Wilkins is a very unlikely priest. Though trained in theology, and for a short time vicar of his home village of Fawsley (near Daventre in Northamptonshire), it is as an inventor that he is primarily known. He is offi cially the chaplain of Viscount Saye and Sele’s estate, but his pastoral duties take a poor second place to his constant tinkering with Clockwork. Father of the Clockwork Revolution, he has also found time to write a book on the possibilities of a voyage to the Moon, and with the help of funding from the Viscount and his friends, has not only designed, but actually built, a moonship. In between these major projects, he has managed to devise a universal language and invent a metric system of measurement, though neither has, as yet, gained much popularity!
D20 Hit Location AP/HP
STR 13 1–3 Right Leg 0/6
CON 14 4–6 Left Leg 0/6
SIZ 13 7–9 Abdomen 0/7
INT 19 10–12 Chest 0/8
POW 15 13–15 Right Arm 0/5
DEX 13 16–18 Left Arm 0/5
CHA 12 19–20 Head 0/6
Combat Actions 3 Typical Armour None
Damage Modifi er +1D2 Traits —
Skills Art (Clockwork Design) 155%, Craft (Clockwork) 120%, Craft (Engineering) 120%, Craft (Mechanisms) 135%, Lore (Logistics) 100%, Lore (Mechanical Philosophy) 100%, Lore (Theology) 90%
Movement 8m Combat Styles Unarmed 50%
Strike Rank +16 RP 70
Weapons
Type Size Reach Damage AP/HP
Unarmed M L 1D3+1D2 As for arm
the English astronomer Thomas Harriot with his telescope (and Galileo too, of course, though I believe the Englishman was fi rst) it seems likely that there will be people of some sort living there. It seems unlikely that God would create an entire world and then not populate it. There are some who theorise that the Moon may, in fact, be Eden. If God created the Garden to be populated by many humans, it would need to be large.
Once Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden to the Earth, it was left empty. If this is so, then the Moon will be a place of great abundance, full of animals that live in peace and harmony with each other.”
What’s the weather like on the Moon?
“Another interesting question. The day lasts fourteen days, and the night another fourteen, so the days must be very hot and the nights very cold – but I believe that clouds and cooling rains will temper the heat, and the Earthlight that will constantly bathe the near side of the Moon, refl ecting sunlight from our oceans to warm the lunar night, will prevent it getting too cold. I imagine that the far side of the Moon, which never sees the Earth, will be unimaginably chilly, however.”
What about Alchemy on the Moon?
“As you may know, I studied Alchemy for a time. It is my belief that the Moon contains much more of the elusive fi fth element, sometimes known as Quintessence or Aether, which is not to be found on Earth. Whether it is made entirely of Quintessence or merely a mixture of the new element and the familiar elements of Earth remains to be seen. It is possible that new magickal forms will be achievable – new spells with previously unlooked-for powers, as well as Aether Elementals. It is a shame really that no Alchemists have been invited along, but don’t let Cromwell know I said that. I am married to his sister, and she’d never let me hear the end of it!”
Has the Enterprise been tested?
“Well, not exactly. How do you test whether a ship can fl y to the Moon, other than by fl ying it to the Moon? But it’s closely modelled on the fl ight of a swan, and they’ve been fl ying reliably since God created them.”
How does it land? “You will, of course, need to fi nd an ocean or other body of water. But that should be no problem, as we’re pretty sure there are large seas on the Moon.”
T HE E NTERPRISE
! Cost: Unknown
! Complexity: 10
! Size: 100
! Hit Points: 90
! Speed: 140 kph
! Armour: 6
! Weapons: 20 cannons
The Enterprise is a fl ying ship, converted from an existing vessel by John Wilkins.
In design, it resembles a privateer, with three masts and clinker-built wooden hull. The biggest difference which will be noted is in the massive articulated wings which extend on either side of the ship; made on a light framework of wood, with “sinews” of rope and complex gears within, they are covered over with canvas onto which thousands of swan feathers have been sewn.
The wings are, of course, powered by Clockwork. However, on a long voyage, such as the trip to the Moon for which Wilkins designed the ship, there would be no sensible way to rewind the Clockwork powering the wings, were it not for Wilkins’ other invention – the Defl agration Engine. This massive engine (5 x 3 x 3 m) works by feeding carefully
The Enterprise
measured quantities of gunpowder into cylinders which, when ignited by fl ints, drive a camshaft which in turn rewinds the Clockwork mechanism. The Defl agration Engine is very noisy, and produces vast quantities of noxious smoke, and is – it goes without saying – incredibly dangerous in the hands of an untrained operator! But, if fi red up for an hour, once a day, it can keep the Enterprise’s Clockwork engine wound up for a whole day’s travel, allowing it to stay aloft for weeks if necessary.
The top speed on the Enterprise in sustained fl ight is 140 kph, though it is obviously slower on short fl ights.
The Enterprise is basically a 40m long, three-masted privateer adapted to fl ight.
The gun deck has been sacrifi ced to make room for the Clockwork machinery that controls the wings and the Defl agration Engine, which rewinds the Clockwork on a daily basis. The rest of the ship has also been converted, partly to provide for extra passenger cabins, partly to allow the carrying of cargo – this is, after all, a mission of exploration and potential trade, not of war. Nevertheless, Abel has insisted in taking light cannon, strapped down to the top deck, in case the need to defend the Enterprise arises.
The cargo deck carries the ship’s supplies, a large amount of barrels containing food and drink. In addition, there is an abundance of trade goods – an inordinate amount of wool, trinkets and beads; a plentiful supply of common trade items, such as swathes of cloth, eating utensils and hand weapons; as well as generous samples of more exotic trade goods, including spices, cotton, silk, indigo dye, saltpetre and tea.
And there is gunpowder – lots of it – without which the Defl agration Engine will not work.