Lyrian Temple Ship
Overview
There are currently four ships that are referred to informally as a Lyrian Temple Ship. Grand ships, these vessels are one-part temple of healing, one-part shipyard, and one-part diplomatic endeavour. They have over sixty personnel assigned to each ship, and not just sailors, but agents of the Queen, Old Faith priests and priestesses, and other assorted diplomatic staff. These ships are meant to be mobile centers of Lyrian influence and communication, but they are founded on the principle of mercy and grace of the healing trio of Old Faith Goddesses: Ami, Diva and Moya. These ships are not armed, though they may employ agents of the Queen who are capable of combat, the ships themselves do not have weapons nor do they host a compliment of combat-purposed sailors, marines or other soldier-types. As a result, these vessels are well-known and well-appreciated by all on the open oceans. Be they merchants, fishermen, explorers or even pirates, the Lyrian Temple Ships are popular and well-utilized sources of aid and resources for any and all vessels that run into trouble. As a direct result of this openness, the Lyrian Temple Ships are amongst the most popular for ships to form a convoy around. And halfling "privateers" in particular, are renown for their use and protection of these ships.
The Four Ships
The Brightmist, the Heartsong, the Gentle Whisper, and the Queen's Promise ply the oceans quite separate from one-another, and they birth back in Cedres Lyria once per year at either of the Solstices or Equinoxes. Each of these ships enter and leave the Queen's Port on staggered schedules to ensure that each ship returns annually, and that they are appropriate preparations made for the personnel to be transferred and the supplies to be replenished. These ships each are equipped to provide support to injured, starving, parched or disease stricken individuals or groups; they are equipped to repair ships damaged in combat or by storms; and they can provide relief support for coastal communities up to a town or small city. Every ship is also capable of acting as a mobile consulate for the purposes of interacting with Lyrian-supported adventuring Fellowships.
Consular Services
Lyrian Consulates are famous for the services they provide to registered Fellowships and Lyrian citizens. First and foremost are their postal services, but also item storage and access, banking and moneychanging. Finally, every institution that provides consular services also acts as a point of contact for the Royal Society of Scholarship and Research, a network for sharing information such as borrowing books, maps, and compiling reports on regional news. Every Temple Ship has at least three Agents of the Throne for the purpose of managing Consular Services and interacting with registered Fellowships: a senior officer, a junior officer and a clerk. Often enough, these Temple Ships have more staff for consular services with much cross-training with the rest of the crew and complement onboard the temple ship.
Every Temple Ship is a mobile Temple to the Elven Pantheon, but it also a Royal Post Office that uses magic to ensure that messages can be sent to and from the ship to the wider Lyrian world. This is also how much of the banking beyond a certain scale is conducted. Magically sealed and notarized letters of credit can be taken to locations that recognize the mark and promissary value of such letters of credit. It is understood that some places do not accept such letters, and as a result, many Temple Ships carry supplies of precious gems and bullion. Many Temple Ships also have magical means of storage, which allows for larger items to be stored, carried and delivered. These services are provided on a sliding scale: free for smaller services and going up quickly for services larger in scale or scope.
More Than Expected
Lyrian Temple Ships utilize magic for their supplies. As a result, they often have limitless supplies of fresh water and tons of storage over and above what can be seen and measured in the hold of the ship. As a result, the ship is conducted under tight guard and items of value are secured with an equal allotment of resource and attention. While these ships are welcoming of all peoples in in need, they are in no way defenseless. Many a foolish pirate or raider have learned the consequences of assailing a Temple Ship, and have often earned themselves a black mark in the hearts and minds of almost all other captains, officers and sailors aboard sea-going vessels. News travels quickly of the arrival, proximity and status of Temple Ships. Any news of an attack on such a mobile safe harbour is met with direct ire by nearly all others plying the water.
Power Generation
Two ships are double masted, the the other two are three-masted. It is rumoured that the next pair will be three-masted and sport even more capacity at the expense of speed.
It is rumoured that some ships hold water elementals that could temporarily be used to move the ship in times of need.
Weapons & Armament
Lyrian Temple Ships do not have any affixed weapons, though they do hold complements of bow-armed scouts and rangers as well as a myriad of magic users. A Lyrian Temple Ship generally does not attack other ships, save for in self-defense or to protect other ships from truly supernatural threats.
Armor and defense
Lyrian Temple Ships are designed with as much passive defense as possible. The wood used in construction is selected for a combination of strength, flexibility and weight based on the part of the ship being constructed. The masts will be different than the decking will be different than the hull and so on and so forth.
Communication Tools & Systems
Temple Ships use magical means for a lot of their communication. Some use Ring Gates, especially when they are operating close to friendly shores; others use applications of Sending and other magical means to have messages sent, received and scribed for delivery. One ship is rumoured to have a mobile Gate, but that is only a rumour.
Designation
SQG (Ship of the Queen's Grace)
Motto
Sun and Moon, Dawn and Dusk
Manufacturer
Owning Organization
Current location
Rarity
Rare
Width
40 ft.
Length
120 ft.
Height
50 ft.
Weight
Heavy
Speed
8 knots
Complement / Crew
40 to 60 Crew
Cargo & Passenger Capacity
20 passengers, 25 tons
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