Realmsspace continued

Sorry for my hiatus,  I got a little busy.  Here is the next installment in
my continueing look at and revision of Realmspace,

Waterdeep:

Waterdeep is the greatest trade city on Faerun, and a must see for most
'jammers.  Despite the central importance of Waterdeep,  it has not seen
its fair share of traffic due to a highly successful smear campaign
intiated by certain Calishite merchants.  These merchants hoped to use
spelljamming to give them a leg up on their competitors to the north,  and
determined to make Waterdeep seem a less desireable port than it was in
reality.  Deciding a lie based in fact would have more weight than a
complete fabrication they choose a little known portion of Waterdeeps legal
code,  embellished upon its enforcement and sent agents spreading the new
"truth" throughout known space.  Waterdeep has always been a magically
intensive city,  most great cities in the Realms are,  and as such many of
the common citizens suffered from the stray magic and creatures unleashed
during mage battles.  Several times in the past centuries rival
spelljammers or Hallruuan skyships attacked homes within the city,  and
caused great amounts of collateral damage.  Laws against assault could be
used to persucute offenders after the fact,  but no legal measures allowed
the City's Griffin Riders to prevent these malcontents from flying of the
city to start with.  The Lords therefore declared the air above Waterdeep a
no flying zone,  with the exception of the City Guards,  and a select few
private citizens who purchased "flying" licenses.  Punishment for those who
violated this law varied from a simple warning to impoundment of the
"device or creature" which permitted flight.  If the airspace violation was
combined with an assault the forfieture was assured,  as well as a sentance
of 10 years hard labor,  mininum.  The Calashite merchants only publicised
the harshest possible sentance and implied the Lords imposed this draconian
measure to prevent spelljammers from taking advantage of the local
populace.  Waterdeep was avoided for years as a result.  In 1360 a small
party of adventurers discovered a galleon with an intact helm (and a crew
of undead:)),  they quickly took to the stars,  exploring both the Tears of
Selune and Bralspace.  The leader of the party,  Edwind Helmfast (LN hm F5
heir to the Helmfast noble family-see p16 City of Splendors "Who's Who in
Waterdeep"),  was dismayed when he realised the cause of Waterdeep's
virtual quarentine against spelljamming. He returned to Waterdeep and began
a lobbying campaign to introduce Waterdeep back into the spelljamming
community.  His father Kelvar was one of his first converts,  soon the
Helmfast fleet inluded not only naval vessels,  but spelljammer ships as
well,  often specially designed.  Other noble families followed suit,  and
although the resultant fad soon collapsed (and several pirate bands became
a helm or three richer) a solid fleet of Waterdahvian vessels was the
result.  This Waterdahvian "burst" into the stars quickly began to
undermine the Calishite rumor campaign, Waterdeep is now receiving its
rightful share of spelljamming traffic.

To come-Info on the various Waterdahvian merchant fleets as well as the
Waterdahvian Spelljammer force!
Name: Raker

Built By: Human
Used Primarily By:Waterdahvian Guard
Cost: 293272
Tonnage: 16
Hull Points: 16
Crew: 5/16
Maneuverability Class: C
Landing-Land: No
Landing-Water: Yes
Armor Rating: 6
Saves As: Thick Wood
Power Type: Major
Ship's Rating: As per helmsman
Standard Armament:
Light Ballista  crew: 1
Light Ballista  crew: 1
Light Ballista  crew: 1
Light Ballista  crew: 1
Light Catapult (prot.tur.)  crew: 1
Light Catapult (prot.tur.)  crew: 1
Light Catapult (prot.tur.)  crew: 1
Light Catapult (prot.tur.)  crew: 1
Piercing Ram  crew: 0
Cargo Capacity: Personal
Keel Length:90
Beam Width:20

Name: Striker

Built By: Human
Used Primarily By:Waterdahvian guard
Cost: 126270
Tonnage: 10
Hull Points: 10
Crew: 4/10
Maneuverability Class: D
Landing-Land: No
Landing-Water: Yes
Armor Rating: 4
Saves As: Thick Wood
Power Type: Minor
Ship's Rating: As per helmsman
Standard Armament:
Light Ballista (prot.tur.)  crew: 1
Light Ballista (prot.tur.)  crew: 1
Light Ballista  crew: 1
Light Ballista  crew: 1
Piercing Ram  crew: 0
Cargo Capacity: personel
Keel Length:60'
Beam Width: 10'

"We look on the same stars,  the sky is common,  the same world surrounds
us.  What difference does it make by what pains each seeks the truth?  We
can not attain to so great a secret by one road..."
Symmachus,  "Memorial on the Occasion of the Removal of the Altar of
Victory from the Senate House" (392 AD)

westermeyer.3@???.edu
Paul William Westermeyer