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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Jun 2003 : 12:24:32
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Good suggestion Bookwyrm. I have consulted these materials several times in the past when I was writing a story based in a heavily 'castled' portion of Medieval Europe. They are altogether a great resource.
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Brynweir
Senior Scribe
USA
436 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2003 : 04:11:27
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Just an interesting tidbit since you seem to be posting so much about castles, death, and diseases. The spread of the Black Plague originally began in China, in the city of Kaffa (Caffa) but may not have been so widely spread if not for the siege of the city by the Tartars. You see the invading army was struck by the plague. The people within the walls thought all they would have to do was wait until enough of the invaders died, and then they'd give up and go home. Instead, the leader began launching infected corpses (sometimes not corpses) over the walls.  I guess he thought if he was going to die he might as well take as many of the enemy with him as he could. Once the merchants from Turkey, Italy, and many other places in Europe realized what was happening, they boarded their ships and headed home. Of course, they took with them infected people as well as the flea-ridden rats that carried the plague. In the end, over 1/3 of the people in Europe died and nearly 1/2 the people in England.
Many shipments and inheritances went unclaimed for fear of plague, and most of the infected ships were just set on fire and sunk. Of course, this was only after they had piled up hundreds of dead bodies near the cities and infected more people. (There is a great Monty Python skit for this, by the way, I believe on the Search for the Holy Grail.)
Sorry to those of you who did not find Monty Python's take on the plague amusing. |
Anyone who likes to read something that's really dark and gritty and completely awesome ought to read The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks. You can check out a little taste at www.BrentWeeks.com I should probably warn you, though, that it is definitely not PG-13 :-D
He also started a new Trilogy with Black Prism, which may even surpass the Night Angel Trilogy in its awesomeness. 
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2003 : 04:27:06
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I like it. It's also one of my brother's favorite parts of the movie. It was quite funny, too; though it's been so long I can't actually remember what was said.
Since we're talking about the Plague, I'll say this. I've never liked the following children's rhyme after I found out what it really means.
Ring around the rosies
Pocketful of posies
Ashes, ashes
We all fall down.
Did you know that this was actually a description of the Plague? The innocent way it's chanted by little kids just seems out of place now. |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2003 : 09:04:38
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Curious. I was only just discussing this rhyme with some of my fellow scribes this morning. My Silver Marches campaign, has seen the party inadvertantly responsible for the release of a vile and deadly plague from the ancient days of Netheril.
I was carrying out some research on viruses, and plagues in general at the library when I came across this description you mention in a book about life in Europe in the 1100's-1400's.
Still, I am curious to know from where you had discovered this information Bookwyrm?.
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Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2003 : 11:31:16
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| My seventh-grade (grade eight to you, I think) history text. |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
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Mournblade
Master of Realmslore
USA
1287 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2003 : 21:08:03
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Hmmmm let me see...
There are just so many scrolls...
AH yes!
In castles you can tell whether the Lord of the Manour that built the castle was left handed or right handed. If the stairs go UP counter clockwise, the lord was left handed (easier for him to defend, as he moves upward), if the stairs are UP clockwise then he was left handed. Of course there are only a handful of castles that actually were designed like this but it is still interesting.
Oh yeah...
It is a majour misconception that knights in full plate armour, were as maneuverable as turtles on thier backs. KNights did not need a crane to get on a horse like some drawings shown, in fact it is written that Lord William Marshal, (Of the Plantagenets) was able to do a full summersault in his rather heavy chainmail and plate. The all encompassing platemail at the time was not yet invented, but Armour actually became MORE maneuverable as time went on and methods of armouring became more refined. PLATE MAIL, despite what the players handbook says, is MUCH easier to wear than 'lighter' chain mail. Sure chain mail weighs a little less, but the distribution all falls on the shoulders. That is why people in Chain mail usually where a HUGE leather belt. SO that part of the weight can get distributed there. Chainmail may be lighter, but it tires you out alot quicker than plate mail. Plate mail is heavier, but pretty much each area of the body shares a portion of the burden because of how it is harnessed. Plate mail was not only a development in protection, it was a development in movement as well. Don't let the ENCUMBERANCE rules fool you.
Tying in stairs with armour: It is extremely difficult to fight on the winding stone stairs of castles with armour on. If any one has been on these stairs you know why (Tower of London, Castle Urqhart, Bolton Castle, Montalcino, Warwick, many many others) The stairs were TIGHT, and maneuvering them in armour was difficult. This was ANOTHER advantage to the defenders, who would train in defending while in armour.
