Valkur's Vessel
"Captain of the Waves, grant us a voyage worthy of your valor that we may toil against the waves. Endure us against the wrath of the unworthy goddess who flippantly seeks our demise. No! Grant us your strength, oh mighty Valkur so this voyage may serve as a testament to your truth and our loyalty even in this dark age of distance and despair. To Valkur we offer the sweat of our brow, the ache of our arms, and the strength of our years. May the winds ever favor our journey."
Purpose / Function
Valkur's Vessel is now primarily a house of worship, prayer, and reflection for sailors and those who face the dangers of the sea with regularity. Within the vessel itself is also a small museum commemorating the ship's earlier history among the last emperor's fleet and its miraculous return to Chalon amidst the chaos of days immediately following the Shrouding.
Alterations
Restored from the years of neglect following the collapse of the Cadwalian Empire, Valkur's Vessel maintains its original structure and design while now prominently displaying the crest of Valkur on its sails.
Architecture
Befitting its original design, Valkur's Vessel is a massive galleon which can easily hold several crews of smaller voyages simultaneously. The main deck serves as a welcoming and gathering space for those who seek Valkur's favor, though it is more commonly used as an easy landmark for embarking or disembarking crews to meet for drinks and gossip. The Captain's Quarters serve as the clergy's private quarters and office for administrative work as needed. Below deck, serveral rooms for reflection and corporate petition are available at all times of day. Below this deck, a tribute to the former history of the vessel as the "Pillar of Strength" can be found as well. Finally, the hull of the ship serves as affordable accommodations for followers of Valkur who may need such services.
History
Originally constructed as a flagship vessel to serve in Emperor Cadwal's navy, The Vessel's first voyage took place under the moniker "Pillar of Strength." The crew embarked on their maiden voyage only days before the Shrouding descended upon the region. The Pillar of Strength was the first of only a few ships to return from their voyage.
Those who survived returned with unbelievable reports of flames of blue burning away the ocean and telling tales of the Pillar of Strength's own sails catching fire, leaving the crew stranded for days, lost within the mists still to this day hovering unremittingly over the Dela Sea. Upon their return, the clergy declared the ship's deliverance as a sign of divine intervention. Emporer Cadwal declared a feast in response in honor to Valkur's sparing of the sailor's lives.
In the years following, Cadwal's need for a standing navy dissipated as matters of food shortages, civil disputes, and the lingering questions of Revne's isolation drew his attention and resources elsewhere. For years, the Pillar of Strength remained anchored in the docks, effectively decommissioned. Finally, in desperate need of coin towards the end of his reign, Cadwal sold the vessel to the Founders' Promise. The Founders then restored the ship to its previous pristine state worthy of an empirical flagship.
Following the collapse of the empire and the signing of the Taivas Treaty, renovated the vessel to serve as the dedicated space of worship, meditation, and petition to Valkur in 1416.
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