A turf ship is a sail-powered land ship; most commonly referred to as a "dust-cutter". They are typically only seen in the Verges region, as there is a high prevalence of wind and a vast swath of the landscape consists of the Norat Flats, which is suitable for ships that need to maneuver and cut to account for wind conditions. Like water ships, most turf ships are capable of flying against the wind. These ships also have a keel, which is above the hull instead of below, and is called a top-keel. Some ships, such as the Ambition, have a retractable top-keel.
Turf ships come in a variety of sizes, and all of them have wheels, skids, or tracks for contact with the ground. Some are capable of limited gliding (flying a few feet off the ground). Because they must contend with terrain (unlike water ships, which cut through the water), turf ships are limited to travel on flatter areas.
Many ships in the Verges are used for transporting illegal cargo, slaves, etc. All of them are equipped with some type of weapons for protection against pirates and other dangers. The Clavic Empire even has a unit specifically for the Verges region, the 35th Operations Group, which uses turf ships.