Heaven Ships

Heaven Ships were ships of the precursors of the North Songun civilization which sent condemned prisoners and other social outcasts abroad. These ships, built in such a way that they could not be manuevered, were constructed in order to allow these individuals potentially reach what they believed was eternal life, giving these ships their modern historical name. Few ships reached anywhere beyond Crona, but the vast majority of scholars believe that the few ships that survived were responsible for the arrival of ethnic ancient Cronans in Vallos. Besides their demographic impacts, the ships are notable due to their exceptional size in early antiquity. There are two surviving examples.

Carze boat, a surviving example of a Heaven Ship in Vallos.

Background

The ancient precursors of the North Songun civilization practiced a form of the North Songun religion that believed the afterlife was literally over the seas from the landmass now known as Crona, whereas the underworld was below the sea. Accordingly, it was believed that the souls of the good sailed safely over the seas to eternal life, whereas the souls of the damned sank to the bottom of the sea. As these beliefs dictated literal locations, the ancient North Songuns believed that the damned could still reach eternal life if sent by sea and if the gods accepted them. Accordingly, the Heaven Ships were viewed as a merciful creation, entrusting the damned to the divine will. In most cases, the families of those condemned would also travel on the ships, but it's unclear if this was voluntary or part of a familial punishment. In practical terms, the sending of the Heaven Ships served as a way to remove criminals and various other undesirables from North Songun society. The Heaven Ships eventually stopped being built in late antiquity due to various changes in religious belief as well as, according to economic historians, increasing scarcity of wood in Crona. The first of these ships were sent ca 1200 BC and the last were sent in 100 BC.

Ship construction

Heaven Ships were unusually large for antiquity and especially large given the state of shipbuilding in Crona at this period in history. They could accomodate, with little space between passengers, more than 50 people. There was no steering mechanism on Heaven Ships; they were built with a single fixed large sail.

Failure

Heaven Ships were sent with the explicit warning to all aboard that, should the ship return, all aboard would be killed. The return of the ship was taken to be a sign of divine displeasure with those aboard, and no further chance could be offered to the people on board. This warning, historians believe, played a role in individuals aboard making potentially desperate decisions to rather die at sea than on land, leading some to potentially cut down their masts.

Journey

Natural issues

Prevailing winds and other natural factors prevent easy transit from Crona elsewhere by sail, a problem not solved until the early modern period. Accordingly, most Heaven Ships, once set out to sea, would eventually turn back towards the Cronan coast at most points in the year. In many cases, this would mean ships were grounded not far from their departure site, but many also seem to have grounded further south towards the modern Cape. Additionally, the shallow draft and ancient construction techniques for what were ultimately coastal ships meant that many ships simply broke up in the Odoneru Ocean due to strong waves.

Survival rate

Historians have calculated the survival rate of Heaven Ships by determining the most likely possible population of Vallos in Antiquity, comparing it to the recorded number of Ships sent, providing an average number of people aboard and subsequently removing the number of people likely to have died on the trip. Accordingly, most scholars believe only around 2% of the Ships made landfall somewhere outside of Crona, with a low number being just .75%. Historians are less sure on the number of ships that made landfall elsewhere in Crona, away from the authorities that sent the ship. From the historical record, it seems that anywhere from a tenth to a quarter of ships returned back to land near their departure point, with most of those on board killed by the local authority.

Climatologists and historians cite the large preponderance of natural issues for the low survival rate, as well as a general expectation of those aboard that they would not survive. Archaeologists have discovered that both existing examples of Heaven Ships have had their masts deliberately removed, and historians believe that there is a correlation between mast removal and chance of reaching land. Once removed, ships would not be as subject to prevailing winds, and in a small number of circumstances could be sent southeast away from Crona. It is posited that intuitive crews, seeing other wrecks, removed the masts, though there are other theories that masts were expendable due to the crew knowledge of oars and rowing while needing firewood to cook caught fish.

Arrival abroad

Heaven Ships with surviving crews landed in Vallos and Maristella. In the case of Vallos, it is believed they intermarried with the local populations, as the small number of survivors would likely be unable to support a long-term settlement. In Maristella, archaoeological evidence suggests at least two failed settlements existed prior to the permanent settlement of the island.

Legacy

The Heaven Ships had a significant impact on the historical development of Vallos.

Despite their origin in Crona, the descendants of those who arrived aboard the Heaven Ships did not meaningfully impact the future Occident's exposure to Crona. Memory of the home continent faded over time, both with the creation of a new civilization in Vallos as well as the arrival of the worldview, religion, and myths of the Adonerii. When Paul Aster discovered Crona in the 14th century, most contemporaries believed the Cronan peoples to be descendants of Tainean people who had colonized the continent.