The "'Elentari" [revised]

The "'Elentari"
         The "'Elantari" (translation:Star-Queen) is a standard
Imperial Elven Navy Man-o-War. Fully crewed,  she is equipped to
undertake long term individual patrols. The 'Elantari is currently
assigned to the Realmspace fleet under Admiral Icarus, after serving
for a long period with the fleet in Bralspace (aka Spiralspace).
Built originally on the planet Greela in Greyspace, the 'Elantari is
one of the "Emerald Monarch" class Men-o-War, the sort most commonly
seen in Wildspace today (and the vessel depicted on the Man-o-War
card in the SJ boxed set). She was provided with all the standard
Elven magics, making her more then a match for the pirate, neogi and
slave vessels she usually encounters.
        [N.B. In this revision of the 'Elentari I've changed the
officers and troops titles to match the information presented in my
IEN ranks and positions post.The elven language titles used are those
of the Realms, since that is the sphere the 'Elentari currently is
assigned to. I made a few other background adjustments to fit some
excellent elven culture resources that came out after I first wrote
this post.]

"'Elantari"
Imperial Elven Navy Man-o-War
Tonnage:60 tons
Hull Points: 60
Crew:10/60
Maneuverability Class:C
Landing;Land:No
Landing;Water:No
AR:5 (Armored Figurehead +2(WCCp78))
Saves As:Ceramic
Power Type:Major helm
Ship's Rating:Per spelljammer
Armament
         2 Med. Ballistae +1 (FP,FS)
                 Crew:2 each
         1 Med Catapult (360)
                 Crew:3
         1 Med Jettison (A)
                 Crew:3
Cargo: 20 tons (10 used on Mosquito berthing)
Keel Length:200'
Beam Length:20'

Crew:

Selkerdrim ['Captain'] Alduya Menelya
(CG ef F9/M7 Corsair Kit(CSpHB) HP 67 D16 I15 Ch16) AC 4 (Bracers of
Defence AC6 plus dex)
Sample prof: navigation (wildspace and flow), spelljamming, spacemanship,
heraldry
Alduya is a native of the planet Greela in Greyspace.  A high elf,
she was fascinated with wildspace from childhood and shipped out at
her first opportunity aboard an elven trader.  She has spent the past
two centuries following her passion,  first aboard merchants vessels,
and then as a member of the IEN. She enjoys her current assignment
because her immediate superior,  RuaCoronal ['Admiral'] Icarus,
understands the independent nature of elves and gives his captains as
much latitude as possible in the performance of their duties. She is
a bitter, ruthless opponent of the scro, who destroyed her brother's
vessel. She is normally a cautious, but inquisitive commander who
takes her duties very seriously. Currently unattached it is known
that in the past she had a relationship with the elven rogue Elrohir
Amroth. Though multi-class she far prefers her fighting skills,
seeing her magic as a means to an end (spelljamming). Though she is
now a Kerym ['Lord'] and thus noble due to her IEN rank, Alduya was
born to commoner parents on Greela.
Magic items:Bracers of defence AC6,  Longbow +2,  Eyes of the eagle,
Talisman of Memorization

Kerdrim ['First Mate'] Earendil  (CG em F9 Archer kit (CEHB) HP 76 D19 C18)
AC 3 (Ring Prot +3 plus dex)
Earendil is a silver or moon elf of Toril. Born on the Evermeet, it
is unknown why he left that fair land to join the IEN a century ago.
As taciturn as the dwarven stereotype, he is even more closed mouth
about his past. Kerdrim is a Nikym ['Knight'] and believed to be of
one of the noble houses of Evermeet, but which House is unknown, and
he never says. He serves Alduya well as first mate, stalking silently
among the crew he sends them to fix deficiencies with just a glance.
In battle he uses many magical arrows enchanted for him by the ship's
mages, firing arrows that explode into fireballs or webs on impact.
Magic items:Boots of Star Striding(Dr159), Ring of protection +3, 1d6
Major Arrows of Pyros (Dr237), 1d4 Emerald-tipped arrows (Dragon 237)

Faernaa ['Master Mage'] Thessalon (CG em M12 War Mage kit(CSpHB) HP35 I18)
AC 5 (White Robe of the Archmagi, 5% MR also)
Spellbook (incomplete):Wizard Lock, Conduit(CEHB), Lightening Bolt,
Enhance Rating(CoAS), Create Minor Helm(CoAS), many others.
Thessalon, a grey elf from Darnanon, is the most racist of the elves
on board. Firmly convinced of the superiority of elves and elven
culture, he treats those of other races he meets in a cold, polite,
but distant manner. He is secretly in love with Alduya, but finds he
cannot stomach her more tolerant views and so is unable to express
his feelings. Thessalon is technically the ship's Faernos
['Navigator'] but his duties include those of Faernaa and he prefers
that grander sounding title. Like Alduya he is a Kerym ['Lord'],
though in his case his rank comes from his family's noble status. He
spends a great deal of time in his quarters creating scrolls of
spells, especially _Lightening Bolt_ and _Create Minor Helm_. Alduya
is a great believer in preparedness, so she makes it a point to
procure the need materials at each stop, so a supply of such scrolls
is always on hand.
Magic Items:1-6 scrolls,  Robe of the Archmagi(white),  Wand of Fire

