Due to the temporary halt in the investigation, after the Grey Ashbird Logging Team delivered the raw timber via the Floating Ship, the Seven Seas Traveler finally comnced construction.
Princess Rupert also agreed to the association's permission, and after the deal was finalized, the first batch of magical oak planks were sent into the shipyard. Experienced shipwrights were in place, and for the leading craftsn, there were three people in total. Kalatu found Uno Tuban, a reclusive Dwarf Artisan Master.
The Royal House of Penelope sent an experienced royal alchemist, specializing in overseeing the construction of ships of this level. As for the third person, at first, even Fang Hong did not expect it to be the Chairman of the Tansnier Crafting Association, Madam Aierna.
Thus, the originally empty shipyard soon beca bustling.
The keel was first erected, followed by the arched ribs of the ship. It quickly lay flat on the slipway like a massive skeleton. Unlike ordinary sailing ships, the keel arches in the middle, forming a platform where the magic guided engine is placed.
In Eteliria, Floating Ships are mainly divided into two categories, easily distinguishable from their appearance.
The first category uses Guy Gas as power, known as "Wing-Type Floating Ship" or "Airship." Its principle is similar to hot air balloons or airships on Earth. Its typical feature is a set or multiple sets of giant airbags suspended above the ship, usually twice as large as the ship itself.
In fact, the platform on Mr. Greyrock's back uses the principle of "Wing-Type Floating Ship." Guy Crystals are vaporized by Guy Generators, filling airbags with this gas and relying on the massive lift generated to support the entire platform—or the hull.
As for the second category, it's "Winged Ship" or "Wing-Type Floating Ship." As it uses a solid Guy Generator for power, the lift cabin can be built inside the hull. From the outside, it abandons the previous giant airbag structure and looks no different from ordinary sailing ships—except for the set of wing sails on both sides and multiple fin sails beneath the hull.
The Seven Seas Traveler under construction belongs to this type of Floating Ship.
In fact, only winged ships require this raised part, as the solid Guy Generator will transmit wind elents through this arched part of the keel to every part of the "skeleton" to provide uniform lift for the ship. Therefore, only magical oak and blackwood with ether affinity can undertake this responsibility.
However, these two types of raw timber are too expensive. Even for main warships of various nations, it is impossible to construct entirely with magical oak and blackwood. Countries typically use sturdy iron oak to build the outer hull, while the interior cabins are constructed with the relatively cheaper Colin Ishurian Redwood or ordinary oak.
For the more extravagant, followers of Aya or Druids may be employed to solidify the hull with the Iron Tree Technique. Those with no money, such as Fang Hong and his group, were entirely reliant on Colin Ishurian Redwood.
Poverty in such matters is indeed inevitable—
Winged ships are, of course, much prettier than airships, and discarding the airbag structure has greatly enhanced flexibility and mobility. Naturally, airships are cheaper, easier to maintain, and offer greater lift and larger cabins.
Thus, airships are more ideal models for comrcial ships, supply ships, and postal ships on dostic routes, while winged Floating Ships are almost the preferred choice for military and exploration vessels because their internal lift cabin sections are easier to protect, greatly enhancing safety.
Due to the principle of winged ships, when they suffer attacks, only damage to the hull and internal cabins won't impact the overall lift of the ship, unless the lift cabin section and the structural ribs and keel providing lift are damaged.
When the lift cabin section is hit, it goes without saying; if a winged ship loses power in the air, the consequences are obvious.
If the keel or the structuring ribs are damaged, it requires separate discussion. Winged ships typically have more than one rib, providing lateral lift balance for the ship. When ribs on one side are damaged and wind elents cannot be conveyed, it results in unbalanced lateral lift, leading to a tilting phenonon. In Etelirian mariti terms, this is called "listing."
Once listing occurs, if not promptly repaired, capsizing and sinking are just monts away.
Along with "left listing" and "right listing," naturally cos "bow sinking" and "stern sinking," referring to situations occurring when the keel is broken—essentially, since wind elents are generally transmitted through the keel to the entire ship in most winged ships, breaking the keel is similar to high paraplegia in humans, causing major loss of lift in most of the ship.
Front keel break leads to "bow sinking," while rear keel break naturally results in "stern sinking."
The keel's role is so crucial; thus, a ship's protection of the keel is naturally the most thorough. Typically, shield cabins are almost all situated in the lower cabins, specifically designed for focused protection of the keel. Of course, Eteliria's history has seen so bizarre designs, such as spindle-shaped hulls with central keels or hull structures with "tree-like structures" and "web-like structures."
However, due to the characteristics of wind elents, along with issues of balancing ship weight and utilizing internal space, the traditional ship model remains the most common today.
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