The Amber Pattern Navy

"I must down to the sea again,
To the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I need is a tall ship
And the stars to steer her by..."

After the damage to the fleet when Corwin sailed against Amber, using cannon that worked even near the One True City...

After the wholesale destruction of a huge section of the fleet as Rebma vanished from beneath the sea when the Primal Pattern was destroyed, causing a huge tidal wave to literally wash all docked ships into the Lower City (and there were many docked ships, due to the great Gala Event going on in the Castle that night...

After tornados, waterspouts, blizzards, heat lighting, and windstorms rolled over Kolvir and Garnath simultaneously as Benedict thrashed in a comatose fever in the Castle infirmary with the Jewel of Judgment pulsing in his eye socket...

After these events, following close on each other over the course of only a few months, the Amber Navy was in sad shape, and privateers were taking advantage of this weakness in a way not heard of or seen since the days of Oberon's earliest reign.

So Deirdre's eldest son decided to do something about it. He left a note for his mother the Regent:

'Mom, we need ships. I'm going to go get us some.'

What follows is a breakdown of the 28 ships that make up the New Amber Pattern Navy. The numbers of ships is important. In Verinau, Ander learned most of his mathematics, because the study of ships, ship designs and their construction is the most holy of all pursuits. Master Deled would be proud that Ander had chosen to lay the fleet out in this fashion because 28 is divisible by 1, 2, 4, 7, 14 & 28 *AND* 1 + 2 + 4 + 7 + 14 = 28. This is considered a 'graceful' relation in Verinau.

The ship hull designs combine modern design and construction with classical function. An Important Note: the galleon and caravel hulls draft deeper than their traditional counterpart, and in almost ALL cases, these ships are all larger and longer than the ship designs they were originally inspired by -- most of the Shadows with which Ander is familiar with that have developed sailing vessels moved on to self-powered, iron vessels before warships such as the Oberon or the Grace were ever considered feasible, thus, truly great sailing ships were never built. In many ways, the Amber Navy is now the True sailing war-fleet of which all others are but Shadow -- these ships are what other Shadows might have created, had they not traded elegance for power. The images of ships shown below are as accurate as possible, but it is important to remember that the actual ships of the Navy are simply larger in almost all instances.

This is done because the taller and stronger masts than are then used will carry more sail area aloft. Unlike any square rigged predecessor, these ships will tip just slightly to lee, and run as their ancestor's never could. A diver who knew quite a bit about ships would be surprised if he surmised the hull type from looking at the rigging above, then had a look himself.

Also note that several of the vessels in the Pattern Fleet are wholly traditional.

GM's Note: The ship's were designed with the following points: 4 points armor, 2 points for movement (but rather than making the ships faster, it allows them to move at top 'normal' speed even under adverse conditions), 2 point weaponry, trump deck (each ship has 27 large sails that depict the other ships in the special fleet: their use requires concentration by the ship's entire crew), and 2 more points in something else I don't remember.

A multiplier of x2 for 'Named and Numbered' was applied, even though it's more than 12 ships, because the ships were all Named, and specifically Numbered. Also, the fleet followed some odd superstitions about it's numbers, and would not field anything other than a 'graceful' number of ships. This was a problem when several ships were in dry-dock for repairs, and Ander had all but six of the remaining functional ships brought into harbor until the other seven were repaired... six was the closest 'pure' number of ships that he could field (1, 2, 3, and 6 divide into 6 AND 1 + 2 + 3 = 6). He was one short of the next highest pure number.

