III. Fundamentals of Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the art and science of designing, building and launching ships into the oceans of Azeroth. Kul Tiras has long been recognized as the most capable shipbuilders in the world, rivaled only by the shipwrights of Quel’thalas. Although Thalassian shipbuilders were excellent shipwrights, their vessels were primarily designed to face off against swift Amani Troll destroyers and focused more on speed and maneuverability rather than the ability to support amphibious assaults and attack fortified land targets or large fleets of enemy vessels.
Ships are built in specialized facilities called Shipyards, where the ships are painstakingly constructed one at a time ontop of wooden blocks which have been spaced out to fit the final contour of the ship’s bottom.
The first section to be built is the keel, the spine of the ship that runs longitudinally along the bottom and anchors the frames of the ship together. Each frame works like a rib, changing very slightly along the length of the ship as the contour of the outer shell (the hull) must be shaped to allow the ship to slide swiftly through the water. The decks, bulkheads (walls), and overheads (ceilings) are then all built within the structure and form a web which adds strength and rigidity to the entire vessel. The masts are built from only the highest quality timbers as these must withstand the winds which will propel the ship forward.
Finally, all joints and seams on the ship are coated with specialized sealants to give the ship it’s watertightness. A thick, gelatinous paste made from mixing blubber (Seals and Ogres are excellent sources) with the grounded tusks and bones (Seals, Orcs, Trolls and Tauren have been found to be particularly effective) - and so it is recommended that any of these parts which can be recovered from animalistic Horde species be immediately extracted and stored in the ship’s stores. (Site Note: The meats from Tauren also salt well and make for excellent stews while at sea, while troll and orc remains are useful as chum while fishing in deep waters. Waste not - want not!)
Once construction is completed, it must be blessed by the Tidesages of the Stormsong Monastery before the ship can be considered seaworthy. These Tidesages also aid in the navigation of our fleets and it is in part thanks to their blessings that Kul Tiras boasts the mightiest Navy the world has ever seen.
The ship is launched by pulling it backwards from the blocks and letting it gently side into the Great Sea, ready to bring riches and glory to Kul Tiras, and destruction to the greenskins and their minions the world over.