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A wizard is Never late Frodo Baggins. Nor is he Early. A wizard arrives precisely when he means to... |
Edited by - Mournblade on 01 Jul 2003 21:10:45 |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2003 : 22:59:35
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I hadn't known that about platemail; I had about chain, of course. Anyway, the principles involved in wearing armor are shown in the modern-day equivalent. Anyone who has tried on Kevlar vests knows that it's initially very heavy. However, once put on properly, the weight falls mainly on the center of the body, due to the way the straps work. Very little falls on the shoulders, allowing the wearer to wear it for longer periods without fatigue.
Of course, I've never tried on military armor; I'm certain it is heavier. The Kevlar I've tried was police-issue. Having a police officer for a brother is an advantage for learning about police equipment and training, and that is easily transfered to this sort of thing. After all, fighting is fighting. I'm not as likely to use what I know about handguns, but much of the rest can pop up in a story. You never know what might be useful, which is the reason I started this thread.
And Mournblade, thanks for contributing. It was getting quite lonely in here, with just the two of us . . .  |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jul 2003 : 15:07:44
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At last, another noble scribe has joined our ranks. Welcome Mournblade .
You contribution is indeed interesting. These details -
quote:
In castles you can tell whether the Lord of the Manour that built the castle was left handed or right handed. If the stairs go UP counter clockwise, the lord was left handed (easier for him to defend, as he moves upward), if the stairs are UP clockwise then he was left handed.
were particularly interesting, because they reminded me of something I read about Leonardo da Vinci (one of my personal favorite figures of history) and his supposed architectural designs for one of King Francis I (France - 1516) chateaus. It is said that the spiral staircases that Leonardo sketched for the designs in the chateau were so complicated to actually design and implement into the chateaus infrastructure that they were nearly left out. In the end however, stone masons went to work on the designs, following Leonardo's exact sketches.
The reason I am talking about this is, because Leonardo was renowned as ambidextrous, the design of the staircase never followed the standard left/right handed bias that you describe here. This is what made the designs so difficult to implement, and eventually fail to achieve what was originally thought to be a good and solid idea. The designs were abandoned and removed from the infrastructure. The only example that remains (half-completed) is in the second chateau of King Francis I, near Amboise, France.
Leonardo never lived with the disappoint of his failure though, he died shortly before the first designs were constructured.
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"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jul 2003 : 15:09:56
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Anyway since I have gone a 'little' of topic, it is good to see this scroll active once again. I have several new and interesting additions that I may just post, since others seem to be paying more attention to this scroll.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jul 2003 : 19:03:39
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I liked that information, but yes, it's not really that useable for the Realms.
*sigh*
I suspect that we are going to have to keep a close eye on ourselves if we want to make this topic useful . . .  |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2003 : 09:44:03
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Actually I have some interesting viking ritualistics, and celtic runes information that I researched several years ago for an article that I was going to contribute to an online role-playing e-zine that was active back in 1997-1998. Unfortunately the ezine only ran for four issues, then fell apart when several of the creative staff went in different directions.
I may post a little here since I made use of it in my 'Giants and Runes' campaign that I designed shortly after I had read the Twilight Giants Trilogy.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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NightElf
Seeker
![]()
United Kingdom
97 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2003 : 14:23:15
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Might not fit into this space, but how about taking your characters like Paladins and Clerics and letting them go through a portal into...
Modern day!
They would then have to find a way to get home, it could be that an Evil Necromancer has advanced to the future (to modern times) to kidnap someone or steal something which will help him conquer the world in the past (like an M1 Sherman Tank ). The players could be trying to stop him! That would give the players a chance to show you how they would react to such a thing...
What do you think? |
"Those who watch their backs meet death from the front" |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2003 : 04:41:15
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| No thanks. As I said elsewhere, the opposite is far more interesting. |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2003 : 10:58:39
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NightElf said -
quote:
They would then have to find a way to get home, it could be that an Evil Necromancer has advanced to the future (to modern times) to kidnap someone or steal something which will help him conquer the world in the past (like an M1 Sherman Tank ). The players could be trying to stop him! That would give the players a chance to show you how they would react to such a thing...
This sounds a little like a portion of text from the Hollowfaust module, specifically on adventure ideas...interesting.