The Fleet

(800x600 res. minimum)

Dreadnaughts

The Hand of Oberon

  • Ship's Master: Hank
  • 5 mast dreadnaught, full rigging
  • 373' length overall
  • 65' beam
  • 5820 estimated displacement
  • Two-tier battleship
  • Carries 118 muzzle-loading 24 caliber cannons
  • Fast galleon style hull
  • Top speed: 10 1/2 knots
  • Bow piece: Likeness of Oberon, growling, extremely lifelike. (Sailors won't look at the eyes for too long, swear the eyes follow ones path, spooky, but not alarmingly so.)
Impatient Grace
  • Ship's Master: Margaret
  • 4 mast dreadnaught, square sail rigged with lateen mizzen mast
  • 312'length overall
  • 62' beam
  • 4300 estimated displacement
  • Reverse sloping sideboards
  • Faux tumblehome
  • three tier battleship
  • Carries 80 muzzle-loading 40 caliber cannons
  • Top speed: 9 knots
  • Done in coppery, red and black

The Frigates

Unicorn (Fleet Flagship)

  • Ship's Master: Anthony
  • 3-mast frigate, square sail rigged with lateen mizzen mast
  • 204' length overall
  • 43' 6" beam
  • 2250 estimated displacement
  • Single tier frigate
  • Carrying 52 muzzle-loading cannons of 24 caliber
  • Modified carrack-style hull
  • Top speed: 14 knots
  • Bow piece: The bow piece is a Cedar and Ash wood carved Unicorn rampant profile. Ship painted white above the waterline, red below. Topside: White with Black trim and gun ports. Wardroom has long oval table with a dark green jade tabletop and entry to private middle stern deck. Captain's quarters also has entry to upper stern deck.
Dierdre's Warsong
  • Ship's Master: Jacob
  • 3 mast frigate, schooner style masts, square sail rigged foremast and mainmast with fore & aft mizzen mast
  • 226' length overall
  • 47' beam
  • 2490 estimated displacement
  • Single-tier frigate
  • Carrying 48 muzzle-loading cannons of 24 caliber
  • Cutaway 'hourglass' brig style hull
  • Top speed: 16 knots
  • Bow piece: Large double sided battle axe, flat side presented forward. For the moment, a wooden facsimile is being used, but in the future a real axe will be used. Black paint with silver trim. Polished platinum alloy used throughout: door handles, deck buckles, etc.
Belle of Meira (Unicorn class)
  • Ship's Master: Cecil
  • 3 mast frigate, square sail rigged with lateen mizzen mast
  • 204' length overall
  • 43' 6" beam
  • 2250 estimated displacement
  • Single-tier frigate
  • Carrying 52 muzzle-loading cannons of 24 caliber
  • Modified carrack-style hull
  • Top speed: 14 knots
Kolvir's Fist (Unicorn class)
  • Ship's Master: Gardak
  • 3 mast frigate, square sail rigged with lateen mizzen mast
  • 204' length overall
  • 43' 6" beam
  • 2250 estimated displacement
  • Single-tier frigate
  • Carrying 52 muzzle-loading cannons of 24 caliber
  • Modified carrack-style hull
  • Top speed: 14 knots
Wave Whisper
  • Ship's Master: Stefan
  • 3 mast frigate, square sail barkentine with lateen mizzenmast
  • 226' 4" length overall
  • 52' beam
  • 4000 estimated displacement
  • Ship of the Line, Gunship, Ship with a Whole Lot of Boom-boom
  • Carrying: 28 32 pounders, 26 24 pounders, 28 12 pounders and 2 68 pound cannonades
  • Traditional caravel style hull
  • Top speed: 14 1/2 knots
  • "This thing's so scary, even the waves whisper when they're around it."
Duchess of Verinau
  • Ship's Master: Menedek
  • 3 mast frigate, square sail rigged with cutter style foremast
  • 245' length overall
  • 50' 2" beam
  • 2580 estimated displacement
  • Single-tier frigate
  • Carrying 28 muzzle loading cannons of 24 caliber
  • Fast galleon-style hull
  • Top speed: 15 1/2 knots
Kaliadan's Fury
  • Ship's Master: Geoff Mulgitan
  • 4 mast frigate, schooner style masts, flying topsail arrangement
  • 180' length overall; 41' beam; 2010 estimated displacement
  • Feathered-tier frigate
  • Carrying 64 muzzle loading cannons of 20 caliber
  • Modified J-class style hull;
  • Top speed: 16 knots
  • Bow piece: Likeness of Kaliadan, carrying trident to portside, carved from Oak by Verinese craftsmen. Ship is painted green above the waterline and blue below.

