Thrall Ark

The thrall ark is a vehicle created by the Duchy of Smevaraht to travel across long distances via the skies, a mode of travel that is relatively rare outside of Mercane moon ships. The Smevarahti use these ships as cargo ships, and for rapid travel between their cities and towns. The ship looks similar to a galley without oars, and has half a dozen benches on the port and starboard sides of the deck for where rowers would normally be seated, however, the similarities to the water-based version stop there; on the bottom of the ship, at the bow and the stern, are two large nodes of aberrant crystals, which serve to channel the psionic power required to move the vessel. Mid-deck is raised above the benches to serve as the helm, with a pedestal crafted of aberrant crystal, to which is connected a series of chains, which are forged with facets of aberrant crystal in the links, and connected to these chains at six foot intervals are crystal-studded circlets.
To power a thrall ark, sentients are placed on the benches at the six foot intervals, and the circlets are placed upon their heads; once this is done, the helmsman places its hand on the pedestal and channels psionic energy into it. This psionic energy pulses through the chains and causes horrid visions in the minds of the sentients seated at the benches; the mental pain, anguish, and terror caused by this act generates a large amount of ambient psychic energy, which the four crystal nodes embedded in the bow and stern are attuned to harness. This generates a powerful telekinetic field that the helmsman can use to move the ship through the air. Once the trip is complete, the sentients used to power the ship are usually either driven irrevocably mad, or left in a vegetative state, so the Smevarahti bring enough slaves and prisoners for a two way trip. At least 36 sentients are needed to allow a thrall ark to move at a decent speed, but less still allows the ship to move, albeit at a slower pace. The absolute minimum to stay aloft is 15 sentients connected to the helm.
The thrall ark is a prime example used by many other nations to prove that the Duchy of Smevaraht is populated by abhorrent and irredeemable people, and is yet another reason why psionics are viewed with suspicion and mistrust throughout Thyr.

Power Generation

Psychic torture generates the power to move these vehicles.

Propulsion

Telekinesis propels the ship.

Weapons & Armament

Due to the large amount of aberrant crystal used to build the vessel, there isn't much room for weapons; usually there are two small ballistae mounted on the starboard and port railing.

Armor and defense

Moderately armored, and in times of war, the vessel's speed can be halved to create a telekinetic field to protect it; using the psychic energy in this manner drains the victims twice as fast, so this isn't used unless circumstances are dire.

Nickname

Mad Ships

Manufacturer

Duchy of Smevaraht

Rarity

Rare

Related Technologies

• Aberrant Crystals

Beam

20 ft.

Length

120 ft.

Height

12 ft.

Weight

150 tons

Speed

6 to 10 knots

Complement / Crew

Crew of 20 minimum, and 36 more sentients to generate enough ambient psychic energy to move the ship at an acceptable speed.

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

Capable of carrying around 100 additional tons of cargo, and has accommodations for the crew and a brig to hold slaves or prisoners for the return trip.