- Built by: The Esh Alakarans (Humans from the lands north of Maztica on Toril)
- Used By: Munchausen of Brandobaris
- Tonnage: 30
- Hull Points: 30
- Crew:1/30
- Maneuver Class: C
- Landing-land: Yes
- Landing-Water: Yes
- Armor Rating: 7
- Saves As: Thick Wood
- Power Type: Micha Helm (unique item-see below)
- Ship's Rating: 3
- Armament:
- 2 piercing rams
- Cargo: 15 tons
- Keel Length: 110'
- Beam Length: 25'
At first glance, Lacanha appears to be a stockier, heftier version of a Dragonfly. The bow holds two large, eye-like window, and a thin tail juts from the rear. Other factors mitigate the resemblence, however. The Lacanha (which means Spirit Flyer in Azuposi) has no landing gear, the hulls base is flat and watertight which allows the Lacanha to land on either land or water (though the vessel yaws immensely in the water-x2 chances for seasickness). Moreover, jutting threatingly out from the bow are two massive piercing rams. These rams cause standard damage and are reinforced with micha treated copper bands. This reinforcement grants the vessel a +2 on all saves involving the rams.
The vessel has two decks, a forecastle and the maindeck. The forecastle leans forward over the ram, so it is a simple matter for marines from the Lacanha to board rammed ships, to return they must either pass a climb walls check or climb a rope or ladder. The maindeck is the center of all the ships rigging, and a pair of large hatches in the deck open into the cargo hold below. Two large wings jut out from each side like real Dragonfly wings (not like the wings of the Dragonfly spelljammers). These can be raised vertically to allow the ship to berth at a dock, or to avoid shearing in an emergency (crew prof checks apply).
The helm is located in the central room on the bow, with the eye-like windows on each side. The helm itself sits in the center of the room like a throne. The walls are covered with paintings of Esh Alakaran warriors in battle (the style is similar to that of the Mayans). Those interested in the Esh Alakarans and Azuposi should refer to FMQ1 City of Gold, which also describes the uses of Micha.
Micha Helm
Cost - ?
The Micha helm was developed by the Esh Alakarans (without arcane assistance!) over 1000 years ago, no one is sure of the exact date. Only one was ever completed (at least, that anyone knows about...), it was used extensively in the war that eventually devestated the Esh Alakarans homeland, never leaving Toril's atmosphere or even the regions airspace. This explains the absolute lack of knowledge the other spelljamming races have of it. The helm acts like a furnace helm, burning Micha instead of magic items, providing SR3 and useable by any sentient creature that can rest upon the throne. One pound of Micha powers the vessel per day (24 hrs) and this is the only fuel it will accept.
The helm does not explode in the Phlogiston as a furnace helm, but rather ceases all functions immdiately. The spirits that are within the helm, and consume the micha in return for powering the ship, are cut off from the vessel until it returns to wildspace. Unlike a furnace helm, this does not prevent the vessel from travelling between the spheres.
If the helm's command word (Chuan Muan) is spoken by the helmsman, the vessel and all in physical contact with the vessel are shifted into the astral plane! The vessel can then traval through the astral plane to a point that corresponds to the crystal sphere desired and, by again speaking the command word, return to wild space in the new sphere. Because the astral plane has no contact with the pholigston trips are much quicker, as quickly as one day in some cases. Of course, the astral plane is an exceptionally dangereous place to be—all plannar rules apply.
Navigation within the plane is by helmsman Int check (ability halved), which must be performed each hour. Practice quickly improves this; after two trips to the silver realm the ability returns to normal. No one on board has a silver cord, their entire body has been transported.
Besides the other crystal spheres, the vessel can traval to any plane touched by the astral (not that anyone would want to go to some of these planes!) Note that the vessel holds no inate protection against planar effects—if it is taken to the Elemental Plane of Fire somehow, it will immediately burst into flames and be destroyed.
Ship's Uses
The vessel was owned by a halfling fighter/priest named Munchausen of Brandobaris, a known Harper. Recently, however, the ship has registered on Berdusk and Marsember on Toril as the property of Dargo Mindfist (a Sembian noble), Saerindil Alsinder (an unknown elf), and Inigo Thamara (a Moonelven priest of Ereven Ilsere). The details of other crew are unknown.
It should be noted that the Githyanki and Githzerai, as well as the Gith pirates, will go out of their way to gain possesion of this vessel once they know what it is capable of.
Illustration
