Rǔshǔn-kǎ, a Sarthîon Ship

For centuries, the Sarthîm ship called Rǔshǔn-kǎ (Standard Tarsin for "Horned one") by her foes has been a ceaseless participant in all manner of struggles against the Tarsins. Whence she came is unknown, but her first appearance was in battle against Emperor Sîn-Mǎkarîôs the Mâǎsǎrite. The heretic emperor was as tenacious as his ancestors, and smashed the Sarthîm fleet, scattering it to cosmic winds. Rǔshǔn-kǎ wandered the Empire for a time, without a way home, pillaging where she could and hiding out in remote systems, repairing damage inflicted by the Imperial Navy. After three years on the run, Rǔshǔn-kǎ finally must have made contact with the rumored Sarthîm beacon network, because she suddenly vanishes from the record for several decades after this. Rǔshǔn-kǎ would appear again whenever the Mâǎsǎrite emperors went on campaign, as if seeking revenge for her first defeat. Once the Mâǎsǎrites were overthrown by Taithônîôs the Restorer, Rǔshǔn-kǎ was not seen again until the Thôvis crusade, hundreds of years later. Ever since, she has been spotted every few years, sometimes deep within Imperial territory, sometimes in pitched battles over border worlds. She always has managed to return to whatever distant home she has intact.

The ships of the Sarthîm are dangerous prey for most Imperial captains. Their visage is both familiar and alien, twisted echoes of the venerable Imperial warships that have served Tarsis since the Savior's day. But few Sarthîm ships are that old; they need not be. The Sarthîm are masters of ancient techno-sorcery, and maintain many arts that date back to ages before the Shadow Emperor, now lost to Tarsis. The techniques of the past are alive and well on Sarthîon, and they can build ships to a far higher standard than the Empire. A Sarthîm ship like Rǔshǔn-kǎ is more than a match for any one post-Salvation Imperial vessel. What arcane magic dwells within Rǔshǔn-kǎ and her sisters is not known to any righteous man; as well it should not, for the Sarthîm have purchased their great power with their very humanity. The monstrous visage of Rǔshǔn-kǎ is but a reflection of the souls of the creatures who sail within her.

 

Thanks to Awesome-o-saurus for the description.

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After sitting on my computer for at least two years now, I figured the time to finish this was going to be now or never. I initially started building this when Awe confessed that he wasn't happy with his own Sarthîm Ship. It was generally agreed that if Sarthîon shared the same roots as the Tarsins, their ships should have some echo of that same style, while also conveying the affinity they have for demon technology in the lore. I figured spikes and spines, although cliché, worked well enough. However, as I went further back, I hit a builder's block and couldn't get anything I really liked. I'm still not entirely happy with the engine area, but it's adequate enough for me to post it. Hey, the alternative is that I could be like Ian and hoard a thousand half complete LDD files that will never see the light of day, so I'm not going to complain too much.

Done