Ravenstar

The Ravenstar was an ornate galleon owned by Reman and Ramen Byrrd, who operated the vessel as an amusement ride at the Mooney & Sons Circus on Toril in Realmspace.

Description

The Ravenstar resembled most other spacefaring galleons, though it was notably ornate, and was equipped with a major helm. In addition, the ship was also fitted with a specially enchanted keel that allowed the vessel to automatically hover a yard (1 meter) above any surface, meaning that if the Ravenstar's helm were to go down for any reason, the ship wouldn't crash (assuming the keel was still intact). The magical keel functioned independently of the helm.

Crew

The twins Ramen and Reman Byrrd owned and operated the Ravenstar, and would take turns manning the major helm for the day, while the other would take command of the vessel. The rest of the crew consisted of trustworthy "sky" sailors who considered themselves fortunate to sail on such a marvellous craft.

Ship Uses

Ramen and Reman operated the Ravenstar as an amusement ride at the Mooney & Sons Circus, which was based out of Ravens Bluff on Toril in Realmspace. As the carnival's prize attraction, they drew in large crowds who gaped in awe at the breathtaking sight of the ornate airship floating above the tops of the circus tents. The Ravenstar only operated as an amusement ride during daylight hours, treating customers to a lengthy tour around their city's environs and through several cloudscapes. Occasionally the Byrrd's would offer chartered moonlight cruises, illuminating the ship's railings with several continual light torches, while a bard strolled along the deck, singing. These cruises cost 200 gp and were usually chartered by nobles, city officials, and wealthy adventurers.

In addition to serving as an amusement ride, the Ravenstar was also used to transport circus equipment and supplies to each new location in its large cargo hold. If the traveling circus was threatened by hostile creatures or other unfriendly forces, Ramen and Reman would use the ship as an aerial battle platform. Despite operating the vessel for over five years, the twins had no real understanding of the Ravenstar's full capabilities, and didn't fully grasp the fact that they could use the ship to travel into space.

History

The Ravenstar was originally commissioned by B'eeg Byrrd, a wealthy but eccentric wizard from Ravens Bluff on Toril in Realmspace. When he learnt that space travel was actually possible, B'eeg tracked down a mysterious merchant, who agreed to have a vessel built to his specifications, though the project would cost the wizard his entire fortune.

When B'eeg's twin sons, Ramen and Reman, returned to Ravens Bluff after a short stint as adventurers, they learned their father had been lost at sea and was presumed dead. On top of that, they discovered that he had left them destitute. Searching through his records, they found that he had apparently squandered the family's wealth on commissioning a ship that could fly through the air (actually, the notes read "through space", but Ramen and Reman dismissed this as delusional). According to the notes, delivery of the vessel was supposed to take place in a few days on a secluded mountain top.

Despite their conviction their father had gone mad and had been swindled by a conman, the brothers decided to keep the appointment, though neither of them expected much to come of it. However, they soon changed their minds when a galleon descended from the sky. A hooded figure floated down from the vessel and presented them with a scroll that outlined the ship and its functions, before disappearing into the night.

Having taken possession of the fabulous airship, the Byrrd brothers were now faced with the quandary of what to do with it. While the vessel had obvious value, both militarily and commercial, the twins didn't relish the idea of simply giving it up. As fate would have it, the Mooney & Sons Circus returned to Ravens Bluff for the winter, and the brothers realized that the circus would be the perfect opportunity to market the vessel. Jack Mooney, the owner and ringmaster of the Mooney & Sons Circus, didn't hesitate to offer them a contract, especially after being treated to a brief jaunt onboard the flying ship.

Appendix

External Links

• Reman Byrrd article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.

References