The Astrovanis

She was beautiful-a glimmering star in the night. Polished marble and gleaming wood-you'd believe a day hadn't gone by. It was peaceful, too- Save for a few quiet parties lingering in the lounges you'd say there wasn't a soul onboard.   But there wasn't.   There hasn't been for twenty years.

— ~Aramis 'Headwind', Testimony on the sighting of the Astrovanis.

  The HMS Astrovanis was a Vermichelli-class passenger steamer comissioned by King Gustavo II of Shimshar in 1900. Designated as the first of three planned ships, the Astrovanis was launched in April of 1903 on a two week excursion to the Lunis Archiapelago, carrying the royal family and a good portion of Shimshar's elite. Sadly, tragedy struck as the Astrovanis disappeared on May 3rd, the The Night of Falling Crowns. There was no distress signal, no lifeboats, no signs of wreckage; the Astrovanis sailed into the night, never to be seen again.   At least not for some time.  

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Building the Ship of Dreams

  The HMS Astrovanis was comissioned and the berth laid shortly after April of 1900, in anticipation of the coming 500th anniversary of Shimshar as a sovereign nation. She was designed to be a top-of-the-line steamer, a symbol of Shimshar's nautical heritage and new future as a leader in the commercial industries. Even the third-class berths were luxurious, at least by the standards of the time.  

He'd seen pictures-They'd all seen pictures, because pictures were all that were left. But pictures in black and white didn't do the splendor justice. The chandelier-a full chandelier, on a ship!- was glimmering, thousands of little specks of light dancing through frosted glass to the stairs below.

 

First Class

In true Shimshar fashion, the first class and royal suites were luxurious to the point of extravagant. The lounges were lined in plush green silk, with elegant green chairs and dark wood tables. Ameneties included a spa, two high-class restaurants, a gymnasium, and a squash court. There was even a pool table in one of the men's lounges. The suites were decorated in a style similar to the most lavish hotels in the capital; a reporter that was invited onboard for a preview commented that 'I had been taken off the ship and straight back to my hotel, and yet I had not moved an inch.'     The Second Class accomodations, while not as luxurious as their First Class Counterparts, were no less elegant. These passengers, who while not the cream of society's elite, still included multiple professors, philosophers, and merchants looking to broker new trade deals. They had their own library and a barber shop, as well as a lengthy promenade deck on which to stroll. While the suites were smaller, they were still reminiscent of a lovely summer by the seaside.        

The First and Final Voyage

The Astrovanis set sail to great fanfare on the 500th anniversary of Shimshar's founding as a Sovereign nation on April 27th 1903. There were almost two thousand souls aboard, between the passengers and the crew. Anyone who was anyone-or wanted to be anyone-was there. The Eternal Lighthouse, a gift from Mira to Shimshar to commemorate the Anniversary, stood gleaming at the end of the harbor. At the stroke of noon, with a great blast of the ship's horn, the Astrovanis set sail for the Lunis Archiapelago. Notable passengers included;      

Silent Night

The Astrovanis was making good time across the Eastern Sea on its way to the Lunis Archiapelago, the Memoric engine powering it working like a dream, despite small leaks in the byproduct lines. It was a clear night, no wind to move the flags hanging off the back of the vessel; the ocean looked like a blanket of stars.   The last known communication was at 12:07 in the morning, with the nearby Carpathic; 'Calm Night, all is well.' No one was sure when the Astrovanis vanished; some time between 12:07 and 8:32, when the Caruso tried to make contact regarding provisions. When the Caruso tried to radio Shimshar regarding the inability to make contact, no one responded; the Capital was running red with blood as a result of the Night of Falling Crowns. By the time a proper search was finally mounted, there was no evidence as to where the ship had gone.  

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It was twenty years before any evidence was found; Aramis 'Headwind', a pirate wanted by Shimshar, encountered the Astrovanis in a myserious fog while escaping from Shimshar's navy. A record of his account was attained and distributed across the Eastern Sea, although Aramis himself died shortly after due to injuries sustained during the pursuit.