Nuts & Bolts #67 - Skyward: A Guide to the Great Terraces

Image Shttp://cartoonsmart.com/just-added-four-new-video-tutorials-on-side-scroller-game-art/

Skyward is all about flying through the Blue, having awesome airborne combat, fighting sky pirates, and searching the mysterious limits of the world. But without the Terraces all of that will quickly fall by the wayside when planes run out of fuel, and crew run out of food. The Terraces provide places for the people of Skyward to get food and supplies, affect repairs, and trade for goods.

Terraces are uniformly formed of large square segments roughly half a mile (slightly less than 1 km) on a side. These terrace squares are joined in various configurations though the most common by far are simply large squares and rectangles. Terraces are not held aloft so much as they are fixed in place. They do not float or drift, and cannot be moved; terraces are fixed in space with no apparent support or mechanism. As a result navigation between terraces is quite routine, provided that a pilot keeps a close eye on their bearings.

The Great Terraces are all those which have a total area of greater than 10 square miles (requiring at least 40 terrace segments). The Great Terraces have the best resources, most arable land, and best defenses making them the ideal places for long lasting governments. A great many more smaller Terraces, often those with less than 5 square miles (20 segments), exist within the world, and make up by far a greater total land area than the Great Terraces, but the political and economic might of the Great Terraces far outstrips those of the lesser Terraces.

Terrace Green

Terrace Green is the single largest Terrace in all of the Blue. It is also one of the few that holds to strict neutrality. The people of Terrace Green are farmers and they live a peaceful life maintaining the land and their animals to provide both food and fuel for the rest of the inhabitants of Skyward. The fact that every other Terrace would band together against any warlord foolish enough to try and take Green for themselves ensures that none ever attempt to do so. In return for their peaceful life the people of Green trade with all parties. They are not self sufficient however, and often take in shipments of refuse to be composted, and water to help ensure the success of their crops.

The Wing Confederacy

Formed of three major Terraces the Wing Confederacy is the single most powerful government in all of the Blue. Consisting of Terraces Iron Wing, Steel Wing, and Wing along with dozens of smaller Terraces the Confederacy is also the leader in flight engineering.

Terrace Iron Wing
If your plane needs repairs and you have enough money to pay for the best, you head to Iron Wing. Iron Wing has some of the best mechanics and scrappers in the Blue, as well as access to the foundries of Steel Wing for new parts.  

Terrace Steel Wing
The smallest of the Great Terraces at just 41 terrace segments Steel Wing is a monstrosity of foundries and factories. Scrap is brought in, and newly forged parts are shipped out. Steel Wing may not be unique in its operation, but it is by far the largest and most capable.  

Terrace Wing
Need a new aircraft? Willing to pay for the most advanced tech? Welcome to Terrace Steel Wing, how may I be of service? Terrace Wing is the place to go if you have the money to buy a new plane. Not a plane newly built from scrapped and recycled parts, but one built from entirely new components sourced from the foundries and factories of Steel Wing.

Terrace Brutus

Brutus is big. Second only to Green, Terrace Brutus boasts a well rounded collection of farms and foundries, factories and more. Brutus isn't specialized in any one trade or industry but does it all. Brutus has a well rounded economy and for a stand alone Terrace is one of the few that can stand alone if need be.

Terrace Scav

Terrace Scav is the closest of all the Terraces to the Black. Located in the deep Blue Scav has claimed all of the extreme reaches of the Blue as its own, a claim that few show interest in fighting. The residents of Scav operate massive scale zeppelins and other large airships and trawl the deep blue with widely cast nets in order to catch debris from above which is in turn recycled or sold to the foundries of Steel Wing and other Terraces. Some say that the Scavs have even found a way to venture into the Black and recover that which was thought lost for good.

Terrace Black

Terrace Black is a rumor, though one that is well founded. It is said that Black is the neutral ground of the various pirate clans that hunt the Blue. A huge Terrace that acts for the pirate clans in the way that places like Iron Wing and Steel Wing do for the other nations and private pilots. Some say that Black is actually in the Black while others say that it is not a Terrace at all but the most massive airship ever built. If anybody knows  the truth or Black's location, it's the captains of the pirate clans, but they aren't talking.

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 - Skyward

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

Stella whooped with joy, the engine of her bi-plane was purring like a great cat once more. It felt good to be up in the Blue. The two weeks on Terrace Steel Wing while Killian worked the Canary's engine over had been agonizing. She'd hemorrhaged funds to pay for the repairs, her room, her board, and all the while the best she could manage for work was low paying watch duty. 

Now though, the Canary was back soaring through the Blue, and Stella even had a contract. A strong box locked in her storage that needed to get to Terrace Green ASAP. Stella rolled her craft, noting that the engine didn't even seem to notice; she'd have to thank Killian again. She looked up at the Bright, and then rolled the craft onto its wing to get a look down; down into the deeps of the Blue and beyond that the Black. 

Stella righted the craft and set course for Terrance Green. She had a good few hours of flying to get there, and she really couldn't afford to waste fuel until she had a little more coin in her pockets. Leveling off Stella craned her neck and checked in all directions, as well as sparing a glance both to the Bright and the Black. She was alone in the Blue today, or at least alone for a good fifteen or twenty miles. She smiled broadly, today kept on getting better and better, back in the Blue, no pirates or enemy ships in sight, and she had a paying job; it was almost too good to be true.

