The RNUHigh ElvesThe RNU

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Fleet Tactics and Weapons

"Before you lies the harbour of Lothern, with its many docks. In a restricted area far from prying eyes lies the pride of Ulthuan, the Home Fleet. Each ship of the Royal Ulthuan Navy is maintained to the highest standards, and crewed by the best sailors. You, my friend arrive as a guest of the Admiralty, and so will be given a guided tour around the sleek warships of our noble Navy....."


Elven Ships

Unlike mundane ships of races such as humans, the larger Elven ships of war are made from the trunks of single Starwood trees, shaped as they grow by magics rather than crude tools. The ships are thus stronger and tougher for their size, though take much longer to build, as each Starwood tree takes hundred of years to reach maturity.
The principle weapon of the Elven fleets is the dreaded Eagleclaw bolt-thrower. This massive ballista fires magically guided bolts, each having a range further than Old world cannon, and this, coupled with the superior manoeuvrability of the Elven warships, means that High Elf navies can pick and choose where a fight will take place. The bolts themselves have a massive truesilver tip, capable of penetrating even the heaviest armoured warships afloat.
Much has been made of the Elven mobility - indeed it is very much due to the fleets of Ulthuan that Elven armies may move about at seemingly supernatural speed to trouble spots. The Elven knack of seamanship has much to do with this, added to the Elven precepts of mobility and firepower over armour. As a result, Elven ships tend to be undermanned, and not ideal for engaging enemy fleets in boarding actions.


Ship NameDescriptionStatistics
Dragonship The mighty Dragonships were made many millenia ago from the Starwood trees of Anhara Draconis. These trees grew twice the girth of normal Starwood, but the Dark Elves burnt down the sacred grove. The loss of a Dragonship is a weighty blow indeed, and event for which an epic ballad is written. Dragonships are generally only used by Admirals.
Armament:
2 Eagleclaw forward batteries
1 Eagleclaw broadside battery
Starblade Ram on Catamaran hulls
Eagleship Eagleships are the mainstay of the Elven Fleet. They are massive, sleek, fast ocean going vessels, well armed and equipped. Being Men O'War, they operate independently, and this can be a disadvantage when engaging vastly numerically superior forces, but they make up for this in their agility and speed.
Armament:
3 Eagleclaw broadside batteries
Hawkship The Hawkship is one of the smallest ships used by the Royal Ulthuan Navy. It is incredibly manoeuvrable, especially when compared with hulking human or orc vessels, and is especially heavily armed for a ship of its size.
Armament:
2 Eagleclaw forward batteries
Griffonship Griffonships are coastal defence vessels, lurking in the waters around the Elven sea defenses. Modified from fast transport ships, they carry a relatively highly trained crew, specialist close combat troops and Griffonclaw bolt throwers. These bolt throwers fire a hail of darts at short range, horribly injuring exposed enemies.
Armament:
2 Eagleclaw braodside batteries
2 Griffonclaw turret batteries
Phoenixship The Phoenixship is derived from the Eagleships of the Elven fleet, but has one important difference - it carries the massive Dragonfang weapon. This ballista dwarfs even the Eagleclaws used by the other ships of the fleet, and its bolt is capable of going straight through entire squadrons.
Armament:
1 Dragonfang forward
2 Eagleclaw broadside batteries
Waverider The richer citzens of Ulthuan often use swift trimarans to compete in contests and races. The navy uses a heavier version, armed with a single Eagleclaw, as a fast patrol vessel. The manoeuvrability, even when compared to Hawships, is impressive, and squadrons of these light raiders can run rings around more massive enemy ships.
Armament:
1 Eagleclaw forward battery