Sky-Junk

The Sky-Junk is among the great wonders of Grand Cathay, a flying warship held aloft by sky-lanterns and Celestial magic, drifting above the battlefield like a vessel upon an unseen sea. Crafted by the empire's finest artificers and blessed by its astromancers, these airborne craft carry crews of gunners and rocketeers who rain fire, shot, and exploding sky-lanterns down upon the enemies below, striking targets no earthbound weapon could reach. To the men of the Old World, who achieve flight only rarely and at terrible cost, a Cathayan sky-vessel is a thing of impossible majesty: proof of an empire whose arts have outstripped anything the west can imagine. In war the Sky-Junk is both weapon and symbol, shattering enemy formations from above while lifting the hearts of the soldiers who fight beneath its shadow. It is slow and a conspicuous target, but few foes can bring one down, and while it holds the sky the armies of Cathay fight knowing the heavens themselves are on their side.