I once ran a mini-campaign based on an amalgam of Battletech and the Greyhawk world. I'll provide you with a small write up my friends and I wrote and designed for that module.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Herr Doktor
Seeker
52 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2003 : 05:34:46
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While designing possible future PC party excursion sites for my Forgotten Realms campaign, I happened upon the decidedly close to the PCs base of operations, Thunder Peaks.
While drawing possible battle maps (I use graph paper maps for combat and like to add fancy little details if I've got the time) I discovered I know next to nothing about mountains. I've never really been on a mountain.
Most of the images I've seen of mountains show a bottom-portion coated thick with trees. Besides what flora exists I know next to nothing about what animals live on mountains or how mountain ecosystems work. In fact... I don't know much about ecosystems and such in general.
I know it may seem like nit-picking, but I want to relay accurate information to my players about their surroundings.
The realms are home to many animals that also dwell on our real world Earth, and I want to see that they are properly placed.
I suppose my intent in posting this here is to get other DMs to think about such things, and perhaps have a few DMs who've looked into such matters share their knowledge. |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2010 : 12:02:38
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I love this thread! Totally awesome.
I guess I'm a bit late for the session Herr Dokter had planned but I'll still answer his query.
The most distinguishing feature of a mountainous ecosystem is its large range of environmental conditions over a relatively small area. These conditions are largely dictated by the orientation of the mountain slope, a southern orientations gives it more sun hours and results in relatively higher temperatures. Continental weather patterns are disrupted by the high peaks of a mountain range and usually have a large influence on the precipitation patterns; if the slope stands in the dominant wind direction the rising air causes lots of rain and snowfall resulting in lots of little rivulets and ponds. After the air has risen over the peak the rain and snowfall is drastically reduced creating 'desert-like' rocky slopes.
So mountainous wildlife has to be able to withstand a large range of varying climatic conditions, not only over the seasons but over the heights they migrate over. This requires them having adapted fur that sheds when their territories expand in summer and grows when a habitat retracts in winter. Most predators preying on wildlife in the highest mountainous regions survive the harsh conditions in winter by hibernating in caves till spring.
Examples: Hares, Sheep, Bears, Foxes, Wolves
The second most important feature of mountain slopes is their fragile nature. The natural wear and tear caused by freezing and thawing, solubility of minerals in rain and buffeting of winds (with or without small stone particles) causes the bedrock or stone formations to crack and buckle over time. Prolonged exposure can cause mud flows, rock falls, landslides and the dreaded avalanches. The evidence for an upcoming rockfall can be misleading but with sharp eyes fault lines can be observed and avoided.
Wildlife have adapted to this by being fleet of foot despite the dangerous falls that can occur when a misstep is made on perilous slopes. Its unclear how larger mountain wildlife avoid perilous rock falls but my guess is they are just as keen on spotting faulty rock outcrops as a human mountaineer or rock scientist is.
Examples: Birds, Goat, Mountain Lions, Wolverines
So in D&D terms, look for animals with firstly a polar or subarctic environmental range (yak/oxen); secondly a natural dex modifier of +4 or larger (squirrels, hares and deer); animals with a climb speed (lizards, snakes and wolverines, mountain lions) or a racial bonus on balance checks (goats and mules).
Fantastic myths are abound in the folklore tales of mountainous humans. Some say bridges are built by the gods that only appear when conditions are just right: such as a mountain pass shrouded in mists, a rainbow appears in a valley or when a certain star stands between to mountain tops. Legendary beasts such as the yeti are famous, and tales of heroes born and raised by mountain giants are very popular as well. |
My campaign sketches
Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
Edited by - Bladewind on 23 Nov 2010 12:12:50 |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2010 : 20:48:57
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Continuing on what fantastic creatures that would fit mountainous ecosystems.
People in the dark ages thought the great ruins of walls and battlements found in hills and mountains were built by a humanoid race of immense size (when they were actually Roman structures built several hundred years before). These giants had no problem handling large stones, and were even fond of tossing rocks at eachother (their explenations for finding large boulders far from mountains which are actually deposited there by the long receded gletsjers during the last ice age). Some rocky formations and megalithic structures are said to be the work of giants; most portal graves or Dolmens seem to be constructed with superhuman strength.
Some folk thought that dipping and rising cliffs and fjords near coasts were the playground for giant or titanic children. By using the hills and rocky cliffs as slides into the sea (where they were actually carved out by gletsjers and their carried debris as well). Some people even worshiped mountains that resemble the human form (such as "The Sleeping Giant" hill in Scotland) as giants. According to legends they are often placated or awakened by the sounds of exceptional wind-instrument music.