Four hours later Stella saw a great black column of smoke on the horizon, a sooty line that got larger the closer she drew. After an hour it was obvious the smoke was coming from Terrace Green, and within the next half hour Stella grew more and more horrified as she approached the farming terrace. The buildings, all of them, were still burning, but worst, even more horrifying, was seeing the fields burn. Who could possibly bring themselves to burn arable land, and perfectly good produce. Terrace Green produced enough food to feed a half dozen other Terraces, and now it was burning. Stella circled, saw that the landing strips were clear and brought the Canary down.

Stella dropped down off the Canary's wing and looked around in dismay. Burned bodies were everywhere. The building were either burning or charred ruins. Nothing moved but the dancing flames and the blowing smoke. There was only death and destruction here. But why?

The low droning of heavy engines powering massive vertical lift propellers broke the funerary silence. Stella spun and saw a great airship rising from Blackward. The blood red banners with inverted black triangles made her heart quail. Pirates. The Crimson Points were well known reavers of the skies. "Give us the strong box, and we'll let you live!" thundered a menacing voice from dozens of speakers mounted on the airship.

"Yeah, right," Stella muttered. She clambered up into the cockpit of the Canary and kicked the engine over. It was going to take her best flying to escape. Whatever was in the strongbox in her hold, was enough to get an entire Terrace destroyed, and that meant it was valuable. Too valuable for these pirates to let her live. She took off and immediately dove for the Black. With a little luck the Canary could lose them in the thin air of the deep Blue. 

Nuts & Bolts #64 - Skyward, a Recursion for The Strange

Switching things up this week ...

I created this recursion as part of my Cypher Live discussion of Worlds Numberless and Strange this past weekend with +James August Walls and +Ryan Chaddock . Jim created Sea Lion Abby, and Ryan created Dead Drop End (forthcoming) as part of this exercise. We hope you enjoy our efforts, both the show and these recursions. 

And for my regular readers, the Story Seed you'd normally get today will post on Wednesday and be set in Skyward, please enjoy, and let me know if you would like to see more...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The skies are blue, the clouds are fluffy and white, and the wind carries with it the sound of diesel engines. Life in Skyward is lived in among the clouds. Airships, planes of all kinds, and grand floating platforms all struggle daily to stay afloat. Down below there is only madness and the Black. All around was the Blue, and above the Bright. None know what happens to those who fall into the Black, or those who try to find the ground, but neither are ever heard from again.

Skyward is a recursion of endless skies. Planes and airships traverse the blue moving between the Terraces, platforms of various sizes that keep themselves afloat by unknown means. If not for the Terraces humanity would long ago have died out. These ports contain the only known remnants of earth that allow for food to be grown, and are one of the few places where water can be reliably collected. The inhabitants use food, plant, and animal refuse to synthesize diesel fuel to power all manner of aircraft. The Terraces are also the only places where aircraft can be built, serviced, and launched. In Skyward control over the Terraces power.

The inhabitants of Skyward know that resources are finite, and that any lost ship or man is gone forever. Aerial combat seldom involves firearms, and only rarely do planes get shot down, for anything that falls into the Black is irrecoverable. Instead acrobatic flight and daredevil boarding procedures are the result, with men and women trying to hijack planes in mid-air, or larger ships using cabled harpoons to physically ensnare smaller planes.

Worse still is the well hidden fact that some of the Terraces are beginning to fail, and fall into the Black. Those in power are doing what they can to hide this fact from their people and their enemies, while also beginning to consider the need to capture other Terraces from their enemies. War is brewing in Skyward, a war over what little resources remain.

Hearsay in Skyward:

• Land Ho! - A pilot trader has found actual land, rising up out of the dark in some far flung part of the sky. If true this could mean potential for new resources, and for a great deal of power to those who control them. 
• From Above - Rumor has it that the Bright is becoming less so, as if something were blocking the light from above somehow. Somebody needs to fly high out of the Blue and find out what is happening. 
• Salvage Rights - The Terrace of Iron Falcon has put out a bounty on “salvaged” enemy aircraft. Of course the only way to salvage an aircraft is to board it and kill its pilot or crew. Is the risk worth the reward? 

Level: 3
Laws: Mad-Science (diesel-punk)
Playable Races: Human
Size: apparently infinite, actually several thousand square miles
Skills: Skyward Navigation
Foci: Collects Bounties, Pilots Aircraft*, Fires a Blunderbuss**, Steals, Leads, Looks for Trouble
Connections to the Strange: Fly downward long enough into the Black and you can emerge directly into the Strange … but getting back into Skyward isn’t so easy.
Connections to Earth: Occasional translation and inapposite gates open within cloud banks high in the skies.
Trait: Graceful (+1 speed pool)
Spark: 15%
Inspirations: Tailspin, Waterworld, Mad Max, Crimson Skies, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, other pulpy tales of airships

Notes on Foci:
* Pilots Aircraft is a simple reskin of the Pilots Starcraft focus from In Translation (pg 69)
** Fires a Blunderbuss is a reskin of the Fires a Blaster focus from In Translation (pg 46)

As a note, projectile weapons tend to be resource heavy because you often cannot recover the projectiles. As a result firearms in Skyward are much less advanced and common than one might expect. Characters who take the Fires a Blunderbuss focus are some of the rare few who know how to use their weapons for best effect and are willing to deal with the high cost of ammunition and fuel (blunderbusses use a special form of kerosene infused black powder), as well as the potential for sending enemy pilots spiraling down into the Black where their planes and gear cannot be salvaged.