Stonekeel

Stonekeels are a unique kind of ship built by the Island King dwarves living on Emperor's Island in Vaothan. The pumice hulls of these vessels are built over metal or wooden frames, then covered in pitch or enamel to render the ship water-tight. Traditionally stonekeels have been used primarily for ceremonial and ritual purposes, especially during the ascension tours of newly-crowned Island King monarchs and the funerals of respected, high-status figures.

Stonekeels have been used by the dwarves of Emperor's Island since well before the area fell under the control of the Sangiran Empire in Y6240^*. Simpler, more-raft like designs eventually transformed into the highly stylized modern ships with wide, flat hulls that eventual taper in the front into elaborate prows. Historically most of the stone required to construct stonekeels has been sourced from the islands of the Serpent and the Whale, to the southeast of Emperor's Island, but more recently material from Koamun has started to see use.