig (SotDL pg 142)
• Magic Wrench (SotDL pg 142)
• Rank 1
• Bolt Thrower (SotDL pg 142)
• Caltrops (SotDL pg 142)
• Sparking Shield (SotDL pg 142)
• Rank 2
• Grenades (SotDL pg 143)
• Protection (Intellect)
• Rank 0
• Magic Lock (SotDL pg 137)
• Secure Site (SotDL pg 137)
• Rank 1
• Force Field (SotDL pg 137)

Equipment: dagger, sling w/20 stones, fine clothing, backpack, cloak, week of rations, waterskin, tinderbox, coil of rope, 2 torches, tool kit, healing potion, & pouch w/ 10cp, 

Nuts & Bolts #66 - Skyward: Aircraft

Image Source: http://www.deviantart.com/art/Nieuport-Rocket-Fighter-79235169

Aircraft are important in Skyward. This is pretty obvious considering the very limited area that any given Terrace has and therefore the limited ability to run adventures limited to a single Terrace. Since Skyward is a Cypher System creation that means that aircraft can be dealt with as simply as giving them a level and walking away.

But just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do something right?

Nope, you should go the extra mile if you can, especially for something as integral as aircraft are to Skyward. The following are a handful of the aircraft one might encounter in the Blue as they search for the mythical land that stories say exists just beyond the far horizon.

http://bloochikin.deviantart.com/art/Biplane-335183042

The Canary

The bright yellow bi-plane flown by Stella Colomen is a modified RT05 Single Engine Courier. The single seat light chassis was extended to add a cramped jump seat for passengers, and the internal cargo capacity was increased to be large enough to accommodate a large steamer trunk. The Canary's engine is a large volume eight cylinder rotary from the Terrace Iron Wing. The Canary mounts only a single gas powered harpoon thrower with hemp line.

The Canary (level 2)

• Crew: 1, plus space for one uncomfortable passenger
• Modified Engine - level 3 for all tasks relating to speed and cargo carrying force
• Expanded Chassis -  level 1 for all tasks relating to maneuverability (the expanded chassis isn't as nimble as the stock version; stock version is level 2)
• Harpoon thrower - level 1 for tasks relating to offensive maneuvers and towing. 

B-39 Rocket 

The B-39 Rocket is one of the newest designs out of Terrace Wing. Rather than use a conventional propeller engine drive the B-39 uses a pair of strut mounted rocket engines. These allow for a significantly faster speed, but consume higher quantities of fuel and the B-39 is suitable for only the shortest of journeys. Mostly they see service as defense ships at Terrace Wing and attack ships when deployed from a carrier zeppelin. Their drawbacks also include a tendency to explode if their duel systems are breached. These combine to make the B-39 a rare vehicle to see, but one with unprecedented speed and maneuverability.

The designers at Terrace Wing are working on a next generation B-40 Rocket that will be more efficient and less prone to disastrous explosion.

B-39 Rocket (level 3)

• Crew: 1 
• Rocket Engines - level 5 for all speed and maneuverability related tasks. 
• Gas Guzzler - Level 1 for purposes of distance travel.
• Explosive - If struck by an attack (as on a major effect) the B-39's fuel system could rupture and the aircraft may explode.

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Biplane-104382305

Double-Single

The Double-Single is a general class of single engine bi-planes. They generally operate using a high volume twelve cylinder engine that, combined with their dual lift surfaces, gives they a great deal of maneuverability. Double-Singles are commonly used as attack planes by raiders and Terrace defense forces. The solid chassis can support up to four harpoon thrower systems, and the engine is more than strong enough to muscle smaller planes around. The common design means that replacement parts are easier to come by and their agility makes them well suited to aerial combat.

Double Single (level 3)

• Crew: 1, additional jump seat for 1 takeover specialist (typical level 3) 
• Air Superiority - level 5 for all speed and maneuverability related tasks. 
• Heavy Duty - level 4 for attack and actions related to towing
• Common Parts - Level 1 for to repair. 

