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Ships & Shores of Southern Genertela

M Helsdon

By M Helsdon
in Glorantha

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M Helsdon Advanced participant

M Helsdon

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I will be bringing a draft hardback of this Jonstown Compendium title to Dragonmeet (rail strikes permitting) for Nick Brooke's JC display. The text is complete, barring final proofreading, with some art still placeholders.
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Cover and lettering by Mark Smylie.
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π€π©π©π«π¨πšπœπ‘π’π§π  𝐍𝐨𝐜𝐑𝐞𝐭
The merchant round ship, the π‘†π‘’π‘Ž π‘€π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘  π‘œπ‘“ πΎπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘ π‘’, is towed into the harbor of Nochet towards the Long Docks. This is common practice, as the winds of the Mirrorsea are gentle in the sailing season, and rather than drift slowly in on a convenient breeze, using the sweeps, Captain Vareena has engaged the services of some sturdy tugs. Her husband, Lartan the steersman, leans by the tillers, keeping a wary eye out for other traffic. The Sea Mistress has her sail brailed up, her deck crew now idle as they wait to make land, when they will throw lines ashore to moor her. Other ships are already tied up, but there is plenty of space for her. The city, in all her glory, boasts a wealth of temples and shrines, and other brightly painted buildings.
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The plaza of the Great Market lies before the ship, and the arcaded length of the temple of Issaries rises, tier on tier, said to be the richest in the world. Nochet, as the most cosmopolitan and opulent of cities, claims to be His most holy place. Here, and in the market, gather traders from across the mortal world, the stalls are filled with exotic luxuries. The goods in the π‘†π‘’π‘Ž π‘€π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘ β€™ hold will find eager buyers. Already some factors on the quay are eagerly waiting to discuss trade. Tax inspectors are also waiting to collect the tolls and harbor dues.
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Beyond Issaries’ temple, to the west and a little to the north can be seen the imposing edifice of the Grace Temple of Ernalda, with its looming towers. It is one of the two greatest temples to Ernalda in all Glorantha, the other being at Ezel. Surrounded by the galleries of shrines lies Ernalda’s Garden, a tower at each corner, decorated with carvings of the Earth Goddesses. The form of the temple describes a square, and it also descends deep into the Earth despite the proximity of the waters of Choralinthor Bay.
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If the Grace Temple is ancient, then the temple of Dormal is new, barely forty years old, a place of pilgrimage for all sailors. Set upon stone piers it seems to float upon the water, which lends it the name of Dormal’s Floating Temple. There are shrines within to all the Sea Gods. A boat-shrine, used in Dormal’s festivities lies at anchor. To the far right of the docks can be glimpsed the Harbor Master’s Tower. This is older than Dormal’s temple, as the trade across the Mirrorsea was unaffected by the centuries of the Closing.
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As they approach the docks, the passengers and crew exchange greetings and news with a patrolling triaconter, for far-sailing ships are the best source of tidings from distant lands. Two merfolk negotiate their services to clean the underwater hull with a sailor.

1505224521_Periplus_ShipsandShoresofGlorantha_Coverprint300dpiCMYK_printsizev1.jpg

Edited by Nick Brooke
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  • Nick Brooke changed the title to Ships & Shores of Southern Genertela
Andrew M Newbie

Andrew M

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I got caught out with a partial strike this weekend which nearly trapped me in Cambridge , not so good when my job is in Leeds. RMT is striking on Avanti on 11th and 12th december so the weekend before may be safe, . Last year there was an underground strike I believe , I remember I had to take a Taxi from the station

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M Helsdon Advanced participant

M Helsdon

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Mark Smylie has just sent me a penciled draft of, no pun intended, the draft beaching illustration for comment.Β 

A merchant tub can draft beach in the shallows allowing cargo to be loaded and unloaded by people wading into the water. Later she can either push off using the sweeps or poles, or wait for the tide to rise.

This also nicely shows how amphorae could be stood upright in the sand.

I've asked for a few very minor changes: adding the anchor and showing a large cargo amphora.

beaching.jpg

Edited by M Helsdon
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Joerg Senior participant

Joerg

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Nice image, and yes, tubs will go alongside sandbars in tidal zones near the channels.

Are the tubs that flat-bottomed that there is no list to either side? Beaches you go alongside will have a slope, which keeled vessels might lean towards while flat-bottomed vessels in an alongside position would lean away from the shore.

The Annilla rhythm of theΒ  tides will ease leaving the beach, even if the weekly cycle is on the sinking trend. Beaching at the summit of the Annilla cycle may ground a vessel for days, in extreme cases for weeks, which may make masters hesitant to risk this at minor markets.

