Chapter 50. Ship it!

I would stay overnight, but I didn't warn my girls, and they'd likely not appreciate me vanishing for the night without any explanation. So I teleport back in the evening. Actually, while we are on the topic, I think I'm going to teleport a lot more. It turns out to be one of those 'practice makes perfect' spells. The flash of unreal on exit and entrance is still unavoidable, but how fast I can clamp it down is entirely trainable, it seems. I should probably invest some time in figuring out some sort of snooping, so I could survey the LZ and determine it's clear of anyone I do not want to wreck.

I had enough time to put several things into motion, though. Mother is appraised on the notion of producing lip balms and skin cremes, and will be expanding her cosmetics line soon. Boys are progressing in magic nicely, and I taught them some nifty-looking cantrips to impress their peers with. Father's been appreciative of the shortcuts teleporting permits, even though he is bemoaning the necessity of blindfold. Not really want to risk his sanity, though, and he agrees, if grudgingly, that chancing that is not worth it. I also got two more mana aeolipiles from the dwarves. Apparently, they made a couple of them and some of the local scholars commissioned more upon seeing them. I have to admit, something about the mana engine is mesmerizing. Sadly, its practical load is negligible as is. Maybe something could be gained out of observing and modifying it, though. For now, I simply tag the ends with simple enchantments, one of which slowly amends the air around it towards "pleasant scent" while the other does the same towards "pleasant temperature". Not quite the climate unit, but they can fill out the desk fan niche, at least. And of course dwarves want the schematics for this. Well, it's their business. If they think there's a market for that stuff, more power to them.

Lemand is utterly mesmerized by the thing. Oh, he gives his thanks and everything, but I can see his eyes turn towards the gizmo each time he gets even a little distracted. Still, he does possess enough of wits to ask me why I'd gift him that. He seems to be duly impressed that my answer is "for inspiration, to see if you can figure out something else that might come of use". Back in my dorm, I see six girls clustered around the whirling thingamabob. Apparently, Rafiqa and Selene visited for an evening meal and got caught by the lure like everyone else.

"What is this?" - Selene demands as soon as she sees me - "That thing gives me... IDEAS. Like, like... Like..." She trails off stammering as she stares at her own palm, a cluster of light motes forming on it. According to what I sense about it, this is, hah... Well. That would be amusing. A moment later, the saturation peaks and the swirl of motes explodes in all directions, pelting everyone present with "feel good" projectiles.

"Congratulations. You get to document and submit a new spell you just invented. If you're unsure about a name, I suggest using something simple. Like, for example, Joy Invocation. Get to writing while you still remember how you did it." - I tell her with a smirk, as I hand her a sheet of paper and quill. She starts to write the thing down, grumbling.

"Fine, fine, but what IS this?" - she demands, as she furiously scribbles the formulae on the paper. It's not that complicated, but... an interesting quirk, actually. You usually don't see detonation being configured on a primary level like this in anything other than war spells.

"Prototype mana engine." - I tell her, and she jerks up.

"WHAT!? ...I... this... holy shit, does your train even had brakes installed!?" - she yelps, as she pokes in the direction of aeolipile with her quill - "I was expecting maybe ten years till anything like this cropped up! Are we getting railroad over the winter too?!" She casts one glance at me, doubletakes and continues at rising volume - "...WE ARE?!"

"Not... that fast, I think, but in two years we will have something connecting major cities, yes." - I admit, and she facepalms - "Oh, while we are at the topic, Selene. Your dad got back at me last month. They have the sloop on water and are pretty darn happy about it. I expect them to finish the first brigantine by the mid-winter."

"Wait, wait, back up a bit. I thought you were just going to hire dad to ferry stuff?" - she objects.

"Well, yes, but then I found out he only has two cogs. Which are fine boats for cabotage, but for the open sea, I wanted something more robust. So he got the plans for sloops and brigantines with mixed sails, and enough money to build two of each. He wrote back saying they're so happy with sloop they might sell the cogs to afford one more brigantine built. Or, maybe, depending on the circumstances, they might give clipper a try." - I explain. Selene stares at me, then slowly sets the quill into the inkwell.

"...You gave my dad plans for the clipper." - she repeats slowly - "As in, the fastest sail ships ever devised. And he might be building one soon if other ships pan out well? Did I understand that right?"

Lily-Anne pipes in - "Wait, wait, what do you mean, fastest? How fast?"

"From Mersaille to Pharos in a week, roughly speaking, in favorable winds." - I tell them absentmindedly, as I run the calculations in my head. Top speed for clippers is somewhere around twenty knots. The distance between Mersaille and Pharos is roughly eight hundred leagues, and one knot is demileague per hour, roughly. So twenty knots means ten leagues per hour. Which means eighty hours. Which, in turn, means three full days and eight hours. This is the absolute best result that could be possibly achieved. Double it to account for conditions not necessarily being good, and you get a week. Not bad. Very good, by local measures.

Ooh, huh. I take a look at the astonished faces and sigh. "Girls, settle down. It will take a while to build it. Yes, it's a good speed, but getting there is not going to be happening until next summer, give or take. Maybe not even then. Clippers are complicated. I'd much rather monsieur Dantes learns the craft on building simpler sloops and brigantines before committing to the clipper." - I tell him - "Oh, almost forgot. I bought two, ah... second hand carracks that are anchored in Mersaille. They're currently being retrofitted to galleon standards. If your dad's ready by the time they're done, I'm going to turn them over for his fleet and just have him handle all the seabound transportation."

