Airship

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A Pact airship prototype.

Airships are vessels capable of flight, transporting people and cargo, and aerial combat. The most prominent airships originate from the Pact design and use technology called magitech to stay aloft,[1] which became ubiquitously utilised by the Lionguard, Aetherblades, and corsairs, amongst other factions. The Zephyrites lived in airships built using the magic of Glint, to travel and trade across Tyria.

History[edit]

Pact design[edit]

The original prototype used to build Pact airships were of charr design,[2][3] and with the formation of the Pact and the offensive in Orr in 1325 AE, other races, particularly the humans and asura, were able to combine their own ingenuity to improve on the design.[4] The airships became emblematic of the Pact and the struggle against the Elder Dragons, providing the necessary air power to contest against them. Many airships were seen in the skies above Orr in battle with the dragon champions of Zhaitan. Eventually the arrival of The Glory of Tyria tore Zhaitan out of the sky and vanquished him.

An Aetherblades aethership.

In 1326 AE, Scarlet Briar formed the Aetherblades, an alliance between pirates and Inquest. Together with her other alliances, they began building airships modified with Inquest technology in the Aetherblade Shipyard at their base of operations in Twilight Arbor, dubbed aetherships, distinctly recognisable by their red transparent sails, fins and glass. Scarlet's aethership fleet eventually grew to the point of enabling large-scale invasions across Tyria, culminating in the Battle for Lion's Arch before she and her forces were finally defeated.

In 1328 AE, most airships operated by the Pact, including the flagship The Glory of Tyria, were destroyed by Mordremoth during the assault on the Heart of Maguuma. Airships that were able to be salvaged from the wreckage were later refurbished in the Lion's Arch Aerodrome.

In 1330 AE, Captain Ellen Kiel had her airship, the Phoenix Dawn, transport the Pact Commander to the Free City of Amnoon to stop the invasion of the Forged. Istani corsairs acquired what resembled an aethership in a raid,[5] and Captain Sayida the Sly managed to purchase an aethership with her bounty money and used it to assist the Pact Commander in the assault on Rata Primus, the Inquest's main facility on Sandswept Isles, in 1331 AE. In 1332 AE, airships provided aerial support during the Pact's battle against Kralkatorrik in Thunderhead Peaks.

Zephyrites design[edit]

In 1320 AE, the Zephyrites built the Zephyr Sanctum using magic obtained from the corpse of Glint, allowing them to live in the skies and trade with different civilizations. In 1326 AE, the Zephyr Sanctum briefly docked in the Labyrinthine Cliffs of the Steamspur Mountains to attend the Bazaar of the Four Winds. In 1327 AE, after aiding the people of Lion's Arch, the Zephyr Sanctum was sabotaged by the sylvari Aerin and fell to the earth, crashing into Dry Top and leaving wreckage strewn across the area, notably Crash Site 1, Crash Site 2, and Crash Site 3.

List of airships[edit]

Pact Fleet[edit]

Miscellaneous[edit]

Gallery[edit]

Pact Fleet[edit]

Artwork[edit]

Aetherblade Armada[edit]

Artwork[edit]

Miscellaneous[edit]

Concept art[edit]

See also[edit]

Associated items

References[edit]

  1. ^ Response to Kennio: "How can something so huge float in the air like this?" "They use magitech, actually. I'll leave you to admire the ship." (Phoenix Dawn, Bazaar Docks)
  2. ^ Captain Skyfire: "Welcome aboard! This vessel is the very latest in charr technology, a powerful weapon for our fight against Zhaitan." (Pact airship, Terzetto Bay)
  3. ^ Pilot Wanni: "This craft may have begun as a charr prototype, but it was improved on by the Pact and it takes a keen mind to pilot it." (Pact airship, Terzetto Bay)
  4. ^ Trahearne: "These airships are the Pact's crowning achievement: a combination of asura, charr, and human technology." (Pact airship, What the Eye Beholds)
  5. ^ Powderkeg Swashbuckler: "I can't believe yer crew got hold of an airship!" (Ambient dialogue in Corsair Flotilla)