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Zeppelin-Carrier-143161852

Terrence Class Zeppelin Carrier Ship

The Terrence Class Zeppelins are heavy heavy haulers using lighter than air gas and secondary lift surfaces to stay afloat. Powered by ten on board engines these craft are among the largest to fly the Blue. The carrier variety are able to support up to a half dozen fighter aircraft like Double-Singles. Rumor says that the Thunderhead Pirate Clan has a Terrence Class Carrier, and some say that they have more than one all painted to look identical to hide this fact.

Terrence Class Zeppelin Carrier Ship (level 6)

• Crew: 7, plus bunk space for up to 10 passengers. More if cargo space is converted
• Massive - level 8 for the purposes of carrying and being targeted for attacks
• Slow & ponderous- level 1 for all speed and maneuverability related tasks. 
• Minimal Armament - attacks as level 4

Brutus C47 Cargo Hauler

The Brutus C47 Cargo Hauler is a popular cargo aircraft designed and built at Terrace Brutus. The long wingspan and twine Heavy-16 engines allow this craft to haul a great deal of cargo by weight and volume. The C47 is found throughout the Blue carrying scraped aircraft to repair yards, foodstuffs from agrarian terraces like Terrace Green, and other goods and products. The C47 doesn't excel in speed or maneuverability, and seldom sports more than a pair of harpoon throwers for defense, but its cargo capacity is second only to the rigid airships like the Terrance Class Zeppelin and similar. 

Brutus C47 Cargo Hauler (level 4)

• Crew: 2, plus space for 2 more, converted cargo space can seat up to 60 additional passengers
• Heavy hauler - level 7 for tasks relating to hauling goods & cargo
• Slow - level 3 for all speed and maneuverability related tasks.

Design Notes

I very much look at Skyward as a Dieselpunk setting, with technology stopping just before the advent of jet technology, but also advancing beyond that in genre appropriate ways. Because the setting is one of resource scarcity even "new" aircraft will be built from recycled parts, unless the owner is fabulously wealthy. This tends to show as the rolled steel skin used on many craft can be easily patched and reused on new craft without a smelter.

Story Seed - Mission Failure

Image Source: http://whelanc.deviantart.com/art/Crash-Land-581917542

"All readings normal, telemetry from the probe is starting to come in." The astronaut flipped a handful of switches and brought up a readout on the secondary display. "Oxygen is in the normal range, but the carbon dioxide is higher than expected; eighteen percent." The astronaut leaned forward and peered out the capsule's window at the orb below, it was covered in greens, yellows and reds, all shot through with swaths and lines of blue. "Looks nice enough out the window, but I don't think the tourist industry is going to far."

"Roger that Pod One. Decrease orbital distance to one one zero klicks. Deploy lander probe when your new orbit is stabilized."

"Received. Firing thrusters to bring orbit to one one zero kilometers." A shudder went through the pod as it tracked closer to the planet. After a moment it ceased as the pod glided through the orbital space in silence. Another burst and the pod stabilized. "Preparing to deploy lander-"

The pod rocked as if hit by a great fist, accompanied by the sound of an explosion that was quickly muffled by the lack of atmosphere in space. Inside the pod klaxons warned of an explosive detonation in the probe deployment mechanism. "No kidding," the pilot muttered trying to stabilize the pod's quickly deteriorating orbit. "Uhh ... command, I'm having a little problem here!"

No reply came. The pod suddenly shuddered as it slammed into the atmosphere. The astronaut, no longer holding hope of preventing a forced landing, concentrated on preventing a crash landing. Ten minutes of terror, stress, and desperate fighting for control ended in an abrupt jerk as the pod broke through a canopy of vegetation, followed by a hard stop as it slammed into the ground.

The pod was broken open like an egg. There was no was it would get off this planet. With a resigned sigh the astronaut keyed his radio again, but still there was nothing, just static and the bleating of the pod's transponder. "Well ... this is less than ideal."

Last Week Today - Week of February 1 - 7, 2016

Monday
Story Seed - New Moon

Wednesday
Nuts & Bolts - Non-Player Cards

Friday
Shadow of the Sea Lord - Zags Gash