Penaal ['Battlepoet'] Rinthilon (NG ef F6/M6 Bladesinger kit(CEHB)
HP45 S16 D17 I15) AC1 (Elvenchain +1, plus dex)
A member of the famed _Kintiara_, IEN Marines, Rinthilon leads the
contingent stationed aboard the 'Elantari. A fierce, powerful looking
Torilian Gold elf, she is a stickler for training, leading her troops
daily in sword dances. She also takes her inspirational and
entertainment duties seriously,  using her fine singing voice and
skill with the harp to keep morale up during long voyages. She is
nearly as xenophobic as Thessalon, but better able to hide her
hostility to non-elves she meets. She is thus often chosen by Alduya
to lead boarding and inspection missions to encountered vessels. Born
in the Elven Court, near fabled Myth Drannor on Toril, she is well
acquainted with the legends and politics of that region. Like
Thessalon she is a Kerym ['Lord'] through her family, the Miritar
clan of lost Myth Drannor. She proudly wears her House's colors
(black, cherry red, slate gray) and arms (four daggers, points down,
on a chevron of white over a red field). Rinthilon chaffs a bit
serving beneath Earendil, because she believes his House must be
beneath hers, but she is loyal to Alduya and likes the Kerdrim well
enough on a personal level.
Magic items: Gemsword,  Elven chain +1,  Brooch of Shielding,  Boots
of Jumping.

Other Crew:
Faerniir ['Helmsman']: 4 Mages, levels 2-5
Mara ['Priest']: 4 Priests, levels 2-5 (Correlon Larethian)
Kintiara ('Marines') 16 F/M levels 2-4 in each
Nilaa ['Sailor'] 26 Crewman Fighters level 2
Iolaa ['Gunner'] 4 bosuns Fighters level 3 Lead the artillery and sail crews.
All except mages wear Elven Chain (AC5) and carry the following weapons:
Kintiara: longswords; Priests:Shortswords;  Crew:Shortswords and longbows
Note that each of the Faerniir will have 1-4 scrolls (usually at least 1
Lightening bolt). Other crew members may very well have minor magic
items as well.

Ship's Key (from standard man-o-war deckplan)
All rooms are lit by hooded lamps with Continual light spells on them.

Maindeck:
1: Jettison-A look out is posted here at all times, the jettison shot
is stored here as well, and garbage is also exited from the vessel
here.
3: Cargo and Detention area-The lower half of the area has been
modified to carry a standard Mosquito ship. A pair of large double
doors operated by winches allow the vessel to enter and leave its
berth. The mosquito is helmless, Create Minor helm scrolls are used
to power it when it is needed.
4: Crew cabin-15 elves share this small space, sleeping in bunks
stacked 4 high. The walls are decorated with beautiful woodland
scenes which, thanks to a permanent illusion cast when the vessel was
built, are ever changing.
5: Crew Cabins- Similiar to room #4, this is the quarters of the Kintiara.
6: Galley- Cooking is done here,  most supplies are kept in the hold,
of course. The stove is small and made of bricks.
7: Spellcaster's Cabin- The ship's Faerniir and Mara share this
cabin. This room also houses a _Sanctuary Icon_ dedicated to Correlon
Larethian, and a small alchemical laboratory. The bunks in this room
are four high, as in the crew quarters, to grant this room for study
and research. There are likely to be 1d6-1 potions in this room
available to its inhabitants, as well as 1d4 mage scrolls.
8: Chart and Navigation Command- On the 'Elantari this room has been
converted into crew quarters, with bunks stacked 4 high. It is
similar to rooms #4 & 5
9: Ballista Pit- Besides serving in battle as a weapon station, this
room generally acts as the mess hall for the ship. Benches and tables
(which can be quickly folded away for battle) provide a congenial
location for the crew to take their meals or pass their free time.
Chessboards, cards, and other amusements are available from
compartments in the walls, and the view through the ship's "eyes" is
spectacular. Poetry readings and musical performances are also
sometimes performed here, somewhat incongruous though they are with
the squat, dangerous looking shapes of the two medium ballistae +1.
Besides storing thirty or so normal bolts for these weapons,  Alduya
usually has 1d3 helmseekers available as well.

