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Saint Elder

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Surrender or sink.
—Rhansmarc the Cruel

The Saint Elder is the flagship of Rhansmarc the Cruel, a towering airship that leads the Black Banner pirates' armada. Known for its immense size, advanced weaponry, and ghostly black sails, the mere sight of the Saint Elder on the horizon is enough to send entire fleets scattering in terror.

Constructed in secret on the isle of Calypso, the Saint Elder was outfitted with technology acquired through espionage with the Syndicate and from the Dread Lords' vaults of Clockwerk blueprints recovered from the swamps of Mordaine. Its hull is reinforced with a lodestone array that enhances its ablative durability, and stealth technology allows it to deep dive beneath the ocean, making it virtually undetectable to enemy fleets. Its weapons include enchanted ballistae, spell-cannons, and a rumored alchemical device capable of summoning storms.

Rhansmarc’s use of the Saint Elder is as strategic as it is theatrical. The ship’s reputation demoralizes enemies before a single shot is fired, often forcing surrender through fear alone. Within the Black Banner, the Saint Elder represents Rhansmarc’s unquestioned authority, and a physical symbol of the consequences of defiance. Its presence at a raid signals that no mercy will be given, and no treasure left behind.

The ship’s legend is bolstered by rumors that it is cursed, its engines imbued with the spirits of merfolk who were sacrificed at Calypso during the ship's creation. Whether these stories are true or merely propaganda spread by the Black Banner, they contribute to the Saint Elder’s image as unstoppable.

Adventure Hook

Rhansmarc the Cruel is as diabolical as he is ruthless. The Saint Elder was designed to cause maximum carnage, and as a weapon of war it is a symbol of this strategy. When the Saint Elder appears, it should be used to cause terror and inspire fear in its victims.

Rumors suggest that the Saint Elder’s secret power is not derived from a powerful lodestone, but a community of royal merfolk imprisoned in a tank within its engine room. The PCs are fishermen or natives of an Outer Rim isle suffering from constant attacks by the merfolk, who want revenge against the humans for kidnapping their royal line. To save their people, the party must board the Saint Elder, free the merfolk, and escape before Rhansmarc discovers their plans.

How might the party rationalize aiding the vengeful merfolk, knowing their release could lead to further attacks on humanity?
What challenges could arise from breaching the Saint Elder’s defenses and accessing its heavily guarded engine room?
Could the merfolk royal line hold secrets that might change the party’s perspective or their broader goals within the Outer Rim?

Tags: Airships

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