Royal Steamline The Blog | Inspiration for Brides & Grooms

Steersman Moodboard

Steersmen

As Admiral Smythe-Hutchins once astutely noted, “The finest ship of the line doesn’t mean a thing without a steersman at the helm.” The history of the steersman predates the recent revolution of gascience; the first Line steersmen were former captains of sailing ships. Modern steersmen are, of course, not exclusively men as women have been helming airships for decades (the name has remained with the blessing of the female pilots). After four-year apprenticeships as cadets, potential steersmen undergo a series of written and oral examinations (including rigorous etiquette and presentation tests) as well as flight drills. The most infamous of these drills, the Guide Star Loop, has been mastered by only less than 15% of cadets; those that pass the drill as instantly conferred as Commodore Steersmen.

{This entry describes a class of officer, artisan or mystic that populates the fictional Royal Steamline airship fleet. It was written to provide some context for the types and styles of one-of-a-kind dress badges that appear in the Royal Steamline Etsy shop. Also, they were just a lot of fun to write. Please do note that the classes and subsequent descriptions are the intellectual property of Royal Steamline.}

Devolver Moodboard

Devolvers

“In the years that immediately followed the revolutionary discoveries of Chas. Darwin FRS, several noted scientists conferred to debate a hypothesis: if men shared common ancestors, would it not be possible to communicate with animals or even manipulate genetic material to realign genes to produce, either permanently or temporarily, certain animal features or traits? It was an ambitious project, but the Royal College of Devolution has achieved results that even its founders wouldn’t have thought possible. Modern devolutionary scientists (commonly referred to as “devolvers” by crewmen of the Line) use a complex combination of pheromone synthesis, non-verbal sound reproduction and expert pantomime to communicate with a range of birds and mammals (only the most adept have been able to reach other animals such as fish and lizards). Devolutionary scientists report that these communications take the form of “intents and impresssions,” never sentences or conversations. While rudimentary, these connections can result in birds being persuaded to roost when they otherwise might interfere with an airship’s launch, or the discovery of human fugitive hiding in a disgruntled wolf’s den.

However, some devolvers have gone far beyond communication. Some adepts–known as “science monks” due to their monastic hermitage in one of the Crown-granted Genetic Cloisters–have been known, through an arcane combination of meditation, foods, drugs and conventional devolver techniques–to transform their bodies into those of primates, large cats or even stranger beasts. While such transformations typically last anywhere from two days to two weeks, such changes are ultimately unpredictable. While the appellation “science monks” has captured the imagination of the proletariat, it is a gross misnomer as many experienced devolutionary scientists hold distinguished posts in the government of This Great Nation. Typically, devolvers are tall and very thin due to the enormous caloric volume needed to conduct their craft.”

{This entry describes a class of officer, artisan or mystic that populates the fictional Royal Steamline airship fleet. It was written to provide some context for the types and styles of one-of-a-kind dress badges that appear in the Royal Steamline Etsy shop. Also, they were just a lot of fun to write. Please do note that the classes and subsequent descriptions are the intellectual property of Royal Steamline.}

Weatherstichers Moodboard

Weatherstichers

“Of all the ranks of the RS, none are more mysterious or controversial (with the possible exception of the Helle Eingänge) than the weatherstichers. The only position that remains open only to women, every RS vessel carries a complement of at least three weatherstichers. (Larger vessels will carry more, although only in odd-numbered groupings.) While the selection and training of weatherstichers (or ‘Cailleach’ as crewmen and commonfolk often call them) is mostly still the realm of speculation (since the Crown granted limited autonomy to Salem County–ancestral home of the weatherstichers–as part of the Treaty of Reconciliation), their power and importance are obvious and unquestionable. As The Times has often quipped, ‘Cailleach control the air in the water and the water in the air.’ Large councils have altered growing seasons and caused flowers to bloom on St. Stephen’s Day. Naturally, such abilities have proved to be invaluable for His Majesty’s Steamline. Indeed, many claim This Great Nation’s victory over the Prussian Fliegerkorps was the result of dramatic shifts in air current caused by the council aboard the RS command vessel, HMA Industry. Conversely, some recent essayists question the place of such mysticism in our modern nation; it is no surprise that leading devolutionary scientists commonly voice the most strident protests. However, the Crown shows no indication that it will cease annual conscription of 15% of all weatherstichers residing in Salem County. To this day, it remains a minor but punishable offence for any citizen of This Great Nation–particularly officers and crewmen of the Line–to directly or indirectly refer to a weathersticher as a ‘witch.’”