Dragons are often said to reside in or near mountain tops. I'll dive into some lore and come back for some thoughts on the ecology of dragons in mountainous zones. |
My campaign sketches
Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2010 : 21:57:46
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Just a slight edit here for Bookwyrm- the bireme and trireme terms of ancient Roman (and also later Egyptian and Phoenian) rowing ships has more to do with the number of ROWERS on each oar than on the actual number or rows of oars. Some "trireme" vesels actually had only one or two rows or levels of oars, but had three men on each oar. Some even went as high as five, six, or even fourteen- with up yo five men to an oar in multiple levels of differing lenths.
More ship lore- the largest sailing vessels built were the so-called "ships of the line" ofthe mid- 1600 to 1700's. These ships had between 80 and 120 cannons on as many as three sperate decks, could carry up to 1000sailors and soldiers, and usually hade tour or even five masts with as many as 36 separate sails. Most European navies by that time had adopted a "battle line" tactic, where ships would line up to face of in broadside attacks against opposing lines of enemy ships. |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2010 : 23:28:58
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| Of course in D&D there's wizard blasting, underwater/elemental creatures, and a great deal of aerial mobility. These mighty ships of the line might be expensive floating monoliths better replaced by smaller, more mobile craft. Then again, heavily armed huge fortress ships floating in the sky would be a mighty threat. Also note that RL ships involved lots of guns and cannons, while D&D ships would involve more swords and boarding tactics. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2010 : 05:57:32
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| D&D ships tend to be from earlier periods than the "ship of the line". The typical ships of fantasy settings are closer to the gaeleasses, sloops, and caravels from the early 1400's to the late 1600's. This is when ship-building was reaching its peak of achievement, the stage which led up to those huge sea-going fortresses. A galleon of the Spanish armada from the 1500's would have been part cargo carrier, and part war-machine, with the best attributes of both a merchant vessel and a war ship. Spanish galleons carried as many as 64 cannons, 500 men, and more than 500 tons of cargo. |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2010 : 06:02:46
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| D&D ships tend to be from earlier periods than the "ship of the line". The typical ships of fantasy settings are closer to the gaeleasses, sloops, and caravels from the early 1400's to the late 1600's. This is when ship-building was reaching its peak of achievement, the stage which led up to those huge sea-going fortresses. A galleon of the Spanish armada from the 1500's would have been part cargo carrier, and part war-machine, with the best attributes of both a merchant vessel and a war ship. Spanish galleons carried as many as 64 cannons, 500 men, and more than 500 tons of cargo. |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2010 : 06:16:41
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| That's more crew than a modern destroyer. Needed because everything was powered by muscle, or to engage in military action? |
[/Ayrik] |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2010 : 07:16:39
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Both, actually. A large number were needed for manning cannons- usually teams of four to a cannon, each with a specific task- as well as archers and/or gunners up in the crows-nests mounted up on the masts and on the fore and aft decks, armed soldiers for boarding maneuvers, and the rest of the crew needed for normal operation.
Which brings me to the provisions. It's not well-known these days, but standard fare for the common sailors was stale biscuits which were often full of weevils, a sort of gruel with jerked beef, and occasionally cheese. To drink, there was stagnant water or "grog", which was a spirit (usually rum) watered down just enough to keep the men happily tipsy but not blind drunk. Pay was poor, conditions were worse, and the threat of injury was constant. Men who lost limbs were paid according to which limb was lost- a man who lost a leg was paid less than one who lost his right arm. Scurvy was rampant, so lemons or lime were often carried to ward it off. However, the fruits generally went bad long before the end of a voyage, and sailors sometimes ate them even when half-rotten.
Officers had it better. They had fresh meat and cheese, from animals carried on the ship and butchered for their meals, chickens for eggs, and wine or other spirits, Theyr sleeping arrangements were better, too. While most sailors slept in hammocks strung up below decks, often above the cannons or in the open on the quarter deck, officers were afforded small cots in their own cabins. They were paid better too. In rank, pay scales were generally as follows:
Admiral- in a standing navy (which did not exist until the time of Henry VIII), the admirals were paid the most, for obvious reasons.
Captains were next, due to being in command of the individual ship.
First Mate was lower, but still better than any other officer (Sorry I don't have any actual figures ATM...)
Boatswain (bo'sun) was below that, in charge of the general preparation and running of the ship's equipment.
Gunnery officers- these were in charge of the cannons and other artillery, such as swivel-guns, hand-cannons, and fire-arms.
