Taalaan'Karaak (Bloodied Fist)

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Taalaan'Karaak War Kite

Technical Specifications

Like the Hullcutter and Whisperdeath class warships in the Oenotrian fleets, the Bloodied Fist is the mainline warship of the Tossian Empire. Each of the ten cities of the Empire has at least one in their aerial navies.

Compared to the Martian ships encountered in the Syrtis Basin, the Bloodied Fist could be considered quaint. The Tossian Empire region has had less human influence then the kingdoms near the Syrtis Basin, and the design of their fleets reflect this. Screw galleys are uncommon as the technology for their flywheels did not arrive in the Empire until the Americans landed in Thymiamata (1880).

Armor: 2
Hull: 10 (wood)
Speed: K
Altitude: Very High
Tonnage: 1000
Cargo: 8 tons
Price: f81,000
Crew: 56 + 10

Armament:

2 rogues forward (protected)
1 rogue aft (180^o traverse)
2 rod cannons each broadside (protected)
4 rod cannons (corner 90^o traverse)
1 rogue ventral platform
2 sweepers on rail mounts

Similarily, the Fists reflect the Tossian way of waging war - to fight with large numbers of highly coordinated vessels. Tossian military philosophy favors destroying an opponent at range with coordinated artillery barrage instead of ramming and boarding. Henceforth, the Fists have a large number of long range cannon, but no ram. Their compliment of marines is used for repelling boarding actions, not initiating them.

There is talk in the Tossian Admiralty about modernizing the existing Taalaan'Karaak cloudships into screw galleys instead of kites. This would undoubtedly result in a decrease in armament or altitude or both - something that is currently considered unacceptable. More likely, they will be phased out (or used and lost in war) in favor of new screw galley designs.

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