The Clippers

Oniru

  • Ship's Master: Max
  • 3 mast clipper, gaff rigged fore & aft main and mizzen masts,
  • 237' length overall
  • 47' beam
  • 1680 estimated displacement
  • Gavia Arctica style hull
  • Canoe stern
  • Carrying 16 deck-mounted muzzle-loading cannons of 24 caliber
  • Top speed 22 1/2 knots
Aramyst Twilight
  • Ship's Master: Horatio
  • 3 mast clipper, full rigged 3 masted brig
  • 118' length overall
  • 25' beam
  • 1250 estimated displacement
  • Caravel keel
  • Sloping stern
  • Carrying 28 deck mounted muzzle loading cannons of 24 caliber
  • Top speed: 17 knots
Osprey (Sister vessel to Blackhawk)
  • Ship's Master: Quentin
  • 3 mast clipper, full rigged bark
  • 250' length overall
  • 45' beam
  • 2250 estimated displacement
  • Stornass Windrunner hull
  • Canoe stern
  • Carries: 28 gunwale-enclosed muzzle-loading cannons of 24 caliber and 8 deck-mounted cannons of 16 caliber
  • Top speed: 18 knots
Clarissa's Guile
  • Ship's Master: Silas
  • 3 mast clipper, barkentine with gaffed fore & aft mizzenmast
  • 244' 6" length overall
  • 38' 6" beam
  • 2660 estimated displacement
  • Fast galleon hull
  • Canoe stern
  • Triple stern decks
  • Carries 32 gunwale enclosed muzzle loading cannons of 16 caliber.
  • The bow piece is a likeness of Clarissa, half-smiling -- like Hand of Oberon, this bow piece has inspired more than a few whispers.
  • Top speed: 13 knots
Reyes Grendolphear
  • Ship's Master: Ahsburgha
  • 3 masted fore and aft rigged schooner
  • 155' 10" length overall
  • 30' 6" beam
  • 1360 estimated displacement
  • Cut-away J-style keel
  • Reverse transom
  • Carries 12 gunwale mounts of 24 caliber and 8 deck-mounted cannon of 16 caliber
  • Top speed: 16 knots
  • The hull of Reyes Grendolphear is black with a golden line along the laden waterline. The interior of the ship is laid out in deep purple and black with occasional golden gilt. All hatches and doors on the starboard side open in an unconventional direction, producing symmetry. Reyes also has a small, but reasonably equipped library on board.
The Cabra SandpiperRight: Cabra Sandpiper, Left: Faiella Elegante
  • Ship's Master: Emanuelle
  • 3 mast full rigged hulk
  • 293' 4"length overall
  • 40' beam
  • 2750 estimated displacement
  • Hulk hull
  • Carries 48 enclosed-enclosed muzzle-loading cannons of 16 caliber

