Flame Treaders

Written by strawberryAle

Flame Treaders are a type of Dwarven naval ship given only to the most elite of navy commanders. They are exceptionally expensive to manufacture, and so only a scant few remain at sea today. They are seldom used in war outside of emergency for this very reason; as the sinking of a Flame Treader leads to catastrophic losses. Fortunately, they are also among the most advanced maritime vehicles in the world. They are plated by a thick, grey metal known as Galdrstone, which renders them almost impervious to conventional methods.
What gives the Flame Treader its name however, is the multitude of cannons that spew Drakefire. These cannons are placed upon the sides to flood the area around them with flaming hot oil, while the front gun -- weighing several tons in on itself, is capable of launching long range fireballs that can decimate anything unlucky enough to be in their path. This hot oil leaves a literal sea of flame in their wake. Due to the plating that covers the hull of the ship, it may effortlessly navigate through this flame without issue, earning it its name.
Though rarely used for War, Flame Treaders are generally found patrolling the coast of Kalimourne, and are generally seen as a ship designed for self defense. The molten waters they leave in their wake serve as more than enough a deterrence to anyone daring enough to cause trouble; and should a Flametreader be destroyed, the patch of flaming oil it leaves will still remain a lethal threat to anyone. Flame Treaders are manned with the barest minimum of soldiers; this is mostly due to the lethality of the ship. Should a Flame Treader sink, its crew seldom survives the burning oil cast upon the sea.

Power Generation

Flame Treaders are fueled by one simple resource: Coal. This vents the steam necessary to help fuel the propulsion of the ship.

Weapons & Armament

The most lethal part of the Flame Treader is its enormous weapon that gives it its namesake: An enormous cannon placed upon the front of the ship. The flame treader is also equipped with smaller cannons at the sides of each deck. These cannons shoot a sticky glob of flame that can heavily damage any ship that impacts, while the front is capable of launching blasts of hot flame at an incredible range. The oil is light enough to float over the surface, and is known for setting fire to the water.
This is what grants its name; for the Flame Treader's hull is nigh-impervious to heat, allowing it to quite literally sail through the ocean of fire it spews.

Armor and defense

Manufactured with thick Galdrstone plates, the Flame Treader's hull is notoriously strong and resistant against most attacks. Its primary weakness is the fact that the stone fractures rather than bends, which risks heavy damage from blunt force. However, the hull is nigh-impervious to fire, allowing it to sail safely through the flame it creates.

Nickname

Magma Cruisers, Flame Dreadnoughts

Price

Extremely expensive. The price and craftsmanship of a single Flame Treader can easily reach a hundred million Crowns (Gold) or even more.

Rarity

Due to their price and cost, the Flame Treader is rarely sen. Flame Treaders can be found patrolling set parameters around the watery boarder of port cities; primarily Zanarkt.

Beam

No real beam; Flame Treaders do not rely on sails.

Length

Many Flame Treaders reach roughly 200~250 feet.

Weight

Utilizing thick Galdrstone, the Flame Treader is a beast that weighs several hundred tons; some reaching the thousands.

Speed

Roughly 5 knots.

Complement / Crew

Optimally, about 50 people can man a full Flame Treader. They seldom have much more beyond this.