Life aboard an airship Building / Landmark in Flight of the Delirium | World Anvil

Life aboard an airship

Life aboard an Airship can be as difficult or as easy as the crew makes it. The more money funneled into the upkeep of the vessel the more comforts and luxuries they can be afforded, and the less likely something is to fail. However, living on an airship can often be substantially better then on a seafaring vessel.  

Crew Division

Crew members are often divided into several groups depending on where in the vessel they work and where their expertise are best put to use. All airships have some combination of the following divisions. The essential divisions which are listed first are the ones that are absolutely required for any airship to operate properly
   
Essential Divisions

  • Operations: The Operation Division is arguably one of the most important on in Airship particularly and Airship that is a capital class. With such a large vessel and such a large number of crew members, the captain cannot be expected to organize and take command of each and every one of them at the exact same time, especially if the captain does not have knowledge pertaining to one or more of the divisions such as engineering. There are usually officers close to the captain that we'll make the best decision based on their expertise falling back on the captains experience if the decision is particularly important. Every member of the Operations Division runs one of the other divisions and is in constant communication with the division they operate.
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  • Engineering: the crew in engineering are the unsung heroes of any vessel. Is there a responsibility to keep the vessel functioning no matter what happens. Engineers are required to be particularly well-versed in their trade and are often graduates of various academic institutions dedicated to the subject. Engineers also have some of the poorest working conditions on the vessel. If the vessel operates on steam or aether, then oftentimes the ship will substitute members of engineering who were close to the fuel source with The Imbued or Automatons leaving the educated members of the crew out of harm's Way.
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  • Navigation:   The navigation division is responsible for clotting courses to and from a destination. Members of the navigation division are also well educated and are used to complex mathematical formula required to do their job. This is usually the smallest division consisting of less than three people if it even has more than one.
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  • Security:   Security teams are those responsible for the defense of the vessel and operation of its weapons. They are the ones that man the guns and the ones that reload cannons, and should the vessel be boarded, they're the ones responsible for taking up arms against the Invaders. Many individuals who see jobs in security divisions have military backgrounds or at least military training. Many have fought in battle before, and those who haven't are overeager to do so.
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Non-Essential Divisions

  • Aeronautics: Very rarely does the vessel have more than one pilot. Some vessels make an aeronautics division due to the fact that they have squadrons of small craft that must be met and in order to operate. Aeronautic divisions are mostly common on larger vessels such as cruisers and capitals. Some vessels that are smaller have an Aeronautics division dedicated to operating drones or other vehicles that may be on the vessel such as ground vehicles.
  • Science/research division: Science divisions are rarely seen outside of exploration vessels. They have an entire section of the vessel dedicated to research, scientific exploration, and experimentation.
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  • lock divisions:   More modern airships and are ships that have been modernized might come with a key compatible engine. These engines are capable of Quantum Keys on a grand scale. in order to accomplish this there must be a key maker or someone who understands the fundamental qualities of a lock engine module. Both are in high demand in the world and are usually the only survivors of a successful boarding party.
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    Material

      Are ships are made from several different kinds of materials but the most common are wood and metal or both. What are the major reasons for this is to facilitate a proper seal from the outside environment. Rain can cause all kinds of damage to a vessel should it get inside where all the sensitive machinery exists. On top of this, a proper seal must be maintained in order to ensure the comfort of the crew and passengers.
     

    Pressure units

    To maintain atmospheric pressure without using metal or weather seals, wooden vessels are often coated with a finish that seals the wood and often glues it together as it fills the cracks between individual planks.
    At high altitudes the pressure as well as the amount of available oxygen can be extremely uncomfortable for those not accustomed to it. As such there is usually a machine designed to gradually increase and decrease pressure over time depending on the altitude of the vessel.
    These pressure units are manned by crew members in engineering, usually by a crew member who is knowledgeable about how the machine works.  

    Shore Leave

    When an airship makes port, it is common for its crew to leave and venture out to see the sights of wherever it is that they landed. Depending on the type of vessel, it is also common for the crew to improve their knowledge and skill. Sailors of the sky have a (slightly) better reputation that those who sail the seas. Those aboard an airship usually have several areas of expertise that the seek to improve, some professional and others recreational. They seek out new experiences and can be a rough crowd to be around, but sitting around and swapping stories is a favored pastime of many.

    Living on an airship

    Life on an Airship is usually uneventful. Crew members to take shifts in certain operations and rotate frequently allowing for plenty of time for recreation. Most vessels have a common area that is designed to facilitate camaraderie in the crew and strengthen bonds as they connect with one another. This is usually one of the very few activities that one can do when traveling. Airships do not swear like seafaring vessels unless in extremely high winds, and there are plenty of Modern Marvels that are designed to minimize this sway. As such things like motion sickness are rare. Altitude sickness is common and the trip can be uncomfortable for some, especially for those who suffer from vertigo or severe fear of heights. Most of the time vessels stay within 4000 meters about the surface of the Earth. Most vessels can't even travel higher than this without Aether being their source of power.  

    Aesthetics

    Most airships are well-furnished with comfortable seating and luxurious surroundings. The building of an Airship is considered an art in the inside must be just as beautiful as the outside. Many airships however our old were thrown together as things break over time. It's usually fairly obvious if a crew cares more about their own Financial wealth more then the comforts of travel. Vessels that are used to war often have mismatched upholstery and evidence of previous battles both on the inside and the outside. There are often methods of communicating with family back home available for use for both the passengers and crew members.

    Kitchens

    Every Airship has a kitchen though the term may not necessarily fit the description. Whoever is in charge of the kitchens is also responsible for its upkeep and cleanliness, while on some vessels one can find themselves eating delicious food in a clean environment, you can also just as easily land yourself in the kitchen with spoiled or improperly cooked food with all manner of unsanitary things surrounding you.

    Living Quarters

    Most airships have quarters designed to house 1 to two crew members, though the larger ships may have a barracks where large numbers of crew members sleep in bunks. Crew members usually have comfortable lodgings one way or the other, even on the less than favorable ships. Sometimes, the ship may have housekeepers who keep everything tidy, and ensure the furniture is properly fastened to the hull to avoid unpleasant surprises in battle.
    On smaller ships, each passenger is often able to have a private room, and this includes the members of the crew. This is yet another reason why frigates are so popular.


    Cover image: by voskresenski

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