Mid-shipmen- the skilled sailors who ran the rigging, maintained or repaired equipment, and kept the ship going during battle.
Common sailors- the lowest rank- were the menial workers who scrubbed decks, mended canvas, hauled the ropes, and provided muscle for the rudder and other hard tasks. They were paid the least.
Specialized crew, such as carpenters, navigators, ship's surgeons, and minstrels (who kept up morale and provided the beats for shanties) were paid about the same as the mid-shipmen. |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2010 : 07:48:14
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Don't forget Commodores. A rank given to a senior Captain, less than an Admiral, who was charged with a small task force of several ships. Usually temporary, from what I understand, mostly to assert a clear chain of command. What little I know of military tallships is that they (especially the British ones) tended to load up with a largely redundant elitist pack of Lieutenants (Leftenants) who really served no purpose at all beyond polite dinner company for the Captain. Only the officers tended to be literate and mathematical, so they were charged with navigation, cartography, and such stuff. Usually also a separate Quartermaster rank to inventory and ration the stores. The Bosun loved blowing his whistle a lot. The ship's cook was perhaps the most hazardous job, as many (bad) cooks would mysteriously disappear at sea. And there was often a mistreated cabin-boy or three on long voyages.
And of course there was sometimes the captain's pet parrot or monkey or whatever <g>. At least whenever no ratting cat was carried onboard. Exploring vessels often had a bit of a zoo onboard, attempting to bring exotic new creatures back as trophies, royal gifts, or valuable commodities.
Citrus fruits actually originated from somewhere in India, the middle-east, or Indo-asia. Sailors were in the habit of saving the seeds and planting them wherever they touched land. The plants took particularly well in North America, especially in frequently seeded semi-temperate areas like Florida and California. Some types of tea are suited for preventing scurvy, but few European sailors figured it out until this was demonstrated by North American natives; they tended to prefer drinking vitamin-poor "proper British teas" from India.
Pirate jokes rock. And there's infinite variations of the infamous "lesser of two weevils" joke. |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 25 Nov 2010 07:51:38 |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2010 : 08:36:14
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Commodore was a rank that didn't come into being until close to the end of the days of sailing ships, mostly late 1700's, I believe. Up until then, each captain was more or less in command of his own ship, or a Commander (Commodore is a mainly British rank, I believe) in charge of a wing of a flotilla.
Most common sailors served the same general purpose as the "cabin-boy" (who wasn't even always a boy). Junior officers were often drawn from the ranks of bored and glory-seeking young gentry and nobility, who used their civilian rank to gain privileges over other crewmen, even other officers of the same rank or more seasoned and skilled sailors. The Quartermaster was generally only on larger ships, while nearly every ship large enough for more than a dozen crew had a bo'sun. There was a Purser to keep the ledgers of accounting, as well as ships logs.
As for sailing life, the worst part was he punishments. Flogging was the most common- and was often over-used- meted out for everything from not tying off ropes correctly, to insubordination, and dereliction of duty. Typically, there was one officer (often the bo'sun) who administered the lashes wile the captain called out the count. Could be anywhere from five to (in one incident at the beginning of the voyage of the now infamous HMS Bounty) 300. The unfortunate soul in that case died even before the full punishment was given. This frequently happened if there were 60 or more, as men died from blood loss or infection.
Other punishments included keel-hauling, ducking, and hanging. In spite of pirate myth, there is no KNOWN case of anyone ever being forced to walk a plank. This may have been an invention of Robert Lewis Stevenson's book Treasure Island, as there is no known mention of it pryor to the book. Scraping barnacles from the hull, being forced to run around the mast in chains while being "ridden" by a ship-mate, and boarding also saw occasional use.
Cleaning decks was done with sand and small rectangular tones called "holy stones" because they were the size of a personal Bible, these would be rubbed over the sand spread on the deck to smooth the planks of splinters. Washing the sand off was done afterwords. The galley was not the most unpleasant place on the ship, in spite of the unappetizing nature of the food. That dubious distinction went to the bilge down in the keel of the ship, where water collected due to leakage, and went stagnant, not to mention the rats and refuse that often collected there. |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2010 : 09:19:04
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My facts seem to be more contaminated with fictional inaccuracies than yours, Alystra.
Apparently most ships would carry a spare mast on long voyages. Tall strong pine trees were preferred.
