Airship Components: R&D Contest (NA) - Entry Thread

[Percimont]

I was notified that there was a bug causing the maximum character length of the submissions to be 1000 characters and that this has been fixed. I am re-posting my entry in its original, intended format. I apologize that I unable to edit or delete my previous posts. As per contest rules, if this repeat post is not eligible for submission, I understand. Thank you.

Character: Percimont Brisenoix
World: Excalibur
Airship Component: Sky Fish Livewell
Requested Prize: Mandragora Choker

Vanu folklore tells of a legendary white whale said to swim in the Sea of Clouds, but adventurers who have visited the region tell stranger tales of all manner of fish living within the clouds. Yet like all good fishing stories, those telling them provide little to support their claims. But what if the stories are true? What if the skies really are teeming with undiscovered sky fish? What cures could be derived from them? What culinary creations?

Despite a growing curiosity, I held my doubts as to the veracity of these fish tales until one fateful afternoon at The Forgotten Knight. A group of adventurers returning from Camp Cloudtop excitedly burst in and laid a bundle on one of the tables. The stench as they unwrapped it was horrific, but all gathered around to see. Though badly decomposed, the fins, flexible scales, and telltale aether bladder all confirmed this to be a sky fish unlike any seen before.



My doubts were erased. Clearly, undiscovered species of sky fish exist in the skies above Abalathia, and they must needs be found. I learned of an upcoming exploratory expedition into the Sea of Clouds, and they agreed to bring back any sky fish specimens they happened to find. However, the decaying smell of the fish at The Forgotten Knight was fresh in my mind (and perhaps still in my clothes). Fresher and preferably live specimens would have to be obtained. Lominsan fishing barges often employ livewells--large chambers filled with sea water--to keep their catches alive until they reach market. Perhaps a similar structure could be designed for sky fish.



I had two short weeks before the exploratory voyage set sail, so I hurriedly set about creating the livewell. My travels took me to Naldiq & Vymelli's, the Moraby Drydocks, and the fishermen's and weavers' guilds to devise schematics for the modified livewell. I ventured first to the Chocobo Forest and then to the Western Highlands of Coerthas to procure the ramie cloth and cedar that I would need for construction.



Using my carpentry skills and some cobalt nails which I purchased from the markets, I crafted a cubic wooden frame measuring five fulms on each side. I secured the ramie cloth to the four walls and top of the cedar frame. I slit an opening in the fabric along one side and fastened a strip of gryphonskin leather around this to create a securable aperture through which sky fish could be placed into the livewell.

My pride at my construction was short-lived, however. As I arrived with it to the airship landing in Ishgard, I soon realized I was not the only inventor promised space on the exploratory airship. I believed strongly in the importance of my plan, but my simple wood-and-cloth box looked downright amateurish compared to the other designs around me. Still, I presented my proposal with confidence and waited anxiously to learn if it was accepted.

[Warr_of_Lint]

Character: Meer’a Mihksa
World: Balmung
Item: Bluebird Earrings
Component: Airship Reverse-Siren Sonar (ARSS)

The song of the siren has lured many unsuspecting sailors to their doom; however, I had a theory that if I were to reverse its polarity, the song could guide ships to safety instead. When I heard about the dangers of airship travel, I knew it was time to make the ARSS a reality.

An old friend allowed me to peruse her notes for a means of containing the siren’s voice. Her assistants were invaluable in helping me find the information I needed. My friends could barely suppress their giggles when they asked where I pulled the idea of my ARSS from; I knew they felt as giddy as I did about this project.



I wish I could show you my old friend, but she graciously asked to remain anonymous. Despite her indispensable aid, she adamantly refused to accept any credit, or as she put it, “liability.”

While traveling to Pharos Sirius to slay the siren—blam!—a detective of “unique” wit literally fell out of the sky. I immediately sensed something great about him, but I must confess, it was not his intelligence that caught my attention.



It was his senseless, yet selfless, determination that truly impressed me. I informed him of my plans and he agreed to help, but I found myself tangled in his misadventures: a string of seemingly unrelated thefts, gang warfare between moogle crimelords, abductions by little green lalafell from the moon, and a murderous plot involving foot odor. After an older man in sunglasses—the only thing he wore aside from underpants—suplexed a train, things started getting weird. I’ll spare you the details, but we ended up saving Eorzea!

Almost forgot where this was going—we also captured the siren’s voice along the way.

Many horrendous fatalities occurred in the design phase, but everyone preemptively refused to let me dedicate my ARSS to their honor. I often cried because of their selfless efforts—that, and the fact that they met indescribably terrible ends. Eventually we solved the problem, which we determined was caused a stubborn crack on the bottom.



I stood in awe of the final prototype. The gorgeous appearance of my ARSS complimented the melodious tone it emitted. My old friend said she expects this to go about as well as her colleague’s attempt to summon a succubus. That sounds like an endorsement to me! It’s ready, get yours today!