Altor stood at the wheel, overlooking the empty deck of the Black Pinion. He had a set of goggles over his eyes and the tail of a scarf whipped around behind him. The glittering shroud sails were at full bellow and the shroud engines hummed gently keeping the vessel aloft. It was a ship designed for speed and utility, not the size of any grand vessel of commerce or war, but large enough to turn a profit. The smaller size probably helped to preserve the technology keeping it aloft. Sails woven with crystalline thread to pull shroud energy from the air and pump it into the crystal array that kept the engines running. The crystalline wires that kept shroud energy flowing also allowed Altor to connect with the vessel, adjustments that would normally have to be made by a crew could be done just through his connection with the vessel. Sails turned, power adjustments made on the fly, it was magnificent vessel after he had gotten over the learning curve anyway.
Cloud’s keep was coming into view on the horizon. He was already starting to drool at the thought of a meal that wasn’t made of dried and preserved things and the possibility of a heady beer. He grinned, showing his teeth as he urged the ship forward and upward just a little faster. No need to worry about conserving the reserves now. Soon he could catch up on the maintenance for the ship, recharge the crystals that remained in the array and change out the ones that needed replaced. Maybe he could even find some work while he was there. If worse came to worse he was certain he could find something to load onto the ship that someone would be willing to buy at another port.
Cloud’s Keep had drawn close enough that he started to turn the ship, navigating toward the Sky dock. As he approached the sails were trimmed and the hum of the engine began to quiet. He slowly drifted along as he watched the bustle of the dockworkers. He moved past the larger ships, making his way to a quieter section of the dock. He set the engine to low, the ship coming to a stop, bobbing gently in the air. He took his hands from the helm and broke his mind’s connection to the ship. Blinking to help bring his perception back to normal. He lowered the protective goggles to his throat and moved quickly down the steps onto the main deck. He throw a thick rope over side, landing a pre-tied loop onto a post. He tugged bringing the ship closer the pier he had pulled alongside.
Docking procedures, especially on a skydock, were when Altor wished that he had a crew. It wasn’t that it could be done with one person but it was certainly more difficult. He didn’t have the reserves of a large ship to leave it afloat and he didn’t have the troublesome balloons that kept many ships aloft without requiring energy. Thankfully there were frames that he could bring it to rest on at many sky docks. However, oftentimes these were left in the raised position, and such was the case today.
Altor shook his head with a small smile. He grabbed a rope that was tied into the rigging. He looked over the edge of ship and tugged at the rope as he judged the distance. He took a few steps back and then took a running start. As he jumped he caught the rope in his leg placed one foot atop the other, trapping the rope between his boots. His stomach makes a thrilling leap as he passes over the long drop, staring down through the clouds until he had swung past the gap and over the dock. He let go dropping the few feet onto the pier. He looked up the side of the ship as the rope swung back. The dark hull was gleaming in the sunlight. He walked along the pier and onto the main walk of the dock. He found the wench to lower the metal frame, lower it slowly, eyeing the wooden planks that lined the frame suspiciously, they had definitely seen better days. As it dropped into position he ran back down to the pier and grabbed to tow rope and started pulling and walking backwards. The Black Pinion slowly began to move onto the frame with some squeaking and creaking.
Altor began unbuttoning the fur lined coat and untying the scarf from around his throat. The bobbing motion of the ship was now stopped with it resting on the frame. He reached out and grabbed the ladder built into the hull, gripping the rungs and pulling himself on board again. He hooked the gangplank onto the top rung of the ladder and let it fall. The violent clattering sound let him know the other end had found it’s mark on the pier. He gave a little sigh and smiled as he made his way back to the helm, his connection to the ship returning. He finished reefing the sails and the main mast began to lower. After the clunk of the mast being secured against the deck he killed the shroud engine, the familiar hum going quiet. He stepped away from the helm and made his way down the gangplank with a satisfied smile.
Cloud’s keep was coming into view on the horizon. He was already starting to drool at the thought of a meal that wasn’t made of dried and preserved things and the possibility of a heady beer. He grinned, showing his teeth as he urged the ship forward and upward just a little faster. No need to worry about conserving the reserves now. Soon he could catch up on the maintenance for the ship, recharge the crystals that remained in the array and change out the ones that needed replaced. Maybe he could even find some work while he was there. If worse came to worse he was certain he could find something to load onto the ship that someone would be willing to buy at another port.
Cloud’s Keep had drawn close enough that he started to turn the ship, navigating toward the Sky dock. As he approached the sails were trimmed and the hum of the engine began to quiet. He slowly drifted along as he watched the bustle of the dockworkers. He moved past the larger ships, making his way to a quieter section of the dock. He set the engine to low, the ship coming to a stop, bobbing gently in the air. He took his hands from the helm and broke his mind’s connection to the ship. Blinking to help bring his perception back to normal. He lowered the protective goggles to his throat and moved quickly down the steps onto the main deck. He throw a thick rope over side, landing a pre-tied loop onto a post. He tugged bringing the ship closer the pier he had pulled alongside.
Docking procedures, especially on a skydock, were when Altor wished that he had a crew. It wasn’t that it could be done with one person but it was certainly more difficult. He didn’t have the reserves of a large ship to leave it afloat and he didn’t have the troublesome balloons that kept many ships aloft without requiring energy. Thankfully there were frames that he could bring it to rest on at many sky docks. However, oftentimes these were left in the raised position, and such was the case today.
Altor shook his head with a small smile. He grabbed a rope that was tied into the rigging. He looked over the edge of ship and tugged at the rope as he judged the distance. He took a few steps back and then took a running start. As he jumped he caught the rope in his leg placed one foot atop the other, trapping the rope between his boots. His stomach makes a thrilling leap as he passes over the long drop, staring down through the clouds until he had swung past the gap and over the dock. He let go dropping the few feet onto the pier. He looked up the side of the ship as the rope swung back. The dark hull was gleaming in the sunlight. He walked along the pier and onto the main walk of the dock. He found the wench to lower the metal frame, lower it slowly, eyeing the wooden planks that lined the frame suspiciously, they had definitely seen better days. As it dropped into position he ran back down to the pier and grabbed to tow rope and started pulling and walking backwards. The Black Pinion slowly began to move onto the frame with some squeaking and creaking.
Altor began unbuttoning the fur lined coat and untying the scarf from around his throat. The bobbing motion of the ship was now stopped with it resting on the frame. He reached out and grabbed the ladder built into the hull, gripping the rungs and pulling himself on board again. He hooked the gangplank onto the top rung of the ladder and let it fall. The violent clattering sound let him know the other end had found it’s mark on the pier. He gave a little sigh and smiled as he made his way back to the helm, his connection to the ship returning. He finished reefing the sails and the main mast began to lower. After the clunk of the mast being secured against the deck he killed the shroud engine, the familiar hum going quiet. He stepped away from the helm and made his way down the gangplank with a satisfied smile.
