- Built by: Aquatic Elves
- Used Primarily by: Aquatic Elves, Tritons
- Cost: 45000 standard gold
- Tonnage: 45 Spacial Tons
- Hull Points: 45
- Crew: 8/45
- Maneuverability Class: D
- Landing: Water only
- Armor Rating: 5
- Saves As: Thick Wood
- Power Type: Major or Minor Helm
- Ship's Rating: As helmsman
- Standard Armament:
- 2 medium ballista, crew 2/ea, 1 port 180*, 1 starboard 180*
- Cargo Capacity: 5 tons (see below)
- Keel Length: 160'
- Beam Width: 20'
The Seahorse is one of the few ships designed specifically for an aquatic race, in this case Aquatic Elves [of Solaris]. The Seahorse does not look like an actual seahorse, at least not at a quick glance. The lines of a Seahorse are similar to those of a Dragonship, with the dragon masthead replaced with a seahorse head, in a style similar to that of a viking ship. The sails of a seahorse is woven from a silky fiber drawn from kelp, and tend to shimmer in starlight. The hull of a Seahorse is often painted in a soft brown, to resemble an actual seahorse.
The entire lower deck of a Seahorse is flooded with water, and acts as the crew quarters for the aquatic elves. The extreme weight of the water severely curtails the cargo capability of the Seahorse. What cargo there is travels in the (dry) upper decks, and any passengers the ship has will be there as well. For any non-aquatic race, a Seahorse is an unpleasant ride. Everything is damp, and seaweed tends to creep all over the ship. Air can also be a problem, because half of the ship is taken up by water. The elves, being able to breath both air and water, do not notice this of course. When the lower deck is drained of the water, a Seahorse has a cargo capacity of seventeen spacial tons.
In combat, a Seahorse is a fish out of water (pardon the pun). A substantial hull hit could cripple the ship, especially if the water drains out. The ship can hold its own for brief periods, but will try to flee any combat it encounters. To this end, major helms with (relatively) high-level helmsmen are the norm. The Seahorse is used mainly as a transport vessel. When cargo is to be transported, most aquatic elves contract elven merchants (or members of other races, depending on who is available) who use more suitable ships. Aquatic Elves rarely travel in space, but when they do, they use the Seahorse when they can. The only other race that has consistently made use of the Seahorse are the Tritons, who use them as colony ships. Lizard Men have been know to use them on occasion as breeder ships, but this is rare. Most aquatic races find a trip to dry land a traumatic experience, while a trip into space is more than most can bear. Humans, humanoids and even other elves, pass up the Seahorse for other ships. Like the Arracocra Crobina, the Seahorse is simply not suitable for anyone other that the race that builds it.