Keel-hauling was probably more fatal than flogging, I'd imagine. Menial and humiliating punishments do seem more likely, you can't keep arbitrarily killing your crew off, and a crtically wounded man requires another to tend him. Also, you were about as likely to die from medical treatment as not.
Apparently the hotshot captains of large Spanish military vessels were legendary for their reckless method of careening; rapidly maneuvering their ships through shoals and reefs to scrape the hull clean of barnacles.
I can see some differences in D&D though. Modified rowing decks to accomodate tireless ogres, golems, or giant undead. Rigging designed with more of an eye towards defending against air attacks. Landing pads for familiars and summoned/enchanted beasts. Magical helms, rudders, anchors, masts, and figureheads. Mobile shrines to Umberlee, Istishia, or Eldath integrated into places of prominence. Less tonnage dedicated towards provisions, more to clerics and cargo. New positions within the rank hierarchy for spellcasters. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2010 : 14:53:24
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I can't believe I made the oversight of mentioning that elevation and vegetation cover has a profound influence on any encounters planned in mountainous regions.
On average, with every 1000 meters (3300 feet) in elevation in an atmosphere there is a 6,5 degree celsius (44 fahrenheit) decrease in local temperature, the result of the greater loss of heat storing capacity of the ecosystem. This decrease in temperature storage in mountainous ecosystems is due to several factors:
*the decrease in size and distribution of vegetation (heavy and high vegetation "breaks light" into a spectrum that more easily generates heat)
*the increased reflection of radiation due to whiteness (albedo) of the rock and snowy surfaces
*the decreasing density of the air (meaning a greater dissipation of heat)
*the decrease of the moisture and dust content of air
The amount of travel the radiant energy of the sun has a less significant effect of generating heat; so a highly elevated flat mountain plateau generates more heat with the same amount of hours of sunlight but has such a high rate of heat dissipation that the local temperature is still lower than a lower laying valley.
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White and red dragons are best suited to mountain ecosystems due to their unique cold tolerance or heat generating physiology. A red dragon has the added advantage of heat tolerance and will favor active and high volcanoes. Dragon habitat range is huge due to their ability to fly, and many of the typical mountain hazards of the environment make an excellent natural defense for their lairs. They have less problems to sustain themselves due to their ability to survive the cold winters by dining on the very bedrock thats abundant in mountains.
It's no surprise a dragon sits firmly on top of any food-chain that has developed in a mountain ecosystem. With increase in size and appetite they'll have to spread out over more and more mountain peaks and their valleys to avoid depleting the herds of oxen, sheep and humanoid settlements they feed on. They likely spend most of the summer time doing hunting runs of 12 hours or more, gorging on the abundance of tasty life in nearby valleys and plains. They use the high peaks as vantage points to acquire a suitable tasty target and to swoop down from their elevated positions by letting themselves fall and silently glide on the strong and high winds towards the prey. In winter time they might choose to hibernate just as animal predators do, to avoid damaging their local ecosystem with their ravenous hunger. The lair they choose will likely increase in size every winter due to the dragon eating the rock to lessen the worst fits of hunger.
The natural greed of a dragon makes them usually choose a mountain with rich deposits of minerals and resources nearby. Its likely that a dragon will employ or raid local mountain-tribes of humans, dwarves kobolds or (ice)trolls that mine a nearby natural outcropping of copper, silver, gold or gems to still their hunger for wealth.
Try hunting down the excellent 2nd edition adventure Dragon Mountain to get an idea of the size, habitants and use of a typical mountainous dragon lair. |
My campaign sketches
Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2010 : 22:57:56
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I don't ever recall reading anywhere about captains scraping hulls against reefs and shoals, for the simple reason that it was as likely to result in breaking through the hull as cleaning it. In those days, maps were often inaccurate, shoals and reefs could change unexpectedly due to the motion and influence of waves, tides, and other factors, and ships were often old and in poor repair to begin with. However, they DID sometimes intentionally beach a vessel in order to clean or repair the hull, this usually required running aground on a sandy beach at low tide, and then when the cleaning or repairs were complete, they would wait for the highest tide to push the ship back out to sea.
(Most of this lore is coming from the old Time-Life series on sailing ships and Maritime history. I've also been doing extensive research lately in other books as well- the drow in my home campaigns have adopted a largely maritime culture of surface piracy, with only their cities and Lolth worship in the Houses remaining standard in an Underdark with sea-access to the surface. I've also got a book in the works which centers heavily on this culture as background, hence all my ship-lore.) |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Realistic Role-Playing