Battledeck
1: Bridge- This is the nerve center of the ship. The vessel's Major Helm is
here in the center, as is the Planetary Locator, Portal locator, and
Passage device. A large, sturdy table serves as the ship's navigation
center as well. Speaking tubes link this room with each of the
weapons' pits.
2: Forward deck- Accessible only through a hatch from the main deck,
this is a popular spot to "get away" for the crew, as there is often
only the standard
forward lookout up here.
5: Storage- Alduya prefers to keep munitions either near the weapon,
in sturdy iron boxes, or in the hold. This room has been turned into
the ship's library. In fact, it is relatively complete and represents
a wizard's research library valued at about 5,000 gp. It holds a wide
variety of works, though Elven language material predominates, of
course. Increasing this library's size and scope is one of the
captain's pet projects.
7: Selkerdrim's Quarters- Thinking the large captain's cabin could be
put to better use, Alduya has taken this cabin as her own instead.
She keeps it fairly well furnished, though it is often in disarray
with start charts and reports scattered about. The captain's
spellbooks are here, of course, as well as 1d4 potions and scrolls.
The most important item in the room is the Captain's issued Crystal
Ball with Telepathy, which allows her to maintain communications with
RuaCoronal ['Admiral'] Icarus.
8: Officers' Quarters- This room is now shared by the Kerdrim,
Faernaa, and Penaal. They have used thin wooden partitions to divide
the room into four, roughly equal sections. They each use one such
section for their quarters, and the fourth holds a table and benches.
It is used as a wardroom, a place the officers can meet as a group
with the Captain or each other to discuss operations.

Castle Deck
1: Lookout station and Flight deck- Besides its most common use as a lookout
station, this broad area is used for ceremonies involving the full
ship's crew. Additionally, occasional plays are put on here to help
pass the time on long patrols. When the mosquito is ferrying
passengers and cargo, this pad is used instead of the more
complicated cargo berth. This is especially useful when ferrying back
and forth from intercepted vessels, since it is a far easier location
to defend from unexpected boarders.
2: Catapult turret- This location holds the ships main battery, but it also
holds (in wizard locked, warded iron chests) the magical munitions of the
ship; 1d2 rounds of Snow-shot(WCC), 1d3 rounds of Ringing Shot(WCC),
and 1d10 rounds of skunk shot (Dr159). Finally, a separate bound iron
box, warded against fire, holds 20 smokepowder bombs. Each of these
large, hollow stone balls holds 10 charges of smoke powder stoppered
by wax and a fuse. Designed to be hurled by a medium catapult after
being lit,  they have standard ranges but causes 1d10 hull points and
3-30 hit points of damage. There is a 25% chance per use that the
fuse will go out in flight or explode early, causing no damage.

Tactics:
        Alduya believes strongly in using tactics appropriate to the
situation. She has spent a great deal of time study the various
space-faring races and their weaknesses and strengths. In general,
she prefers to swoop past a vessel several times, pounding it with
explosive spells and arrows from her crew before sending a boarding
party aboard the Mosquito to investigate the disabled wreck. Unless
facing obvious foes such as Neogi or Scro she gives encountered
vessels a chance to show peaceful intent. She does insist on
inspecting most vessels encountered, however, as she is determined to
eradicate slaver in Realmspace.
        She is basically compassionate and will offer healing and aid
to anyone in needed, provided they are not known pirates, slavers, or
humanoids, who she will arrest.

Bibliography

War Captain's Companion Boxed set:War Captain's Guide, TSR
War Captain's Companion Boxed set:Ship Recognition Manuel, TSR
_The Radient Dragon_ by Elaine Cunningham [Book 4 of the Cloakmaster
cycle], TSR
_Into the Void_ by Nigel Findley [Book 2 of the Cloakmaster cycle], TSR
_The Maelstrom's Eye_ by Roger Moore [Book 3 of the Cloakmaster cycle], TSR
SJR1 Lost Ships, TSR
SJR2 Realmspace, TSR
Forgotten Realms Boxed set, TSR
CGR1 Complete Spacefarer's Handbook, TSR
Spelljammer Boxed set, TSR
_Demihuman Dieties_ by Eric Boyd, TSR
_Elves of Evermeet_, TSR
Captain Icarus (#40 of 60, 1993 AD&D Trading Card), TSR
"By Any Other Name", Owen K.C. Stephens, Dragon #251
PHBR8 The Complete Book of Elves, TSR
The _Silmarillion_ by JRR Tolkien, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston
_The Lost Road and other Writings_ The History of Middle Earth #5 by
JRR Tolkien, Del Rey
_Evermeet:Island of the Elves_ by Elaine Cunningham, TSR
_Cormanthyr_ by Steven Schend and Kevin Melka, TSR
_The Fall of Myth Drannor_ by Steven Schend, TSR

--
"We sleep safely in our beds, only because rough men stand guard in
the night, ready to visit violence upon those who would do us harm."
H.G. Wells.

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer.3@???.edu
Phd Candidate, History, Ohio State University
Instructor, Humanities, Columbus State Community College