Selene slumps in her seat. "...Four, and two or maybe one and two more..." - she counts slowly - "Alyssa. That's SEVEN ships. Are you intending to sponsor my dad for admiralty?"

"You catch on quick." - I tell her, and she groans.

"Of course you are. Why did I expect anything different." - she mutters - "Fine. Whatever. So not the problem."

Rafiqa finally pitches in. "So... can you explain what those sloops and brigantines and clippers are? Beyond being magically fast ships, I mean." - she inquires.

I scratch my head trying to figure out how to explain best. In the end, I settle for a combination of illusion and conjuration to create some models and pretend they're floating in the sea. First, current cogs and carracks. Then sloop and brigantine. Then clipper and galleon. And then, just to be a complete troll, a heavy lift windjammer.

"Ok, so here are some basic ships." - I start explaining, - "Cogs are your everyday boat with a sail. One mast, crew from five to twenty seamen, depending on how much you're hauling and where." Cog lights up and starts bobbing on illusory water as I drag it in a rough approximation of sailing - "While this ship is seaworthy, people rarely venture far enough from the coast to lose sight of it. It's best suited for small loads and local movements. Also a decent ship for fishing."

Carrack is next. It is obviously bigger. "Those are carracks. The most common ship in the Mittelzea. They come with three masts, have crews anywhere from thirty to a hundred seamen and are the usual kind of ship one thinks of when talking about a journey across the sea." - I explain - "Those two are the common ships today. I intend to add some newer variations in use. First is a sloop."

Sloop is about the size of a cog, so I race both side to side, making sure to underline sloop is much faster. "Sloop is a ship of the same class as a cog. One mast, ten to thirty crew necessary. Crew requirements are a little more than with cog, but it carries more, does it faster and can be sailed much further than cog safely. The advantage is mainly due to much bigger sails and a different way of using them, allowing a ship to sail even if the wind is not favorable."

Brigantine is next, and I line up cog, brigantine and carrack to show the difference in size. "Brigantine is a medium ship with two masts, which is uncommon for the Mittelzea. The current seafaring philosophy is to go big or go home. Brigantine will change that." - I explain - "The advantage of the speed and a better ratio of cargo to crew will ensure it. For really big loads, there's galleon." I line it up next to carrack to showcase the similarities - "Galleon is just an updated carrack, streamlined for better speed and easier cargo handling. Also, has a better crew per load ratio."

Clipper comes out all on its own. "Here's clipper." - I offer - "Three masts, sometimes four. Smaller than galleon, bigger than brigantine. Has more sails than two galleons put together. Needs a crew of a galleon, has a cargo capacity of a brigantine." I rotate the model in the air slowly, showing off how many different sails the clippers have - "If my calculations are right and the construction holds without bucking, clippers should be the fastest ships anyone ever sailed so far. I intend them for passengers and precious cargos like spices and exotic fruit."

Finally, I lift the model of a windjammer. "And this is a windjammer. I haven't shown anyone this project just yet, I'd like to have my credentials as a shipwright to be confirmed on smaller ships before I try anything like this. Five masts, huge cargo lift, has surprisingly little crew. Not as fast as a clipper, but should carry loads well beyond any other ship currently existing." - I explain, letting the ship rotate in the air slowly.

"This is not everything I have thought of, once I am satisfied with the sail ships, I shall be introducing designs for powered ones." - I explain, pointing out the engine - "Dwarves are already working on the engine prototypes. Sadly, it is unlikely that mana-only engine will be viable for heavy duty in the foreseeable future, but I've already been shown good results with steam engines and magical enhancement of coal for use as a fuel."

Judging by the looks, only Selene has a decent grasp on everything I said, but everyone looks more than a little stupefied. I clean up the models and clap my hands, bringing them out of reverie.

"So... how was everyone's day, since you all heard about mine already?" - I quip cheerfully, causing a hubbub of conversation to erupt once again. Ah, home. Good times.

___

Selene corners me just before everyone is about to disperse for the night. "I just want you to know that there's NO way you can hold dad from building a clipper." - she tells me - "He loves sailing fast. Had been organizing sailboat races when I was little. He's happiest when he's on the ship going full tilt. So, count on him building a clipper as soon as he is done with ships he had an obligation to build."

"Oh? Is this a bad time to mention I also plan on creating a hydrofoil boat once I have the engine licked?" - I tease, and she slumps - "Please don't mention that to him until I'm actually married. He might try putting me on your harem if you do!"

I chuckle. "Fair enough. No tempting your dad with ridiculously fast boats until you're married." - I tell her. She narrows her eyes at me - "Why are you suddenly so obsessed with ships anyway?"

"Selene, have mercy. It's not sudden. I'm planning to rule a domain that consists of nothing but islands. Why wouldn't I want to be on the top of ship game by the time I get the isles under my control?" - I explain to her, and she dons an enlightened expression.

"Alright, that makes more sense than whatever it is I was not thinking." - she mutters, hitting my shoulder - "And no, I don't want to share what I was not thinking. Because I was not thinking and it came out as garbage."

Snickering at her earns me another swat. "Well, good night, Selene. Oh, before I forget. Mom sent this for you." - I tell her, pulling out a vial. She uncorks it, sniffs and smiles. "Hyacinth... how did you know?" - she asks.

"Lucky guess."