OK, so I'm writing a supplement for Volant, called Fragments of Air and Stone. The supplement is about fragments - chunks of floating rock and vegetation too small to be a real country, up to about two thirds the size of Rhode Island - including managing and improving them.

Suppose your company - and it can be any kind of company you want - acquired one in whatever fashion. What would you want to do with it assuming a late medieval technology plus giant riding birds and flying ships?

-clash

Nature reserve/hunting reserve.

Dope growing.

Meditative retreat.

Secret training facilities (of what, i don't know, it's a secret).

A cult head-quarters.

An exclusive burial ground for the rich and/or famous with attendants inhabiting an in-situ facility.

Thanks, OHT! Good stuff there!

Do they move? Can I crash one into my enemies? Can I hollow it out and call it the Death Fragment?

I would organize the most epic king of the mountain competition, ever.

Jadrax - I'm looking for ideas, so whatever can be done with the available tech is fair game! So, yes, awkwardly, and certainly to your three questions.

Brendan - Awesome!

Thanks to both of you!

-clash

Use it to take over more Fragments.

There ought to be a way to put big masts and sails on the suckers to move them around. Or in a pinch I guess you could have flocks of flying creatures tow them, but sailed Fragments would look much more elegant. Besides we will need the flying creatures for mounts for the Wind Riders, the elite forces that comprise my Wind Cavalry.

Once I have control of enough of the biggest Fragments I name my collection the Empire of the Air, declare myself Emperor (or Empress if I'm playing a female PC), and make everyone tremble before me. My enemies will be killed horribly or exiled to indentured servitude amongst the other ground hugging earthworms (called lows or worms) who are doomed to eke out an existence toilng in the fields, mines, and factories below. Fortunately, because I am benevolent as well as mighty, there will be a route for advancement through devoted service in the Army of the Air.

Also I ensure that my throne Fragment is always above the Fragments of my minions or my enemies. Anyone who gets too high is looking for a fall. That alone is sufficient for a casus belli.

Hi Bren!

There is indeed a way to put big masts and sails on a fragment - it's the standard way of moving them around. They are massive and clumsy, but what else are you going to do? At least they are less big and clumsy than a full region!

Sounds like a laudable goal! And very doable! Thank you!

-clash

Noble rodent. Your fine etiquette has earned you a small place in my entourage. Undoubtedly your flight ability will prove very useful.

Thank you, your Serene Omnipotence! I exist to serve!

-clash

OHT, your reply inspired:

Hunting Reserve - Setting aside an area to be left wild for hunting. Add 1 to Raw Animal Resource Value.

Plantation - Growing high value non-food crops on part of arable land to earn higher net profit. Add 2 to Raw Vegetable Resource Value

Training Facility - Area for training recruits. Add + 0.5 to Fragment Yearly Value.

Hospital - Combines medical practices with alchemical potions. Add +2 to Fragment Yearly Value from grateful patients.

Jadrax - your reply inspired:

Keeling - Shaping shipstone under the fragment to optimize directional facing ability and enhance steering.

Battering Ram - Shaping a small fragment as a mobile instrument to crush enemy fortifications.

Honeycombing - Riddling a Shard or Clot (small fragments) with voids and passages so that the maximum volume can be occupied.

Bren, your reply inspired:

Lightening - Removing excess non-shipstone so that the fragment flies higher. Remove 1 from Raw Vegetable Resource Value and move Water modifier up one category.

Brendan, I got nothing! It sounded like wicked pissah fun, though!

The ultimate gladiatorial arena with a hole in the middle.  Including chariot track.

Fortified prison for demons and monsters.

Amusement park.

Japanese garden.

Garden gnome factory.

Add sails and air-oars to build an aircraft carrier (bird cavalry carrier) and hunt a bigger fragment. Repeat as needed.

Joust!

- Carve massive lakes and pools into the surface. Then either start breeding fish and selling them (with limited arable area, grain would come at a premium and alternative food source ought to sell well); or fill the island with freshwater from a river, fly to the arctic/antarctic region, wait for it for freeze, carve it up into large chunks, then fly back to temperate and hot latitudes and sell the ice for loads of money.

- On a similar note, grow spices or some other high mass/value ratio luxury plants that require highly specific environmental conditions, always following the rain, seasonal hot winds or whatever it is they need.

- Forestify the island, grow trees at high altitude which gives them the size and resilience necessary for use as construction materials for giant masts, structures, etc..

- If there's enough magic in this world and people navigate by compasses, create massive magical/artificial lodestones, then use the island as a "mobile magnetic pole" to screw with other islands' navigation. Piracy, military action, lead them to the doldrums and let them die of thirst, etc..

- Reach as high altitude as possible, astronomers'/astrologers' paradise with a much clearer and/or more magically pure view of the sky.

- Is there an actual planetary surface with a normal civilisation? If yes, shadow piracy: block the sun over grain fields, large cities or the king's favourite summer palace, don't move until they pay.