Kaavsch: The sandship

This is the journal of Javiden of Incaras, Knight of the Griffin Rider order of Incaras and registered Hunter of the Hunter's guild. These are my notes of the mystery region which the inhabitants call Hakat.

The Hakat is swept by winds, haboob and storm, dust devils and whirlwinds. The green sands hide hazards such as sinkholes, quicksand and hidden rock ridges.  They also are home to Sand Dragons and subject to raiding Devils or Swarmlords. Travel is hard on foot in either the blazing heat of the days or the chill of nights. The people of the region use the sandship, or Kaavsch to travel across the plain, around the edges and to conduct trade from settlement to settlement or to travel to the remote oases.  The ships are shelter, home and conveyance.

Propulsion

Sails are made of larva silk. The crew work sails for forward drive and turn a geared wheel at the stern which sets the course of the ship. The bow has a plow shape to push aside sand build ups. The ship has skids arranged in catamaran style that allow the vessel to skim over the sands. The skids have a weak levitation property from the sap of the Floating Wandering trees found in Hakat . The Kaasvch skids lose levitation when wet, so the crew must either wait out rains or cover the skids with waxed or oiled cloth.

The small ships will have a single sail, while the largest have 3 or even 4. On a small ship a single individual can sail, while it requires at least a dozen on the largest ships.

Weapons & Armament

The Hakaskaziu have no piracy amongst themselves. But ships are at risk of attack by from Devil hives, Swarmlord raiders , Rocs and Sand Dragons (wyrms)Ships are equipped with several massive crossbow apparatus, along with spears.

Length

Small personal craft of 9-12 ft length and 4-5 ft wide, upto 40 ft long and 20 ft wide.

Complement / Crew

A colony family may make a home aboard a Kaavsch. Frequently it is crewed by members of several colonies.