Heavy Bastion Cannon

Type: Siege Engine / Naval Artillery Origin: Steamfort Naval Shipyards

The Heavy Bastion Cannon is the primary deterrent weapon used by the floating fortresses of the Broad Swells and the ironclad dreadnoughts of Steamfort. Standing nearly fifteen feet long and weighing several tons, these cannons are not merely artillery; they are sophisticated Aether-amplifiers designed for long-range orbital-arc devastation.

Technical Details

• Aether-Ignition: Unlike traditional black-powder cannons, the Bastion Cannon uses a "Chambered Ignition" system. A refined Aether-slug is placed in the breech, which is then ignited by a high-voltage lightning arc generated by the ship's engine.
• Projectile Dynamics: The cannon fires a 100lb solid iron shell coated in a reactive Aether-film. Upon impact, the film detonates, releasing a 30-foot radius force-wave that can buckle reinforced steel hull plating.
• Recoil Suppression: Due to the extreme kinetic energy unleashed, the cannon is mounted on a series of massive steam-hydraulic pistons that vent excess pressure directly into the sea.

Tactical Use

In naval combat, a single well-placed shot from a Bastion Cannon can disable an enemy cruiser by shattering its Aether-engine or destroying its buoyancy crystals. The sight of a fortress rotating its primary batteries is often enough to force a fleet of Gilded Corsairs to retreat.

The "Swells-Bane" Variant: Recent reports suggest that Admiral Hektor Ironheart has commissioned a variant that uses "Salt-Infused" shells, specifically designed to penetrate the bio-organic hides of the Abyssal Leviathans.

Adventure Hook: A prototype Bastion Cannon has been "lost" during a storm near the Crystal Archipelago. Both the Ironclad and the Sea Wolves are racing to the site to salvage the technology—or ensure their rivals don't get it.