{This entry describes a class of officer, artisan or mystic that populates the fictional Royal Steamline airship fleet. It was written to provide some context for the types and styles of one-of-a-kind dress badges that appear in the Royal Steamline Etsy shop. Also, they were just a lot of fun to write. Please do note that the classes and subsequent descriptions are the intellectual property of Royal Steamline.}

Wrenchenfolk Moodboard

Wrenchenfolk

“The Lowcounty people say that ‘tools come to our hands as the aether comes to our lungs.’ While not all wrenchenfolk hail from the Lowcounty, it’s widely believed most–such as the infamous Archwelder Wm. Greeley Sykes, Foundry Master to the Baron Cormorant–do. Eschewing traditional guilds, wrenchenfolk are familial, learning metalcraft, woodworking, pneumatics and gascience from pater and mater. Most wrenchenfolk parents present their journeykin when they reach age 23 (or sooner if the young mechanic achieves certain notoriety or status, such as Siobhan ‘Chiseler’ McReynolds following her team’s win at last year’s Duchess Cup). Only after a decade of split-knuckle service either amidships or at a Royal Cloud Harbour can wrenchenfolk seek status as Archwelder, or Master Mechanic, of their vessel. (Currently, the Royal Census recognizes 33 active Archwelders.) The process of investiture is known only to the Archwelders themselves, though some posit advanced metallurgy bordering on alchemy may be involved. Know an Archwelder by the hexagonal stitching on his or her belt and tool satchel.”

{This entry describes a class of officer, artisan or mystic that populates the fictional Royal Steamline airship fleet. It was written to provide some context for the types and styles of one-of-a-kind dress badges that appear in the Royal Steamline Etsy shop. Also, they were just a lot of fun to write. Please do note that the classes and subsequent descriptions are the intellectual property of Royal Steamline.}

As we’ve all been made very aware, this is the 100th anniversary of commercial lighter-than-air travel. But as many still don’t know, it’s also the 110th anniversary of This Grand Nation’s Order of Steersmen. On this date in 1899, the Steersmen were incorporated by Admiral Smythe-Hutchins – much to the dismay and embarrassment of Lord Carruthers – to be the honorable fellows whose steadfast hands would guide the airship fleet through the celestial expanse.

As an especial salute to these first stalwarts, Royal Steamline presents a particular pair of dress badges commemorating this heady time in Our History. The Particular Order of Master Steersmen is presented in limited edition as a salute to hydrogen, aluminum and the steely-eyed souls who piloted them through the blue profundities. Handcrafted from vintage and new buttons, seam binding and millinery, this collection can usually only be purchased through the Royal Steamline Etsy shop. But today, we’re giving away two special pieces from the collection: one Steersman dress badge and one Steersman brooch (see images below).

The first two people to contact us via email or Twitter DM will receive a dress badge or brooch. We will contact the winners to get all of your shipping details.

Photo by Royal Steamline

{Royal Steamline Dress Badge - The Steersman Gent}

{Royal Steamline Brooch - The Steersman Lady}

Astrolaberor Moodboard

Astrolaberors

“The navigators of old had the luxury of only navigating in two dimensions. Modern navigators, officially recognized as Astrolaberors to the Crown, must plot courses in the aether. Together with the airship’s steersmen and weatherstichers, astrolaberors guide the airship to smooth currents and favorable conditions in peacetime and strategic advantage in times of conflict. Conferred astrolaberors possess the best memories in This Blessed Nation as they must recall instantly an almost infinite number of star combinations and arrangements. Geometry and optics are also specialties of this rare breed of officer.”

{This entry describes a class of officer, artisan or mystic that populates the fictional Royal Steamline airship fleet. It was written to provide some context for the types and styles of one-of-a-kind dress badges that appear in the Royal Steamline Etsy shop. Also, they were just a lot of fun to write. Please do note that the classes and subsequent descriptions are the intellectual property of Royal Steamline.}