Getting caught in the tidal flats threatens loss of ship outside of the Mirrorsea Bay. Wave action against beached vessels may break the structures.

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Telling how it is excessive verbis

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M Helsdon Advanced participant

M Helsdon

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8 hours ago, Joerg said:

Nice image, and yes, tubs will go alongside sandbars in tidal zones near the channels.

And beaches. But not alongside. Note that the bow is pointing towards the beach.

8 hours ago, Joerg said:

Are the tubs that flat-bottomed that there is no list to either side?

Note the shores used to prop up the vessel.

8 hours ago, Joerg said:

Beaching at the summit of the Annilla cycle may ground a vessel for days, in extreme cases for weeks, which may make masters hesitant to risk this at minor markets.

Which is why you won't draft beach at high tide.

8 hours ago, Joerg said:

Getting caught in the tidal flats threatens loss of ship outside of the Mirrorsea Bay. Wave action against beached vessels may break the structures.

This is why draft beaching is performed in sheltered bays, lagoons, and estuaries where wave action is limited.

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Joerg Senior participant

Joerg

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31 minutes ago, M Helsdon said:

Note the shores used to prop up the vessel.

There you have a term bound to confuse non-native speakers in this context (and presumably some native speakers too).

Would sailors rig up a beam from two logs to lift heavy cargo items across the railing?

35 minutes ago, M Helsdon said:

Which is why you won't draft beach at high tide.

Which begs the question how well the sailors can predict the tides, especially the Annilla tides (as the effects of Storm and the "Red Moon" are rather predictable).

Shelter from wave action is dependent on the tides and shifts in the wind.

Telling how it is excessive verbis

Β 

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M Helsdon Advanced participant

M Helsdon

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25 minutes ago, Joerg said:

There you have a term bound to confuse non-native speakers in this context (and presumably some native speakers too).

Fortunately the illustration shows one being used without requiring the use of nautical terminology.Β 

It is a little difficult to avoid using nautical terminology when writing about nautical matters.

27 minutes ago, Joerg said:

Would sailors rig up a beam from two logs to lift heavy cargo items across the railing?

Tubs were loaded and unloaded by hand, so setting up a frame to lift cargo wasn't necessary.Β 

28 minutes ago, Joerg said:

Which begs the question how well the sailors can predict the tides, especially the Annilla tides (as the effects of Storm and the "Red Moon" are rather predictable).

By observing the Blue Streak, and seeing the relative position of the last high mark and the sea level. Down to experience and observation.

29 minutes ago, Joerg said:

Shelter from wave action is dependent on the tides and shifts in the wind.

Which is why bays and lagoons with relatively narrow mouths are ideal harbor sites, especially if in a position sheltered from the prevailing wind.

Draft beaching was historically used in the Mediterranean, Baltic, and on the British coast at places likeΒ Hengistbury Head (which has been used as a harbor site from the Bronze Age and probably even further back).

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Joerg Senior participant

Joerg

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8 minutes ago, M Helsdon said:

By observing the Blue Streak, and seeing the relative position of the last high mark and the sea level. Down to experience and observation.

The Blue Streak is visible only during the plummet, which is when the tides run out. During her climb, Annilla remains invisible. You know that it will return to the far side of the Sky Dome when Lorion crosses the Gate of Dawn, but you don't know how fast she will rise.

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Telling how it is excessive verbis

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M Helsdon Advanced participant

M Helsdon

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11 minutes ago, Joerg said:

The Blue Streak is visible only during the plummet, which is when the tides run out. During her climb, Annilla remains invisible. You know that it will return to the far side of the Sky Dome when Lorion crosses the Gate of Dawn, but you don't know how fast she will rise.

Yes I know.Β 

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Joerg Senior participant

Joerg

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On 12/17/2022 at 9:30 PM, M Helsdon said:

Yes I know.Β 

So how does watching the Blue Streak fall into Magasta's Pool give any clue to when the next passage is going to happen?

Telling how it is excessive verbis

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M Helsdon Advanced participant

M Helsdon

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11 hours ago, Joerg said:

So how does watching the Blue Streak fall into Magasta's Pool give any clue to when the next passage is going to happen?

What passage? Her next climb and fall?

After the Blue Streak falls, you know there will be a low tide for about a day (steersmen know when Lorion will be in the east), and then when she starts to climb, the tide will rise for at least a day. You know the maximum the tide can rise to by the highest high tide mark and by the regular cycle of the Red Moon.

Tubs have the advantage that they can draft beach and load and unload in a matter of hours, so they are less liable to be affected by the tides.

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