Faiella Eleganté

  • Ship's Master: Marcus Corey
  • 3 mast clipper
  • 250' length overall
  • 45' beam
  • 2250 estimated displacement
  • Cut-away racing keel
  • Canoe stern
  • Carries 32 enclosed-enclosed muzzle-loading cannons of 16 caliber
  • Bow piece: Likeness of Faiella
Rilga's Dream
  • Ship's Master: Pietro Masgani
  • 3 mast full rigged clipper
  • 257' length overall
  • 37' 5" beam
  • 2300 estimated displacement
  • Caravel hull
  • Canoe stern
  • Carries 28 enclosed-enclosed muzzle-loading cannons of 16 caliber
Legacy
  • 3 mast barkentine
  • 155' length overall
  • 36' 5" beam
  • 1675 estimated displacement
  • Carries 24 enclosed-enclosed muzzle-loading cannons of 20 caliber
Blackhawk (Sister vessel to Osprey)
  • Ship's Master: Andrea Klavien
  • 3 mast full-rigged brigantine clipper ship
  • 250' length overall
  • 45' beam
  • 2250 estimated displacement
  • Stornass Windrunner hull
  • Canoe stern
  • Top speed: 18 knots
  • Carries 28 enclosed-enclosed muzzle-loading cannons of 24 caliber and 8 deck-mounted cannons of 16 caliber
  • Bow piece: Indian Brave carved from cedar, with black hair and real oversized feathers in the hair, dyed yellow and red.
  • Colors: Black below the waterline, Red and Yellow stripes along waterline, and white topsides. Black painted railing. Deck is made from dark teak, cedar and lightly stained fir. Gunwales are redwood with bronze banding.
Stilletto
  • Ship's Master: Ethan
  • 3 masted schooner with fore and aft sail plan
  • 250' length overall
  • 45' beam
  • 2250 estimated displacement
  • Cutaway caravel style hull, bladed bow piece, red waterline, all else, black.
  • Carries 8 muzzle-loading cannon of 24 caliber and 8 muzzle-loading 12-caliber cannon, all deck-mounted
Star of Prant
  • 3 masted bark
  • 197' 3"length overall
  • 39' beam
  • 1920 estimated displacement
  • J-style hull keel
  • Canoe stern
  • Carries 32 enclosed-enclosed muzzle-loading cannons of 16 caliber
Rendisé Pride
  • Ship's Master: Kristo de Genostragoné Cordo Mancetti (Geno)
  • 2 masted schooner fore and aft gaff rigged
  • 126' length overall
  • 28' beam
  • 1100 estimated displacement
  • Full keel
  • Canoe stern
  • Carries 20 deck-mounted muzzle-loading cannons of 16 caliber
Allegro
  • 3-mast clipper
  • 263' length overall
  • 41' 7" beam
  • 2030 estimated displacement
  • Gavia Arctica style hull
  • Canoe stern
  • Top speed: 19 knots

The Cruisers -- Ships of State

Silver Oisen

  • Brigantine full rigged 3 mast gaff-rigged fore and aft main and mizzen masts
  • 98' length overall
  • 24' beam
  • 350 estimated displacement
  • Brig style hull
  • Top speed: 11 knots
Bercheuse
  • 4 mast barque, square sail rigging, with lateen mizzenmast
  • 130' length overall
  • 36' beam
  • 960 estimated displacement
  • Barque style hull
  • Top speed: 12 1/2 knots
Farquarson
  • 3 mast East Indiaman, square sail full rigging
  • 146' length overall
  • 42' beam
  • 1660 estimated displacement
  • Modified Brigantine style hull
  • Top speed: 8 knots
Golden Honor
  • 2 mast ketch, fore and aft rigged cutter style
  • 60' length overall
  • 19' beam
  • 450 estimated displacement
  • Modified J style racing hull
  • Top speed: 16 knots

The Bercheuse and Farquarson are particularly comfortable ships, easy to sail.

Other

Dworkin's Pelican

  • Trimaran Troop Carrier
  • 5 mast vessel
  • ?' length overall
  • ?' beam
  • 2000 estimated displacement w/shallow waterline
  • Triple hull
  • Bow piece: Purple and Orange Pelican 'Rampant', in profile, carved from Solid Redwood, with wings unfurled

For the record: The creation, pictures, information and... practically everything else are solely the work of the often-imitated, never duplicated, Scott Herndon. All I did was come up with some of the NPC shipmasters, scanned the pictures, and did the page layout, but if you have questions about borrowing some of the stuff here or putting up links to this page, ask me, since I'm the guy that handles all that stuff. (But, if you want to send kudos, mail Scott. :)

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